Insights into the Life and Ministry of Jeremiah the Prophet



Jeremiah was a “prophet” (1:5-7)



A “prophet” was a spokesman; a

mouthpiece for God, guided by the Holy

Spirit (Ex. 4:11-16; 7:1; Deut. 18:15,18; Ac.

28:25).



A “prophet” called God’s people back to

God’s law and covenant (2 Kings 17:13;

Jer. 11:1-8; 25:3-4).



We know more about Jeremiah the prophet

than any other prophet in the Old

Testament



Jeremiah had to learn to go when

commissioned (1:6)



Jeremiah was “the weeping prophet” who

had a broken heart for the sins of his

people (4:19-20; 8:21-22; 9:1; 13:17; 23:9)



Jeremiah persevered under difficult

circumstances, and when he was despised

and persecuted (11:18-23; 12:6; 18:11-18;

19:14-20:6; 26:1-15; 37:11-15,16-21; 38:1-

13). He was not allowed to marry (16:1-4)



Jeremiah wanted to resign, but he had a

burning desire to proclaim God’s word

(20:7-9)



Jeremiah was finally exiled in Egypt

(43:1-7)



Jeremiah means “Jehovah throws” (1:1; cf. to

throw down a foundation)



Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah (1:1)



Jeremiah was from 

“Anathoth in the land

Benjamin,”

 a town assign to the priests, 2 to 3

miles northeast of Jerusalem (1:1; Josh. 21:18)



Jeremiah dictated his words to his scribe named

Baruch (36:1-4,27-32; 51:64)



Jeremiah does not arrange his material in

chronological order, but in topical order:

•

Call of Jeremiah (1)

•

Prophecies of doom (2-29)

•

Prophecies of hope (30-33)

•

Siege and fall of Jerusalem (34-39)

•

Post Jerusalem fall (40-44)

•

Prophecies to foreign nations (46-51)

•

Fall of Jerusalem (52)



Jeremiah prophesied approximately 46 years, c.

627-580 B.C. (1:2; 3:6; 25:3; 43:8).



He was contemporary with Nahum, Habakkuk,

and Zephaniah (prophets in Judah), and

contemporary with Ezekiel and Daniel (prophets

in Babylon).



Jeremiah proclaimed a message of doom (using

words, signs and symbols) to the stiff-necked

and black-sliding people of Judah in the

declining days before the Babylonian captivity

(Jer. 1-39)



Jeremiah proclaimed a message of hope to the

discouraged and dismayed remnant of people

scattered around (Palestine, Egypt, Babylon) as

a result of the captivity (Jer. 40-52)



Judah opposed, beat, isolated, threatened,

persecuted and imprisoned Jeremiah. He was

lonely, rejected and persecuted



Key Theme: divine judgment is at hand



Key Verse: 1:10; cf. 18:7-10; 24:6; 31:28;

45:4



Key Purpose:



Historical purpose:

 How God judged Judah by

using the Babylonians (1:13-16; 25:9)



Doctrinal purpose:

 Righteousness exalts a

nation, but sin is a reproach … (Prov. 14:34)



Messianic purpose:

 Christ will bring a new

covenant (31:31-34)



National History

•

Israel had already fallen to Assyria in 722 B.C.

•

Material prosperity led to religious apostasy,

political, moral and social decay, indifference and

forgetting God; idolatry was rampant (1:16)

•

Judah holds awhile longer because of the

righteous reforms of Hezekiah and Josiah.

Hezekiah’s reforms were short-lived. The wicked

kings Manasseh and Amon led God’s people

back into sin and idolatry

•

It is now the “midnight hour” for Judah (3:11).

Jeremiah is God’s spokesman in the last 40

years of Judah’s history; its darkest days



National History

•

Josiah’s reforms (about 9 in all) failed to produce

a real change of heart, and did not completely

eradicated the sins of the people (2 K. 23:26;

24:3ff; Jer. 3:6-10; 15:4). Thus, Judah was

destined for judgment (Jer. 7:23-24; 8:11-12)

•

Jeremiah lived in perilous times (Jer. 16:1-4).

The princes, priests, prophets and people were

corrupt (1:18; 2:26; 4:9; 5:31; 14:13-16; 23:9-40)

•

Background in 2 Kings 22-25; 2 Chron. 34-36;

Jeremiah is mentioned by name in 2 Chron.

35:25; 36:12,21,22; Ezra 1:1; Dan. 9:2; and Matt.

2:17; 16:14; 27:9



International History

•

Assyria and Egypt had been the main threat to

Judah in recent times (Jer. 2:18,36-37)

•

Assyria experienced rapid decline during the

reign of Josiah. Assurbanipal, the last ruler of the

Assyrian Empire, died the year Jeremiah began

his work, 627 B.C.

•

Babylonia was struggling with Assyria for her

independence. Babylon finally conquered Asshur

in 614 B.C., Ninevah in 612 B.C., and Haran in

610 B.C.



International History

•

Egypt controlled Palestine from 609 to 605 B.C.

