The Book of Jeremiah
Lesson 12
Jeremiah 23 – 24
Introduction
Our last lesson was somewhat out of sequence. It opened with the Babylonians attacking the city. Zedekiah sent word to Jeremiah hoping for good news, but Jeremiah told him that it was God who was attacking the city. Then the lesson returned to prophecies concerning the coming destruction of the city. They fail to execute justice by protecting the immigrant, the orphan and the widow. King Jehoiakim instead of executing justice, sought to enrich himself by building palaces and cheating the workers of their wages. Both the king and the people will be judged.
I. Who is responsible for the scattering of the sheep?
a) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD (23:1).” Normally we think of shepherds as some form of ministry: priests, pastors; those who lead the people. However, in this case, it is not the priests who have scattered the sheep but the kings. Kings too lead the people and, in this case, they have led the people astray. As we have seen, it is they who have been chasing other gods and leading the people to do the same (among other abominations).
b) What is of particular concern to God is that the kings have not executed justice. We saw this last week in Jehoiakim. Of him God said, “your eyes and heart are only on your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence (22:17).” By comparison, his father “…judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? says the LORD (22:16).”
c) Because the kings would not execute justice and scattered the sheep, God will gather them from where they have been scattered and return them to their land (23:3). Then, “I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land (23:5).” When God raises up a new king who will execute justice, then Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety (23:6).
II. What will happen to the prophets?
a) Not only have the kings scattered the people, both prophet and priests are ungodly (23:11). The prophets of the northern kingdom prophesied Baal and led the people astray. In Judah, “they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from wickedness; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah (23:14).”
b) God tells the people, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD (23:16).” “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. (23:21).” The prophets did not stand in the council of the Lord (v. 22).
c) “Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. See, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their own tongues and say, ‘Says the LORD.’ See, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the LORD, and who tell them, and who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or appoint them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the LORD (23:30-32).”
d) Because God is against the prophets “…I am going to make them eat wormwood, and give them poisoned water to drink; for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land (23:15).” “The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind (23:20).”
III. What is the sign of the figs?
a) After Babylon had taken many into exile, God showed Jeremiah 2 baskets of figs; one with good figs and the other with rotten figs (24:1).
b) The basket of good figs represents those who have gone into exile in Babylon. God says, “I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans (24:5).” Exile will be a safe place for them where they live and grow as a people. God says, “I will set my eyes upon them for good… (24:6).” Then God will return them to their own land, God will plant them and not pluck them up. “I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart (24:7).”
c) However, the bad figs represent Zedekiah and his officials, those who remain in Jerusalem, and those who escaped into Egypt. As we have said for several weeks, those in Jerusalem will die of the sword, famine and pestilence (24:10); but also, those who had escaped into Egypt. “I will make them a horror, an evil thing, to all the kingdoms of the earth - a disgrace, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them (24:9).”
Next Week: Jeremiah 25 – 26
Questions for the week:
1. What is prophesied concerning Babylon?
2. What is the wine of wrath?
3. What new do these prophecies teach us about God?
4. What happened to Jeremiah and how was he saved?