Week 31e--Jeremiah

This week, in addition to the history and three minor prophets, we read the first portion of the book of Jeremiah. We have more first person comments from Jeremiah than we have had from any prophet since Habakkuk. We also find autobiographical comments and prose historical information in his book.

In chapter 1, verses 4-8, Jeremiah tells the story of his calling. This story is incredible since the Lord tells Jeremiah that He has called him since “Before I formed you in the womb.” God has had his finger on Jeremiah his entire life.

As in the other prophetic books, death and destruction is coming. Many of the pronouncements come directly from God: the phrase “Thus says the Lord” is used in 150 verses in the book of Jeremiah.

Also, just as in nearly every other prophetic book, the Lord tells the people “Do justice and righteousness...Do not mistreat...the orphan or the widow...Do not shed innocent blood.” (Jeremiah 22:2-3) God promises the same thing He has said before: Obey and I will bless and restore you. Disobey and I will destroy you. That is the message again and again.

For once, we have a record of the people’s reaction to the message. Not surprisingly, they don’t like it. Death and destruction, getting carted off into captivity, this doesn’t sound like much fun to me either. But they take it a little far. Rather than go God’s way and repent, the people decide to kill Jeremiah. He escapes--this happens more than once.

In Jeremiah 32 we meet a new character, the scribe Baruch. He takes dictation, writing down the words Jeremiah has to say and then taking the message to the people. This time the hearers were frightened by the message, so they took it to the king, who...CUT IT UP AND THREW IT IN THE FIRE!!! (Jeremiah 36:20-25) Jeremiah and Baruch teamed up again and wrote out another scroll. They prophesied that soon there would be no more kings from the line of Judah. 

Jeremiah 6:10 speaks of something very unusual--the uncircumcised ear. We have already learned about the circumcision of the body and the circumcision of the heart. Now we also learn about the circumcision of the ear, or removing the unnecessary so you can hear and obey. But the king has not done this, so he will be taken away into captivity.

This week’s reading ends with a harsh statement and a promise: "O Jacob My servant, do not fear," declares the LORD, "For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations Where I have driven you, Yet I will not make a full end of you; But I will correct you properly And by no means leave you unpunished" (Jeremiah 46:28). Again, God will bring forth his punishment, but a remnant will survive.

Judah’s days are numbered.