1. Jeremiah

2. Background Jeremiah – “whom Jehovah appointed” –Anathoth, his home, was one of the cities of refuge set aside for the priests (Joshua 21:13-19) Active from the reign of Josiah (637-608 BC) to the carrying away of Jerusalem – Jeremiah 1:1-3 –Jehoahaz, his son, ruled for a short time –Pharaoh-necho placed his brother, Eliakim on the throne (11 yrs.), calling him Jehoiakim –Babylon placed Jehoiachin (Jeconiah or Coniah) on the throne for 3 months until carried into captivity –Mattaniah, his uncle, was placed on the throne and called Zedekiah, which broke David’s lineage (22:24- 30)

3. Jeremiah’s Call Jeremiah 1:4-8 God knew before he was born that he would use him as a prophet to the nations Jeremiah objected that he was young and inexperienced God says he will only go where instructed and only say what God commands him God promises to protect him –There is no need to fear the enraged faces and angry threats of his listeners (1:19)

4. Jeremiah’s Inspiration Symbolically seen in God touching his mouth – Jeremiah 1:9-10 His message would begin with destroying, continue in the same, yet included a building up – Jeremiah 1:13-16 He was to present God’s message – Jeremiah 31:28 –This clearly indicates he was a prophet since, as Thomas reminds us, it means “one who speaks for another”

5. Sermon in the Temple Gate Jeremiah 7 God instructs him to stand in the temple gate and call for people to repent (1-3) False prophets lied when they said the temple would keep them safe (4) –They sacrificed to false gods and committed wrongs, yet expected ritual of temple worship to save (8-10) –Good lives must backup worship (5-7) –Shiloh was destroyed despite the presence of the tabernacle (12) –Jerusalem would be destroyed like Shiloh (13-15)

6. Jeremiah’s Weeping Jeremiah 9 He cried over the people’s sins (1-2) –They went from one sin to another and refused to know God (3) In God’s mind, the land is already destroyed and Jeremiah weeps for it (9-10) –There were no wise men to see the inevitable punishment and proclaim it (11-13) –Their wrongs are repeated as well as the coming judgment (14-16) –The truly wise man will seek to know and understand God (23-24)

7. Lessons in the Potter’s House Jeremiah 18:1-10 God sent Jeremiah to the potter’s house to learn –The first vessel was marred, so the potter mashed it down to start over –The potter knows the intended use of the vessel, just as God knows the intended use of his people –God acts in accord with his purpose, not arbitrarily Israel had for years been molded by God through experiences and the covenant relationship

8. The Need for Repentance Jeremiah 18:11-23 God wanted Israel to repent because they were a marred vessel God determined to turn his back while they were mashed into a new lump –The people plotted evil against the preacher of repentance –They preferred to hear the teachers, priests and prophets who did not call for repentance Jeremiah’s prayed for God’s help

9. Coming Punishment Jeremiah 19:1-13 God told Jeremiah to buy an earthen vessel His message of punishment would make the people’s ears tingle –They were guilty of disowning God by sacrificing to strange gods, shedding innocent blood by unjust judgments and sacrificing their children to Baal God planned to punish them –Breaking the pitcher symbolized breaking unrepentant Israel into shivers that cannot be restored –Jerusalem would become a place of uncleanness