This week, we shall continue the study of the book of Jeremiah in the
Old Testament.
We do not exactly know why the editor of the Book of Jeremiah chose to compile the collection of Jeremiah’s oracles from the Lord not precisely in a chronological fashion, however with the rebuke of Jehoiakim and his people previously given in Jehoiakim’s 4th year of reign, we are now given an account of the reception of Jeremiah’s message and ministry immediately following the death of Josiah—the beginning of a new era in Judah.
(1) When was this oracle given to Jeremiah? (v. 1)
(2) What kind of a transition was Judah going through? (See 2 Ki. 23:31-37)
(3) Where was Jeremiah going to preach this message? (v. 2)
(4) Why did the Lord have to caution Jeremiah not to “omit a word”? (v. 2) Was there any reason why Jeremiah might do so?
(5) What was the particular purpose of this oracle given in this particular time of transition? (v.3)
(6) Now the warning was given using Shiloh as an example (vv. 4-7):
a. How important was Shiloh once? (1 Sam. 1-4; especially 3:21)
b. Its subsequent destruction by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4 presumably had rendered it irrelevant as a place of spiritual significance. How does this explain why the Lord specified where this particular oracle is to be delivered? (v. 2)
(7) What was the immediate response to Jeremiah’s preaching by the priests and basically all the people who heard his message? (vv. 7-9)
(8) What does it tell you about the spiritual reform that had taken place during Josiah’s life time which ended less than a year ago?
(9) How did Jeremiah defend himself? (v. 12)
(10) How did he plead with them? (v. 13)
(11) What warning did he give them? (v. 15)
(12) Judging from the description of v. 16, who were really the ones who desired Jeremiah’s death and why?
(13) How did the officials react differently from the priests and prophets? (v. 16)
(14) What had they learned from the example of Hezekiah? (vv. 17-19)
(15) Who was the one that rescued Jeremiah in this incident? (v. 24; see 2 Ki. 22:3-14)
(16) While Jeremiah’s life was spared, Uriah’s was not (vv. 20-23):
a. Why?
b. What kind of a spiritual condition was depicted by these two incidents?
(17) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Chapters 27-29 provide information about Jeremiah’s direct confrontation with the false prophets, beginning with chapter 27 which presupposes the exile of 597 B.C. after which Zedekiah was put on the throne (2 Ki. 24:17):
27:1-3—The Historical Setting
(1) What important historical events preceded the reign of Zedekiah?
(2) If you were Zedekiah, how would you approach your “kingship” of Judah with both the historical situation and the many prophecies given by Jeremiah and other prophets in mind?
(3) Why would God send a message to these neighboring states of Judah? (see the Note below) What were the envoys likely doing in Jerusalem? (v. 3)
27:4-11—The Message to the Neighboring Nations
(4) How did the Lord introduce Himself? (v. 5)
(5) How might these neighboring kings of Israel look upon His self-introduction given the fact that Judah was just subdued by Nebuchadnezzar?
(6) How did the Lord explain the rise and fall of Babylon? (vv. 6-7)
(7) What would happen to the nations that will not be subject to the rule of Babylon as God has mandated? (v. 8)
(8) What if they do? (v. 11)
(9) Why would their diviners etc. foretell a different outcome? (vv. 9-10)
(10) Reflect on your thoughts on each of the above
questions, and see what you have learnt about the following:
a. God
b. His way
c. His sovereignty
d. How you might apply them to today’s events in the world
27:12-15—The Same Message to King Zedekiah
(11) Now that previous prophecies through Jeremiah have already come to pass, how should the king respond to this latest message?
(12) What might prevent him from submitting to the message?
(13) Would he allow this message to be delivered to the envoys? Why or why not?
(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
“The historical background to the years 596/5-594/3 B.C. has been greatly illuminated by the Babylonian Chronicles (archeological findings). In 596/5 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar was attacked by an unnamed enemy, possibly Elam. In 595/4 he had to deal with a revolt within his own borders. In 594/3 he led a military campaign into Syria. They were troubled times for Nebuchadnezzar, and small states in the west thought they saw an opportunity to revolt and throw off the yoke of Babylon.”
