The Book of Jeremiah
Lesson 1
2 Kings 22:1-20
Jeremiah 1:1-19
Introduction
Tonight, we begin a study of the book of Jeremiah. We are at the beginning of what I believe are going to be very difficult days ahead. As I see what is happening around us, I began to consider whether there was another time of political and moral crisis? I thought about the days of Jeremiah, and I am compelled to read the book of Jeremiah; not so much as a comparison to our own time, but to understand how to stand in a time of moral and political crisis.
As we will see momentarily, Jeremiah is the son of Hilkiah. His prophetic career began in the 13th year of the reign of Josiah (ca. 626 BCE) and continued through the reigns of 4 successive kings. During this time, we will see the state of both Israel and Judah and their sins against God; Jeremiah’s prophecy against both nations and the retribution he faces for that prophecy; and the destruction of both nations and their eventual deportation and exile from the land. As we read Jeremiah, may it speak to us concerning the time we are in today.
I. Who was Jeremiah?
a) We learn in 1:1 that Jeremiah is the son of Hilkiah, and he comes from a family of priests around the city of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin in Judah. Jeremiah grew up within a priestly family so not only is he familiar with the priesthood, but also kings and royalty, as well as God’s law.
b) Jeremiah began his prophetic career in the 13th year of King Josiah (ca. 639-609 BCE), followed by King Jehoiakim (ca. 609-598 BCE), Zedekiah (ca. 598-587 BCE), and King Jehoiachin (ca. 598 BCE) who is not specifically mentioned but we’ll be able to see this when we reach that point in the book. The year 587 marks the destruction of Jerusalem, so Jeremiah is the prophet called to prophecy the destruction of the nations of Israel and Judah, and his book chronicles the days leading to their destruction and the days afterwards.
c) “Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant’ (vs. 9-10).” Jeremiah is called by God to prophecy and to oversee the destruction of the nations of Israel and Judah.
II. What was the situation into which Jeremiah was called to prophesy?
a) Manasseh was king of Judah for 55yrs and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 21:1). He was more evil than all the Canaanite nations (21:9) that God had driven out of the land, and God pronounced judgment against Judah (vs. 12-16). His son Amon followed and reigned 2yrs and continued the evil of his father (vs. 20-22).
b) Josiah became king at the age of 8 after the death of Amon, and he reigned 31yrs. Unlike his father and grandfather before him, Josiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord (2 Ki. 22:2). He tore down all of the altars and high places erected before him and was known for his religious reforms. In his 18th year, the high priest Hilkiah found the book of the law (v. 8) and Josiah sent a delegation to Huldah the prophet to inquire of the Lord (vs. 12-13).
c) Regardless of all the reforms and the good things that Josiah had done, Huldah prophesied disaster upon the nation and its people (vs. 15-17).
III. Why is Jeremiah a fortified city?
a) As we will see later, out of the north disaster will come upon Israel and Judah (v.14) and Jeremiah will prophecy of that disaster. God is going to bring God’s judgements against the nations for their wickedness and how they have forsaken the Lord (v. 16).
b) As the prophet of these times, Jeremiah will face all kinds of things: recriminations, threats, persecution and even imprisonment. Thus, Jeremiah is told to gird up your loins; stand and tell – proclaim – everything that God says to the people, and not to break down or waiver before the people (v. 17).
c) To strengthen Jeremiah for what he will face ahead, God makes Jeremiah a fortified city (v. 18). Notice the use of iron and bronze; those were the strongest materials of that day. God is strengthening Jeremiah against all he will face, “against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.” All of these people will fight against Jeremiah, but they will not prevail because God has strengthened/fortified him (v. 19).
Next Week: Jeremiah 2 – 4:4
Questions for the week:
1. How did the nations prostitute themselves?
2. Who are the innocent poor?
3. What is true repentance?