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Week 3 - The Promise of return from Exile + Book of Lamentations

Introduction: Jeremiah the Prophet:

  • The Old Testament contains 17 prophetic books (Splits into major and minor prophets based on the size of the book)
  • Major Prophets (5 books): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel
  • Minor Prophets (12 books): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachai
  • Time of Birth:
    • Jeremiah was born in the mid-seventh century BC during the reign of the wicked King Manasseh. Coming from a priestly family, Jeremiah was familiar with the Law and God’s works among His people. Having lived during the reigns of the wicked Manasseh and his equally wicked son Amon, Jeremiah witnessed the moral and spiritual corruption of both the king and the people. God later called him to confront these evils.
    • The prophet Baruch was Jeremiah's disciple, who recorded many of his prophecies.
  • Place of Birth:
    • Jeremiah was born in the village of Anathoth, located northeast of Jerusalem
  • God’s Call:
    • God called Jeremiah to service through a vision when he was still young. His mission was to rebuke the evil of the king, leaders, priests, and people.
    • Jeremiah lived a celibate life as commanded by the Lord.
  • Titles:
    • The Weeping Prophet: because of his sorrow over the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah prophesied before, during, and after the Babylonian exile
    • The Job of the Prophets: Jeremiah endured intense suffering, including rejection by his people, betrayal by his own brother, physical torture, and imprisonment.
  • Quick Summary
    • Jeremiah's prophecies primarily focused on the coming Babylonian exile. He urged the people of Judah to repent so they could avoid destruction, but unfortunately, they ignored his warnings.
    • He faced rejection from his family, the people, and the kings, such as Manasseh, Amon, and Zedekiah, who were all evil rulers. Despite the hardships, including being thrown into a pit and imprisoned, Jeremiah remained steadfast in his prophetic mission.
    • Jeremiah also prophesied during the reign of Josiah, a righteous king, and even though there was hope during this time, the people continued in idol worship, which led to their eventual downfall.
    • When the exile came, the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed. Jeremiah wept over the destruction and wrote the Book of Lamentations. Though he was initially rejected by the people, he continued to deliver God's messages and witnessed the fulfillment of his prophecies with the Babylonian conquest.
    • Jeremiah's calling to ministry
      •  he was called by God to be a prophet. God told him, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5).
        When God called him, Jeremiah felt unworthy, being a young man, but God reassured him, saying, "Do not say, 'I am a youth'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak." God promised that He would be with him and would protect him from harm.
    • Jeremiah's challenges
      • Throughout his ministry, Jeremiah faced opposition from the kings of Judah, including Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, who rejected his message. Despite this, Jeremiah continued to deliver God's word, even warning that Babylon would conquer Judah. Eventually, the people, especially those left behind after the Babylonian exile, fled to Egypt, where they continued to engage in idol worship. Jeremiah followed them to Egypt, where he was again rejected and stoned by his own people, ultimately dying a martyr’s death.

Objectives of the Book of Jeremiah:

  • Call to Repentance: Urging the people to return to God.
  • God’s Discipline and Mercy: Highlighting that God disciplines His children when they sin but also affirms His mercy.
  • Need for the Messiah: Pointing to the hope of the coming Savior.
  • Spiritual Principles:
    • Sin is a breach of the covenant with God.
    • All sins against others are ultimately offenses against God.
    • Times of hardship should lead to self-examination and renewed commitment to God.

Outline:

  • Chapters 30–33: Prophecies of hope and restoration, the New Covenant, and God's promises to bring His people back from exile.
  • Chapters 34–45: Historical events surrounding the exile, including the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.
  • Chapters 46–51: Prophecies against the nations, including Egypt and Babylon.
  • Book of Lamentations: Chapter 1-5

Reading:

Review/recap questions:

**Servant may add more questions

Homework:

**Servant may add more questions

 
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