Jeremiah 1-6
Jeremiah is a book where it helps to know history of Israel and the surrounding nations to put everything in its place. He prophesied during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah -- up until the exile of Judah.
The description of Jeremiah's call is often used as a pretext for the pro-life movement, saying this proves that life begins before birth. It does no such thing though. Verse 5 speaks not to the beginning of life, but to the foreknowledge of the Almighty. Jeremiah was selected even before he was formed in his mother's womb. Yet Jeremiah, as most anyone would, felt inadequate for the task. But God put His words in Jeremiah's mouth. The first vision for Jeremiah was a play on words -- something which the Bible uses a great deal. The branch of the almond tree signified that God was watching because the Hebrew for watching and for almond tree sound alike. The second vision for Jeremiah was the beginning of his message. The boiling pot from the north is about to boil over onto the people of the northern kingdoms. Jeremiah is instructed to stand against the kings of Judah.
Chapter two begins God's case against Israel -- specifically Jerusalem. It is a familiar story. Israel has strayed from God and has run to false gods. The gods of neighboring counties have called Israel and led her astray. Now Israel has prostituted herself everywhere. The stains from her sins are dark and unable to be washed away. Foolishly "They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth'." (2:27) The foolishness of Israel's actions is apparent to us today, but Israel seemed unwilling to see for herself.
The allusions to Israel's unfaithfulness continue throughout chapter three and much of chapter four. The announcement of the punishment begins at 4:5. It is disaster from the north. The word pictures in 4:13 are used elsewhere speaking of God's judgement. "Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles." It is a foreign army coming for Judah (4:16). Disaster strikes quickly.
Chapter five makes the point that no one is upright. Like the time when Abraham pleaded with God for the city of Sodom by searching for ten righteous people, Jerusalem finds herself in the same situation. No one is righteous. The are all unfaithful and will be punished for their actions.
The siege itself is the subject of chapter six. Nothing the Israelites do is enough to save them at this point. They have been rejected by the Lord.
The description of Jeremiah's call is often used as a pretext for the pro-life movement, saying this proves that life begins before birth. It does no such thing though. Verse 5 speaks not to the beginning of life, but to the foreknowledge of the Almighty. Jeremiah was selected even before he was formed in his mother's womb. Yet Jeremiah, as most anyone would, felt inadequate for the task. But God put His words in Jeremiah's mouth. The first vision for Jeremiah was a play on words -- something which the Bible uses a great deal. The branch of the almond tree signified that God was watching because the Hebrew for watching and for almond tree sound alike. The second vision for Jeremiah was the beginning of his message. The boiling pot from the north is about to boil over onto the people of the northern kingdoms. Jeremiah is instructed to stand against the kings of Judah.
Chapter two begins God's case against Israel -- specifically Jerusalem. It is a familiar story. Israel has strayed from God and has run to false gods. The gods of neighboring counties have called Israel and led her astray. Now Israel has prostituted herself everywhere. The stains from her sins are dark and unable to be washed away. Foolishly "They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth'." (2:27) The foolishness of Israel's actions is apparent to us today, but Israel seemed unwilling to see for herself.
The allusions to Israel's unfaithfulness continue throughout chapter three and much of chapter four. The announcement of the punishment begins at 4:5. It is disaster from the north. The word pictures in 4:13 are used elsewhere speaking of God's judgement. "Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles." It is a foreign army coming for Judah (4:16). Disaster strikes quickly.
Chapter five makes the point that no one is upright. Like the time when Abraham pleaded with God for the city of Sodom by searching for ten righteous people, Jerusalem finds herself in the same situation. No one is righteous. The are all unfaithful and will be punished for their actions.
The siege itself is the subject of chapter six. Nothing the Israelites do is enough to save them at this point. They have been rejected by the Lord.
posted by rev-ed @ 10:57 PM
2 Comments:
At July 16, 2006 10:59 PM ,
Brad Huston said...
Nice summary and good thoughts on Jeremiah.
Brad
At July 17, 2006 9:26 AM ,
Douglas said...
I just read Matthew Henry comment that the almond was the earliest budding tree in the region, and God was going to perform his words quickly, that is, Jeremiah would see the fulfillment of his prophecies.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home