JEREMIAH The Weeping Prophet Bible study JEREMIAH the

JEREMIAH The Weeping Prophet

Bible study: JEREMIAH, the weeping prophet “exalted of the Eternal/appointed by the eternal” new solid rock fellowship church January 2014 Purpose: To urge God’s people to turn from their sins and back to God Author: Jeremiah, priest & prophet; Baruch, his secretary recorded To Whom Written: Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and its capital Jerusalem Date Written: During Jeremiah’s ministry approximately 627 -586 B. C (Before the Common Era) Setting: Jeremiah ministered under Judah’s last five kings: JOSIAH, JEHOAHAZ, JEHOIAKIM, JEHOIACHIN, and ZEDEKIAH. The nation of the Jews was sliding quickly toward destruction and eventually conquered by BABYLON in 586 B. C. (see 2 Kings Chapters 21 -25) The prophet Zephaniah preceded Jeremiah and Habakkuk was his contemporary.

Key Verses: Jer. 1: 1 -10, 13 -19 (Jeremiah’s calling); JER. 5: 1 (look for one just man); Jer. 9: 1, 10, 17 -26 ; 13: 17 (weeping, broken heart for the people); Jer. 16: 1 -4 (forbidden to marry); Jer. 17: 9 (deceitful heart); Jer. 23: 1 -6 (prophecies concerning Christ and the future); Jer. 25: 9 -14 (70 year captivity prophecy, Judah and other nations punished also); Jer. 29: 10, 11 (Judah brought back to Jerusalem); Jer. 31: 1 -9, 31 -37 (promise of A New Covenant); Jer. 32: 6, 7 (Jeremiah buys land occupied by the enemy); Jer. 36: 18 -28 (the Word destroyed) Key People: Judah’s kings listed above. Baruch (a scribe), Ebed-melech ( helped Jeremiah escape), King Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon) Key Places: Anathoth, Jerusalem, Ramah, Egypt Literary Features: This book is a combination of history, poetry, and biography. Jeremiah often used symbolism and demonstration to communicate his message.

JEREMIAH, the weeping prophet BIBLE STUDY – NSRFC MAJOR THEMES SIN: King Josiah’s reformation failed because the people refused to repent, continued to worship idols, and ignored God’s warnings. PUNISHMENT: Because of sin, JERUSALEM was destroyed, the temple was destroyed, and people of Judah were carried off to BABYLON. Unconfessed sin brings God’s full punishment. GOD IS LORD OF ALL: God is the righteous, sovereign God, accountable only to himself. Because of God’s majestic power and love, we only have to submit to His authority. GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE: Jeremiah predicted that after the destruction of the Nation, God would send a new Shepherd, the Messiah. He would lead them into a new covenant, and new future, and give them a new heart.

MAJOR THEMES CONTINUED FAITHFUL SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP: Jeremiah served God faithfully for 40 years. He was persecuted, rejected and his prophecies were ignored. Intermingled with Jeremiah’s dark messages was the message of hope if the people would only repent. But Jeremiah remained faithful to God even though he was ignored, beaten, and rejected. We must have a passion to serve. We must seek God’s approval. . . not man’s applause or approval. KEY EVENTS IN JEREMIAH’S LIFE AND TIMES: He was born in a village about an hour’s walk from Jerusalem. He was called to be a prophet by God at a young age – perhaps in his twenties. He served as God’s spokesman for 40 years warning Judah of God’s destruction if they did not turn from wickedness. But Judah refused to respond to the truth and turn back to God. He witnessed the siege and sack of Jerusalem (586 B. C. ), and he saw many of his people taken captive in Babylon. After Jerusalem fell, Jeremiah was forced to flee to Egypt. . . where it is assumed he died.

Structure of the Book of Jeremiah Chapters 1: 1 -- 45: 5 GOD’S JUDGEMENT OF JUDAH God’s call on Jeremiah Condemns Judah for her sins Jeremiah prophesies destruction Jeremiah accuses Judah’s leaders Restoration is promised God’s promised judgment arrives Chapters 46: 1 – 52: 34 Prophecies about foreign nations Details about the fall of Jerusalem

Structure of the Book of Jeremiah Found in Through the Bible Chapters 1 – 39 Before the fall of Jerusalem The call of Jeremiah and general prophecies with no specific time given Chapters 21 - 39 contain specific prophecies and give a time of delivery as expressed in the first words of each chapter. Chapter 39 Chapters 40 – 44 The Fall of Jerusalem, Judah Messages to Jewish remnant Chapters 45 – 51 Gentile Nations Jeremiah’s Prophecies against the nine Chapter 51 Looking Back to the Fall of Judah

Jeremiah 1: 1 -2 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign

Jeremiah 1: 4 -5 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. "

Jeremiah 1: 6 -8 Then I said, "Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth. " 7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth, ' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you, " declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 1: 9 -10 Then the LORD stretched out His hand touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant. " 9

Jeremiah 5: 1 Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, And look now, and take note. And seek in her open squares, If you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, Then I will pardon her.

Jeremiah 29: 10 "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.

The New Covenant is Better Because it is an Internal Covenant: I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it Because it in All-Inclusive: And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD, ’ for they shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, ” declares the LORD

The New Covenant is Better Because it Forgives Sins: For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more (31: 34). Because is does not become Obsolete.

Jeremiah 32: 6 -7 And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 7 'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you, saying, "Buy for yourself my field which is at Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it. "'

Lessons from Jeremiah The lesson of God’s Sovereignty. The lesson of God’s Justice. The lesson of God’s Grace. The lesson of Leadership

Scythians ASSYRIA Medes Jerusalem Babylon (Chaldeans)

Carchemish Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Pharaoh Neco Jerusalem

Armageddon: A Symbol for a great and decisive conflict Megiddo Jerusalem (Josiah) Pharaoh Neco

Carchemish Babylon Nebuchadnezzar Pharaoh Neco Jerusalem First Deportation to Babylon