The Book of Jeremiah
Lesson 8
Jeremiah 15 – 16
Introduction
We saw last week the dramatic illustration that Jeremiah gave of how the people would be exposed for their abominations, and not only would they be exposed, but they would also be violated. After exposing and violating the people, Jeremiah proclaimed that they would be scattered “like chaff driven by the wind from the desert.” Jeremiah is told not to pray for the people because God will have neither pity nor compassion upon them in their destruction.
I. What is the land of the North?
a) We have seen several times previously (1:13-15; 4:6; 6:1) Jeremiah prophesying about the kingdom and the disaster from the north. In those earlier chapters I was trying to explain what was happening in Judah/Israel and why Jeremiah was prophesying, and I said that I would explain who the land of the north was later. Tonight is later. Now that you understand God’s complaint against the people and why Jeremiah is prophesying, we can stop and understand who the land of the north is.
b) Notice on the map, the red shaded area is Babylonia, also known as the Babylonian Empire. The city of Babylon is the capital. Notice that the empire comes up from what we now call the Persian Gulf and extends to what was known as “The Great Sea” (the Mediterranean), then down towards Egypt and into Arabia. This is one of the 2 great empires of biblical times, the other being Assyria. Babylonia is also known as Mesopotamia or the “fertile crescent.” This land was known as the fertile soil in the biblical world. Today, ancient Mesopotamia and Babylon is known to us as Iraq.
c) Chapter 15 opens with God continuing to speak of the destruction of the nation. The people are destined for either pestilence, the sword, famine, or captivity (15:2). This captivity is the exile that we have discussed; and the exile will take place in Babylon.
d) In 15:10, Jeremiah complains to God: “Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land!” God reminds Jeremiah of God’s protection when his life was threatened (15:11); then tells Jeremiah that the people will serve their enemy from the north (15:12-14).
II. Why must Jeremiah be celibate and alone?
a) “You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place (16:2).” Jeremiah’s life is again an illustration of what God is going to do to the people. God is going to turn the land into a place of death; they will die of deadly diseases (pestilence), the sword and famine (15:3-4).
b) In the midst of this death, Jeremiah is told not to mourn for the people, and not to attend their funerals. “For thus says the LORD: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament, or bemoan them; for I have taken away my peace from this people, says the LORD, my steadfast love and mercy (16:5).” God will “… I am going to banish from this place, in your days and before your eyes, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride (16:9).”
c) Mirth/happiness, gladness are symbolized by the bridegroom and bride. A wedding is a sign of joy. It is happiness and the promise of a glad/happy life and children; but all of this will be taken away because the land is going to be turned into a land of death. Thus, Jeremiah’s life will illustrate this. Happiness and gladness will be taken away, illustrated by Jeremiah not taking a wife and having no children.
d) When the destruction comes and the land is turned to death, the people will ask why this is happening? What have they done? “…then you shall say to them: It is because your ancestors have forsaken me, says the LORD, and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law; and because you have behaved worse than your ancestors, for here you are, every one of you, following your stubborn evil will, refusing to listen to me (16:12-13).”
III. Why will God send fishermen and hunters?
a) We saw earlier that there would be some people who were destined for captivity (15:2), and that this captivity was the exile. For several weeks we have seen Jeremiah prophesying concerning the exile; but in tonight’s lesson, God gives a direct promise: “‘As the LORD lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their ancestors (16:15).”
b) To fulfill God’s promise of return of the people to their own land, God will send for them. “I am now sending for many fishermen, says the LORD, and they shall catch them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks (16:16).” From wherever the people are scattered, God will send fishermen and hunters to gather and retrieve God’s people; from every mountain, hill, and clefts (cracks) in the rocks.
Next Week (July 23rd): Jeremiah 17 – 19
Questions for the week:
1. What does it mean to “carry a burden?”
2. Are God’s judgements definitive?
3. Why did Jeremiah buy a jug?