Introduction

We know from Jeremiah 1:1, that Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Anathoth was about five miles from Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 6:60. Jeremiah had many enemies, from all classes of society, kings, idolatrous priests, and false prophets. The priests and prophets at that time were only out for gain. His friends were few and far between, although he was friendly with a powerful group influential in Josiah’s day. Gedaliah son of Ahikam being mentioned by name, Jeremiah 40:6 / Jeremiah 41:16 / Jeremiah 43:6.

Jeremiah is like Hosea the prophet in that he had some conflicting emotions and He had an intense love for his country and deep convictions of sin. He didn’t have Hosea’s unwavering faith in God, Jeremiah often doubted and struggled. His weaknesses were only overcome by the power of God. There were times when he isolated himself from others, mainly because of messages of doom and hopelessness and partly because he just wanted to be alone. He loved nature. He lacked self-confidence which made it difficult for him to deal with people. He was prone to bursts of anger.

Of all the prophets he was the frailest and most human. His call came in his youth when he was about twenty years old. This was one of the main reasons why he thought himself insufficient for the task. His ministry lasted about forty years and we know how successful he was.

DATE AND AUTHOR

We cannot date the book accurately because it covers far too much ground in terms of years. And there is also some question as to authorship. Jeremiah had a scribe called Baruch and some credit the authorship to him, Jeremiah 36:32. Jewish tradition, however, has it that the author was Jeremiah himself and they also credit him as being responsible for writing 1 Kings, and 2 Kings.

THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK

It’s a two-fold message.
1. A message of doom and destruction.
2. A message of hope.

BACKGROUND THOUGHTS

1. Historical.

Nabopolassar is the king of Babylon. In 625 B.C. he declared Babylon independent, which led to war with Assyria. There was a revolt against Judah at that time. Nineveh fell in 612 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabopolassar. The war between Babylon and Egypt followed. Pharaoh Neco was the only rival left to Babylon at that time for world supremacy and so, Babylon was interested in demolishing them. With the fall of some of the areas of Assyria, Neco marched northwards to regain them. They should have met at Carchemish but Josiah meets him halfway, 2 Chronicles 35 / 2 Kings 24 / Jeremiah 46.

The fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign is very significant. Nebuchadnezzar has become king and God had selected this man, not only to execute judgment on Judah but also on Assyria. Jeremiah tells us about this in Jeremiah 25. All of these prophesies were written on a scroll and read by Baruch but they didn’t want to hear these unutterable things.

Judah came under Babylonian control in 606/605 B.C. This was when the first of the captives went into exile. The third deportation was about 586 B.C. No one would return until about 536 B.C. Some date the captivity from 586 to 536 and say that this is fifty years, Jeremiah must therefore have been wrong when he said seventy years. But the first captivity was in 6O6 B.C. which makes seventy years, give or take a day.

2. Biblical.

When we read 2 Kings 20-25, and 2 Chronicles 34-36, we see that Josiah began his reign when he was only eight years old. And he reigns for about thirty-one years from 640 B.C. In the thirteenth year of his reign, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:2. Josiah was a good king. The High Priest at the time was Hilkiah, although it isn’t believed that this Hilkiah was the father of Jeremiah, although he too was a priest, Jeremiah 1:1. Hilkiah, the high priest, finds the book of the Law, the Law of Moses and the book is read to the people.

There was an immediate concern amongst the people and there was also an immediate investigation and inquiry of God. There were also immediate warnings and immediate promises of peace. Josiah’s heart was tender as he humbled himself before the Lord. Because of what Josiah did, God said that he would go to his grave in peace and not see the evil that was to come upon the land.

REFORMATION IN JOSIAH’S TIME

The covenant was made with God, from the Law of Moses and all of the people were to keep His commandments.

a. Commandments.

The Hebrew word for ‘commandments’ simply meant all of God’s commandments. Forty-six times it is used and it usually refers to one or all the Ten Commandments. It, therefore, relates to both Man and God.

b. Testimonies.

