Friday Bible study, 1/13/12

XXXV.    Habakkuk

                              A.     Titleof Habakkuk

The name itself is unusual in the Hebrew, and is derivedfrom the verb HABAQ which means “embrace.” The prophet’s name therefore mostlikely means “One Who Embraces” or “Clings,” which is quite appropriate inlight of Hab 3:16-19.W&B, 273; Van Pelt, II:42;McGee, “Nahum;” L&D, 463; Archer, 337

                              B.     Authorof Habakkuk

It is possible that Habakkuk was “cult prophet” in thesense that much of his ministry was centered in the temple and that Hab 3 plays a part in theliturgical setting. L&D, 463

The Talmud (Makkot 23b) records the remark of one rabbithat ‘Moses gave Israel 613 commandments, David reduced them to 10, Isaiah to2, but Habakkuk to one: the righteous shall live by his faith’ [Hab. 2:4].” L&D,464

                              C.     Dateof Habakkuk

It is believed that he lived during the rise of theNeo-Babylonian Empire, about 625-605 B.C. After the battle of Carchemish in 605B.C. the Chaldeans became a real threat to Judah, which means that he probablyministered during the reign of Jehoiakim (608-597 B.C.). Unger, 222; cf. Young,271; A&B, 458

                              D.     Purpose& Theme of Habakkuk

“The circumstances of life sometimes appear tocontradict God’s revelation concerning His power and purposes. Habakkukstruggled in his faith when he saw men flagrantly violate God’s law and distortjustice on every level without fear of divine intervention. He wanted to knowwhy God was allowing growing iniquity to go unpunished. When God revealed Hisintention to use Babylonia as His rod of judgment, Habakkuk was even moretroubled, because that nation was more corrupt than Judah. God’s answer(2:2–20) satisfied Habakkuk that he could trust Him even in the worst ofcircumstances because of His matchless wisdom, goodness, and power. God’s planis perfect, and nothing is big enough to stand in the way of its ultimatefulfillment. In spite of appearances to the contrary, God is still on thethrone as the Lord of history and the Ruler of the nations. Yahweh may be slowto wrath, but all iniquity will eventually be punished. He is the worthiestobject of faith, and the righteous man will trust in Him at all times.”W&B, 274

                               E.     Theology/TheologicalEmphasis of Habakkuk

“Many have compared Habakkuk’s complaints about theprospering of evil and the suffering of the righteous to the book of Job. Theprophet learned as had Job that in spite of all appearances to the contrary,and no matter how difficult conditions might become, he must continue tobelieve, continue to trust the promises of God and have confidence that theLord of all the earth would do right (Hab. 3:16-19). Habakkuk waslearning to live by faith (2:4). In the face of calamity, the prophet waslearning to sing the praise of his redeemer and Lord.” L&D, 468

                               F.     Analysisof each Chapter of Habakkuk

                                                   1.     Habakkuk 1

Habakkuk 1:1-4: Habakkuk is a prophet and he asks God howlong he must call out to Him in order to be heard. He sees violence, injustice,wickedness, the dismissal of God’s word, but God does not seem to care. Schulz

Habakkuk 1:5-11: Oh, but God does care. He tells Habakkukto look, to see, to observe, because otherwise he would not believe it. Godsays that He will raise up the Chaldeans, a mighty people with a highly skilledarmy, they will sweep through the land and punish its inhabitants. Schulz

Habakkuk 1:12-17: Habakkuk praises God for bringing ajudge, but he wonders how God can look at a nation like the Chaldeans, who areworse than His own people. Schulz

                                                   2.     Habakkuk 2

Habakkuk 2:1-20: God answers the prophets complaint thatthe Chaldeans are worse than Israel; how could God use them in order to judgeHis own people. But God simply answers that He will judge them as well, for theway that they live and conquer, they sin greatly and ultimately destroythemselves. Schulz

                                                   3.     Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk 3:1-19: Thus Habakkuk prays an emotional prayerto God which was apparently sung (3:19). Habakkuk praises God for Hisincredible power, but also for the fact that He is generously sustaining theearth/universe. Lastly, he prays to God for mercy and for His salvation for thenation as he knows what will befall his land. Schulz

                              G.     Analysisof Sections of Habakkuk

                                                   1.     TheologicalTeaching about God

Taken from Van Pelt, II:43

God is the Holy One – Hab 1:12

God is eternal – Hab 1:12

God is holy – Hab 1:13; 2:20

God is omnipotent – Hab 3:6

God is glorious – Hab 3:3-4

God is divine – Hab 3:13 [this seems to be the wrongreference]

God is discontent with sin – Hab 1:13

God is light – Hab 3:4

God is the divine Deliverer – Hab 3:13

God is sovereign – Hab 3:19

God is our strength – Hab 3:19

God is patient with questions – Hab 1

God answers prayers – Hab 2

God’s expectations are clear – Hab 2:4

God is just – Hab 3:12-13 (Brian & Andy Kim, GPCC)

Remember that we do not have Bible study next Friday (1/20/12). Please read Daniel for our next meeting on 1/27/12.

Friday Bible study (1/6/12)

 XXIV.     Jeremiah(continued)

                              A.     Analysisof Individual Chapters

                                                   1.     Jeremiah 21

Jeremiah 21:1-14: King Zedekiah requests from Jeremiah toknow if God will deal according to His wonderful works and deliver them fromthe Babylonians, but all Jeremiah can say is that God Himself will war againstthe king. He says that whoever does not die of pestilence, will die by thesword. In fact, the only way to get out of this alive is to switch sides and goover to the Chaldeans. God calls upon the king to judge rightly, but becausethey refuse to do so, God will punish them according to their evil deeds.

                                                   2.     Jeremiah 22

Jeremiah 22:1-30: Jeremiah warns the city, saying thatthey need to learn to follow God, then they will be established. But he alsowarns them that if they are unwilling to follow their Lord, God will make theplace desolate. God says that after the destruction, Jerusalem will stand as atestimony against Judah, showing everybody that God had allowed the conquest ofthe city because the people had forsaken His covenant. Then Jeremiah turns hisattention to the king and his house, arguing that because he has been unjust tothe people and unfaithful to God, he will not be delivered, but rather willcome to nothing, even as king. God declares that He wants nothing to do withthe royal family, unfaithful from the beginning to the end.

                                                   3.     Jeremiah 23

Jeremiah 23:1-8: God denounces the false shepherds ofJudah who have been betraying and misleading their sheep; they will be judgedaccordingly. But God promises that He will bring about a true Shepherd, the Onewho will gather all the sheep from abroad and bring them back together. One dayIsrael will not sing of the deliverance from Egypt, but rather of the gatheringof the sheep from the ends of the earth.

Jeremiah 23:9-40: God denounces the false prophets who havebeen committing all kinds of horrendous sins and have led God’s people astray.God is horrified by the fact that so many false prophets are out there,preaching peace, when God in fact will bring destruction; God is horrified thatso many prophets supposedly prophecy in His name, but have nothing to say thatwould even remotely reflect His word or intentions. He will judge those wholead His people astray.

