Note: For clarity the Kings of Israel are coded in Orange and Kings of Judah are coded in Blue.
Jeremiah 2 - 29 – Judah’s Sins Exposed
Jeremiah repeated the warnings and sins the people of Judah had committed. He named specific sins against God.
Why should you acknowledge and repent from specific sins? If we are saved, God has already forgiven our sins. So you don’t have to ask to be saved again. You are forgiven and sealed by the blood of Christ. But as we live in this sinful world, we experience lustful thoughts, greed, envy, anger and these things have a power that disrupt our capacity to enjoy what we know is eternally true. Repentance keeps us humble, drives the devil away from us, frees us from the torment of sin, and leads us to fullness of life with Jesus. It reawakens our sense of peace with and to what Christ has done for us. Eternity doesn’t start when we get to heaven. It starts right now with having fullness of life with God and repentance allows us to have that.
Jeremiah’s attitude toward his countrymen’s sins was painful for him. He said there was agony in his heart and he could not keep silent. He was crushed and mourned for the people. He asked, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” – Jer. 8:22. Gilead was the land near the Jordan river which was known for its healing balsams. He saw the hurt of his people and saw there was no medicine or physician to help them. He had no peace. He wept day and night for them. He wanted to just run away to get away from all the evil. (Jer. 4:19-21; 8:21-9:2)
At times I think we all feel the way Jeremiah felt. There is so much sin and evil in our world that we don’t think we can stand it anymore. We are saddened by the killing of the unborn, the school shootings, and the blatant sins all around us. It’s considered normal behavior by the world’s standards. People sin openly and are unashamed. People are selfish, self-righteous, and prideful. We mourn for our world just like Jeremiah did.
What are some right and wrong ways Christians can communicate the truth about sin? People sometimes try to minimize sin. They say ‘it’s no big deal’ and dismiss the ‘little’ sins. But these ‘little’ sins can lead to larger sins. In God’s eyes all sin is the same. They also try to legitimize sin. It’s tempting to do something bad because you believe that something good will come of it. Doing wrong for the right reason is still sin. They often rationalize sin by giving reasons or excuses. They shift the blame onto someone else. They even confess sin, but only partially.
We learn some truths about God in Jeremiah 18:1-11. God is in control; He has the power; He has a plan; He is patient. Our lives are in His hands. He is the Creator and can do what He wishes with the people just like a potter with his vessel. He can mold us with the intent to cause us to desire Him. He will judge evil, but if there is repentance He will relent. He wants everyone to turn from their evil ways and reform their ways and actions.
Principle: Believers still need to acknowledge daily sin to awaken our sense of peace with and to what God has done for us.
Jeremiah 4-29; 46-51 – Specifics of the Coming Judgment
In Jeremiah 4:6; 13:18-20; 20:4-6; 25:8-14 Jeremiah gave facts about the coming judgment on Judah. God will bring terrible destruction and disaster from the north. He foretold of the people being taken captive. They will be carried into exile. God will hand over to their enemies all the wealth of the city – all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah.
Jeremiah 6:1-7; 11:22; 12:12-13 describe the suffering that would accompany God’s judgment. The people will flee for their lives. Their young men will die by the sword. Their sons and daughters by famine. No one will be safe. They will sow wheat but reap thorns.
Jeremiah 46-51 tells the surrounding nations would also face Babylonian attack. God’s judgment would fall on all people and nations not just Judah. His judgment would also fall on the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar and Hazor, and Elam. God used Babylon to carry out His judgment, but they would also face His judgment. The people of Judah were given some comfort knowing that God would also destroy Babylon (Jer. 51:34-35).
Jeremiah proclaimed hope and restoration for God’s people. “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’”. – Jer. 29:11. “The days are coming when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess.” – Jer. 30:3. He told them to not fear because He will save them out of exile and they will have peace and security again and no one will make them afraid. (Jer. 30 – 33) Only God can make new what sin has broken.
Israel broke her covenant with God, but in God’s mercy and grace He promised a new covenant. The first covenant contained commands and prohibitions. God said the time is coming when He will make a new covenant with them. If they obeyed and remained true, He will be their God and they will be His people. They will be forgiven of their wickedness and He will remember their sins no more. (Jer. 31:31-37)
Christians today experience the reality of God’s new covenant promise. 2 Cor. 3:3-6; Heb 7:18-22; 8:8-13; 10:15-17 – His new covenant is written of the Spirit and on our hearts. Jesus is our new covenant. His laws are written in our hearts and written on our minds. Jesus sealed the new covenant with His blood on the cross, bringing salvation to all who put their faith in Him.
God encouraged the people by instructing Jeremiah to purchase a field in Jeremiah 32. He did as God commanded. He trusted God for the future in the midst of difficult times. This was a sign of hope and future restoration. The people would go into exile, but God would someday bring the nation back to their land. God had not abandoned Judah, but instead promised to remain among them and provide them salvation and eventually free them. They will be redeemed and will eventually return home.
Principle: Only God can make new what sin has broken.
Jeremiah 52 – Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians attacked Jerusalem. The invading army ravaged and burned the city. They set fire to the temple and stole the temple treasures. They set fire to the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. They broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. They carried the people into exile, but left behind the poorest people to work the vineyards and fields. Jerusalem’s fall was brutal and bloody.
King Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon and was taken prisoner. His sons were slaughtered in front of him. He was blinded, bound with bronze shackles, and put in prison in Babylon until his death.
Jeremiah’s prediction came to pass which proves God is the one true God and He is in control. It proves He knows the future. What He says will happen, will happen.
Jeremiah 52 ends with Jehoiachin, king of Judah being released after 37 years in prison. He was released by the king Evil-Merodach, Nebuchadnezzar’s son who had become king after his father died. We aren’t sure why he was released. But what a picture of grace. He was given a seat at the kings table. He was given new clothes and was not identified as a prisoner but a prince. God moved the heart of the king of Babylon to show grace to Jehoiachin. He lived in the palace and didn’t go back to prison. As a Christian you were saved by His marvelous grace. God wants you to live in the palace with His people and eat at His table. He has freed you from the prison of sin.
Jeremiah’s final words regarding King Jehoiachin was not an incidental detail but rather a hopeful sign that David’s throne had not been forgotten. It showed God’s grace and a foreshadow of God’s blessing and restoration of His people to come.
Jeremiah’s clearest message was calling the people to turn away from their wicked ways and their dependence on idols and false gods and return to their loyalty to God. His message is for us today. If we don’t repent, God will judge our wicked ways and our worship of idols and false gods. He warns us to return our loyalty to God before it’s too late. The judgment that is coming for us will be much greater than that of Judah.
Jeremiah witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem. Our next study will be on Lamentations. It focuses on Jeremiah’s personal expressions of deep anguish and lament over what he experienced.
Principle: God saves by His marvelous grace by freeing believers from the prison of sin.
This week’s attribute of God is His Everlasting Love. God’s loves you with an everlasting, all-powerful love. His love is unconditional, unlimited, and extends to all people. It’s a love that goes far beyond what is considered humanly possible. His love is incomprehensible, immeasurable, unconditional, and unchanging. He demonstrated His love by sacrificing His Son in order for our sins to be forgiven.
Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided in the book of Lamentations. Hope to see you here. – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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2 comments:
I found this all to be very interesting , before this I had never even heard of Lamentations
I'm with you. This is the first time I've really paid any attention to Lamentations. But I love it!
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