This word ‘testimonies’ occurs about thirty-four times. In a sense, it is a witness. Generally, laws between man and man, which are close to our civil or criminal laws where witnesses are required. This, of course, relates more to man.

c. Statutes.

Statutes are things that aren’t wrong in themselves, they are things one has to do because God has said so. They deal more with the functions of priests and they would relate more to God.

All of these things they were to keep in their hearts, with devotion.

The correction of the Covenant.
a. Religious reforms.
b. Moral reforms.
c. Home reforms. (Their house gods).
d. Civil reforms.

Some of the things they got involved with.

The Passover was to be kept and some thirty-three thousand bulls and two-thousand six-hundred small cattle were sacrificed during the Passover. It’s said that a total of forty-one thousand four hundred beasts were killed during Passover. Josiah turned to the Lord with all of his heart, soul, and mind. He diligently sought after God but it didn’t last long. Therefore, there was going to be retribution upon the rebellious.

Josiah lost his life because he didn’t listen to God. This is one of the things Jeremiah laments about in Jeremiah 35. Pharaoh Neco didn’t want to fight Josiah. He was journeying from Egypt to Carchemish to join the Assyrians in their battle against the Babylonians. Neco told Josiah, 2 Chronicles 35:21, but Josiah didn’t heed the warning. They met on the plain of Megiddo and Josiah loses the battle and later dies of the wounds he received in battle.

OTHER KINGS

a. Jehoahaz, also called Shallum.

Jehoahaz was Josiah’s younger son and he was only twenty-three years old when he began to reign. Jehoahaz was only king for three months. His was a short but evil reign. He was taken into Egypt and we believe, died there. This was the work of Neco who on his way back from Carchemish, hammered Judah, took Jehoahaz and replaced him with Jehoiakim, as king. Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old, 2 Kings 23:31-35.

b. Jehoiakim.

Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years, 2 Kings 23:36-34:7, and he was also evil. Nebuchadnezzar invaded the land and Jehoiakim came subject to him. But after three years he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who took him into exile. Jeremiah 22:18-30, tells us that he never arrived in Babylon because he was killed.

c. Jehoiachin, also called Jeconiah.

Jehoiachin reigned for three months. He was also evil and was taken into Babylon captivity.

d. Zedekiah.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old and reigned for eleven years and he was also evi1, 2 Kings 24:18-20. He rebelled against Babylon. He was seen working against Nebuchadnezzar and also against Jeremiah and God, 2 Chronicles 36:12-14. Egypt incited him to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar but he didn’t have a chance. His rebellion introduces us to the end of Judah. Suffering and hunger set in, Jeremiah 25, His sons were killed before his very eyes. Then he was blinded and taken into captivity. Gedaliah is appointed governor and set up to rule after Jerusalem had been destroyed but he was seen as a traitor and was an executioner, Jeremiah 40:1-6.

KINGS WHOM JEREMIAH SERVED FROM 627-586 B.C.

OVER A SPAN OF 40 YEARS, JEREMIAH SERVED UNDER FIVE KINGS

Josiah. 1 Chronicles 3:14-17 / 2 Kings 21:23-22:2
Jehoahaz, Shallum. 2 Kings 23:30-37 / Jeremiah 22:11
Jehoiakim. 2 Chronicles 36:5-9
Jehoiachin, Jeconiah or Coniah. 2 Kings 24:5-12 / Jeremiah 22:24-30
Zedekiah. 2 Kings 24:17-20 / 2 Chronicles 36:10-13
Of the five kings, only Josiah properly served God and the people. 2 Kings 22:1-23:8 / 2 Chronicles 34:35.