Pharoah Neco fought with Josiah in Megiddo in

609 B.C. (2 Chron. 35:20-25)

•

Egypt challenged Babylon’s power in the battle

of Carchemish, but was defeated in 605 B.C.

(Jer. 46:2-13)

•

Babylon controlled Palestine from 605 B.C. to

539 B.C. Babylon was used by God to punish

Judah (“Babylon” mentioned 143 times in

Jeremiah!)



Eighth year, 632 B.C.

 - Josiah began to

seek Jehovah (2 Chron. 34:3)



Twelfth year, 628 B.C.

 - Josiah began to

purge idolatry (2 Chron. 34:3)



Thirteenth year, 627 B.C.

 - Jeremiah began

his work (Jer. 1:2)



Eighteenth year, 622 B.C.

 - Hilkiah book of

the law found (2 Chron. 34:8)



Both preached to a Jerusalem, and in a temple on the

verge of destruction



Both had a message for Judah and the world



Both came from godly ancestry, and grew up in a village

town



Both were conscious of their call fro God, and knew their

place in God’s plan from their youth up



Both preached in the temple to hypocritical worshippers



Both foretold the destruction of the temple



Both enjoyed open fellowship with God



Both were accused of treason



Both were tried, persecuted and imprisoned



Both lived unmarried



Both did not write down their message



Both were tender-hearted, loved Judah deeply, and

wept for their people



Both forcefully condemned the religious leaders of their

day



Both were rejected by their own kin; lonely and rejected

messengers of God



A time of deep sin; apostasy and hypocrisy

abound



Balance of power among nations changes



Alliances change from decade to decade



God’s heralds are in a lonely minority



Destinies of peoples are in the hands of

God



Religious people are hypocritical



The importance of responding to God’s call with

boldness (Jer. 1:4-8; Eph. 6:19)



Genuine religion vs. the outward show of

religion (Jer. 2:8; 7:4-11; 23:9-17; 2 Tim. 3:5)



The true God vs. idols (Jer. 10:1ff; 27:5; 31:1-3).

Guard against idols (1 Jn. 5:21)



God keeps his word (Jer. 29:10). God’s word is

reliable (Dan. 9:2)



God is sovereign; in control of the nations

(Jer. 18:7-10; 46-51; Rev. 17:17).



The godly suffer persecution (Jer. 1:19; 2 Tim.

3:12)



A nation will suffer for its sins (Jer. 39; 52; Prov.

14:23)



The ugliness of sin, disobedience and rebellion

(Jer. 2-7; Rom. 6:23)



We are under a new covenant (Jer. 31; Heb. 8)



God is absolutely pure, holy and righteous

(Jer. 12:1; Heb. 10:31; 12:29)



Mankind can repent and enjoy the blessings of

restoration (Jer. 30-33; Lk. 15)



Predestined (vv.4-5)



Not excused from service (vv.6-7)



Assured of success (v.8)



Inspired words from God (v.9)



Two-fold message: doom and hope (v.10)



Be strong and courageous (vv.17-18)



Rejection is to be expect (v.19)



Israel’s past devotion (2:1-3)



Israel’s present defection (2:4-8)

•

Forsook the Lord (2:9-19)

•

Committed idolatry (2:20-28)

•

Denied the guilt of sin (2:29-37)



Jehovah’s call to repentance (3:1-5)

•

Jehovah’s invitation (3:1)

•

Israel’s refusal (3:2-5)



God’s people sometimes leave their “first love”

(Rev. 3:5)



Many have a bad habit of changing God’s glory

(Rom. 1:21-23)



Broken cisterns don’t hold water (2 Pet. 2:18-19)



Some openly reject the truth (2 Tim. 3:8)



Some are just too proud to confess their sin (1 Jn.

1:8-10)



Spiritual harlotry among God’s people is still a

problem today (Jas. 4:4)



Repentance Offered (3:6 – 4:4)

•

Judah should have learned to return (3:6-10)

•

Judah is called to return (3:11-14)

•

Judah will receive blessings if they return

(3:15-18)

•

Judah is told how to return (3:19-25)

•

Judah must wholeheartedly return (4:1-4)



Repentance Rejected (4:5-31)

•

Destruction is published (4:5-18)

•

Destruction is lamented (4:19-31)



Backsliding takes us away from God (Jer.

3:8,11,12,14,22; Heb. 10:38-39; 2 Pet. 2:21)



Wholehearted repentance is what God desires

(Jer. 3:10; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 10:22)



The erring child of God needs to acknowledge

his sin and return (Jer. 3:13; Acts 8:22)



Shepherds feed God’s people (Jer. 3:15; Ac.