                                                   4.     Jeremiah 24

Jeremiah 24:1-10: Nebuchadnezzar has carried away king Jeconiah,the son of Jehoiakim, along with all of his officials to Babylon. God showsJeremiah two baskets, one with good and one with bad figs. God says that thegood figs represent those whom God will protect and bring back from Babylon,but the bad figs, the kind that are thrown away, represent Zedekiah, king ofJudah; God will refuse him, reject him, and throw him out, along with all ofhis officials.

                                                   5.     Jeremiah 25

Jeremiah 25:1-38: This is now the fourth year ofJehoiakim being the king of Judah (first year of Nebuchadnezzar being king inBabylon). Since the 13^th year of Josiah being king to this day, some23 years, Jeremiah has been speaking to Judah, but they have not been listeningat all. Jeremiah says that since they have refused to listen to God, He willbring His servant Nebuchadnezzar and will had Judah over to him, and God’speople will be the servants of Babylon for 70 years. But after that time, Godwill in turn judge Babylon, and in fact, God will pour out the cup of His wrathon all the nations.

                                                   6.     Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah 26:1-24: Jeremiah speaks at the beginning of thereign of Jehoiakim. God tells him to stand at the gate of the temple and speakso that the people might repent and turn to Him, so that He would not wipe themout. Otherwise, God promises them that He will make that city like Shiloh.This, of course, does not sit well with the leaders of Jerusalem, whoimmediately want to kill him for his prophecy. Jeremiah defends his words,simply stating that he had spoken God’s word. In the end, the relent, becausethey remember how Micah of Moresheth prophesied the same thing in Hezekiah’sdays, and was let go. But when Uriah the son of Shemaiah preached the samemessage, King Jehoiakim chases after him, all the way to Egypt, brings him backand kills him in Jerusalem.

                                                   7.     Jeremiah 27

Jeremiah 27:1-22: It is the beginning of the reign ofZedekiah as king of Judah, and God tells Jeremiah to make for himself bonds andyokes and then put them around his neck. Then Jeremiah sent messages to kingsin the area (and enemies of Judah), telling them that God, the Creator ofeverything, has made Nebuchadnezzar king, and all nations will bow to him andbe yoked and bound to him, just like Jeremiah had bound and yoked himself. Theywere not to listen to their prophets who say that Babylon would not come, butthey were to submit to him, because otherwise, God would punish them evengreater. Then Jeremiah tells the same message to Zedekiah (king of Judah), aswell as the people of Jerusalem. He tells them to submit to Babylon and live,rather than rebel and have the city completely destroyed. The city and templehad already lost a lot in the previous plunder, when Nebuchadnezzar had takenJeconiah into exile, but a rebellion would make it all the worse.

                                                   8.     Jeremiah 28

Jeremiah 28:1-17: Hananiah and Jeremiah square off,Hananiah saying that within two years the yoke of Babylon will be broken andthat everything and everybody will be returned to Jerusalem. But Jeremiah saysthat if he speaks the truth, then that would be good and the people shouldlisten. But Jeremiah nevertheless takes his stand, standing to his previouswords, and later on confronting Hananiah, saying that because he has made thepeople believe in a lie, he would die; and he did die, in the seventh month ofthe same year.

                                                   9.     Jeremiah 29

Jeremiah 29:1-14: Jeremiah writes a letter to thosealready in exile, those who had been taken during the reign of Jeconiah. Jeremiahtells them to settle down, to build houses, to marry and to give their childrento marriage, to be good citizens. They must understand that they will be incaptivity for 70 years, despite of what their false prophets are telling them.But once the 70 years are up, then God will guide them back home into theirland.

Jer 29:15-32: God speaks through Jeremiah, saying thatHe has cursed certain prophets who have prophesied falsely in God’s name; Godwill judge them using the Babylonians.

Ever wonder why people like to use Jer 29:11 inevangelism and situations where encouragement is needed; but they never quote Jer 39:16 or Jer 21:10.

                                               10.     Jeremiah 30

Jeremiah 30:1-24: God tells Jeremiah to compose a book,saying that God will restore Israel once the time has passed and He will bringthem back to this place to possess it. God says that Judah should no longer weepfor God will restore them; the people who plundered them will become plunderfor them. God will once again be the Ruler in their midst and they will be Hispeople. In the end, God’s will (including His judgment) will come about, evenif Jeremiah is unable to understand it in his day (30:24).

Jeremiah 30-33 is often called “The Book of Comfort” or “TheBook of Consolation.” Jeremiah speaks in no uncertain terms that God has infact not cast His people aside. A&B, 396

                                               11.     Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah 31:1-26: God is promising Israel that one ofthese days, He will gather His people back together and there will becelebration with music, dance, and the mourning will be turned into joy. Godcalls upon Israel to return to Him, so that when the day comes, the people willonce again come to worship Him.

Jeremiah 31:27-40: God promises Israel that He will makea new covenant with the nation, sometime in the future, a covenant which willbe different from the one that He first made, the covenant which the people ofIsrael had repeatedly broken; rather, God will make a covenant with them, onethat is written on their hearts.

Jeremiah 31 can rightly be called the “I will”chapter. McGee, “Jeremiah”

                                               12.     Jeremiah 32

Jeremiah 32:1-15: In the tenth year of Zedekiah as king,the 18^th year of Nebuchadnezzar, that Jerusalem was besieged by Babylonand Jeremiah was locked up because of his prophecies. God tells Jeremiah thatthe city will most certainly be overthrown, along with her king and princes.Jeremiah goes on to purchase a piece of land from his uncle’s son, and God suesthis as an illustration that one of these days, land and houses will be boughtand sold again in the land.

With the purchase of the field Jeremiah shows that heputs his money where his mouth is. L&D, 334

Jeremiah 32:16-44: Using the above business transaction,Jeremiah continues to exhort and encourage the people of Jerusalem to trust inGod, for He will bring them back out of exile; God may have gotten them intothis dangerous situation because of their continued sinfulness, but God willonce again bless the land in His timing.

                                               13.     Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah 33:1-26: Jeremiah continues to be imprisoned,but God continues to speak to him. And God continues to speak that thesetroubling times will pass. While it may look very bleak with the Chaldeans atthe gates of Jerusalem, God will restore the nation and the people will onceagain shout to God, singing with great joy and enjoying His many blessings. Infact, God even promises to fulfill His promise to raise up the righteous Branchof David, to come and reign in justice and righteousness on the earth. Onemight object that Israel was able to break her covenant with God all the time,but God promises Israel that they would be blessed by Him no matter what.

