![]() Judgment is one of the most pervasive themes in Jeremiah’s writings, though he was careful to point out that repentance, if sincere, would postpone the otherwise inevitable judgment that was coming from God. But Jeremiah loved the people of Judah in spite of their sins, and he prayed for them ( Jeremiah 14:7,20) even when the Lord told him not to ( Jeremiah 7:16 11:14 14:11). ![]() He lashed out against the sins of his countrymen ( Jeremiah 44:23), condemning them severely for their idolatry ( Jeremiah 16:10–13,20 22:9 32:29 44:2–3,8 17–19,25)-which sometimes horrifyingly involved sacrificing their children to foreign gods (see Jeremiah 7:30–34). Many of his own predictions were fulfilled in the short term (e.g., Jeremiah 16:15 20:4 25:11–14 27:19–22 29:10 34:4–5 43:10–11 44:30 46:13), and others were-or will yet be-fulfilled in the long term (e.g., Jeremiah 23:5–6 30:8–9 31:31–34 33:15–16).Īs hinted earlier, an aura of conflict surrounded Jeremiah almost from the beginning. Referred to frequently as “Jeremiah the prophet” in the book that bears his name ( Jeremiah 20:2 25:2 28:5, 10–12, 15 29: 1,29 ) and elsewhere ( 2 Chronicles 36:12 Daniel 9:2 Matthew 2:17 27:9 see Matthew 16:14), Jeremiah was always conscious of his call from the Lord ( Jeremiah 1:5 15:19) to be a prophet.Īs such, he proclaimed a message given him by God himself ( Jeremiah 19:2) a message that was certain to be fulfilled ( Jeremiah 28:9 32:24). Theological Themes and Message of Jeremiah Jeremiah, so often expressing the anguish he had in his spirit because of his message from God ( Jeremiah 4:19 9:1 10:19–20 23:9), has rightly been called the “weeping prophet.” But it is also true that the memory of his divine call ( Jeremiah 1:17) and the fact that the Lord frequently reaffirmed of his calling as a prophet (see, e.g., Jeremiah 3:12 7:2,27–28 11:2,6 13:12–13 17:19–20) made Jeremiah fearless and faithful in the service of his God (compare Jeremiah 15:20). In his “confessions” (see Jeremiah 11:18–23 12:1–4 15:10–21 17:12–18 18:18–23 20:7–18) he laid bare the deep struggles of his inmost being, sometimes making startling statements about his feelings toward God ( Jeremiah 12:1 15:18). Although timid by nature ( Jeremiah 1:6), he received the Lord’s assurance that he would become strong and courageous ( Jeremiah 1:18 6:27 15:20). Given to self-analysis and self-criticism ( Jeremiah 10:24), Jeremiah reveals a great deal about himself in the book that bears his name. How and when Jeremiah died is not known Jewish tradition, however, asserts that while living in Egypt he was put to death by being stoned (compare Hebrews 11:37). His message of judgment and exile into a foreign land was obviously not well received by the proud people of Jerusalem. Primarily a prophet of doom, Jeremiah attracted only a few friends. Still, the pressure of his God-given duty demanded a release, as the prophet himself declared in Jeremiah 20:9:īut if I say, “I will not mention his word ![]() In fact, there were times when he was like the prophet Jonah in that he was reluctant to bring the messages God commanded to the people of Jerusalem. This was likely not the kind of life Jeremiah would have chosen. The Lord commanded Jeremiah not to marry and raise children because the impending divine judgment on Judah would sweep away the next generation ( Jeremiah 16:1–4). And since Ezekiel began his ministry in Babylon in 593, he too was a late contemporary of this great prophet in Jerusalem. Habakkuk was a contemporary, and Obadiah may have been also. That places his ministry immediately following that of Zephaniah. Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry began in 626 BC and ended sometime after 586 BC. As you read the following, evaluate how his life and message impacted the words he wrote to the exiles in this famous verse. But before we answer this question, let’s look at the background behind Jeremiah’s message and life. God is of course a loving God who does chart the course of the lives of those who rely on him. On the face of it, this seems like a harmless reassurance. The same is true for many Christians today, and one of the verses that many people like to quote, or have framed in their homes, or have tattooed on their wrists, is Jeremiah 29:11: “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ “ The story of Jeremiah’s life and message is one of hardship and struggle. Suggestions include “The Lord exalts” and “The Lord establishes,” but a more likely meaning is “The Lord throws,” either in the sense of “hurling” the prophet into a hostile world or of “throwing down” the nations in divine judgment for their sins. The book of Jeremiah gives us an account of the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah, whose personal life and struggles we see more deeply and in more detail than those of any other Old Testament prophet.
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