20:28)



Circumcision of the heart is needed for true

commitment (Jer. 4:4; Rom. 2:28-29; Phil. 3:3;

Col. 2:11)



God’s wrath in the judgment day will be

unquenchable (Jer. 4:4; Mk. 9:43,48)



God’s people who sin need to wash their hearts

(Jer. 4:14; Jas. 4:8)



We must be wise unto that which is good, not

the other way around (Jer. 4:22; Rom. 16:19)



Sins of Judah Published (5:1-18)

•

Sin of injustice (5:1-3)

•

Sin of ignorance (5:4-6)

•

Sin of immorality (5:7-9)

•

Sin of denial (5:10-13)



Sins of Judah Punished (5:14-31)

•

Punishment threatened (5:14-18)

•

Punishment deserved (5:19)

•

Punishment brought on by sins (5:20-31)



Siege of Jerusalem (6:1-8)



Sins of Jerusalem (6:9-15)

•

Reproached God’s word

•

Covetousness

•

Dealing falsely

•

False sense of security

•

No shame



Stubbornness of Jerusalem (6:16-21)



Sackcloth of Jerusalem (6:22-26)



Smelting of Jerusalem (6:27-30)



Can a man be found today that does justice and

seeks truth (Jer. 5:1)?



Making a promise, then breaking it is a sin (Jer.

5:2; Tit. 1:16)



May we never refuse God’s correction (Jer. 5:3;

Heb. 12:5-6)



It is astonishing that some of God’s people love

to hear error rather than truth (Jer. 5:31; 2 Tim.

4:2-4)



Are your ears “uncircumcised” (Jer. 6:10; Ac.

7:51)?



Many proclaim “peace” instead of truth (Jer.

6:14; 1 Thess. 5:3)



Ancient sins are found in our modern society

(Jer. 6:10-15)



God’s people must constantly return to “the old

paths” for rest (Jer. 6:16; Mt. 11:29; 2 Thess.

2:15)



When we reject God’s law, he rejects our

worship (Jer. 6:19-20; Mt. 15:8-9)



When we are refined by fire, what will God find

in us (Jer. 6:28-29; 1 Pet. 1:7)



Judah Deceived (7:1-15)

•

Deceived by presumptuous worship (7:1-15)



Judah Destroyed (7:16 – 8:3)

•

Destroyed for pagan worship (7:16-20)

•

Destroyed for priorities in worship (7:21-28)

•

Destroyed for polluted worship (7:29 - 8:3)



Jeremiah’s Four Questions

•

“Shall men fall, and not rise up again?” (8:4-7)

– a question teaching normal behavior

•

“How do you say, We are wise…?” (8:8-13) –

a question exposing falsehood and pride

•

“Why do we sit still?” (8:14-17) – a question of

desperation from the punished of Judah

•

“Is not Jehovah in Zion?” (8:18-22) – a

question of despair from the captives of Judah



We are to trust in God, not the place where

God is worshipped (Jer. 7:4; Jn. 4:24)



God’s salvation is always conditional: “if …

then” (Jer. 7:5-7; Rom. 11:22-25)



God sees through hypocritical religion (Jer.

7:10-11,14; Rom. 2:21-24)



God’s house is to be a house of prayer, not

a den of robbers (Jer. 7:10-11; Mt. 21:13;

Mk. 11:17; Lk. 19:46)



God speaks eagerly and repeatedly to

bring his people back (Jer. 7:13; Mt. 23:32;

Ac. 7:51-53)



Prayers for impenitent people will not be

heard (Jer. 7:16; 1 Pet. 3:12; 1 Jn. 5:16)



The attitude of obedience comes before the

practice of obedience (Jer. 7:22-23)



What direction is your spiritual progress,

backward or forward (Jer. 7:24; Heb. 10:39)



Some just will not repent and return to God (Jer.

8:6; Rev. 9:20)



Our return back to God begins with: “What have I

done…” (Jer. 8:6; Lk. 15:17-18)



Some of God’s people know not the law of the

Lord (Jer. 8:7; Eph. 5:17)



Those who are wise will be put to shame (Jer. 8:8;

Rom. 1:22; 2:17-20; 1 Cor. 1:27)



Do we, like Jeremiah, mourn over sin (Jer. 8:21-

22; Mt. 5:4)



Weeping for the deceit of Judah (9:1-9)



Weeping for the desolation of Judah

(9:10-11)



Weeping for the disobedience of Judah

(9:12-16)



Weeping for the destruction of Judah

(9:17-26)



Do not trust in idols, trust in the Lord

(10:1-18)



Do not trust in man, trust in the Lord

(10:19-25)



Speaking falsehood is common, even

among God’s people (Jer. 9:3,8; Eph. 4:25)



There are those who refuse to know the

Lord (Jer. 9:6; Jn. 3:19-20; Rom. 1:28)



Many walk after the stubbornness of their

own heart (Jer. 9:14; Rom. 1:21-24)



Many blindly follow what their parents teach

them (Jer. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:18)



Do not glory in wisdom, strength or riches,

but glory in the Lord (Jer. 9:23-24; 1 Cor.

1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17-18; Gal. 6:13-14)



Shepherds who do not inquire of the Lord

will loose their flocks (Jer. 10:21; Ac. 20:28)



It is not in man to direct his own steps (Jer.