                                               14.     Jeremiah 34

Jeremiah 34:1-22: This prophecy was spoken by Jeremiahwhile Nebuchadnezzar was fighting against Jerusalem. And so Jeremiah was sentby God to speak to Zedekiah, the king of Judah. Jeremiah tells him that whileJerusalem will be destroyed, the king will not die violently, but he will diepeacefully in exile. In the meanwhile, the people of Jerusalem had set theirservants free according to the OT Law, but then had made them come back,causing God to be angry with them for disobeying Moses’ law.

                                               15.     Jeremiah 35

Jeremiah 35:1-19: During the time when Jehoiakim was kingof Judah, God tells Jeremiah to go to the Rechabites and invite them to a mealwith wine. But they refuse to drink wine because of their family tradition,because of what their father had said; in fact, they are only in Jerusalem (anddwell somewhere “permanently” because of the Babylonian army. So God rebukesJudah for the Rechabites are willing to listen to the words of their fathers,but Judah is not willing to listen to the words of their God. Thus God rebukesJudah, but he does bless the house of the Rechabites.

                                               16.     Jeremiah 36

Jeremiah 36:1-32: God tells Jeremiah to write his messageon a scroll and then take it to the temple to be read. Baruch the son of Neriahwrote the scroll at Jeremiah’s dictation and then read it. Message came to theking’s officials, who ask Baruch to read the scroll to them. But the officialsare scared, telling Baruch and Jeremiah to hide as they need to report thewords read to the king. Only a few columns of the scroll are read until theking tears it up and burns the entire scroll. The king wants to arrest Baruchand Jeremiah, but God hid them. Then God told Jeremiah to re-write the scroll,but also adding to it that king Jehoiakim, because of his deeds, would not havechildren on the throne and that he would be killed and his body cast out.

                                               17.     Jeremiah 37

Jeremiah 37:1-21: Nebuchadnezzar had made Zedekiah kingof Judah, but he did not want to listen to Jeremiah either. The Babylonians arebesieging the city, but when Egypt came up to Judah, the Babylonians lifted thesiege. But Jeremiah warned the people not to believe that this was the end andthat they were delivered. In fact, he says that the Babylonians would come backand burn the city. While the siege had been lifted, Jeremiah took a businesstrip, but a soldier found him, saying that he was going to defect to theBabylonians and brought him to the officials in Jerusalem, who put him intoprison. But King Zedekiah brought him secretly before him, listening toJeremiah’s prophecy that he would be delivered to the Babylonians. But Zedekiahallowed him to stay in the guardhouse and be fed there until all the food wasgone.

                                               18.     Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:1-13: Jeremiah had preached that peopleshould leave the city in order not to die (Jer 21), and so some of the officials cometo the king requesting permission to kill him. The king feels powerless andputs Jeremiah in their hands. He is lowered into a cistern, which has no water.But then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian heard of it and requests permission from theking to pull him out. He gives them permission and Jeremiah is lifted out ofthe cistern and he continued to live in the court of the guardhouse.

Jeremiah 38:14-28: Then Zedekiah the king called uponJeremiah and promised him not to do any hard; Zedekiah wanted to know God’swill. Jeremiah tells the king that if he surrenders to the Babylonians, he willlive and the city will not be destroyed. But if he did not listen to the wordof the Lord, then he would be killed and the city leveled. Zedekiah is afraidand unwilling for anybody to know about this prophecy.

                                               19.     Jeremiah 39

Jeremiah 39:1-10: In the 10^th month of the 9^thyear of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar came and laid siege to the city.The city held until the 9^th day of the 4^th month of the11^th year, but then the walls were breached. The officials fled, butthe Chaldeans caught up with them; Zedekiah’s children were killed before hiseyes, the nobles were killed as well, and Zedekiah’s eyes were blinded. All thepeople were exiled, except the poorest who were given vineyards and fields tocultivate.

It is tragic, that the last thing that the king saw wasthe death of his own sons (Jer 39:6-7). A&B, 399

Jeremiah 39:11-18: Nebuchadnezzar tells his officers toleave Jeremiah alone and to treat him well. Jeremiah had told Ebed-melech theEthiopian before the conquest that God would treat him kindly and deliver himfrom the Babylonians, despite the fact that the city was about to fall.

Please read Habakkuk (and take notes) for next Friday’s Bible study.

Bible Study,

         XII.     2Kings & 2 Chronicles

Quoted from Rosscup

                              A.     BabylonianCaptivity

                                                   1.     Chronologyof the Period

There is a problem here. Jerusalemfell in 586 B. C., and the decree of King Cyrus (Persia)to allow Jews to return to Jerusalemwas in 536 (only fifty years). How, then, can certain prophecies state that theexile will be 70 years (Jer 25.11; 29:10;Dan 9:2)?The solution recognized by many is as follows:

                                                   a.     Apolitical dating – 606-536 = 70 years

                                                   b.     Areligious dating – 586-516 = 70 years

This relates to the temple, with 586 being the year ofits destruction and 516 the year of its restoration in the Book of Ezra.

                                                   2.     CrownDuring the Period

Which king rules, and what were the chiefcharacteristics of each reign?

                                                   a.     Nebuchadnezzar(605-562)

The strongest king, carnally proud, whom God humbled inthe days of Daniel (cf. Dan 2-4)

                                                   b.     Evil-Merodach,son of Nebuchardnezzar (2 Kings 25:27; Jer 52:31ff).

He reigned two years. He is known biblically for hisrelease of Judah's KingJehoiachin who had been taken captive in 597 B. C. (second deportation of Jerusalem). He allottedJehoiachin freedom from prison and access to the palace, Merodach was murderedby Meriglissar.

                                                   c.     Meriglissar

He married the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, murderedMerodach, and secured the throne.

                                                  d.     LabashMarduk, son of Meriglissar.

He reigned less than a year and was also murdered

                                                   e.     Nabodidus,son of Nebuchadnezzar (556-539)

He neglected the office of king and took only a casualinterest in the affairs of state. His energies were absorbed by building andrestoring temples, studying archeology, history, and literature, and inundertaking foreign campaigns.

                                                    f.     Belshazzar(553-539)

He was the son of Nabonidus, as archeology has clearedup in recant years, and was a co-regent during most of his reign. SinceNabonidus was away from Babylonmuch of his time, Belshazzar was the ruler in the city.

Daniel 5 shows the wickedness of Belshazzar. He desecrated the holyvessels of God's temple which had been brought from Jerusalem by having his banquet guests drinkwine from them and give glory to their own gods. He did this while the Persianarmy was outside Babylonactually finding a way to get into the city and conquer it. Before Belshazzarwas aware of it, the enemy was upon him.

                                                   3.     ConditionsDuring the Period

                                                   a.     Political

1)     The Babylonian Empire, having conquered Palestine-Syria,consolidated its holdings so as to make a deadly strike against Egypt.

2)     Babylongained servant labor (cf. Jer 27-28).

a)     Some were lowly servants (Isa 47:6).

However, this did not represent as great a change as onemight imagine, for some had been very poor servants already in the land ofPalestine. Babylon left some of the poor people in Judah to farm it (Jer 39:10).

b)     Other Jews were taken into training for higherpositions, for they could be used to advantage by the Babylonians (Dan 1).

