JEREMIAH
The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, has an interesting and intriguing biography. His words have proven trustworthy and eternal because they were God’s words. He passes the test for a prophet, according to Deuteronomy 18: 22. Although his book doesn’t follow a clear chronological pattern, it is well worth the study. Just take it slowly.
The photo at left is a scene from the life of Jeremiah. He is being rescued from a well. The story is found in Chapter 38. God had told him that people would not prevail against him. Time and time again his enemies tried to take him out of this life but failed.
Here is how this ordeal is described: v. 6, “…They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.”
But the African man, Ebed-Melech, spoke up for Jeremiah to the king and got permission to rescue him. Ebed-Melech “…took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. [He] …said to Jeremiah, ‘put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.’ Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard” (38:12-13, NIV).
Thus, Jeremiah had free groceries and food while the rest of the city was under siege and short of food. And what about Ebed-Melech? He got a golden promise from the Lord. See chapter 39:15-18, especially verse 18: “I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the LORD.” NIV
Jeremiah’s lengthy mention of Israel’s last four kings can be confusing because they are spoken of out of sequence of their reign. Here is some help in solving this problem.
JUDAH’S KINGS IN BOOK OF JEREMIAH
Jeremiah’s contemporary, Josiah, was a GOOD king. He was succeeded by FOUR sorry, cowardly, ungodly sons/grandson. [Each generation must give account of its own sins. “God has no grandsons” (David DuPlesis). See Ezekiel 18.]
For example, contrast good King Josiah’s repentant reaction after hearing about God’s judgment for sin written in an old, newly discovered scroll (II Kings 22:10-20) and the reaction of his evil successor, Jehoiakim, after hearing Jeremiah’s scroll read (Jeremiah 36:20-31). He destroyed the scroll by tossing it in the fire.
Jeremiah pronounces judgment on these FOUR successors of Josiah; they mark the end of David’s dynasty. They are listed here in the order they reigned but not the order they are discussed:
- Jehoahaz - Jeremiah 22:11-12 (also called Shallum)
- Jehoiakim - Jeremiah 22:18:19 (also called Eliakim)
- Jehoiachin - Jeremiah 21:24-30 (also called Coniah & Jeconiah)
- Zedekiah - Jeremiah 32:4-5; (originally called Mattaniah)
34:21-22
Clarification of the “King Confusion” in Jeremiah (FOUR successors): Information is taken from the book: Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form & Background of the Old Testament, by William Sanford LaSor, David Allan Hubbard, Frederic William Bush. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing House)
Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum): Josiah’s son & successor received only brief mention in Jeremiah, and that only after his three-month reign was brought to an abrupt end by deportation to Egypt (Kings 23:31-35). Jeremiah exhorts survivors of the Egyptian conflict not to weep for the dead Josiah but for the exiled king, “for he shall return no more to see his native land” (22:10-12). Pharaoh Neco replaced him with another of Josiah’s sons, Eliakim (or Jehoiakim). He reigned in 609 BC, three months.
Jehoiakim (Eliakim): his coronation name was Jehoiakim. He was rebuked by Jeremiah (22:13-15). In 601 BC, he revolted against Nebuchadnezzar, who came personally three years later to besiege Jerusalem. About this time, the apostate Jehoiakim, died, still a young man, as Jeremiah had foretold (22:18f; 36:30). He reigned 609-597 BC.
Jehoiachin (also called Coniah & Jeconiah; grandson of Josiah): Reigned three months in 597 BC (2 King 24:8-17). He experienced the invasion of Jerusalem, capture of king and family, looting of temple, exile of Judah’s best warriors and artisans. Jehoiachin was deported to Babylon.
Note: This man was told that his lineage could never sit on David’s throne. He is a forebear of Mary’s husband, Joseph; therefore, if Jesus had been a blood descendant of Joseph and not virgin born, he would have been disqualified from Messiahship. See Matthew’s genealogy. Luke’s version of His genealogy is considered to be Mary’s line; Matthew’s version is Joseph’s. Jehoiachin was replaced by his uncle, Zedekiah.
Zedekiah: Josiah’s son, puppet king of Nebuchadnezzar, 21 years old when placed on throne. His name was changed from Mattaniah to Zedekiah to show his vassal status (2 Kings 24:17). Reigned 11 years. JUDAH’S LAST KING UNTIL JESUS!!
Like no one else, Jeremiah captures for us the pathos of God, showing us the deep, strong feeling He has for HIS PEOPLE, the Jewish race. The book below points us to specific verses that show us this pathos:
Source – The Prophets, An Introduction by Abraham J. Heschel (New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1962)
The heart of melancholy beats in God’s words: “My people have forgotten Me” (18:15); “they have forsaken Me” (2:13; cf. 1:16; 2:17, 19; 3:21; 5:7; 13:25; 1611; 17:13; 19:4).