(NICOT, 532)
Now the same message was delivered to the priests and the people:
(1) How had the priests, the contemporaries of Jeremiah, looked upon Jeremiah and treated him before the fall of Jerusalem in 597 B.C.? (26:7-9)
(2) Should they now listen to his words? Why or why not?
(3) Now that Jerusalem had fallen and the articles from the Lord’s house had been taken back to Babylon (see 2 Ki. 24:13; Dan. 1:1-2), why would the false prophets lie and say they would be returned soon from Babylon? (v. 16) What might be their motives?
(4) What impact would these lies have on the king, the priests and the people and what consequence would they bring? (v. 17)
(5) What did Jeremiah urge these prophets to do? (v. 18) Why?
(6) What had King Nebuchadnezzar left in the temple of the Lord without removing them in his early siege? (v. 19) Why didn’t he take them as well?
(7) Will these things remain in the temple for long? Why or why not? (vv. 21-22)
(8) What will happen to them ultimately? (v. 22)
(9) What then is the message behind all these?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
This account of the false prophet Hananiah is said to be given in the same year of chapter 27, but states that it is in fact the 4th year “early” in the reign of Zedekiah (see Note below). We have no idea who this Hananiah was except that he called himself a prophet:
28:1-4—His prophecy
(1) In whose name did he prophesy? (v. 2)
(2) What did he prophesy about?
(3) Was he precise in his prediction?
(4) What happened if it did not come to pass in two years?
(5) Did it come to pass as he said?
(6) What might be the reasons that he made such bold predictions?
(7) What might the reasons be that the people and their priests believed in his prophecies?
28:5-9—The Reply by Jeremiah
(8) Why did Jeremiah say “amen” to his prophecies? (v. 6)
(9) Can you name at least one prophet who spoke before Jeremiah about the impending disasters? (see 26:18)
(10) How then can one know if they are truly sent by the Lord? (v. 9)
(11) What then was the essence of Jeremiah’s refutation of Hananiah?
28:10-17—The End of the False Prophet
(12) It was obvious that Jeremiah was still wearing the yoke he used to prophesy to the convoys from the neighboring nations (see chapter 27).
a. What did Hananiah do to the yoke on Jeremiah’s neck?
b. Did he know what he was doing?
(13) Why didn’t Jeremiah stop Hananiah or respond to his action immediately?
(14) What was God’s subsequent message to Hananiah? (vv. 13-14)
(15) Did Hananiah’s lie have any impact on the nation? (v. 16; 2 Ki. 25:1)
(16) What was God’s punishment on this false prophet? (vv. 16-17)
(17) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
K&D opines that the idea of “early” or “beginning” in the Zedekiah’s reign (of 11 years) does not preclude this from happening at the 4th year of his reign, because “beginning” is a relative term (see K&D, 246).
This is a message delivered to the exiles also during the time of King Zedekiah (see 2 Ki. 24:10-16 again for its background):
(1) In this letter, Jeremiah addressed the Lord as “the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel”. What might be the significance of such an address at a time like this?
(2) Who was really responsible for their exile? (v. 4)
(3) As they were exiles and captives in a foreign land, consider the following:
a. How should they feel? Should they not feel bitter against their victors?
b. What might be their desires? Should they not wish to return to their homeland?
(4) What did the Lord ask them to do instead? (vv. 5-6) Why should they?
(5) Instead of wishing their enemies ill, they should seek the peace of the city:
a. How should they seek peace for the city practically?
b. In so doing, they were asked to pray for the city. Why?
c. What might be the application for us today?
(6) In asking them not to listen to the diviners in their midst, what does the Lord mean by “the dreams you encourage them to have”? (v. 8)
(7) Since God has promised their return in seventy years (see also 25:11-12), why should they seek peace for the city of Babylon? (v. 10)
(8) The Lord points out that whatever happens is “the plan I have for you” (v. 11). What does it mean?
(9) What was God’s plan for them, even though they were in exile? (v. 11)
a. Can such a promise be applicable to us, God’s children, today?
b. Why or why not?
