Jeremiah is the “weeping prophet” who suffered much anguish because of his people’s sins. He saw first-hand how a good king who worked toward reforming his nation was followed by sons opposed to God’s warnings. He dedicated his life to ministering to the people of Judah and warning them about the impending doom of the Temple, Jerusalem, and the kingdom of Judah. He saw with his own eyes how the rejection of his messages resulted in the fulfillment of the destruction of his city and people.
Book of Jeremiah: Authorship and Date
The opening verses of the Book of Jeremiah clarify that the book is about the prophecies (words) of Jeremiah who was a prophet of God in the last years of the Kingdom of Judah. His ministry started around 626 or 627 BCE when King Josiah reigned and lasted until 586 BCE when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Habakkuk and Ezekiel were contemporaries of Jeremiah. Parts of the book were dictated to Jeremiah’s close companion and secretary Baruch (Jeremiah 36:4-36) who also accompanied Jeremiah in his exile to Egypt. Baruch was likely responsible for the final compilation of the Book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah reveals much of himself and his struggles in the book. It is a personal account of his calling, the challenges he faced, and his ministry in service of God. Jeremiah is the “weeping prophet” as he often laments the state of God’s people in tears. Jeremiah is the longest of the books in the Bible by word and verse count, although Psalms has more chapters.
Historical Context
Jeremiah’s ministry began during the reign of King Josiah who ruled from 640-609 BCE and destroyed the pagan altars in the Kingdom of Judah. He received his calling in 626 BCE when Nabopolassar, the founder of the Neo-Babylonian empire, ascended the throne. At the time, smaller nations of the Middle East were pawns in the struggles between powers like the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians.
As King Neco II of Egypt marched through King Josiah’s territory to assist the Assyrians against the coalition of Babylonians and Medes who caused Ninevah to fall in 612, Josiah attacked the pharaoh. Neco warned Josiah that his actions would oppose God’s will in the matter. Josiah did not relent, and he was mortally wounded in the struggle. Jeremiah lamented Josiah’s death for he was a good king to Judah (2 Chronicles 35:20-25).
Neco installed Eliakim, whom he called Jehoiakim, instead of another son of Josiah, named Jehoahaz. Both sons were hostile toward Jeremiah and opposed his ministry. They would imprison Jeremiah and restrict his freedom to preach on many occasions. A written account of the prophecies of Jeremiah, which Jehoiakim cut to pieces and burned, Baruch wrote down a second time as Jeremiah expanded on them (Jeremiah 36:32).
Neco, however, suffered severe losses in his battles with the Babylonians, who took control of much of the Middle East. Nebuchadnezzar imprisoned Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, and installed Zedekiah as king of Judah. He was a weak leader who at times consulted with Jeremiah but often allowed him to be mistreated and imprisoned by his enemies. The Babylonians besieged Jerusalem in 588 BCE. Late in Zedekiah’s reign, he agreed to provide some protection for Jeremiah in exchange for the prophet revealing the will of God to him. When Zedekiah fled Jerusalem as the Babylonians breached its walls in 586 BCE, he was captured, his sons were executed in his presence, and he was blinded.
Jeremiah was to reside with Gedaliah, the governor Nebuchadnezzar appointed in Jerusalem. When Gedaliah was murdered soon afterward, those fearing Babylonian reprisals took Baruch and Jeremiah with them to Egypt. At that time, Jeremiah must have been about 70 years of age.
Structure
Call of the Prophet (Chapter 1)
Jeremiah’s calling and his feeling of unworthiness.
Warnings and Exhortations to Judah (Chapters 2-35)
The first part of the Book of Jeremiah consists of various discourses and warnings to Judah. Among them were warnings not to think Jerusalem would not fall because the Temple was located there. These warnings related to drought, disasters, and keeping the Sabbath. There was condemnation of kings, prophets, and people and the prophecies about the impending Babylonian exile. These negative messages did however include some promises of restoration if the people of God repented and returned to worshiping God.
