The Prophets
Old Testament history portrays a repetitious cycle of the Hebrews turning away from God, followed by God’s punishing judgment, then God’s grace and restoration of his people. Many of the figures of the Old Testament were prophets. Their role included instruction to the people about God and his law. The prophets often reminded the Jewish people of the consequences of their turning away from God. They were God’s spokespersons.
One of the prophets was Jeremiah. We have listed several chapters that will give the reader the guts of the message of this book. The events in this book occurred about 800 years after the exodus from Egypt, and 600 years before the coming of Christ. At this time, the Jewish people had been split into two geographical groups—Israel and Judah. It was to the nation of Judah that Jeremiah was principally speaking.
Read Jeremiah 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, and Jeremiah 16
In these above passages, you read how God repeatedly warned the nation of Judah through Jeremiah exactly what the consequences of their sins would be. Jeremiah warned that the Jewish people needed to put God at the center of their lives or suffer a serious penalty. He predicted (prophesied) that they would be under a disastrous siege from a foreign power. Read on.
Read Jeremiah 39
As this incredible story unfolded, this chapter (and subsequent ones) relate the dramatic fulfillment of God’s prophecy made through Jeremiah! King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (modern day Iraq) destroyed Jerusalem. He slaughtered the sons of Judah’s King Zedekiah while their father looked on, and then Nebuchadnezzar put Zedekiah’s eyes out! He set fire to the royal palace and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. The conqueror ransacked everything, and took many people back with him as captives. History confirms that Nebuchadnezzar, in fact, attacked Jerusalem twice, first in the year 605 BC, then again in 598-597 BC.
But in Jeremiah, there is also a message of salvation from God. It was prophesied that the Babylonian rule over Judah would be for a limited time only, and that God would restore his people, at least a remnant of them, to faith. And God would return the Jews to their homeland (Jeremiah 12:14-17, 24:6-7, 29:11-14, 30:1-3, 31:3-4). God’s judgment is evident throughout, but his faithfulness and love are part of this story.
God would in turn punish Babylon for its atrocities (Jeremiah 25:11-14). This latter prophecy was fulfilled in the year 539 BC, when Babylon was defeated by an alliance of Persians and Medes, paving the way for the exiles of Judah to return (Jeremiah 51:1-11; 2 Chronicles 36:20-23).
Also very important in the book of Jeremiah is the promise of a New Covenant sometime in the future (Jeremiah 31:31-32). Christians understand this prophecy to be the coming of Jesus the Savior (Hebrews 9:11-15).
The book of Jeremiah, among other lessons, certainly makes it clear that we should have a healthy respect for God, his word, and his requirements—to put it mildly. We cannot help wondering about our world today. Is mankind honoring God, or thumbing its nose at him?
One of the prophets was Jeremiah. We have listed several chapters that will give the reader the guts of the message of this book. The events in this book occurred about 800 years after the exodus from Egypt, and 600 years before the coming of Christ. At this time, the Jewish people had been split into two geographical groups—Israel and Judah. It was to the nation of Judah that Jeremiah was principally speaking.
Read Jeremiah 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, and Jeremiah 16
In these above passages, you read how God repeatedly warned the nation of Judah through Jeremiah exactly what the consequences of their sins would be. Jeremiah warned that the Jewish people needed to put God at the center of their lives or suffer a serious penalty. He predicted (prophesied) that they would be under a disastrous siege from a foreign power. Read on.
Read Jeremiah 39
As this incredible story unfolded, this chapter (and subsequent ones) relate the dramatic fulfillment of God’s prophecy made through Jeremiah! King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (modern day Iraq) destroyed Jerusalem. He slaughtered the sons of Judah’s King Zedekiah while their father looked on, and then Nebuchadnezzar put Zedekiah’s eyes out! He set fire to the royal palace and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. The conqueror ransacked everything, and took many people back with him as captives. History confirms that Nebuchadnezzar, in fact, attacked Jerusalem twice, first in the year 605 BC, then again in 598-597 BC.
But in Jeremiah, there is also a message of salvation from God. It was prophesied that the Babylonian rule over Judah would be for a limited time only, and that God would restore his people, at least a remnant of them, to faith. And God would return the Jews to their homeland (Jeremiah 12:14-17, 24:6-7, 29:11-14, 30:1-3, 31:3-4). God’s judgment is evident throughout, but his faithfulness and love are part of this story.
God would in turn punish Babylon for its atrocities (Jeremiah 25:11-14). This latter prophecy was fulfilled in the year 539 BC, when Babylon was defeated by an alliance of Persians and Medes, paving the way for the exiles of Judah to return (Jeremiah 51:1-11; 2 Chronicles 36:20-23).
Also very important in the book of Jeremiah is the promise of a New Covenant sometime in the future (Jeremiah 31:31-32). Christians understand this prophecy to be the coming of Jesus the Savior (Hebrews 9:11-15).
The book of Jeremiah, among other lessons, certainly makes it clear that we should have a healthy respect for God, his word, and his requirements—to put it mildly. We cannot help wondering about our world today. Is mankind honoring God, or thumbing its nose at him?