(10) What is God’s ultimate desire with His plan? (vv. 12-13)
(11) Has this promise in v. 14 been fully fulfilled? Why or why not?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
29:15-19—False Hope Raised by Prophets
(1) What is being implied in the letter concerning the exiles’ view about there still being a king (Zedekiah) in Judah and that not all the people had been taken captive? (v. 15)
(2) How then would they greet the positive news of the prophets among them? (v. 16)
(3) God’s word shattered their false hope (vv. 17-19).
a. God would pursue them not only by sword, but with famine and plague (v. 17): What is the difference between the former and the latter?
b. In likening them to rotten figs (have you even handled rotten fig?)
- What does the Lord use to describe their utter rejection by all the nations on earth in v. 18?
- How true has it been in history?
(4) What was the reason given for their plight? (v. 19)
29:20-23—Rebuke of False Prophets
(5) While we know nothing more about these two prophets, where were they at the time?
(6) Apart from prophesying falsely in God’s name, what outrageous things had they done? (v. 23)
(7) What would be their fate? (v. 22)
29:24-32—Rebuke of Shemaiah, another False Prophet
(8) While we know nothing more about Shemaiah, he was obviously an influential prophet whose words had persuaded the people to trust in his lies (v. 31).
a. To whom did he send a message? (v. 25)
b. What did he challenge Zephaniah to do? (Zephaniah was likely the officer in charge of the administration of the temple.)
c. Why was he particularly upset with Jeremiah? (v. 28)
(9) What would be the fate of Shemaiah? (v. 32)
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Chapters 30-33 are a collection that has been called, “The Book of Consolation”. While Jeremiah has spoken earlier of future hope, it is here that this hope of future restoration is given in detail. The exact time and situation under which this message of hope is delivered (chapters 30-31 in the form of a poem, chapters 32-33 in prose) is highly debatable:
30:1-3—Superscription
(1) What is the importance of committing these verbal inspirations by the Lord to writing? Consider the following especially:
a. When God’s words were largely rejected by the people at the time
b. When the people would eventually return to God’s Promised Land
(2) Judging from the announcement in this introduction or prologue, what would you expect to hear from the poem and prose that follow?
30:4-11—Not to Despair
(3) Cries of fear and terror (vv. 4-7)—What will descend upon the people?
a. What is being used to depict the horror, the fear and the terror? (v. 6)
b. What does it point to?
c. Will there be a way out? (v. 7)
(4) David their king (vv. 8-9)—Where salvation will come from:
a. What will happen that will cause their yoke and bonds to be broken? (v. 9)
b. Who is that king? (see Hos. 3:5; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24-25; Isa. 9:6-7)
(5) Discipline in due measure (vv. 10-11)—But, what must happen first:
a. How does the Lord address Jacob?
b. What will happen to the nations where they are scattered? (v. 11)
c. As horrific as their plight is, how should they look at it? (v. 11)
30:12-17—Healing of an Incurable Wound
The harsh reality vividly depicted:
(6) How deep is their wound inflicted by the Lord? (v. 12)
(7) Why is it beyond cure? (vv. 13-14)
(8) Who is the one who has inflicted it and why? (vv. 14-15)
But this is not the final word:
(9) How will the fortune of their enemies and theirs be reversed? (v. 16)
(10) Since their wound is incurable and their injury beyond healing (v. 12), how then could their health be restored and their wounds be healed? (v. 17)
30:18-22—Restoration of Jacob (see Note below)
(11) What will happen to their places, i.e. their tents and dwellings, their city and their palace? (v. 18)
(12) What will their lives be marked by? (v. 19)
(13) What will happen to their number? (v. 19)
(14) What will happen to their shame? (v. 19)
(15) What will happen to their family and community? (v. 20)
(16) What will happen to their oppressors? (v. 20)
(17) What will it mean to the people that their leader is one of their own? (v. 21)
(18) What will be common between the leader and the people? (vv. 21-22)
(19) Should the hearers of Jeremiah find hope in this message? Why or why not?
(20) Are you encouraged by this Messianic hope? (NICOT, 562)
(21) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
30:23-24 is reminiscent of 23:19-20 but it is incorporated here as an introduction to the next chapter.