Nehemiah, under Persia’s rule later, was a cup-bearer inthe palace.

3)     Media-Persia was on its way up.

The Book of Daniel shows the divine perspective inearthly history. God is moving behind the empires of earth to work out Hisancient promises and His purpose with the nation Israel and nations of the wholeworld.

                                                   b.     Domestic

1)     The condition of enslavement differed among variousclasses of the Jewish exiles.

Some were slaves, but others had more liberty to pursuetheir own chosen vocation as time when on. They held a status more of coloniststhan captives. For example, Nehemiah 3:8 shows that among those who returned to Jerusalem in Nehemiah’sday were goldsmiths and apothecaries.

2)     Agriculture

Jeremiah 29:5-7, 23 taught the Jews to build houses, plantgardens, and the like. False prophets said that the exile would soon end andthat they would be back in Jerusalem(Jer 29:1).Ezekiel 13:3,16also warned the prophet’s countrymen in Babylonthat the captivity would be prolonged. They might also well settle down.

                                                   c.     Religious(shame and humiliation)

1)     Attitude of the Jews toward the exile

a)     Resentment by some against the Lord (Ezek 13:2, 25)

They felt that God was unfair, unjust, unequal in Hisdealings with them, and that those in captivity were there because of theirfather’s sins.

b)     Re-evaluation by some (cf. Ezek 14:22-23)

They realized the truth of the warnings the prophets ofthe Lord had given. In captivity, they reflected on the Word of their God andknew that the exile was a just judgment. They had an attitude of penitence.There was spiritual inventory and reassessment of spiritual values. CharlesPfeiffer says: “…The heathen might jeer at the weakness of Israel’s God and Hisinability to save His people from the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. The godly Jewswas convinced that God had delivered him into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar forhigh and holy purposes. The temple might be ruined, but the God of Israel wasalive” (An Outline of Old Testament History, p. 125).

c)     Indifference (Ezek 33:30-33)

This passage shows that some though desiring to hearwhat Ezekiel had to say, really were indifferent to it in the sense that theydid not intend to obey it.

2)     Accomplishment of the Jews during the exile

Were there any profits or benefits among the people ofGod, or was this a period of total loss? Pfeiffer’s assessment is to the pointhere:

“In the experience of the Exile, ancient Israellost its political sovereignty but gained its religious soul. The attractionsof Baal and the Asherim which had proved fatal to pre-exilic Israel were left behind. Captivitywas a humiliating experience, but it was the means of preparation for Israel’sgreatest period of blessing to mankind” (Ibid., p. 123).

Note the benefits:

a)     Preservation of the Scriptures.

A faithful remnant began to hold meetings. Theycollected and studied their writings and endeavored to perpetuate the faith inJehovah, even though removed from their ancient land, the land of the AbrahamicCovenant. With the attitude of re-evaluation and reassessment came a revival ofmonotheism. They had been brought back to a real respect for the law of Moses.Many had been taught a lesson against idolatry, and it had come the hard-hittingway so that they were jarred loose from it. But there was still some practiceof idolatry as we see in Ezekiel’s day (14:1-5).

In connection with the preservation of Scripture, theoffice of the scribe arose. The office is mentioned in Ezra and evidentlydeveloped in exilic times. Scribes were copyists of the law, and this work ledthe task of being doctors or teachers of the law.

Along with preservation of the Scripture was apreservation of seed-lines (genealogies or family records). These were keptmeticulously. Later, those who came back to Jerusalem hand records of boththeir tribal and family lines.

b)     Congregation in the Synagogues.

As captives, they could not construct a centralsanctuary or temple. But they could meet in local areas for group worship. Ezekiel 8:1 and 20:1-3 describeelders congregating at the house of the prophet to hear the world of the Lord.This shows a movement toward assembling together in the exilic period. Thesemeetings, many believe, are the roots of the synagogue.

c)     Expectation of the Savior (Messiah)

There was a quickening of the Messianic hope as a resultof being removed from their land (the land of the covenant) and suffering atthe hands of a Gentile people. 

Please remember to read Jeremiah 21-39 for next FRIDAY!

Friday Bible Study, 12/16/11

         XII.     2Kings & 2 Chronicles

                              A.     Analysisof Individual Chapters

                                                   1.     2 Kings 23

2 Kings 23:1-28: After hearing this prophecy, Josiahgathered all the elders of the city and the nation together and he read thebook of the law in their hearing. Then Josiah ordered all the pagan items to bebrought out of the temple and to be burned outside the city. Then Josiah putaway all the priests of the false gods, the male cult prostitutes, putting awayanything and everything that defiled the land, all the way to the cities of Samaria, wherever he coulddo so. He also killed all the false priests, put away all the mediums andspiritits, and teraphim. And in the same year, the 18^th year of hisreign, the Passover was reinstituted, it was celebrated in such a magnitude asit had not been done since the time of the Judges. Still, God was not willingto turn from His wrath because of the great sin that Manasseh had brought uponthe land.

2 Kings 23:29-30: Then Pharaoh Neco came from Assyria, tofight the king of Assyria. But Josiah went out to meet him in battle and Necokilled him at Megiddo; he was later on buried inJerusalem.

2 Kings 23:31-37: Jehoahaz was 23 years old when hebecame king, and he reigned for 3 months, doing evil in God’s eyes. And PharaohNeco imprisoned him and took him away to Egypt (where he would die) and madeEliakim the son of Josiah king instead, changing his name to Jehoiakim.Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king and he reigned 11 years, alsodoing evil in God’s eyes.

                                                   2.     2 Kings 24

2 Kings 24:1-5: Then Jehoiakim became the servant ofNebuchadnezzar, the king of Babyloninstead, for 3 years until he rebelled against him. But God sent bands ofChaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites into Judah to destroy them.

2 Kings 24:6-16: Jehoiakim dies and his son Jehoiachinbecomes king, being 18 years old and reigning for 3 months. But even in thesethree months he did evil against God. Egyptis no longer having a hold on Judahbecause of the Babylonians. So Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem, besieging the city. Jehoiachinleaves the city with his mother and his servants and is takes them and all theimportant people of Jerusalem captive and leadsthem away to Babylon,along with anything worth their time from the city. Schulz
It is at this time that Daniel is taken ty Babylon. Young, 200

2 Kings 24:17-20: With Jehoiachin leaving to go intocaptivity, the Babylonians make Mattaniah king, changing his name to Zedekiah.He is 20 years old when he becomes king and reigns for 11 years, doing eviljust like his predecessors, and ultimately rebelling against Babylon.