10:23; Phil. 3:16-18)



Obedience to God’s covenant will bring

blessings (11:1-5)



Disobedience to God’s covenant will bring

punishment (11:6-17)



Conspiracy against the preacher of God’s

covenant will bring death (11:18-23)



Jeremiah complaint against Judah: “Why …

How long…?” (12:1-4)



Jehovah’s three-fold answer against Judah

(12:5-17)

•

Things are going to get worse (12:5-6)

•

Judah will be given up to judgment (12:7-13)

•

Restoration will come for the faithful (12:14-17)



Sign of the linen girdle: Judah’s stubborn

pride will be marred (13:1-11)



Sign of the full bottle: Judah’s stubborn

pride will lead to captivity (13:12-27)



Bringing God’s people back to God’s

covenant is the role of preaching (Jer. 11:1-

2; 2 Tim. 3:15 - 4:2)



Preaching truth often brings persecution

(Jer. 11:18-23; Acts 7:51-53)



God can be near in the mouth, but far away

in the heart (Jer. 12:2; Mt. 15:8; Tit. 1:16)



Stubborn pride and refusal to hear is a

problem among God’s people (Jer. 13:10;

Mt. 13:13)



Do we weep over sin like Jeremiah and

Jesus (Jer. 13:17; Lk. 19:41-42)



Some go so far into to evil that they will not

change (Jer. 13:23; Heb. 6:6)



The coming drought (14:1-6)



Jeremiah’s first confession (14:7-9)



Confession rejected: the coming

destruction (14:10-12)



Jeremiah’s second confession (14:13)



Confession rejected: the coming death

(14:14-18)



Jeremiah’s third confession(14:19-22)



Jehovah’s coming captivity (15:1-14)

•

Captivity is caused (15:1-4)

•

Captivity is deserved (15:5-9)



Jeremiah’s caring complaint (15:10-21)

•

Jeremiah’s complaint of pity (15:10)

•

Jehovah’s promise of assurance (15:11-4)

•

Jeremiah’s complaint of pain (15:15-18)

•

Jehovah’s promise of deliverance (15:19-21)



God’s people need to confess and pray for

mercy (Jer. 14:7-9,19-22; Ac. 8:22)



Some among God’s people have no knowledge

(Jer. 14:18; Eph. 5:17)



Wicked influence can be powerful upon God’s

people (Jer. 15:4; 1 Cor. 15:33)



Preaching God’s word will bring isolation

(Jer. 15:15; Acts 7)



We need to stand firm when preaching God’s

word (Jer. 15:20; Phil. 1:27)



God encourages the discouraged (Jer. 15:2-21;

Phil. 4:6-7)



Directions for Jeremiah (16:1-13)

•

Do not marry (16:1-4)

•

Do not mourn (16:5-9)

•

Preach to the people (16:10-13)



Explanation to Jeremiah (16:14-18)

•

Restoration will come (16:14-15)

•

Punishment will come first (16:16-18)



Affirmation by Jeremiah (16:19-21)

•

Jeremiah’s faith (16:19-20)

•

Jehovah’s might (16:21)



Sin of idolatry (17:1-4)



Sin of trusting in man (17:5-8)



Sin of ill-gotten gain (17:9-11)



Sin of forsaking the Lord (17:12-18)



Sin of sabbath breaking (17:19-27)



The Lord looks at the heart, not the hands

(Jer. 16:12; Mk. 7:21)



God sees all (Jer. 16:17; Lk. 12:2; Heb.

4:13)



Don’t be deceived by your heart (Jer. 17:9;

Eph. 4:22)



The Potter’s Vessel (18:1-17)

•

What he sees: a potter and vessel (18:1-4)

•

What he hears: God is the divine Potter (18:5-10)

•

What he says: God will soon destroy (18:11-12)

•

What he learns: Judah has forgotten (18:13-17)



The Persecutor’s Vengeance (18:18-23)

•

The plot against Jeremiah (18:18)

•

The plea of Jeremiah (18:19-23)



The Potter’s Bottle Bought (19:1-9)

•

Jeremiah preaches in Topheth (19:1-9)



The Potter’s Bottle Broken (19:10-15)

•

Jeremiah preaches in Topheth (19:10-13)

•

Jeremiah preaches in the Temple (19:14-15)

“Topheth”

(fireplace,

Isa.30:33) was

a high place in

the Valley of

Hinnom just

south of

Jerusalem

where child

sacrifices were

offered to

Molech

2 Kings 23:10



Jeremiah’s persecution (20:1-6)

•

Pashhur persecutes (20:1-2)

•

Pashhur will be persecuted (20:3-6)



Jeremiah’s passion (20:7-13)

•

Jeremiah’s preaching (20:7-10)

•

Jeremiah’s praise (20:11-13)



Jeremiah’s pity (20:14-18)

•

Jeremiah pities the day he was born (20:14-17)

•

Jeremiah pities the day he preaches (20:18)



We are like clay in the potter’s hand (Jer.

