• Jeremiah

    Jeremiah lived not too long after Isaiah, beginning his work in about 627 B.C. The work of Jeremiah covered the period just before and during the Babylonian kingdom took control of Judah. Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, had involved the nation in such wickedness that destruciton was inevitable. Josiah brought great reforms, but the damage had already been done.

    Assyria, the conquerers of Israel in the north, fell to the Babylonians in 612 B.C. Starting in 605 B.C., the Babylonians took control of Judah, carrying away captives in three stages (605, 597, and 586 B.C.). In 586 B.C., Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple were destroyed.

    Through all of this time, Jeremiah kept trying to warn the people of her impending destruction because of the idolatrous and evil practices. Judah had played the harlot, acted corrupt like her sister Israel, and would go into a 70-year captivity.

    Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” because he lived, prophesied, and expressed great sorrow through this terrible time. He was told to keep speaking God’s word, even though he would be opposed by kings, priests, and the people. Eventually, Jeremiah would be compelled to go to Egypt.

    Jeremiah also pointed to the future. Though Judah would fall into captivity, the people would one day return, and the Lord would still work out His plans for the redemption of mankind through the Messiah. Jeremiah’s prophecy regarding the new covenant is well-known (Jer. 31:31-34). It pointed to a time of ultimate forgiveness through Jesus Christ (cf. Heb. 8:6-13).

    Discussion
    1. Read Jer. 1:4-10. What did God say about Jeremiah? Why did Jeremiah offer an excuse? How did God answer him? What would be the nature of Jeremiah’s work?

    2. Why is Jeremiah known as the “weeping prophet”? Besides the book that bears his name, what else did he write?

    3. Read Jer. 31:31-34. Discuss the nature of the new covenant. When was it fulfilled?

    4. What can be learned from the message of Jeremiah today?