This was the second deportation (after the one in 605B.C. (Daniel), in 597 (the one described in this passage; Ezekiel was taken inthat one), and in 587, after the 18-month siege of Jerusalem). Wiersbe, 356-57

                                                   3.     2 Kings 25

2 Kings 25 is a key chapter as it records the utter destruction of Jerusalem along with God’sglorious temple. W&B, 93

2 Kings 25:1-21: Because of Mattaniah’s rebellion,Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalemwith all of his army, putting up a siege wall around the city, from the 9^thyear of Mattaniah’s reign until the 11^th year of his reign. Andafter 1 ½ years there is no more food in the city and the city is beingconquered so that the people flee by night; but the Babylonians/Chaldeanspursue the king and capture him, put out his eyes and brought him to Babylon. In the meanwhile,Jerusalem is burned and plundered, including thetemple of God being torn down. In the end, onlythe poorest of the people are able to stay behind in Jerusalem;all the others were carried off to Babylonor killed, including important priests and army commanders (586 B.C.).

2 Kings 25:22-26: Those people who remained in Judah,Nebuchadnezzar made Gedaliah governor over the land. Gedaliah wants to be agood servant to the Judeans, but then some men of the royal family strike himdead, only to flee to Egyptbecause they were afraid of the Babylonians.

2 Kings 25:27-30: After some 37 years in exile,Jehoiachin is released from evil by Evil-merodach, king of Babylon(in the year that he became king), and Jehoiachin was able to stay in Babylon, live fairlysecure and comfortably [compare that with the attitude that Nehemiah had!].

“Everything that God had given the Jews was taken fromthem. They had no king on David’s throne, nor do they have one today. They hadno temple, for it had been burned and its sacred vessels confiscated. Todaythey have no temple. Their holy city was destroyed, and ever since that timehas been the focal point for war and unrest in the Mideast.Their land was taken from them, and they were scattered among the nations. Ofcourse, this awful siege was but a forerunner of the terrible destruction ofJerusalem in A.D. 70. ‘Be sure your sins will find you out.’ [Num 32:23]”Wiersbe, 358

                                                   4.     2 Chronicles 36

2 Chron 36:1-21: Then the people made Joahaz, son ofJosiah king over Judah,23 years old and reigning for 3 months. The king of Neco deposed of him, made Judahpay tribute and made Joahaz’s brother Eliakim king, changing his name toJehoiakim. He was 25 years old and reigned 11 years. But he did evil in God’seyes and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against him, taking him captive andbringing him to Babylon (along with some plunder). Thus Jehoiachin, only 8years old became king (2 Kings 24:8 says he was 18), reigning for 3 months, but also doingevil. He is then brought to Babylon as well,again plundering part of Jerusalemand the temple. Thus Nebuchadnezzar made a fellow Israelite named Zedekiah (21years old and reigning for 11 years) king. Zedekiah also did evil in God’seyes, along with all the officials and priests of the land, even mocking God’sprophets. Ultimately he rebels against Nebuchadnezzar and so the Chaldeans cameup against him, killing everything in sight and plundering all the treasures ofthe temple, burning down Jerusalem and the temple, breaking down its wall, andcarrying anybody important off to Babylon (and later Persia). Thus the land was“enjoying” its Sabbaths, until 70 years had passed.

2 Chron 36:22-23: In the first year of Cyrus, the king ofPersia, God’s word/prophecythrough Jeremiah was fulfilled in that the king allowed the people of Judahto return to their land.

Zedekiah did seem to want to follow God’s word at first(cf. Jer 34:8-10),but that quickly changed and Jeremiah suffered much under his rule (Jer 11:8-10; 20:1-3; 26:7-9; 28:1-4; 27:11-16; 37:21; 38:1-6; 38:14-26; 32:6-15).Willmington, 163

Importantly, Jeremiah said that Zedekiah would seeNebuchadnezzar with his own eyes (Jer 32:4; 43:3), while Ezekiel said that he would not see Babylon with his eyes (Ezek 12:6, 12, 13). Willmington,163

                              B.     Analysisof Sections of 2 Kings & 2 Chronicles

                                                   1.     Reasonsfor the Fall of Judah

“Why did Judahdecay? Because the people turned from the Lord and worshiped false gods. At first,their godless worship was in secret: they worshiped the Lord in the temple, butalso worshiped Baal and other gods in secret. Then they openly turned from theLord to worship the gods of their enemies. When the Lord sent chastening tothem, they repented for a time, but soon they went back to their evil ways.Whenever the Lord would raise up a godly king, his influence didn’t last,because the people “reformed” but didn’t repent and turn to God with all theirhearts. Whatever the king did was the popular thing to do, so they did it.

The church today must beware of the same kind ofspiritual decay. Are we worshiping the gods of the enemy? Are we proud of ourbuildings and budgets and statistics? Is there evidence of true holiness and afear of God in our worship? Are we dependent on the spiritual leaders God givesus? Are we experiencing success because the Lord is with us or because wecooperate with the world? Do we think that because we have the Bible and churchbuildings and “successful ministries” that God will overlook our sins and stayHis hand of discipline? “For the time has come for judgment to begin at thehouse of God” (1 Peter 4:17).

At any time during those centuries of spiritual decay,the people of Judahcould have met the conditions of 2 Chron. 7:14, and God wouldhave healed their land. But they would not turn back to God, so God had to turnagainst them.

What a lesson for God’s people today!” Wiersbe, 374 

Next week we will not be meeting. On December 30^thwe will be surveying the Babylonian Captivity; there is no reading of any particular Bible readingnecessary.

Friday Bible Study; 11/18/11

 XXIV.    Jeremiah

                              A.     Titleof Jeremiah

The name “Jeremiah” means “whom Jehovahappoints/establishes,” even though the name literally means “Yahweh throws.”Wiersbe, 522; W&B, 198; Van Pelt, II:18; Archer, 340

                              B.     Authorof Jeremiah

Both internal and external evidences point to Jeremiahbeing the author, having dictated his message to his secretary Baruch (Jer 36). Unger, 191;W&B, 198

The authenticity of Jeremiah is really out of question.Daniel refers to the 70-year prophecy (Dan 9:2; Cf. Jer 25:11-14; 29:10), which inreturn is confirmed by 2 Chron 36:21; Ezra 1:1. Unger, 193

There is no satisfactory reason to reject Jeremiah asthe author of the book. Clearly Baruch was the actual scribe who wrote it down(Jer 36:4),dictating more words than the first one which was burned up (Jer 36:9-23, 32). Baruch was takento Egypt along with Jeremiah (Jer 43:6) and it is likely that Baruch gathered andedited all of the prophecies of the prophet. Young, 228-29

More is known about Jeremiah and his life than any otherprophet. He was born son of Hilkiah, a priest, in Anathoth (modern Anata, about1 ½ hours walking northeast of Jerusalem). When he was about 20 years old, hewas called to be a prophet (Jer 1:6), in the 13^th year of Josiah (Jer 1:2; 25:3). His ministrylasted for about 50 years, past the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Young,230-31; W&B, 198; cf. L&D, 328

Jer 52 is most likely not written by Jeremiah; it is almost identicalwith 2 Kings 24:18-25:30 and may have been added by Baruch. W&B, 198