18:6; Rom. 9:21)



God’s wants all men to repent (Jer. 18:8; 2

Pet. 3:9)



Doing something without God’s expressed

permission is unauthorized and sinful (Jer.

19:5; Col. 3:17)



God will break all who oppose him like

pottery is broken (Jer. 19:11; Rev. 2:27)



Preaching brings persecution (Jer. 20:7-

8,10,18;  1 Cor. 4:9-13)



We should have a burning desire to preach

God’s word (Jer. 20:9; Ac. 4:20; 1 Cor.

9:19-23)



Zedekiah’s Inquiry (21:1-2)



Jehovah’s Answer (21:3-14)

•

Answer to Zedekiah – callous (21:3 – 22:9)

•

Answer to Jehoahaz – hopeless (22:10-12)

•

Answer to Jehoiakim – covetous (22:13-23)

•

Answer to Jehoiachin – childless (22:24-30)



Rulers need to rule with righteousness (Jer.

21:12; 22:3; 1 Tim. 2:1-2)



Why does God punish his people? Because they

forsake God’s covenant (Jer. 22:8-9; 2 Pet. 2:21-

22)



Many turn away from hearing God in times of

prosperity (Jer. 22:13-14,21; Rev. 3:17)



Jesus, as the seed of Coniah, will not reign on the

throne of David 

in Judah

, but he will reign in

heaven (Jer. 22:30; Mt. 1:11; Ac. 2:30-36; Heb.

8:1; Rev. 3:21)



Judgment Against the Wicked Shepherds

(23:1-8)

•

Wicked shepherds in the present (23:1-2)

•

Righteous shepherds in the future (23:3-8)



Judgment Against the False Prophets

(23:9-40)

•

Their disgraceful conduct (23:9-15)

•

Their dishonest message (23:16-22)

•

Their deceitful methods (23:23-32)

•

Their disrespectful attitude (23:33-40)



Immoral (v.10-11,14)



Cause to err (v.13)



Strengthen evil (v.14)



Human wisdom (v.16)



False hope (v.17)



Despise God (v.17)



Unauthorized (v.21,32)



Neglect duty (v.22)



Prophesy lies (v.25-26)



Turn from God (v.27)



Rob God’s word (v.30)



Mock true prophets

(v.33)



Vision of the Two Baskets of Figs (24:1-3)



Meaning of the Two Baskets of Figs

(24:4-10)

•

Basket of good figs represent the repentant

captives who are taken away (24:4-7)

•

Basket of bad figs represent the unrepentant

people who are left behind  (24:8-10)



Shepherds have a great responsibility to

lead in the right way (23:1-2; Ac. 20:28-32)



Jesus is the righteous king (23:5-8; Lk.

1:32-33; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21)



False prophets look true, but they cause

great trouble (Jer. 23:9ff; 2 Cor. 11:14-15; 2

Thess. 2:9-12; 2 Pet. 2:1ff)



Test all teachers (Jer. 23:13; 1 Jn. 4:1-6)



Nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of God

(Jer. 23:13-14,23-24; Heb. 4:13)



Truth can be, and should be separated

from error (Jer. 23:28; 1 Jn. 4:6)



God’s word is like a fire and a hammer (Jer.

23:29; 2 Cor. 10:4-5; Heb. 4:12)



God is not mocked (Jer. 23:33; Gal. 6:7)



Judgment upon the Jews (25:1-11)

•

Judgment could have been avoided (25:1-6)

•

Judgment will come (25:7-11)



Judgment upon the Gentiles (25:12-38)

•

Judgment upon Babylon (25:12-14)

•

Cup of wrath (25:15-29)

•

Roaring lion (25:30-31)

•

Raging storm (25:32-33)

•

Slaughtered flock (25:34-38)



Jeremiah the preacher (26:1-7)



Jeremiah the persecuted (26:8-24)

•

The murder plot revealed (26:8-15)

•

The murder plot defeated (26:16-24)



God’s judgment is for all (Jer. 25; 1 Pet. 4:17)



God is not willing that any perish (25:3-6; 2 Pet.

3:8-9)



God is a God of wrath (Jer. 25:15; Rom. 11:22)



God wants 

all

 his word proclaimed; nothing kept

back (Jer. 26:2; Ac. 20:20,27)



God’s preachers are sometimes threatened with

death (Jer. 26:8; Mt. 21:35-39; 23:34-35; Acts 4-

5,6-8,12,21)



Good and honest men will listen to God’s

preachers (Jer. 26:18-19; Lk. 8:15)

The Future Restoration of Jerusalem



Restoration to the Land (30:1-24)



Restoration of the Nation (31:1-40)

•

Israel restored (31:1-22)

•

Judah restored (31:23-40)



Rebuilding of Jerusalem (32:1-44)



Reconfirming of the Covenant (33:1-26)

God’s Will for Israel



“I Will” cause Israel to return (30:1-3)



“I Will” break Israel’s bonds (30:4-11)



“I Will” heal Israel’s wounds (30:12-17)