OUTLINE

The Call of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 1:1-19
Indictment for Infidelity and Call to Repentance. Jeremiah 2:1-4:4
God Will Not Turn Back. Jeremiah 4:5-6:30
The Temple Sermon. Jeremiah 7:1-8:3
Judgment and Tears. Jeremiah 8:4-10:25
Laments of Jeremiah and God. Jeremiah 11:1-20:18
Indictment of Israel’s Leadership. Jeremiah 21:1-23:40
Vision of the Good and Bad Figs. Jeremiah 24:1-10
Summary Judgments against the Nations. Jeremiah 25:1-38
Jeremiah in Controversy. Jeremiah 26:1-29:32
The Book of Consolation. Jeremiah 30:1-33:26
Announcements of Judgment to Zedekiah, Israel, and a Commendation of the Rechabites. Jeremiah 34:1-35:19
The Scrolls of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 36:1-32
The Baruch Narrative. Jeremiah 37:1-45:5
The Oracles against the Nations. Jeremiah 46:1-51:64
The Fall of Jerusalem and Its Aftermath. Jeremiah 52:1-34

The text

‘The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ Jeremiah 1:1-5

Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin, Jeremiah 1:1. Anathoth was about five miles from Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 6:60. Notice the statement about when he received the word, Jeremiah 1:2-3. It is repeated time and time again and gives us some very accurate dates of when to review his ministry.

There were five kings of Judah during the time period mentioned here but the names of Jehoahaz and Jeconiah are omitted because each of these kings reigned only three months. But if we calculate the length of Jeremiah’s ministry only from the dates mentioned here, it was exactly forty years and six months. That is under Josiah, eighteen years, under Jehoahaz, three months, under Jehoiakim, eleven years under Jechoniah, and three months, under Zedekiah, eleven years. However, later chapters, such as Jeremiah 40, and Jeremiah 41, record events that happened several years after the destruction of Jerusalem.

This is why some scholars believe that Jeremiah’s ministry lasted perhaps as long as fifty years. Remember, the events in this book are not in chronological order, which is why events in Jeremiah 40, and Jeremiah 41, occur after we read about the Fall of Jerusalem.

He gives us the names of three kings.

1. Josiah, Jeremiah 1:2 / 1 Chronicles 3:14-17 / 2 Kings 21:23-22:2.

2. Jehoiakim, Jeremiah 1:3 / 2 Chronicles 36:5-9.

3. Zedekiah, Jeremiah 1:3 / 2 Kings 24:17-20 / 2 Chronicles 36:10-13.

THE CALL OF JEREMIAH

Notice when the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:4.

Keil, in his commentary, says the following.

‘This word came to Jeremiah by means of inspiration, and is neither the product of a reflective musing as to what his calling was to be, nor the outcome of an irresistible impulse within him to come forward as a prophet. It was a supernatural divine revelation vouchsafed to him, which raised his spiritual life to a state of ecstasy, so that he both recognized the voice of God and felt his lips touched by the hand of God, Jeremiah 1:9. Further, he saw in spirit, one after another, two visions, which God interpreted to him as confirmatory tokens of his divine commission.’

We learn that God not only knew Jeremiah before he was formed, that is before he was born but God appointed him as a prophet before he was born, Jeremiah 1:5 / Galatians 1:15-16. God says Jeremiah was divinely developed, he was divinely desired and, so he was divinely dispatched.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.

‘This history of Jeremiah’s call to his office formed a part of his first address to the people. He claimed to act by an external authority, and to speak not his own words but those of Yahweh and this even when resisting the divine call, Jeremiah 15:13 / Jeremiah 20:7 / Jeremiah 20:14-18.’

I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK

‘Alas, Sovereign LORD,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.’ Jeremiah 1:6-10

Jeremiah says that he doesn’t know how to speak because he is too young, Jeremiah 1:6, which is a human reaction to all of this.

Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.

‘Those who are really called of God to the sacred ministry are such as have been brought to a deep acquaintance with themselves, feel their own ignorance, and know their own weakness. They also know the awful responsibility that attaches to the work; and nothing but the authority of God can induce such to undertake it.’

God says, he’s not too young, he must go to everyone, Jeremiah 1:7. God tells him not to be afraid of them, for He is with him and will rescue him, Jeremiah 1:8. We’re told that the Lord touched Jeremiah’s mouth, Jeremiah 1:9. The Bible reveals that nothing is more powerful than the touch of the Lord’s hand. Our Saviour blessed the children by a touch, placing His hands upon them, Luke 18:15. God has now put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth, Jeremiah 1:9.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.