From Jer 9:1; 13:17we can rightfully say that Jeremiah was the weeping prophet. W&B, 201

Jeremiah, though a priest by linage, apparently neverserved as one; priest could not start service until the age of 30 (Num 4:3), but Godcalled Jeremiah to be a prophet before he had reached that age (Jer 1:6). A&B, 384

Because Jeremiah had constantly preached to Jerusalem toaccept Babylonian rule over them, it was only natural for the conquerors tooffer him a good life. Archer, 342

“By nature, Jeremiah was gentle, tender, and sympathetic;yet he was charged by God to proclaim a stern message of irreversible gloom.Loving his people with a deep affection, he constantly found himself the objectof hatred, reproached with charges of treason. Although he was sensitive to theextreme, he was forced to undergo a constant barrage of slander and persecutionthat would normally have crushed the most callous spirit. Introspective andretiring by nature, he was ever thrust into the limelight. Occasionally, heattempted to throw off his prophetic responsibility as a burden too heavy forhim to bear, but again and again he returned to the call of duty, and by thepower of the Lord stood indeed as a ‘tower of bronze’ (1:18).” Archer, 342

                              C.     Dateof Jeremiah

From Jer 1:4-6 we can tell that it is the year 627 B.C; hewould minister during the last 40 years of Judah’s history as a kingdom.Wiersbe, 522

His ministry would have been from 627 until about 580B.C. W&B, 198

Jeremiah would have been a contemporary of Zephaniah,Habakkuk, Daniel, and Ezekiel. W&B, 198

There “were three stages in Jeremiah’s ministry: (1)From 627 to 605 b.c. he prophesiedwhile Judah was threatened by Assyria and Egypt. (2) From 605 to 586 b.c. he proclaimed God’s judgment whileJudah was threatened and besieged by Babylon. (3) From 586 to about 580 b.c. he ministered in Jerusalem andEgypt after Judah’s downfall.” W&B, 199

                              D.     Purpose& Theme of Jeremiah

While Isaiah prophesied about the threat of Assyria,Jeremiah was warning against Babylon, and Israel’s futile reliance upon Egypt.Unger, 191

Jeremiah’s ministry was to warn “of impending judgment,particularly during the last two-thirds of his forty-year ministry.” Unger,191-92

“No OT prophet faced more opposition from false prophetsthan did Jeremiah (see 2:8, 26; 4:9; 5:31; 6:14; 14:13–16; 18:18; 23:9–40; 26:8–19;27:9–16; chaps. 28 and 29).” Wiersbe, 523

The theme is judgment against Judah. However, while thattheme is dark and threatening, against that background Jeremiah records some ofthe most glorious messianic prophet ices in the OT. We see the promise of therighteous Branch in Jer 23, 31,33, the mostimportant being Jer 33:16. Young, 232-33

                               E.     Theology/TheologicalEmphasis of Jeremiah

“Jeremiah predicted the 70-year captivity in Babylon(25:9-12). However, he saw beyond the darkness to the light, and no prophetspoke so glowingly of the future as did he (23:3-8; 30; 31; 33:15-22). Themessage of Jeremiah was not only unwelcomed, but it was rejected by the nation(26:8-16).” McGee, “Jeremiah”

Clearly the book of Deuteronomy was influential onJeremiah; but beyond that influence, there is also a contrast between Jeremiahand Moses. “Moses set the model for the prophets who came after him. Just asGod had put his words into the mouth of Moses, so that what he spoke was intruth the very word of God, so God put his words into the mouth of his prophetJeremiah (Jer. 1:9;Deut. 18:18).Moses had been called at the outset as a prophet sent to a gentile nation (Exod. 3:10), a factmirrored in Jeremiah’s own call (Jer. 1:4, 10). Both Moses and Jeremiah protested, pleading theirinability to speak (1:6; Exod. 4:10).
Moses was also a prophetic intercessor: his duty was not simply to representGod to the people, but also to represent the people before God. Mosesinterceded for the nation after the rebellion at Kadesh (Num. 14:17-19; Deut. 9:23-29),offered his own life at Sinai (Exod. 32:31-32; Deut. 9:15-21; Ps. 106:19-23),and pleaded for Miriam (Num. 12:9-15). Jeremiah would again follow the exampleset by Moses (Jer. 21:1-2; 37:3;42:2-4),but with an ironic twist: Jeremiah, who had presumably interceded with God overmany years in behalf of the nation, was now commanded to intercede no longer;God’s irrevocable judgment was about to break out against the nation, and hewould hear their prayers no more (7:16; 11:14; 14:11-15:1). Moses had saved thenation from destruction through his intercessory prayer, but now Jeremiah wascommanded to no longer exercise this responsibility. Moses had once led thenation out of Egypt, and now in the end Jeremiah returns there (43:1-7). Thuswe have come full circle in the history of the nation…” L&D, 338

                               F.     Christin Jeremiah

“The similarities between Jeremiah and Jesus Christ areworth noting. Neither married (16:2), and both were rejected by their own towns(11:21 and 12:6 with Luke 4:16–30). Jeremiah ministered under the menacing shadow ofBabylon, Jesus under the shadow of Rome. Both were considered traitors by theirpeople. Jeremiah was viciously opposed by the false prophets, Jesus by thescribes and Pharisees, the false leaders of His day. Both wept over the city ofJerusalem, and both predicted its ruin. Jeremiah gathered few disciples abouthim; Jesus had a small following. Both were arrested falsely and persecuted.Both emphasized a religion of the heart, and not merely one of outward formsand ceremonies. It was Jeremiah 7:11 that Jesus quoted when He cleansed thetemple and told the priests they had made it “a den of thieves.” Bothemphasized the new covenant in the heart (Jer. 31:31–37; Heb. 8:7ff). In theirpreaching, both used striking illustrations and comparisons. Both revealed atender, sympathetic heart that was crushed by the wickedness of a nation thatshould have obeyed God’s Word. In the end, it seemed that both were failures intheir lives and ministries, but God honored them and made their worksuccessful.” Wiersbe, 523-24

Because Jehoiachin (Jeconiah, Coniah) was cursed in Jer 22:28-30, itwas by necessity true that no physical descendant would succeed him on thethrone. That is why Matt 1:1-17 traces the “genealogy of Christ through Solomon andJeconiah to His legal (but not His physical) father Joseph. But no son ofJoseph could sit upon the throne of David, for he would be under the curse ofJehoiachin. Luke 3:23–38 traces Christ’s lineage backward from Mary (His physicalparent) through David’s other son Nathan (Luke 3:31), thereby avoiding the curse. TheRighteous Branch will indeed reign on the throne of David.” W&B, 20

                              G.     Analysisof each Chapter of Jeremiah

                                                   1.     Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah 1:1-10: In the 13^th year of Josiah’sreign as King of Judah, Jeremiah was called by God, all the way through thetime of Jehoiakim, until the 11^th year of Zedekiah, until the timeof the Exile in the 5^th month, that God commissioned him to prophecyfor God against Judah. Jeremiah quickly objects because of his youth, but Godnevertheless sends him.

