HIS SERVANTS' MINISTRY

www.godcannotlie.org

Welcome to our website

Introduction to Jeremiah

I am going to start a commentary on the Book of Jeremiah. I do not know how far I will get, because I have fulfilled my threescore years and ten (Ps.90:10), plus 11 years, and my health is not good. I will add to it as the LORD allows.

Jeremiah was criticized, hated, imprisoned and threatened with death because he preached repentance and warned of God’s coming judgment when the “positive prophets” promised peace and prosperity “by the word of the LORD.” Popular opinion opposed him. He became so discouraged that he declared that he would no longer speak for God nor even mention His Name. But, things didn’t work out that way. The Word of God was deep in his heart and it burned like a fire in his bones. He simply had to speak (Jer. 20). I know that feeling. God’s Word burns within me as well, and it compels me also to speak out His Truth.
Jeremiah was distressed by accusations of hatred, disbelief, doubt and uncertainty. He cried out to God and turned to His Word. What did he find there? The very message he was warned not to preach!
Dear one, Christ Himself was far bolder than I ever was. He continually warned of judgment to come, God’s wrath and Hell. He exposed sin, demanded repentance, rebuked the religious leaders and accused them as being hypocrites, whited sepulchers, blind leaders of the blind, fools (Mat.23). There is absolutely NO doubt that He would be banned from the vast majority of Christian pulpits and mass media today!

The International Genocide Treaty signed by President Reagan in November 1988, makes it a crime to try to convert anyone of another religion or to suggest that their beliefs are wrong. It will very soon be a crime to call homosexuality a sin. The day is almost here when, to protect minority rights, we will be forbidden by law from preaching the Gospel except in the most positive way. So sad to say, much of the evangelical church has already conformed.

It is simply NOT enough to preach the Truth when there are LIES by false preachers and false teachers that imitate it so closely that many cannot tell the difference. It is both sound and Scriptural to expose and contradict today’s pernicious false gospels (2 Cor.11:4). Yet to do so is to be hated and ridiculed by church leaders and all those who desire to hear only good things. Isa. 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: (KJV) . . . Times have not changed!
Are church leaders concerned for Truth? OR . . . protecting their own interests?

It makes me sad to watch deception growing in leaps and bounds. The meager “few” righteous ones cry out against it, but are opposed by the “many” (Mat.7:13). Why is that vital correction, which Scripture so clearly demands, left to a few of us nobodies and shunned by church leaders who are heeded by millions? Today’s evangelical leaders shun their duty to oppose heresy. Many of them promote Catholicism, occultism and humanistic psychology. Because of this, we nobodies, even though few listen to us, must cry out even louder to warn the sheep of poisoned pastures and false shepherds. We must bring Truth.

Author and Time of Writing
The beginning of Jeremiah reads: Jer. 1:1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: (KJV) And in: Jer. 51:64 And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. (KJV)

There is no other prophet in the OT of whom we are told so many personal details regarding his life and service. Out of Jeremiah's records we see that he was born during the reign of wicked king Manasseh (696 - 642 BC). He originated from the priestly family of Aaron. His hometown was Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, which was not far from Jerusalem (Jer.1:1). In his very early years he was called by Jehovah to be a prophet (Jer.1:4-10). This happened in King Josiah's 13th year, which was in 627 BC (he reigned from 640 - 609 BC). Jeremiah's service lasted over 40 years until after Jerusalem's destruction through Nebuchadnezzar in the year 586 BC (Jeremiah 39). According to God's command Jeremiah remained unmarried (Jer.16:2).

