The study of Jeremiah
Jeremiah
The Genre of this book is a historical prophetic narrative and bibliography. It also contains judicial text as well as poetry. The theme of this book is God lovingly calling his people back to him with a promise of salvation and restoration. God wants to bless his children but cannot and will not except their sin and idolatry. He wants the heart of the people of and their exclusive worship. He will not accept anything else. If they choose not to obey him and follow him he will allow them to reap the consequences of their sin. This is a prophet warning to all to obey God and follow his laws. The key events and character are as follows. This narrative begins with the people of Judah. They are in a secure time of prosperity and everything is going along well. They are in a time of idolatry, pagan practices and immoral sexual conduct. They have forgotten the one true God. Judah was being ruled by King Manasseh who had pledged his allegiance to the Assyrian deities and worshiped idols. As a result of his leadership Judah became a spiritual wasteland. Upon his death his son Amon took over and the apple did not fall far from the tree. Some of the palace servants killed king Amon, his rein was taken over by his eight year old son Josiah. Josiah rejected his father and grandfathers ways and served God. During his reign Josiah had all the pagan idols and alters destroyed and he restored the temple to the people for worship. When the temple was restored the book of law that had been forgotten was rediscovered. This set the stage for the introduction of Jeremiah a man God called to preach his word. The book of law that was discovered would be what he bases his ministry on. At first Jeremiah ran from his call. God then commanded Jeremiah to preach his message. He tells Jeremiah that he will never leave him, that he knew him before he was in his mother womb and he was created to become a prophet. Jeremiah does what he is told but not without reservation. Jeremiah knows the message that he preaches will not be received well, that he may ruin his good relationship with his neighbors, loose many friends and bring much trouble upon himself. During his preaching he tells the people of his struggles between his flesh, and his calling from God. This is why by some he is given the name the weeping prophet. Under the preaching of Jeremiah and the rule of King Josiah, Judah experiences a great revival. Then as it has happened many times before, after the death of their king Josiah, Judah return to their sinful ways. Jeremiah tries to warn the people that if they do not return to the law it will mean destruction for the people of Judah. They do not heed his warning and God allows the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar 2 to take over the region and eventually destroy it and send the people of Judah into exile. God allowed only a remnant of Judah to remain. This included Jeremiah who recorded what happened and of the destruction of the temple. The ministry of Jeremiah was not a complete failure he gave the people hope, he foretold that this exile would be temporary and God would establish a new covenant with his people.
The Genre of this book is a historical prophetic narrative and bibliography. It also contains judicial text as well as poetry. The theme of this book is God lovingly calling his people back to him with a promise of salvation and restoration. God wants to bless his children but cannot and will not except their sin and idolatry. He wants the heart of the people of and their exclusive worship. He will not accept anything else. If they choose not to obey him and follow him he will allow them to reap the consequences of their sin. This is a prophet warning to all to obey God and follow his laws. The key events and character are as follows. This narrative begins with the people of Judah. They are in a secure time of prosperity and everything is going along well. They are in a time of idolatry, pagan practices and immoral sexual conduct. They have forgotten the one true God. Judah was being ruled by King Manasseh who had pledged his allegiance to the Assyrian deities and worshiped idols. As a result of his leadership Judah became a spiritual wasteland. Upon his death his son Amon took over and the apple did not fall far from the tree. Some of the palace servants killed king Amon, his rein was taken over by his eight year old son Josiah. Josiah rejected his father and grandfathers ways and served God. During his reign Josiah had all the pagan idols and alters destroyed and he restored the temple to the people for worship. When the temple was restored the book of law that had been forgotten was rediscovered. This set the stage for the introduction of Jeremiah a man God called to preach his word. The book of law that was discovered would be what he bases his ministry on. At first Jeremiah ran from his call. God then commanded Jeremiah to preach his message. He tells Jeremiah that he will never leave him, that he knew him before he was in his mother womb and he was created to become a prophet. Jeremiah does what he is told but not without reservation. Jeremiah knows the message that he preaches will not be received well, that he may ruin his good relationship with his neighbors, loose many friends and bring much trouble upon himself. During his preaching he tells the people of his struggles between his flesh, and his calling from God. This is why by some he is given the name the weeping prophet. Under the preaching of Jeremiah and the rule of King Josiah, Judah experiences a great revival. Then as it has happened many times before, after the death of their king Josiah, Judah return to their sinful ways. Jeremiah tries to warn the people that if they do not return to the law it will mean destruction for the people of Judah. They do not heed his warning and God allows the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar 2 to take over the region and eventually destroy it and send the people of Judah into exile. God allowed only a remnant of Judah to remain. This included Jeremiah who recorded what happened and of the destruction of the temple. The ministry of Jeremiah was not a complete failure he gave the people hope, he foretold that this exile would be temporary and God would establish a new covenant with his people.