Jeremiah 1:11-19: God gives Jeremiah two visions, oneabout His effective word, the other about the fact that Judah’s enemies willcome from the north. But Jeremiah is not to be dismayed, nor is he to fear theenemies which will come against Him, for God will deliver him.

                                                   2.     Jeremiah 2

Jeremiah 2:1-37: God recounts Judah’s faithfulness in thebeginning, but now decries their abandonment of their God. God asks what Judah’sfathers had found at fault with God that they would deny Him. God recounts theExodus for them, and they how Judah abandoned the Lord and worshiped Baal. Andnow they are knocking on the doors of Egypt and Assyria for help, but their ownapostasy, their own sin will visit them and boomerang back at them. There maybe some who claim to be faithful, but in reality they too have played theharlot with Baals. God declares that like a thief is embarrassed whendiscovered, Israel and Judah will be the same. When in trouble, to which godtheir hands have made will they turn (2:28); after all, they will not listen tothe true prophets, for they have been cut down by them.

In Jeremiah 2:1-3:5 we see two condemnations of Judah, firstthey rejected Jehovah, second their loved their own gods. McGee, “Jeremiah”

                                                   3.     Jeremiah 3

Jeremiah 3:1-10: God proclaims that the land that He hadgiven them is polluted because they have gone after other gods, playing theharlot and committing idolatry, spiritual adultery; how could they expect forGod to be content with their partial worship and commitment? God reminds Josiahthe king how wicked Israel has behaved, and asks if Judah will really follow inher way, for she is going there.

Jeremiah 3:11-25: God sees Israel as more righteous thanJudah is, and invites Israel to return to Him, to repent and then be blessed byHim. He compares Israel with an adulterous woman who leaves her husband; assuch it should not come as a surprise that Israel has been suffering, for theyhave been “eating up” the blessings that God had given to their fathers.

                                                   4.     Jeremiah 4

Jeremiah 4:1-18: God speaks to Israel (4:1)/Jerusalem(4:14) and He promises that trouble will come from the north, that an invasionwill come because of the evil that the nation has committed. God repeatedlypleads with the people to return to Him, completely, entirely, and to turn awaythe curses and promises of destruction from themselves.

Jeremiah 4:19-31: Apparently Jeremiah cries out inanguish, seeing what is going to happen. He sees how the land will bedesolated, wiped clean of the nation, utterly destroyed, for God promises justthat, and He will not change plans nor His mind.

                                                   5.     Jeremiah 5

Jeremiah 5:1-31: God challenges Jeremiah to go through Jerusalem and find asingle person who is righteous, who does not hide their wickedness behindsupposed piety. If he could find a single one, then God would spare the city.Because of their wickedness, God promises them judgment. God says that becausethey served foreign gods that they did not know, they will serve in a foreignland, a foreign people whom they do not know, who speak a language that they donot know. God sees no reason not to judge this nation, to avenge Himself onthem.

                                                   6.     Jeremiah 6

Jeremiah 6:1-21: God warns Jerusalem to leave, to fleethe city, for the enemy from the north is breathing down their neck already,but God wonders why He would warn anybody, since nobody seems to want to payattention. In fact, they rather pay attention to false prophets who tell themgood news of peace. But God says that there will not be any peace, and thefalse prophets are not even able to be ashamed of their falsehood. God isunwilling to listen to them, unwilling to accept their worship because they donot listen to Him.

Jeremiah 6:22-30: God predicts that a nation will comefrom the north, bringing cruelty and no mercy, and they will come against Zionand the people of Jerusalem, and those who have loved ones, should already puton sackcloth, for they will mourn for them.

                                                   7.     Jeremiah 7

Jeremiah 7:1-34: God tells Jeremiah to stand at thetemple gates, warning the people not to trust in the temple of God. Simplybecause it is God’s temple does not mean that He will spare it or its people, justlook at Shiloh (7:12). Rather, the people are to turn from their wicked waysand turn to God, then He will allow them to dwell in safety, rather than makingthe temple into a robbers’ den. But nobody listens, and God speaks to Jeremiahand tells him not even to intercede for Judah in his prayers. God will notlisten to such prayers, just like He does not accept the worship of the peoplein the temple. The Lord has seen the wickedness of the people and He says thatthey have behaved this way ever since God led them out of Egypt, now worse thanever, and judgment will come for their stiffneckedness.

Jer 7:1-8:3 may have been preached in 609 B.C. since it seems to havea close connection with Jer 26:1-24. They trusted in the mere fact that the physical templewas in Jerusalem. Because God had promised David an eternal kingdom, Judahactually believed that God’s favor would rest on Jerusalem and the temple nomatter how sinful they were. A&B, 386

                                                   8.     Jeremiah 8

Jeremiah 8:1-22: God instructs Jeremiah to speak and saythat one of these days the bones of kings and princes will be out in the sun,unburried because the people of Jerusalem are utterly wicked andself-righteous. God charges them as worse than the animals; animals know theseasons, but the people of God do not know their God (8:7). God warns Jerusalemto return to Him, for it is about time of judgment for their incredibly wickeddeeds and apostasy.

                                                   9.     Jeremiah 9

Jeremiah 9:1-26: God speaks and prophecies that Jerusalemwill be abandoned, yes, that God Himself will make it a heap of ruins. Thenation will fall apart, with everybody being against everybody, both in wordsand action. God calls upon all the ones in Jerusalem to start mourning, forthat is what they will be doing in a short time. God proclaims that there willbe death everywhere, and that the people who have previously called themselveswise and educated, will not be able to comprehend what is going on. That is whyGod calls upon all to stop boasting but in one thing, that this person knowsand understands who God is (9:23-24), for that would actually bring aboutsalvation for that person.

                                               10.     Jeremiah 10

Jeremiah 10:1-25: God makes a comparison between theidols of man (including of Judah’s enemies) and the one true God. And what a comparisonit is: idols do not talk, hear, or move; they are made with human hands and areutterly useless and utterly powerless. God, on the other hand, He rules, hespeaks, He talks, and He does not merely move, but He has created the entireuniverse and everything in it. He is so radically different from any idol, andyet, Jerusalem does not want to listen, and the enemy of the north is coming.

                                               11.     Jeremiah 11

Jeremiah 11:1-17: God orders Jeremiah to go to the citiesof Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem and proclaim to them the words ofthe covenants, the words which God warned the nation from day one of theExodus, to listen to Him. But God says that they have been stubborn ever since,not willing to listen, breaking their covenant that they had made with God.They have forsaken God and worship Baal at every corner. That is why God willnot allow Jeremiah to pray for these people.

Jeremiah 11:18-23: God has revealed to Jeremiah the plotsthat have arisen to kill him in order to silence his voice. But God turnsaround and says that those who try to kill Jeremiah will themselves be judged.