To start with, Jeremiah lived in Anathoth. But soon enough the hatred of its inhabitants arose against him (chap. 11:18-23). The prophecies of chapter 1:2ff and 3:6ff were uttered during king Josiah's time (640 - 609 BC). After Josiah's death Jeremiah lamented for him (2 Chronicles 35:25; compare Jeremiah 22:10). He prophesied against Shallum (or Jehoahaz) the son of Josiah king of Judah in chap. 22:11.
During the following reign of Jehoiakim (609 - 598 BC) Jeremiah prophesied Jerusalem's doom. This is why the priests wanted to kill him (Jeremiah 26). In Jehoiakim's fourth year Jeremiah prophesied amidst other things the 70 years captivity of Judah in Babylon (Jeremiah 25:11-12; Jeremiah 36:1; Jeremiah 45:1). During this time the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptian Empire in the battle of Carchemish (606 BC). Following this Jerusalem was besieged and a part of the inhabitants were brought to Babylon (which was the first deportation to Babylon in 605 BC). Jeremiah now got the task of God to write down all his hitherto existing prophecies into a book. He did this with the help of his secretary Baruch (Jeremiah 36:1-4). When Baruch had read out these words in the temple king Jehoiakim in fury cut the roll and burnt it (Jeremiah 36:20-26). Then God had Jeremiah rewrite it all again and Jeremiah added "besides unto them many like words" (chap. 36:27-32).
The next king, Jehoiachin or Jeconiah, only reigned for three months and was brought to Babylon in 597 BC (the second deportation). His successor was Zedekiah, the third son of Josiah (597 - 586 BC). Jeremiah gave Zedekiah the advice not to rely on Egypt while opposing to Babylon (Jeremiah 37:6 ff) but to subject to the king of Babylon (chap. 27:12-22). When Jeremiah intended to go to the land of Benjamin he was captured and cast into the dungeon (Jer. 37:11-21; 38:1-6). When finally the Babylonians took Jerusalem Jeremiah was freed out of prison. He was given the choice to either go to Babylon or to remain in the land (for the king Nebuchadnezzar had given charge concerning him). When Gedaliah (who was appointed governor by the king's command) was murdered the Jews flew for fear of the Babylonians' vengeance to Egypt (although Jeremiah had warned them not to do so) and forced Jeremiah and Baruch to go with them (Jer. 41; 42; 43). This is where Jeremiah continued his prophetical service in the city of Tahpanhes (Jer. 43:8-13; 44) and this is where he shall have been stoned to death according to tradition five years after Jerusalem's destruction. The Bible remains silent regarding the death of this great prophet who lived and served in the last forty years of the kingdom of Judah.

Purpose of Writing
Jeremiah, the second of the so-called four Major prophets is rightly the so called crying prophet (Jer. 9:1; 9:10; 13:17; 14:17; 15:10; 20:14). No other prophet encountered so much opposition and hatred. Although he had to suffer much sorrow by his compatriots during his life Jeremiah was greatly honored after his death (Mat.16:14). Although Jeremiah constantly lashed the Jews' unrighteousness and their apostasy off the living God he loved his people up to the end (Jer.17:16; 18:20).
The main contents and purpose of Jeremiah's message are constantly returning appeals to the conscience of Judah's inhabitants. The messages urged them to recognize their low moral condition and to come back to God from their apostasy off Jehovah as well as from their idolatry. Jeremiah constantly bore the threatening judgment of Jerusalem's destruction before his eyes.
But Jeremiah also repeatedly speaks of God's mercy for His people. The captivity in Babylon shall last for 70 years only (Jer.25:11-12; 29:10). After this time the people would return to their land.
Finally Jeremiah has a message of consolation, which still remains unfulfilled for it was not yet fulfilled after the 70 years' captivity. After "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer.30:4-7) God shall make a new covenant with His people (Jer.31:31-34) and the glorious time of the millennial peace-reign under the Messiah will dawn (Jer. 23:5-8; 33:14-18). This hope of future blessing and power of the Spirit of God strengthened and encouraged Jeremiah in his sad service that was rejected by his Jewish contemporaries.

