Jeremiah: Profile of Courage An Introduction to Jeremiah and Chapters 1-6 “Dark Prophecies”

Today’s Objectives Overview of class schedule and expectations Provide an historical background and timeline Learn about key people in Jeremiah’s time Review historical maps of Israel and the region Learn about Jeremiah’s first two recorded visions Review Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning Judah’s spiritual adultery Consider God’s unique role for the Judahites God’s determination for the Israelites to face their personal sins and repent

Sources LifeLinks Series Commentaries: –Constable – Primary Source –JFB –Henry Encyclopedia/Dictionary –Strong –Easton –Hitchcock –ISBE – Primary Source Bibles –KJV –NIV – Primary Source –ASV –ISV –CEV

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

Not written in chronological order Five primary sections, grouped by subject –Introduction (Ch 1) –Speeches by Jeremiah outlining the sinfulness of Judah (Ch 2-20) –Prophecy of doom and salvation through the Messiah (Ch 21-33) –Prophecies during reign of Zedekiah and Jehoiachin (Ch 34-45) –Prophecies during the reign of Jehoiakim (Ch 46-52) The book is written in a transitional time in the eventual downfall of Judah Overview

Judah provides us an example of a nation who attempted to take direction from men, not from God The population followed the lies of the shepherds and leaders over them because they were ignorant of God’s word and wanted comfort from sin God’s call to Judah is similar to his call to us today –Acknowledge our sin (Jer 3:13, 25: 13:16; 1 John 1:9) –Seek the truth (Jer 5:1, Matt 7:7) –Obey God’s commandments (Jer 6:16; 7:21-24; 26:13, John 14:15) –Reform your ways (Jer 18:11; 26:13, 2 Tim 2:22-24) –Repent of wrongdoing (Jer 18:8; 25:5, Luke 13:3) –God would return them to the promised land (Jer 25:11, John 10:9) Importance to Christians

Historical Background Prophecy is placed sometime between B.C. Political background –Assyria was the regional power rising to dominance in 911 B.C. until around 612 B.C. –Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. –Babylonia, subject to Assyria, began to become a dominate regional power in 625 B.C. –Nineveh (Assyria) fell in 612 B.C. against a coalition of Medes (Persian precursor), Babylonians, and Scythians –Egypt attempted to regain regional power until 605 B.C., allying with Assyria against Babylonia –Persia captured Babylonia, Greeks captured Persians

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 –May have descended from Abiathar, a distrusted priest –Fled to Egypt with Beruch upon destruction of Jerusalem King Josiah –“Great Reform” (2 Ki 22-23, particularly 2 Ki 23:3) – B.C. –Foremost among all the kings for unswerving loyalty to God –Rebuilding of the temple –Discovery of the law of Moses (Book of Deuteronomy)

Key People King Jehoiakim –King of Judah, B.C., corrupt and wicked –Carried off in first Babylonian captivity (2 Ch 36:6) King Jehoahaz and King Jehoiachin –Two kings of Judah with short reigns before and after Jehoiakim Nebuchadnezzar –Babylonian King from B.C. –Military commander that defeated Egypt in 605 B.C. –Conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Baruch –Jeremiah’s scribe who read Jeremiah’s prophecies in the temple King Zedekiah –Last king of Judah

Prophet to the Nations (1:1-10) Background (vss. 1-3) –Father was Hilkiah, a priest from Anathoth –Lived three miles northeast of Jerusalem –Possible descendent of Abiathar –Mentions three kings but there were actually five –Served from B.C. Jeremiah’s Calling (vss. 4-10) –About 20 years old –Called to service in the 13 th year of King Josiah –Born to be a prophet –Realized his own shortfalls –Fear calmed by God’s touch

First prophetic vision (vss ) –Almond tree branch –God’s determination to fulfill His word Second prophetic vision (vss ) –Seething (boiling) pot, from the face of the north –Pot represents Babylonians and Chaldeans –North represents the direction in which they would bring destruction Strengthening Jeremiah (vss ) –Jeremiah could not escape his mission –God promises to make Jeremiah and impregnable fortress –Jeremiah’s opponents would not overcome him Prophet of Destruction (1:11-19)

Describes Israel and Judah’s sins with imagery –Marriage (vss. 2:2-3) –Adultery and Prostitution (vss. 2:4-37) –Divorce (vss. 3:1) Israel’s multiple gods (vss. 2:8, 11, 20, 23, 25, etc.) –Idols of Egypt and Assyria –No nations switched gods quite like Israel and Judah Former devotedness and God’s favor God’s judgment for idolatry – Israel as an example (vs. 2:14) Jeremiah Matures (vss. 2:1-3:5)

Prodigal Wives (vss. 3:6-13) New discourse begins in verse 6 Israel and Judah pictured as young wives (vss ) –Israel was sinful and then sent away in order to shield Judah – “divorced” –Judah ignored God’s actions and became sinful too –Judah “feignedly” returned to God –At least Israel didn’t pretend God instructs Jeremiah call for repentance (vss ) –Hope for the repentant, suffering for the sinful

A Forgiving Husband (vss. 3:14-25) God looks to the future (vss ) –God will call out and some will respond –Remnant would return Old versus new covenant (vs. 16) –Outward symbols of the old covenant (Ark of the Covenant) –Replaced by the new covenant (see Jer 31:33) –Ark would never have to be replaced by an object to symbolize God’s presence All nations would gather with a reunited Israel and Judah (vss )

Ark of the Covenant Build under Moses’ supervision Contained the stone tablet with 10 Commandments, golden pot with manna, and Aaron’s rod Regarded as Judah’s protection against judgment

In Brief (chap. 4-6) Call for people of Jerusalem to circumcise their hearts (vss. 4:4) If they refused, a terrible invasion would come from the north (vss. 4:6-31) Jeremiah’s lament that none were able to receive his message (chap. 5) False prophets have lulled the nation into a false sense of security Jeremiah foresaw a terrible siege followed by death, destruction, and captivity (chap. 6)

Review Provided an historical background and timeline Learned about key people in Jeremiah’s time Reviewed historical maps of Israel and the region Learned about Jeremiah’s first two recorded visions Reviewed Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning the Israelites’ spiritual adultery Considered God’s unique role for Judah God’s determination for the Judahites to face their personal sins and repent Next Week: Finish chapter 1-6