                                               12.     Jeremiah 12

Jeremiah 12:1-17: Jeremiah prays to God, blessing Him forHis righteousness, but also wondering why the wicked are prospering. But Godresponds to Jeremiah saying that he should be careful in asking those questionsand raising those objections. He says that persecutions will come, even forJeremiah, and if he cannot stand the warmth, then he will not be able to standthe heat. God says that judgment will come upon Judah; one reason for that isbecause the shepherds of the nation have led His people astray. God will uprootthe nation, but at one point, God will have mercy on His people and bring themback.

                                               13.     Jeremiah 13

Jeremiah 13:1-11: God tells Jeremiah to get a waistebandand put it around his waist. He does so, until God commands him to hide it, andthen retrieve it a few days later. The waistband is ruined, a picture of God’sway of dealing with Judah’s pride, which will be utterly destroyed. God had putIsrael around Him like a waistband, but they were not willing to listen.

Jeremiah 13:12-27: God lays out His charges against thenation and brings their utter idolatrous hearts to the open. God says thatunless they are willing to repent and return to Him, they will be conquered andbe led away to captivity.

                                               14.     Jeremiah 14

Jeremiah 14:1-12: God speaks about the drought that istaking place, that there is no water, and that the cisterns and the wells areall dried up. There is no grass, so that when the animals give birth, they haveto abandon their young. God says that this is all happening because Judah hadforsaken their God. He reminds Jeremiah not to pray for this people, for Hewill not accept their worship, but will bring about the end by “the sword, famineand pestilence” (14:12).

Jeremiah 14:13-22: God speaks against false prophets whosupposedly speak for Him, but have no truth in them. They proclaim peace, butGod says that there will be no peace. Those prophets, along with the people wholisten to them, will be found dead in the streets. Then Jeremiah apparentlystarts praying to God, reminding Him of His covenant and asking if He willtruly reject Judah forever.

                                               15.     Jeremiah 15

Jeremiah 15:1-14: God tells Jeremiah that His mind ismade up and the people will be judged. If anybody wanted to come to God, Godwould send them away, either to death, to famine, or to captivity, and all ofthis because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah. Jerusalem will be judged, willbe destroyed.

Jeremiah 15:15-21: Jeremiah prays to God not to take Himaway, because he has not been like those around him (not taking any credit forhimself though). So God answers Jeremiah, warning him to turn to Him and befaithful to Him, never to turn to the people of Jerusalem; then, God says, Hewill be with Him, and no matter who the enemy, God will overcome them forJeremiah.

                                               16.     Jeremiah 16

Jeremiah 16:1-21: God instructs Jeremiah not to marry andto have children, for if he would, they would only be part of the devastationthat will overcome the city. God also tells him not to go into houses ofmourning to comfort people, nor should he celebrate anything with anybody, forGod has withdrawn His peace from the people. Why would God forsake His people?Because their fathers forsook Him, served other gods and forsook his laws. Thatis why God will “hurl” them out of the land (16:13). But God gives hope, forjust like He once delivered them out of Egypt, He will deliver them from theland of the north, and have them return and restore them to their land. And oneday everybody will know the name of the Lord.

                                               17.     Jeremiah 17

Jeremiah 17:1-18: God will not stay with Judah, butrather will deliver the nation over to their enemies. Why would He do such athing? Because their heart has turned from Him, and they rather trust in theirown wicked and deceitful heart than in God. They may prosper for a while, butGod will bring them down, will put them to shame, because ultimately, they“have forsaken the fountain of living water,” the Lord (17:13).

Jer 17:19-27: Jeremiah is told to stand at the gates of Jerusalem,warning the citizens not to break God’s Sabbaths; they are to stop carryinggoods through the gates and through the city on God’s holy day; if they obey,all kinds of people will come and worship God in Jerusalem. But if theydisobey, God will punish the city by burning down the gates and devourJerusalem.

                                               18.     Jeremiah 18

Jeremiah 18:1-17: God uses the illustration of a potterin teaching Jeremiah and Judah a lesson, that He is the potter, and that He shouldhave the right to deal with the nation as He pleases. But because they will notlisten, God will destroy them, and make them an example to all the peoplearound them, showing them that all their idols were worthless.

Jeremiah 18:18-23: So the people come together and planto get rid of Jeremiah and his teaching, but Jeremiah cries out to God to cometo his assistance. In fact, Jeremiah prays that God would not forgive them fortheir transgressions against him.

“The Lordsent Jeremiah to the potter’s house and gave his prophet a message to preachthere (18:1–12). As the potter worked, he could refashion a clay vessel thatdeveloped a defect. He merely pressed the clay back into a lump and refashionedit according to his purpose.
The potter’s work illustrated a valuable spiritual principle. As the potterfashioned clay, so the Lord shaped the nations according to his sovereignpurpose. If God decreed judgment against an evil nation but the nationrepented, God might cancel the judgment. But if God promised blessing to anation and the nation turned against him, he might cancel the blessing. Thepeople should never presume God would bless them in spite of their sinfullives. On the other hand, they would receive God’s forgiveness if they trulyrepented.” A&B, 389

                                               19.     Jeremiah 19

Jeremiah 19:1-15: God commands Jeremiah to purchase apotter’s jar, and then take some of the elders and priests to the valley ofBen-hinnom, outside of the city. There Jeremiah is to proclaim God’s predictedfuture to them, saying that because they have killed the innocent, having hadtheir children walk through the fire, because they have worshiped false godsand have done incredibly wicked things, God will bring judgment on the city andthe nation. The people will be in the city, besieged by a different nation, andthey will turn to cannibals because of their hunger. Then Jeremiah is to breakthe jar, saying that God will do the same to the city, both jar and city beingbeyond repair.

The valley of Hinnom was dedicated for idol worship.“The name ‘son of Hinnom’ was written ‘ge-Hinnom’ and eventually became‘Gehenna’ in the Greek language, the NT word for hell. King Josiah turned thisidolatrous place into Jerusalem’s garbage dump (2 Kings 23:10).”Wiersbe, 527

                                               20.     Jeremiah 20

Jeremiah 20:1-6: Pashhur the priests, the chief officerin the temple heard Jeremiah prophesying the things of Jer 19 and he hadJeremiah beaten and put under arrest. On the next day he was released, only toprophecy that Pashhur will be renamed Magor-missabib, saying that he wouldbecome a terror to himself and others, that just like everybody else, he wouldeither be killed or carried away and buried in exile.

Jeremiah 20:7-18: Jeremiah complains to God that he hasbecome a laughing stock in the sight of everybody, but that he has no choicebut to preach, for God’s word is in his heart and it burns inside of him. Yes,he does know that God is his protector, but he nevertheless curses the day ofhis birth. Why would he rather be dead? Because he lives in shame and all hesees is trouble and sorrow (20:18).

Please remember to read 2 Kings 23-25 and 2 Chronicles 36 forFriday in two weeks.