Peculiarities
a) Judah's 70 Years' Captivity in Babylon
In two places, Jeremiah mentions the looming destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of the people into captivity in Babylon and that the captivity should come to an end after 70 years by the remnant's return (Jer.25:11-12; 29:10). The threatening punishment of God found a fulfilment during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. During Jehoiakim's reign Nebuchadnezzar, in 605 BC for the first time, marched up to Jerusalem and brought a number of Jews to Babylon, amongst whom was Daniel (Daniel 1:1).
During Jehoiachin's short reign a second attack took place in 597 BC during which 10,000 people were led captive and brought to Babylon. Under Zedekiah's reign, finally, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 586 BC and the remaining people carried off to Babylon. Jeremiah's prophecy was thus fulfilled (2 Chronicles 36:21).
In 539 BC Cyrus the king of Persia conquered Babylon and appointed Darius the Median as co-regent (Daniel 5:31). In Darius' second year (which according to Persian counting was the year one) Daniel understood by the books that the 70 years of the desolation of Jerusalem, whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, came to an end (Daniel 9:1-2). This is by the way a clear evidence for the God-given recognition of the OT's inspiration before the entire Canon was accomplished! When Daniel was confessing their sin in prayer he received further prophecies through the angel Gabriel concerning the 70 "weeks" of one year each. These weeks would last from the rebuilding of Jerusalem up to the coming of Messiah and to the time of the end (Daniel 9:20-27).

The author of Second Chronicles (36:22) and of Ezra (1:1) as well refers to Jeremiah's prophecy regarding the 70 years' desolation of Jerusalem. Based on King Cyrus' edict around 42,000 Jews got ready for Jerusalem to rebuild the temple (around 536 BC). The prophet Zechariah (who prophesied shortly after the Jews' return) likewise refers to the 70 years of Jehovah's indignation with Jerusalem and with the cities of Judah (Zec.1:12).
Now the question is as follows: from which of Nebuchadnezzar’s three campaigns against Jerusalem are the 70 years to be counted? Some researchers think to start from the destruction of the temple in 586 BC and then conclude that the number 70 is not to be taken literally as only just 50 years passed by till the return of the remnant in 536 BC. Others (based on Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Zech.1:12) want to see the final date around 516 BC when the temple was accomplished to reach the number of 70 years.
The easiest and most likely way however is to take the first conquest of Jerusalem in 605 BC as starting point and the return of the Jews in 536 BC as final point in calculating the 70 years (based on 2 Kings 24:1-4; 2 Chron.36:20-23).
b) The Order of the Chapters in the Book of Jeremiah
The contents of the book of Jeremiah are not always written down in chronological order. One generally assumes that the contents of chapters 1 to 20 belong to the time of Josiah's reign (although his name is only mentioned in chap. 1:1 and 3:6). No dates are mentioned out of king Jehoahaz' reign.

- Chapters 25 to 26, 35 to 36 and 45 to 49 are generally placed into king Jehoiakim's reign in spite of the fact that only chapters 25, 26 , 35 , 36 and 45 are dated.
- Chapters 21 to 24, 27 to 34 and 37 to 42 are placed into King Zedekiah's reign; dates are mentioned in chapters 21, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34 and 37.
- Jeremiah spoke the words of chap. 43:7-8 and chap. 44 in Egypt.
- Chapter 52 is an appendix corresponding nearly word-by-word with 2 Kings 24:18-25, 30.
This appendix was added under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, maybe even by the prophet Jeremiah himself.
The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the OT) omits several verses: chapters 10:6-10; 17:1-4; 27:1.7.13 and in some cases 17-22; 29:16-20; 33:14-26; 39:4-13; 51:44-49; 52:28-30 and other references. The chapters 46 to 51 follow in changed order after chap. 25:13. Many scientists however agree that the Alexandrian translators who were trained in Greek thinking have tried to smooth the difficult construction of the Hebrew book of Jeremiah. The Hebrew Masoretic text of the book which has been preserved therefore deserves clearly the priority.
c) Prophetical Symbols
We find many prophetical actions or signs with many prophets, for example (Eze.2:8-10; 3:1-3; Hos.1:2-9; Zec.11:7-17).  
But in no other book we will find so many prophetical symbols as in the book of Jeremiah.

