[He. Yirmeya or Yirmeyahu “Yah will Rise”]
Background: This prophet worked in the closing years of Judah.
His message was one of warning: God’s judgment must come if the people persist in rebelling against him. Indeed, judgment has become inevitable and they be wise to recognize that God was using Babylon to punish them. When ruling classes were exiled to Babylon Jeremiah told them that God would work out his plans through the exiles. He tried to encourage those in Judah to accept their fate, but his words fell on dead ears. Within the book we have several insights into what this unpopular prophet was thinking and feeling. 52chs
Author: Jeremiah, whose prophecy were recorded by hid secretary Baruch (36:4,32 ) and collected by an unknown compiler:
*1:1,4
* Daniel referred to him as the author of the passages concerning the70 yrs of exiles (25:11, 12; 29:10 Da9:2)
*Matthew names Jr. as the author of 2 quotes from from Jr’s book (Mt2:17, 18 27:9,10)
*As Baruch noted, Jr’s actual words ends in 51:64, ch52-especially 52:32-34, which reflects a time well into exile-may have been added by disciple of Jr. ch52 is almost identical to 2K24:18-25:30)
*From the book, we know more about Jeremiah’s personal life than any other prophet. Some called the prophet of doom, he had few friends and many enemies. Also called as the weeping prophet, he mourned continually for his people and his land (4:19; 8:21; 9:1;10:19)
Date and Location: Jeremiah ministered from about 627 BC (25:3) to about 581(44:1-14) mainly in Jerusalem (22:1,2; 29:1) and other passages where he speak with various kings) The date of the compiler is unknown
Purpose: He proclaimed God’s word concerning 5 areas:
*God: To proclaim that God created and controls everything (10:12-16; 32:26,27)
*Sin: To show the seriousness of Judah’s sin demanded divine punishment God’s remedy for sin: the divine gift of a new heart (31:31-34;33:6-9)
*God’s person to provide the remedy: the Messiah (23:33) who would save Israel from its sin (23:6; 33:16)
*God’s plan for redeemed humanity: Millennial kingdom (23:1-8; 30:9; 33:14-18)
Unique Features:
*Jeremiah was the most persecuted OT prophet
*The only prophet forbidden to pray for his nation (7:16-27)
*The only prophet to record an eyewitness account of Jerusalem’s fall (3:9Lam)
*Jr. contains the bible most extended and detailed prophecies about Babylon, mentioning it 164x more than in all the rest of the bible. Apostle John would give the name Babylon to the city of the Antichrist (Re17,18)
*Jr referred to another prophet Micah (26:18). Jr. was referred to by Daniel (9:2). Though many of the prophets were contemporary, only one other writing prophet, Daniel, was mention by name in print (Ez14:14,20; 28:3). Likewise the prophetic books make only one mention by name of a non-writing prophet (Elijah, Mal.4:5)
*Jr records the last of the 3 most important OT unconditional covenant: Abrahamic (Ge12:1-30) Davidic (2S7:10-16) New covenant (31:31)
Comparison: Other Prophets:
*Jr. was a contemporary of Habakkuk and shared some of his concerns
*Parallel can also be seen with Micah and Haggai(Obad1:1—Jr49:7-22)
Abbreviations: Jer./ Jr./ Je
MV: He that soweth discord among brethren, Pr6:19
Bib1Yr: Mk14-16:8(up to sepulchre)Passover
and Last Meal