How much quiet tenderness, how much unsaid devotion is contained in the way in which the Lord of Heaven and earth spoke of Israel: “My people,” “My dear people” (bath ‘ami).
For My people are foolish,
They know Me not;
They are stupid children,
They have no understanding. Jeremiah 4:22 ESV
“My people have been lost sheep” (50:6). “The shepherds who care for my people…have scattered My flock and have driven them away” (23:2). The false prophets “have healed the wound of My people lightly” (6:14). They did not proclaim “My words to My people (23:22). They “make My people forget My name” (23:27), and “lead My people astray by their lies” (23:32, ESV).
There were moments of compassion and moments of anger. But God’s attachment to Israel is eternal. It was “My people” when the blessing was proclaimed (12:1, 16; 30:3); it was “My people Israel” when their wickedness was condemned (7:12) or punishment announced. In regard to the external enemies of Israel, God said: “They have despised My people” (33:24, Heschel, p. 110).
Israel’s distress was more than a human tragedy. With Israel’s distress came the affliction of God, His displacement, His homelessness in the land, in the world. And the prophet’s prayer, “O save us,” involved not only the fate of a people. It involved the fate of God in relation to the people. For Israel’s desertion was not merely an injury to man; it was an insult to God. This was the voice of God Who felt shunned, pained, and offended:
Have I been a wilderness to Israel,
Or a land of thick darkness:
Why then do My people say,
We are free,
We will come no more to Thee?
Can a maiden forget her ornaments,
Or a bride her attire?
Yet My people have forgotten Me
Days without number. (Jeremiah 2:31-32)
FULFILLED PROPHECY, PROOF THAT JEREMIAH WAS A TRUE PROPHET.
This list of prophecies of Jeremiah that were fulfilled near his lifetime are in no particular order, much like his book.
PROPHECY FULFILLMENT
33:14 – A coming day of goodness toward 539 BC – Ezra 1:1-4; 8:22
Israel/Judah
1:14ff; 25:9; 33:5 – A northern army to 34:1; 39:1; chapter 52
besiege Jerusalem (many other similar warnings)
30:19; 33:10-11 – Joy in Jerusalem Nehemiah 10
33:7-8 – Exiles to return Ezra & Nehemiah
34:19-21 – King Zedekiah & nobility 39:1-8; chapter 52
to go into captivity
34:22 – Jerusalem to be burned with 39:8
fire
7:15; 26:6 - God will make Jerusalem Daniel 9:11-14; Jeremiah 40:2-3
like Shiloh (former center of worship).
Note: God is not sentimental about places,
even spiritual places which He once
honored. (See Psalm 78:60; II Kings 22:16,
and Deuteronomy 28.)
7:15 – Judah to experience COMPLETE 39:9
exile like the northern kingdom of Israel
(Ephraim) already had.
27:7 – Nebuchadnezzar’s dynasty to continue Daniel 5:18, 30
to his grandson.
27:19-22 – Vessels of temple to be taken to Ezra 1:7-11; Ezra 7:19; II Kings 25:3-17
Babylon and remain there till God sends them
back.
28:15-17 – The false prophet, Hanani, to die 28:17 – It happened.
within the year.
25:11-12 Seventy years of captivity Daniel 9:2
43:8-13 Conquest of Egypt Happened in 568 BC against Ahmosis II
30:9, 21 – After captivity, governors Nehemiah & afterwards & today
will be Jews, not foreigners.
31:31-34 – New covenant predicted I Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 8:7-13
3:16 – Lost ark never to be rebuilt Hasn’t happened yet (Raiders of the Lost Ark movie based on this never-rebuilt ark).
3:17 - Nations to visit Jerusalem Today, Jerusalem is a tourist city, visited by people from all over the world.
7:11 – The temple a den of thieves Matthew 21:13
31:15 – Massacre of infants Matthew 2:16-18
Note: Rachel was buried near Bethlehem,
scene of massacre.
The prophecy list above does not include the many prophecies about the coming Messiah and the church age, but New Testament writers refer to them. No doubt some of them were mentioned when Jesus rehearsed them to His followers, i. e., the Old Testament promises that His life had fulfilled (Luke 24).
Final thoughts about Jeremiah’s teaching:
Price of serving God: a lonely walk at times, but what promises! Jeremiah 15:21 “I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked” (KJV). Fulfillment: Jeremiah 40:4; 36:26; 34:4, et al.
God’s words to Jeremiah were painstakingly recorded by Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch (Jeremiah 36:20-31). Then, the two of them had to do the painstaking task all over again after a wicked king destroyed their first scroll in a fire (Jeremiah 36:32). Thank God, their work has been preserved for us!
This fascinating book will increase faith in anyone who ponders it.