• the linen girdle (chap. 13:1-11): the rejection of Israel
• the potter and the clay (chap. 18:1-10): God's patience
• the earthen bottle (JND: flagon) (chap. 19:1-13): destruction
• the yokes (chap. 27:2-11; 28:2.10-14): subjection
• the acquisition of a field (chap. 32:6-15): faith and hope
• the hidden stones in the brick-kiln (chap. 43:8-13): humiliation
• the book cast into Euphrates (chap. 51:59-64): Babylon's destruction

Overview of Contents
I. Jeremiah 1: The Prophet's Call

II. Jeremiah 2-25: God's Appeal to the People's Conscience.

Chapter 2  Israel's Apostasy
Chapter 3  Announcement of Judgment
Chapter 4  Call to Repentance
Chapter 5  Judah's Hardening
Chapter 6  Announcement of Jerusalem's Siege
Chapter 7  Reason for Judgment
Chapter 8  The People's Lack of Understanding
Chapter 9  The Prophet's Lamantation
Chapter 10  The TRUE God and the Idols
Chapter 11  Israel Had Broken the Covenant
Chapter 12  God Turns Away
Chapter 13  Judgment and Captivity
Chapter 14  The Great Drought
Chapter 15  The Remannt and the LORD
Chapter 16  Expulsion and Return
Chapter 17  The Remnant's Position
Chapters 18 & 19  God's Sovereignty
Chapter 20  Persecution of Jeremiah
Chapters 21 & 22  Judgment over the House of David
Chapter 23  The Wicked Shepherds of Israel
Chapter 24  The Way of Life and Death
Chapter 25 Announcement of 70 Years of Exile
Chapter 26  Jeremiah in Danger of His Life
Chapters 27 & 28  Subjugation through Babylon
Chapter 29  Jeremiah Comforts the Captives in Babylon

III. Jeremiah 30-33: The New Covenant and the Reign of Peace

Chapter 30 The People's Salvation
Chapter 31 The New Covenant
Chapter 32 The LORD'S Faithfulness
Chapter 33 Salvation and Praise

IV. Jeremiah 34-39 : Events and Prophecies before Jerusalem's Fall

Chapter 34  Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah
Chapter 35  The Rekabites’ Faithfulness
Chapter 36  Jehoiakim’s Contempt of the Word
Chapter 37   Jeremiah Goes to Prison
Chapter 38  Jeremiah and Zedekiah
Chapter 39  Taking of Jerusalem

V. Jeremiah 40-45 : Events and Prophecies after Jerusalem's Fall

Chapter 40  Jeremiah Remains with Gedaliah
Chapter 41  Gedaliah is Murdered
Chapters 42 & 43 The Remnant goes down to Egypt in spite of Jeremiah's Warning
Chapter 44  Jeremiah’s Prophecies against Egypt
Chapter 45  Jeremiah's Warning for Baruch

VI.Jeremiah 46-51 : Prophecies against the Nations

Chapter 46  Prophecy against Egypt
Chapter 47  Prophecy against the Philistines
Chapter 48  Prophecy against Moab
Chapter 49  Prophecy against Ammon, Edom, Damascus and other Enemies
Chapters 50 & 51 Prophecy against Babylon

VII. Jeremiah 52, Historical Appendix: The Fall of Jerusalem

Book of Jeremiah

Jer.Ch.1 . . Jer.Ch.2 . . Jer.Ch.3 . . Jer.Ch.4 . . Jer.Ch.5 . . Jer.Ch.6 . . Jer.Ch.7 . . Jer.Ch.8 . . Jer.Ch.9 . . Jer.Ch.10 . . Jer.Ch.11 . . Jer.Ch.12 . . Jer.Ch.13 . . Jer.Ch,14 . . Jer.Ch.15 . . Jer.Ch.16 . . Jer.Ch.17 . . Jer.Ch.18 . . Jer.Ch.19 . . Jer.Ch.20 . . Jer.Ch.21 . . Ch.22 . . Ch.23 . . Ch.24 . . Ch.25 . . Ch.26 . . Ch.27 . . Ch.28 . . Ch.29 . . Ch.30 . . Ch.31 . . Ch.32 . . Ch.33 . . Ch.34 . . Ch.35 . . Ch.36 . . Ch.37 . . Ch.38 . . Ch.39 . . Ch.40 . . Ch.41 . . Ch.42 . . Ch.43 . . Ch.44 . . Ch.45 . Ch.46 . . Ch.47 . . Ch.48 . . Ch.49 . . Ch. 50 . . Ch.51 . . Ch.52 . . Jer. End Times Signs . . Jer. Special Commemnts . . . Home Page