“I Will” restore Israel’s glory (30:18-22)



“I Will” punish the wicked in Israel (30:23-24)

God’s Will for Israel



“I Will” rebuild Israel’s land (31:1-6)



“I Will” lead Israel back home (31:7-9)



“I Will” turn Israel’s weeping to joy (31:10-20)



“I Will” call Israel back home (31:21-22)



“I Will” unite Israel as one (31:23-26)



“I Will” will sow Israel  with seed (31:27-30)



“I Will” make a new covenant with Israel, and

forgive Israel (31:31-34)



“I Will” always have his Israel (38:35-37)



“I Will” will rebuild Israel’s city (31:38-40)



Jesus is our king of David (Jer. 30:9; Lk. 1:30-33;

Ac. 2:30)



Some do not want Jesus to rule over them

(Jer. 30:9; Lk. 19:14)



God always judges fairly (Jer. 30:11;

Rom. 2:1-11)



We are judged according to our deeds and sins

(Jer. 30:15; Rom. 2:1-11)



We belong to God (Jer. 30:22; 31:33;

2 Cor. 4:16-18)



God rewards the work of the faithful (Jer. 31:18;

Heb. 6:10)



We must repented with godly sorrow (Jer. 31:19;

2 Cor. 7:7-10)



We must take personal responsibility for our sins

(Jer. 31:29; Gal. 6:7-8)



The New Testament is the new covenant

promised by Jeremiah (Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:8-12)



All will know God through teaching (Jer. 31:34;

Jn. 6:44-45)

Jeremiah in Prison



Jeremiah’s persecution in prison (32:1-5)



Jeremiah’s purchase in prison (32:6-15)



Jeremiah’s prayer in prison (32:16-25)



Jeremiah’s promise from God in prison

(32:26-44)

Jeremiah in Prison



The promise of coming forgiveness and joy

(33:1-9)



The promise of coming joy and prosperity

(33:10-13)



The promise of a coming king and

priesthood (33:14-18)



The promise of a coming multitude and

return (33:19-26)



People can imprison God’s servants, but God’s

word is not bound (Jer. 32:2; 2 Tim. 2:9)



Faith is obeying God in spite of what we see, how

we feel, and what may happen

(Jer. 32:7,25; Heb. 11:1)



Pray to God when you do not fully understand his

will for you (Jer. 32:24-25; Phil. 4:6-7; Jas. 1:5-8)



There is nothing too hard for God

(Jer. 32:17,26; Mt. 19:26)



Latter generations continue in their fathers’ sins

(Jer. 32:18; Mt. 23:32-36)



We will be judged according to our ways

(Jer. 32:19; Mt. 16:27; Jn. 5:29)



God desires wholehearted and united service

(Jer. 32:38-39; Jn. 17:21; Acts 4:32)



We are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus

(Jer. 33:8; Heb. 9:11-14)



Being forgiven as a Christian brings joy and

peace (Jer. 33:8-9,11; Rom. 14:17,19; Gal.

5:22)



We are to bring sacrifices of praise to God

(Jer. 33:11; Heb. 13:15)



Jesus is the Branch of righteousness

(Jer. 33:15-16; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21)



Christians are priests of God today

(Jer. 33:17,21; 1 Pet. 2:5)

The Present Fall of Jerusalem



Before the Fall (34:1 – 38:28)

•

Messages before the fall (34:1 – 36:32)

•

Events before the fall (37:1 – 38:28)



During the Fall (39:1-18)



After the Fall (40:1 - 45:5)

•

Ministry to the remnant (40:1 – 44:30)

•

Message to Baruch (45:1-5)



Jeremiah’s message against Zedekiah

(34:1-7)



Jeremiah’s message against the

covenant-breakers (34:8-22)

•

The covenant made (34:8-11)

•

The covenant broken (34:12-16)

•

The covenant-breakers punished (34:17-22)



The Example of the Rechabites: respect

toward and obedience to the father’s

commandment (35:1-11)



The Example of Judah: disrespect toward

and disobedience to the Father’s

commandment (35:12-19)



The Word of God revealed to Jeremiah (36:1-3)



The Word of God recorded by Baruch    (36:4)



The Word of God read to the people (36:5-10)



The Word of God received by the princes

(36:11-19)



The Word of God rejected by the king

(36:20-26)



The Word of God rewritten by Baruch

(36:27-32)



When you make a covenant, keep it

(Jer. 34:10-11; Rom. 1:31)



Hypocritical religion is unacceptable

(Jer. 34:15-16; Mt. 15:7-8)



With the right attitude, a command can be

obeyed long after it is given

(Jer. 35:6; Rev. 14:12)



Fear is the proper way to respond to God’s

word (Jer. 36:16; Heb. 5:7; 11:7)



God’s written word is the same as God’s

spoken God (Jer. 36:17-18; 1 Cor. 2:11-13;

2 Tim. 3:16)



The same God that proclaims his word,

preserves his word. You cannot destroyed

the word of God (Jer. 36:23,27-28;

