Jeremiah: Profile of Courage Chapters “God’s Justice Among Nations”

Jeremiah - Spring 2013 WeekTopic Mar 6Dark Prophecies: Introduction and Jeremiah 1-6 Mar 13Dark Prophecies: Jeremiah 1-6 continued Mar 20False Worship: Jeremiah 7-10 Mar 27Broken Promises, Shattered Pride: Jeremiah Apr 3Sin Carved on the Heart: Jeremiah Apr 10The Potter, Pot, and Fire: Jeremiah Apr 17A Scattered Flock: Jeremiah Apr 24God’s Law on the Heart: Jeremiah May 1Broken Covenants: Jeremiah May 8God’s Indestructible Word: Jeremiah May 15Judgment and Justice: Jeremiah May 22God’s Justice Among Nations: Jeremiah May 29Summary of Jeremiah

Today’s Objectives Review last week’s lesson Provide overviews of Jeremiah Understand Babylon’s role with Israel Examine God’s messages to Egypt and the other nations in the region Sense the hope of restoration behind God’s discipline Appreciate the power of random acts of kindness

Review of Last Week’s Lesson Provided overviews of Jeremiah Examined how the Babylonians finally conquered Jerusalem and what this meant to Jeremiah Understand why Gedaliah was assassinated Learn what happened to King Zedekiah and Jeremiah Empathized with the agonizing emotions of those headed for exile

Date of Chapters Chapter 46-50: Around 605 B.C. –“In the fourth year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah…” Chapter 51: After the fall of Jerusalem (560 B.C. ) –“Tell everyone in Zion! The LORD has taken revenge for what Babylon did to us.” Chapter 52: B.C. –After the fall of Jerusalem, perhaps after Jeremiah’s death (see 51:64 – 586 B.C. ) –Prior to Babylon’s defeat by Persians (538 B.C. ) –After Evil-Merodach freed Jehoiachin (560 B.C. )

Last Five Kings of Judah NameFatherReign ( B.C.) What happened? JosiahAmmon Killed at Megiddo JehoahazJosiah (4)608Pharaoh Necho II carried him into exile JehoiakimJosiah (2) Rebelled against Babylon and killed JehoiachinJehoiakim597Exiled to Babylon ZedekiahJosiah (3) Sons killed, blinded, then exiled to Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar's Attacks on Jerusalem DateExtentResult 605 B.C.Quick strikeSons of noble families deported for civil service (including Daniel) 597 B.C.Major AttackKing Jehoiachin deposed; leading families and skilled workers deported (Ezekiel included) B.C.Total DestructionCity and temple destroyed; King Zedekiah blinded; all but the poor deported

Key People Jeremiah –Served the last five kings of Judah –Confidant of King Josiah ( B.C. ), King Jehoiakim ( B.C. ), and King Zedekiah ( B.C. ) –Member of a priestly family and was from Anathoth –Fled to Egypt with Beruch upon destruction of Jerusalem King Jehoiakim –King of Judah, B.C., corrupt and wicked –Carried off in first Babylonian captivity (2 Ch 36:6) King Zedekiah –Gained the throne at age 21 –Last king of Judah, then Sent into exile –His sons were killed and then he was blinded

Key People Nebuchadnezzar –Became King of Babylon in 605 B.C. –Son and successor of Nabopolassar, who delivered Babylon from its dependence on Assyria and laid Nineveh in ruins –Greatest and most powerful of all the Babylonian kings –Defeated Egyptian Pharaoh Necho II at Carchemish –Died in 562 B.C. –Succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach ( B.C. )

Egypt’s Defeat at Carchemish (46:1-12) Jeremiah’s first prophecy Fourth year of King Jehoiakim Temptation of Egypt –Military strength –Tempted the kings of Judah – how? –Tempted the people of Judah – how? –No place for God’s people Egypt’s defeat at Carchemish –Jeremiah describes the humiliating defeat –Brought Egypt’s domination in the region to an end –Describes the terror Egyptian soldiers faced

Jeremiahs second prophecy –Fate of Egyptian cities Migdol Memphis Tahpanhes –Warned about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar –God would use the Babylonians to defeat the Egyptians –References Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel –Metaphors used by Jeremiah Heifer and bull Stampede Snakes Wood cutters Egypt’s Defeat at Home (46:13-24)

Jeremiah’s Third Prophecy –Concerning Egypt –Immediate threat of destruction by Babylon –Future of hope for Egypt and Israel –Nations that blessed Israel would be blessed –Nations that cursed Israel would receive God’s curse –Egypt had done both Egypt’s curses –Enslaved Israelites (Deut. 16:12) –Seduced the Israelites (Num. 11:5-6) Hope for Egypt and Israel (46:25-28)

Egypt’s blessing –Welcomed Jacob and his sons (Exod. 1:1-7) –God’s mercy (Isa. 19:24 and Ezek. 29:13-16) Punishment would come first –All that counted on Egypt would be punished –Babylon’s reach would extend to Thebes –Focus on the two major cities in Upper and Lower Egypt Hope for Egypt and Israel (46:25-28)

Prophecies against other nations –Philistia –Moab –Ammon –Edom –Damascus –Kedar and Hazor –Elam Babylon would also be judged (Ch 50-51) –Bring the Medes to destroy Babylon –With other countries of the north Jeremiah 47:1-52:27 In Brief

Summary of events for forty years –Someone other than Jeremiah was the author –626 B.C. to 586 B.C. –Jeremiah had warned of God’s coming judgment –Near duplicate of II Kings 24:18-25:21 Three separate deportations: 597 B.C., 586 B.C., and 581 B.C. Evil-Merodach’s release of Jehoiachin Judah in Captivity (52:27-34)

Review Review last week’s lesson Provided overviews of Jeremiah Understand Babylon’s role with Israel Examine God’s messages to Egypt and the other nations in the region Sense the hope of restoration behind God’s discipline Appreciate the power of random acts of kindness Next week: Review