Jeremiah

1. Write one paragraph explaining the historical background and purpose of the prophet.

Jeremiah was written by the prophet Jeremiah, a Levitcal priest living amongst the tribe of Benjamin in a town called Anathoth. He was called at a young age (1:6) and encouraged but challenged by the Lord to take on the role He was asking of Him and step into greater faith (1:7). Jeremiah wrote some of the prophesies (29:1; 30:2; 36:2; 51:60 ) but we also know that he had a scribe named Baruch who transcribed a lot of them, too (36:27). Josiah's ministry started during the reign of King Josiah and continued through the reign of King Jehoakim and until the 11^th year of the reign of King Zedekiah. During this time the people were taken into captivity 3 times, continued to love and worship idols (1:16; 2:5,7,11, 25-27; 7:30; 8:19), abandoned God (2:19, 27-28, 31, 5:7), were blinded to their sin (2:35; 5:31). They were sexually immoral (5:7-9), riddled with social injustice (5:26-29) and two faced (9:4-9). The leaders were corrupt and the prophets were speaking only what the people wanted to hear- of good fortunes and no punishment (2:8; 5:4-5; 5:12; 9:3, 28:9-11). They relied on false securities rather than on God Himself (2:36-37; 3:16; 5:12,7:4, 8-11, 21-23). And God said of them,“Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!” (3:11) and, “And when your people ask, 'Why did the Lord our God do all this to us?' you must reply, 'You rejected him and gave yourselves to foreign gods in your own land. Now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.'”

Knowing that all of these things had happened, Jeremiah talks about the godlessness of the people and the 70 years that they are going to spend in Exile, the people that would have been reading this would be the ones still living in captivity. They would have this book to look back on and realize how blinded they were, how Jeremiah's predictions were all accurate and how God had used him to try to wake them up. Hopefully, seeing how spot on he was would have brought them to a place of realizing that they really truly needed God and would turn back to Him.

Just as Jeremiah speaks of the destruction of the nation he also speaks of the reason and the punishment that's coming but the rainbow that comes after the rain (29:11-23). And God shows them how to come back to Him, “...come home to me again, for I am merciful... only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God and committed adultery against him... confess that you refused to listen to my voice.” (3:12-13)

We see Jeremiah's heart all throught Jeremiah and Lamentations, but especially in Lamentations. In 3:49 he says, “My tears flow endlessly; they will not stop until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. My heart is breaking over the fate of all the women of Jerusalem.”

2. What does this book show you about the character and nature of God?

Reading through Jeremiah made me realize that God is simply good. He only responds in vengeance when there is wrong done. He doesn't punish just to punish, there is always a reason. And He doesn't just hand out those punishments unjustly, He sends warning, He reminds the people, and He gives them so much time to see what they're doing, turn and repent. But when hearts are hard and people are stubborn in their ways He has no other choice but to punish them for what they've done. And He does so in justice (30:13; 31:20). But He weeps over the brokenness (48:30-33) and deeply longs to be able to called and made Father of His children (3:19-20,22), but they all too often choose other wise. He's loving.
And He is extremely personal as evidenced by the conversation and relationship He has with Jeremiah. He “reached down and touched” Jeremiah's mouth (1:9) and walks Him through the calling He has placed on him, shows him what He is going to accomplish and affirms (in a challenge sort of way) him in what he's going to do, see, and overcome. And in Lamentations we see that Jeremiah recognzies that God stays the same forever, His throne continues from generation to generation (5:19-20). And, “though He brings grief, He also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow” (3:32-33).

3. What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

We see the promises the Lord makes to His people and the good things that are in store for them. Even despite their bitterness and hard-heartedness He is still going to redeem them and bring them back to a land of fruitfulness because of the promise He made to Abraham (3:12-19; 31:7-14). In Chapter 31:31-4 we see the prophesy of the new covenant being established; it is not like the old one that was broken, they will no longer need someone to hold them by the hand and lead them for He is putting his instructions deep within them. “Everyone from the least to the greatest, will know me already.” And we see a prophesy of Jesus in 33:15-16, “I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David's line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.”

4. Personal Application

The combination of this book, a song we sang during ministry night last night and the lecture we had in class made me realize just how little faith I actually have. And in fact, how much I avoid any situation where there would be trials and hardships. But seeing the faith of Jeremiah, his obedience to the call of the Lord, even when God told him how hard it would be! Whoa! The faith and love he has for God. I realized that in my own life that when I've been faithful in following the call it hasn't been easy, definitely not hard like Jeremiah faced, but still a test of faith and perseverance I have seen His faithfulness and goodness shine forth so brightly. But recently I've given up and not trusted Him or leaned on Him in the times of struggle. I've avoided the times of refinement and strengthening He's wanted to bring me through. But He still shows me His plan and what He was wanting to do and I realize where I was weak and repent! His grace is SO sufficient. And I'm realizing that it's even more sufficient and powerful when I actually take the leap of faith and trust Him, lean on Him in the hard times and know that He is always good. A lot of times I found myself in times of struggles, but unlike Jeremiah's trust in the Lord I became overcome by the situation and gave in rather than remembering the goodness of the Lord, knowing that He was in control and praising Him despite circumstances. I look back and go “Ohhhhhhhh, duh!” and mark it as a lesson learned for next time, but hopefully when the next time comes I'll live with greater faith and not fall again!