1 Pet. 1:25)



Some are calloused toward God’s word

(Jer. 36:24-25; Rom. 2:5; Heb. 3:13)

Exploits of Zedekiah and Jeremiah



Zedekiah requests prayer from Jeremiah

(37:1-5)

•

Jeremiah responds to the king (37:6-10)

•

Jeremiah is put in prison (37:11-15)



Zedekiah requests word from Jeremiah

(37:16-17)

•

Jeremiah responds to the king (37:17-20)

•

Jeremiah is put in the court of the guard (37:21)

Exploits of Zedekiah and Jeremiah



Zedekiah leaves Jeremiah in the hands of evil

men (38:1-6)



Zedekiah allows Ebed-melech to rescue

Jeremiah (38:7-13)



Zedekiah requests more words from Jeremiah

(38:14-28)



Jerusalem captured by the Babylonians

(39:1-3)



Zedekiah judged by the Babylonians

(39:4-10)



Jeremiah released by the Babylonians

(39:11-14)



Ebed-melech protected from the

Babylonians (39:16-18)



If we turn away from obeying God’s word, God will

not hear our prayer (Jer. 37:2-3; 1 Pet. 3:12)



God wants prayer 

and

 repentance, not just prayer

(Jer. 37:3; Acts 8:24)



God’s people can be deceived by the world

(Jer. 37:9; Mt. 24:4; Eph. 5:6)



God does not change his answer at different times

(Jer. 37:3,17; 38:14; 2 Jn. 9; Jude 3)



All that would live godly will suffer persecution

(Jer. 38:15; Ac. 5:18; 16:23-24)



God’s people are often falsely accused of wrong

(Jer. 37:18; Ac. 25:8,11,25)



The Ethiopian eunuch acted better than God’s own

people (Jer. 38:7-13; 39:16-18; Ac. 8:27)



God’s way may seem foolish, but it is the right way

(Jer. 38:17-18; 1 Cor. 1:18,21)



Fear and peer pressure keep some from obeying

the truth (Jer. 38:19-20,24-26; Jn. 12:42; 19:12-13)



God’s word always comes true

(Jer. 39:6-7; Rom. 3:4)



God does not forget acts of faithfulness (Jer. 39:11-

12,16-18; Heb. 6:10)

Jeremiah Ministers to the Remnant



Jeremiah ministers in Judah (40-42)

•

Jeremiah, the committed prophet (40:1-6)

•

Gedaliah, the faithful governor (40:7-17)

•

Ishmael, the deceitful traitor (41:1-18)

•

Jeremiah, the bold preacher (42:1-22)



Jeremiah ministers in Egypt (43-44)

•

Jeremiah, the powerful predictor (43:8-13)

•

Johanan, the hypocritical leader (43:1-7)

•

The Jews, the rebellious remnant (44:1-30)



Sometimes the sinner knows better than the

saint (Jer. 40:2-3; Rom. 2:24)



Do people ask you to pray for them? (Jer. 42:2;

Jas. 5:16)



The same sin of idolatry in Judah was carried to

Egypt (Jer. 44:8-10; 1 Jn. 5:21)



Some attribute success to the wrong person

(Jer. 44:17-19; Lk. 12:16-21)



It is important to let God “show us the way”

before acting (Jer. 42:3; Mt. 4:4)



We must declare the whole counsel of God, and

“keep nothing back” (Jer. 42:4; Ac. 20:27)



We must obey God’s word, whether we like his

answer or not (Jer. 42:6)



It is hypocritical to promise you will obey, and

then do not obey (Jer. 42:20-21; 1 Jn. 2:3-4)



The proud resist God’s word (Jer. 43:2,4,7)



A large number of God’s people can have a “do-

as-I-please” attitude toward God’s word

(Jer. 44:16)



God’s word will always stand (Jer. 44:28-29)



Barach is discouraged (vv. 1-4)



Baruch is delivered (v. 5)

God’s Judgment on the Nations



Judgment upon Egypt for her trust in strength

(46:1-28)



Judgment upon Philistia for her sins (47:1-7)



Judgment upon Moab for her trust in wealth

(48:1-47)



Judgment upon Ammon for her trust in natural

resources and treasures (49:1-6)



Judgment upon Edom for her pride and trust in

wisdom (49:1-22)

God’s Judgment on the Nations



Judgment upon Damascus for her trust in

youth (49:23-27)



Judgment upon Kedar & Hazor for her trust

in self and trade (49:28-33)



Judgment upon Elam for her sins

(49:34-39)



Judgment upon Babylon for her pride and

trust in strength (50:1 – 51:64)



God declares the war on Babylon

(50:1-28)



God calls the armies against Babylon

(50:29 - 51:32)



God announces the victory over Babylon

(51:33-58)



God delivers the judgment to Babylon

(51:59-64)

God’s Judgment on the Nations

Jeremiah 46-51



Some trust in strength (Jer. 46:5-6,15; 48:14,41;