Obedience vs Disobedience (Chapters 36-38)
Obedience and disobedience are the central themes of these two chapters. Zedekiah and the elites of Judah acted treacherously towards God and their people regarding the release of slaves. As a result, Zedekiah himself would be blinded and die exiled in Babylon. In contrast, the Rechabites, a people dedicated to a simple life of obedience to their principles, remained true to their faith. They were to serve as an example to follow, rather than the king and elites of Judah.
Sufferings and Persecutions of the Prophet (Chapters 36-38)
These chapters relate to the burning of Jeremiah’s scroll (Chapters 36) and Jeremiah’s imprisonment (Chapters 37-38).
The Fall of Jerusalem and Its Aftermath (Chapters 39-45)
Chapters 39-45 relate several significant events in the history of Judah and the life of Jeremiah. Among them are the fall of Jerusalem (Chapter 39), the accession and assassination of Gedaliah (Chapters 40:1; 41:15), the migration to Egypt (41:16; 43:13), and a prophecy against Judeans who resided in Egypt and fell into idolatry (Chapter 44).
A message of hope to Baruch (Chapter 45)
Judgment Against the Nations (Chapters 46-51)
This section contains judgments against Egypt (Chapter 46), Philistia (Chapter 47) Moab (Chapter 48), Ammon (Chapter 49:1-6), Edom (Chapter 49:7-22), Damascus (Chapter 49:23-27), Kedar and Hazor (Arabia) (Chapter 49:28-33), Elam (Chapter 49:34-39), and Babylon (Chapters 50-51).
Recounting the Fall of Jerusalem and Its Consequences (Chapter 52)
The last chapter of Jeremiah recounts the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and the exile of the people of Judah to Babylon. It also relates how Evil-Merodach, the new king of Babylon, released Jehoiachin from prison.
Main Themes
Warnings against sins and their results
The core message of Jeremiah is a warning against sins like idolatry, breaking the Sabbath, and other acts that break the covenant with God. Jeremiah repeatedly warned that, unless they repent and return to God, Jerusalem would fall, the Temple would be destroyed, and Judah would be exiled to Babylon.
Judgment
Judgment is a pervasive theme in Jeremiah’s writings. The prophet made clear that God would not remain idle in the face of disobedience. He would judge Judah and the surrounding nations alike.
The corruption of leadership
Jeremiah warned against the corrupt leaders of Judah who would lead the nation astray for their own benefit. Not only were the king and the elites corrupt, but the priests would betray their own faith, and false prophets would allow moral decay to set in among the people of God.
Repentance and Restoration
Far from being only a prophet of doom, Jeremiah also brought a message of hope that the people of God would repent from their wicked ways. It was a message of mercy and restoration for those willing to acknowledge their error and ask for forgiveness.
Key Passages
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Often used in pro-life arguments, this verse seems to point to a biblical view that recognizes personhood from conception. It deals with the calling of Jeremiah as a prophet, a role he believed he was not fit to fulfill.
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Theologians often use this verse when reflecting on the sinful nature of man. The heart serves as a metaphor for the seat of the will, desires, and moral decisions. The verse serves as a subtle warning against self-deception.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
This is a very popular verse among Christians because it falls softly on the ear. The context, however, is one of exile, where the people of God must first serve their time in exile before they are restored. The plans God has come after repentance and obedience and will include hard work from his people to restore what they have lost.
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
This awesome promise serves as an invitation to engage with God and search for the depth of knowledge there is to discover the Bible and in a relationship with Him.
Contemporary Relevance
Jeremiah serves as an object lesson on the judgment and mercy of God and his faithfulness to those who call on him. It shows how the believer needs to heed the warnings of God against that which harms the human-divine relationship. Similar to the situation Jeremiah faced, contemporary believers should also be careful not to be led astray by leaders, religious and otherwise, or false prophets who aim to deceive for their own benefit.
The danger of self-deceit is as relevant as when Jeremiah warned against the deceptive desires of the heart. Jeremiah spoke on social injustices of his time, a theme that is as relevant today as it has ever been. Today, “love thy neighbor as thyself” still reflects the character of God in a society that seems set on self-promotion rather than uplifting others.