‘This was the symbol of the bestowal of divine grace and help, by which that want of eloquence, which the prophet had pleaded as a disqualification, was removed.’

God says, I am going to set you up over nations, Jeremiah 1:10 / Isaiah 6:10, and Jeremiah will be able to uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow, build and plant, Jeremiah 1:10. To uproot means to take everything from the bottom meaning there is nothing left, it all has to be replaced. Whether or not Jeremiah spoke to these nations, they nevertheless got the message.

Note the following. Jeremiah 46, is a prophecy concerning Egypt. Jeremiah 47, is a prophecy concerning Philistia, Tyre, and Sidon. Jeremiah 48, is a prophecy concerning Moab. Jeremiah 49, is a prophecy concerning Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor and Elam. Jeremiah 50-51, is a prophecy concerning Babylon.

‘The word of the LORD came to me: ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ ‘I see the branch of an almond tree,’ I replied. The LORD said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.’ The word of the LORD came to me again: ‘What do you see?’ ‘I see a pot that is boiling,’ I answered. ‘It is tilting toward us from the north.’ The LORD said to me, ‘From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,’ declares the LORD. ‘Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah.’ Jeremiah 1:11-15

God’s plan is shown in a series of figures. God asks him, what does he see? Jeremiah replies, he sees a branch of an almond tree, Jeremiah 1:11. God says I am watching over things, my eyes are open, Jeremiah 1:11 / Hebrews 4:13. An almond tree means to be watchful and alert and so, God’s eyes are always open, that is what he is telling Jeremiah. God says I will see to it that My job is done, Jeremiah 1:12.

Once again, God asks him, what does he see? Jeremiah replies, a pot that is boiling, Jeremiah 1:13. He says it is tilting toward us from the north, Jeremiah 1:13. God explains that out of the north trouble will come, Jeremiah 1:14 / Jeremiah 25:17-26 / Ezekiel 24:3-14.

Clarke, inn his commentary, says the following.

‘We find, from Ezekiel, Ezekiel 24:3, that a boiling pot was an emblem of war, and the desolations it produces.’

God is telling him that the Babylonians will come from the north to punish them, Jeremiah 1:15 / Jeremiah 25:9. Jeremiah 52, tells us about the Fall of Jerusalem and the book of Lamentations is a kind of follow-up to Jeremiah, in as much as it tells the grisly story of how the people died by the famine and by the sword.

‘I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made. ‘Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.’ Jeremiah 1:16-17

God says, He is going to pronounce His judgments on His people, Jeremiah 1:16.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.

‘In accordance with the custom of law courts, the crimes of the guilty city are mentioned in the sentence. The charges brought against her are three, first, the desertion of the true God, next, the offering incense to false gods, and, lastly, the making obeisance to, or bowing down, 2 Kings 5:18, before images of human workmanship.’

God could have brought His judgment on them there and then, in which case Jeremiah’s book would only have been about two or three chapters long. But over and over again we see that God gives them opportunities to repent, Jeremiah 1:17. He wants them to repent and come back to Him, to leave their idols behind and come back to Him. And so, we will see from the rest of the book that God is constantly telling Jeremiah to go and speak to His people and they are constantly ignoring what Jeremiah has to say. They ignore the messages from God.

God always warns before anything takes place, therefore, Jeremiah is told to get himself ready, prepare himself, arise, go on, proceed, and do everything that God commanded of him, Jeremiah 1:17. So, he is told to Prepare, Proceed and Proclaim. God warns Jeremiah, do not be dismayed, Jeremiah 1:17, if he is dismayed, terrified by them, God will terrify them before them, Jeremiah 1:17. In other words, if he is disobedient, God will break him.

‘Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.’ Jeremiah 1:18-19

God is going to protect him against kings, princes and all of the people, Jeremiah 1:18. It’s going to be tough for Jeremiah because the people are going to fight against him, Jeremiah 1:19. They will physically abuse him and they will give him a hard time and God says, don’t let that bother you, Jeremiah 1:19.

Go To Jeremiah 2