49:22,26,35; 50:36; 51:30,36,53,57; 1 Tim. 4:7-8)



Some trust in false gods (Jer. 46:25; 48:35;

50:2,38; 1 Jn. 5:21)



Some trust in treasures (Jer. 48:7,36; 49:4; 51:13;

1 Tim. 6:9-10,17-19)



Some are complacent, at ease (Jer. 48:11; 49:31;

Rev. 3:17)

God’s Judgment on the Nations

Jeremiah 46-51



Some are proud (Jer. 48:29-30; 49:16; 50:29;

30-31; 1 Pet. 5:5)



Some trust in worldly wisdom (Jer. 49:7; 50:35;

51:57; 1 Cor. 1:18-21)



Some rejoice in unrighteousness (Jer. 50:11;

51:34-35; 1 Cor. 13:4-6)

Summary: Jer. 50:35-38



The Fall of Jerusalem (52:1-23)

•

The fall of Jerusalem caused (52:1-3)

•

The fall of Jerusalem’s leaders (52:4-11)

•

The fall of Jerusalem’s city (52:12-16)

•

The fall of Jerusalem’s temple (52:17-23)



The Fallen of Jerusalem (52:24-34)

•

Many captives taken (52:24-30)

•

One captive released (52:31-34)



 God can get angry (Jer. 52:3; Ezra 5:12;

Rom. 2:5; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:6)



One day our “eleventh year” will come

(Jer. 52:5; 1 Thess. 5:1-3)



Title

•

“Ekhah” (How!) in the Hebrew Bible (1:1; 2:1;

4:1)

•

“Threnoi” (dirges, laments) in the Greek

Septuagint (LXX), and “Threni” (tears,

lamentations) in the Latin Vulgate.

•

“Lamentations” in the English Bible is taken from

the Latin Vulgate (2:5).



Authorship

•

Ancient tradition going back to the Septuagint

(c. 250 B.C.) attributes the book to Jeremiah

•

The author weeps (1:16; 2:11), and Jeremiah

was a weeping prophet (2 Chron. 35:25; Jer.

7:29; 8:21; 9:1,10)

•

The author was an eyewitness to the fall of

Jerusalem, and Jeremiah was an eyewitness

(Jer. 39; comp. Lam. 2:6,9)

•

There are several similarities between

Lamentations and Jeremiah (1:2 [30:14]; 1:15

[8:21]; 1:18 [12:1]; 1:16; 2:11 [9:1,18]; 2:22

[6:25]; 3:48-51 [14:17]; 4:21 [46:25; 49:12])



Date

•

The Babylonian siege of Jerusalem lasted from

January 588 B.C., to July 586 B.C. The temple

was burned in August 586 B.C.

•

The book was written soon after Jerusalem’s fall

in 586 B.C.



Audience and Purpose

•

The Jews in Babylon who heard about, or who

witnessed the capture of their land, the fall of

Jerusalem, and the burning of their temple (Jer.

39, 52)

•

The book serves to remind God’s people of (1)

the seriousness of man’s sin, and (2) the

magnitude of God’s wrath, justice, faithfulness

and mercy



Theme

•

First, the mourning over Jerusalem’s destruction

•

Second, the confession of Judah’s sins which led

to the destruction, and the confession of God’s

holiness and justice behind the destruction

•

Third, the mercy and faithfulness of the Lord, and

the future hope of a restoration (3:21-26; 5:19ff)

•

Note:

 Jeremiah weeps over Jerusalem with a

tender heart of compassion. He did not have an

“I-told-you-so” attitude



Literary Style

•

The entire book of Lamentations contains

Hebrew poetry. It is a sad book, a five-poem

dirge.

•

Jeremiah writes his lament in acrostic

(alphabetical) style. Each verse begins with a

different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from “A”

(aleph) to “T” (tau).

•

The Hebrew alphabet changes every three

verses in chapter 3, and there is no acrostic

pattern in chapter 5.

•

Jeremiah weeps over Jerusalem “from A to Z”



Description of the present condition (1:1-4)



Cause of the present condition (1:5-11)



Sorrows in the present condition (1:12-19)



Enemies of the present condition (1:20-22)



What God has done to Judah (2:1-10)



What the afflicted have done to themselves

(2:11-14)



What the enemies have done to Judah

(2:15-17)



What the afflicted have done to themselves

(2:20-22)



We must weep over sin (1:1; Lk. 19:41)



Unrepentant sin brings judgment

(1:5,8,9,14,22; Heb. 10:26-27)



Some are indifferent toward sin and

punishment (1:12; Rev. 3:16-17)



God is love, but God is also righteous

(1:18; Rom. 2:5-8)



The Lord can get angry toward his own

people (2:1-6; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:6)



The Lord (“He hath…”) is behind all

judgment (2:1-9; Rev. 17:17)



The purpose of preaching is to uncover

iniquity (2:14; 2 Tim. 4:2)



God keeps his word (2:17; Tit. 1:2)



The day of the Lord is coming (2:21-22;

1 Thess. 5:1-3)