HOPE AMONG RUINS Lesson One: Introduction to the Book of Jeremiah A study of the book of Jeremiah by Pastor Kris Holroyd Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m.

Book Recommendations Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope by Philip Ryken A Commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming by Walter Brueggemann Jeremiah by Louis Stulman Jeremiah by Jack Lundbom (3 vols.) ESV Bible Atlas and ESV Study Bible

Today Historical Context Some themes from the book

Historical Context Manasseh (2 Kings 21) – Reigns 55 years – Pagan worship flourishes – Aligns himself with Assyria – Assyria weakening, as Egypt declares independence

Historical Context (cont.) Amon (2 Kings 21) – Like his father – Pro-Assyrian – Assassinated by anti-Assyrian party

Historical Context (cont.) Josiah (2 Kings 22-23) – Assyria begins to regain power – Josiah put on throne at 8 years old by those seeking political independence and a return to the worship of YHWH

Historical Context (cont.) Josiah (cont.) – 622 BC widespread religious and nationalistic reformation Repair of the temple Centralized worship in Jerusalem Book of the Law restored Political independence

Historical Context (cont.) Josiah (cont.) – Meanwhile, in Assyria Rapidly losing power Big military defeat in 626 – Babylon rebels – Nabopolassar defeats Assyria in battle and becomes Babylonian king Nineveh falls in 612 to Bablon/Medes coalition

Historical Context (cont.) Josiah (cont.) – Meanwhile, in Assyria (cont.) Egypt (Pharaoh Neco II) helps Assyria retake a city in 609, but both defeated Egypt perhaps delayed in battle with Judah at Megiddo; Josiah dies

Historical Context (cont.) Jehoahaz 609 (2 Kings 23) – Made king when father Josiah dies in battle – Egypt, however, takes control of Judah while returning after loss to Babylon – Jehoahaz taken to Egypt

Historical Context (cont.) Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23-24) – Jehahaz’s older brother – Put on throne by Pharoah Neco II – Egypt demands heavy tribute

Historical Context (cont.) Jehoiakim (cont.) – Four years later, Babylon surprise Egyptian army at Carchemish (605), soundly defeating them – Referenced in Jer. 46:2

Historical Context (cont.) Jehoiakim (cont.) – Babylon growing in strength, Nabopolassar dies, Nebuchadnezzar takes over – Jehoiakim switches allegiance to Babylon for three years

Historical Context (cont.) Jehoiakim (cont.) – 601 BC, Babylon and Egypt continue their war closer to Egypt – Babylon retreats north – Pro-Egyptian party encourages Jehoiakim to rebel; he declares independence – Babylon retaliates; Jehoiakim dies (perhaps assassinated)

Historical Context (cont.) Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) (2 Kings 24-25) – Placed on the throne when Jehoiakim dies – Full Babylonian army surrounds the city (Dec. 598) – Three months later, the city surrenders – Temple looted – Deportation: Jehoiachin Queen mother High officials and skilled laborers

Historical Context (cont.) Zedekiah (2 Kings 24) – Jehoiachin’s uncle – Placed on throne by Nebuchadnezzar – National turmoil

Historical Context (cont.) Zedekiah (cont.) – Coalition hoped Babylon rule short lived, encouraged insurrection – Pro-Egyptian factions clash with Pro-Babylon – Exiles believed Jehoiachin still rightful king – Jeremiah, “pro-Babylon,” encourages patience, no rebellion

Historical Context (cont.) Zedekiah (cont.) – 589 BC Zedekiah declares independence and rebels – Babylon responds; Egypt attempts to help – 586 (after a 3 year siege), Jerusalem falls; temple and palace destroyed; more deportation

Historical Context (cont.) After the Fall of Jerusalem – Gedaliah governs Judah Family helped Josiah’s reforms He supported Jeremiah’s ministry Assassinated after about four years – Jeremiah says to stay in the land – He is accused of treason and hauled off to Egypt with those fleeing the land, perhaps fleeing a third Babylonian deportation

Historical Context (cont.) After the Fall of Jerusalem (cont.) – Jeremiah prophecies in Egypt (chapter 44), particularly against those worshiping the queen of heaven – Jeremiah’s message to Egyptian exiles: the future of Judah lies with those in Babylon

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH God’s incredible and long-suffering love – “Suffering love grows out of divine vulnerability and weakness…it reflects a situation of anguish occasioned by a broken relationship.” Stulman, ) – Chapters 2-3 and Israel as an unfaithful wife

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) God’s sovereign reign over the nations – Chapters – God’s judgment on Judah – God’s judgment on the nations – God’s directing of the nations for his plans and people

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) Theodicy – Why do bad things happen? – How can a good God let bad things happen?

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) Jeremiah as example – Living faithfully when life gets hard – Jeremiah faces such hardships as: Humiliation Reproach Threats on his life Anxiety, sorrow, longing for death

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) How to live in a non-”Christian” society – Jeremiah 29 and the letter to the exiles – How do the exiles live in pagan Babylon? – What can we learn from Jeremiah’s instructions to them with regard to living in our non-Christian culture today?

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) The Covenant God makes with his people – The “new” covenant for the exiles – The new covenant as it points to the coming of Christ

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) The formation of the Word of God – Jeremiah 36 and the burning of the scroll – The formation of the written word of God – True prophets versus false prophets: discerning truth in a world of falsehoods

SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) Hope – Ultimately, Jeremiah is a book of hope for a people suffering judgment