The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the kingdom of Judah for forty years—from the end of the Assyrian period until Judah was destroyed by Babylon. The book mixes sermons, prophetic oracles, and biographical narratives of Jeremiah’s experiences during the last years of the Judean kingdom. We are given an intimate look into the prophet’s own heart as he brings God’s message to his fellow Judeans, who reject him and even conspire to kill him.
The book begins and ends with historical references to the event Jeremiah was best known for predicting: the fall of Jerusalem. The four main parts generally consist (in order) of oracles, narratives (two sections), and then oracles. Significantly, each of these four parts ends with a reference to Jeremiah’s words being written in a book or scroll. A long poetic oracle is inserted in the middle narrative of the book. So Jeremiah’s prophecies appear at the beginning, middle and end of the book, highlighting their importance. The middle oracle, promising a new covenant designed to change the human heart, is shown to be the most important of all. God will do more than simply punish evil—he will overcome it with good.
The book of Jeremiah carries us back and forth in place and time as we turn its pages, yet its themes are consistent. The message of judgment for wrongdoing is followed by the restorative power of forgiveness and new life: to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.
1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
The Call of Jeremiah
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
REFLECTION:
After the death of King Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel split into two opposing nations, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah was born in Anathoth about five kilometers north of Jerusalem in the southern kingdom. He preached as a prophet and served during the reign of the last five kings of Judah. Jeremiah was appointed by God to be the “prophet to the nations.” This was originally a glorious call, but it caused him to suffer persecution and humiliation throughout his life. During that period, the kingdom of Judah was very corrupt in politics, morality, and spirituality. Although Jeremiah continued to prophesy for forty years and urged the people and leaders to repent and leave their sins, no one listened to him.
In fact, God has His beautiful will in every Christian. God knows you just as he knows Jeremiah. Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, before you were born into the world, God already knew you, cared about you, and planned your life for you. When you feel discouraged and desperate, He always cares about you, regards you as a precious treasure, and has made a life-long plan for you. God did not promise Jeremiah that he would not encounter hardships and difficulties, but promised to “save” him out of trouble and be with him. God did not save Jeremiah from imprisonment, exile, and humiliation. In the same way, God did not save us from the storms of life, but He will accompany us, protect us, save us, and walk with us. Let us not be in fear. In the end, God will redress for all the injustices we encounter, and all our obedience to God in adversity will be praised and rewarded by God. Our life will be more abundant when we are guided and shaped by God’s hand.
PRAYER:
Count God’s blessings, thank Him for all the guidance and edification in your life. Thank God for saving you from past difficulties time and time again, even beyond your expectation. Ask God to continue to walk with you, and in the years to come will have more guidance and training for you, help you to be more mature, and not afraid of future life storms.
1Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
REFLECTION:
Chapter at a Glance: The Christian’s faith journey is a race which brings glory to God by the way the runners behave. In the concluding chapter, the author wrote down a variety of duties to God and humanity. Together they reveal an exalted level of personal morality and duty.
How do we find contentment when everything in our society shouts at us, luring us to desire more? Just remember that in God you already possess everything.
The stock market can fall, and you will lose everything. Thieves can break in and your possessions will disappear. The economy can crash and interest rates rise. In this world there simply is no security in wealth, or the things that money can buy. But when God is with you, and when you have His promise, “I will never leave you”, you enjoy the ultimate security. There is nothing that can threaten you when you walk hand in hand with the Lord.
Take several minutes to explore your life in light of this instruction “Keep your life free from love of money”. How do you relate to material things? Do you often wish you had more? Do you feel that nothing can harm you because of what you have? What fears do you have about God letting you down? What would it be like to “be content with what I have”? Talk with Him about this subject. Attentively listen for His input.
“May I keep my life free from the love of money and be content with what I have. You have said, ‘I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you.’” Pause to notice your internal reaction to what you’re saying. Ask God to change your reluctance and unwillingness.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
REFLECTION:
Chapter at a Glance: Jesus and the cloud of witnesses urge us to wrestle against sin. We are to view hardship as God’s discipline of dearly loved sons and strengthen our resolve to live holy lives. We are to pursue peace and holiness. And we are not to despise God’s kingdom.
Here the author asks us to view hardship and suffering as discipline. God has not abandoned Christ’s followers. God is simply treating them as any wise father treats dearly loved children. This may seem strange, but this perspective makes any hardship we face so much easier. We no longer cringe away and wonder what we’ve done that God should punish us. Instead we reach up in our pain convinced that even our suffering is an expression of the love of God.
How might God use the “hardship” to discipline (train) you? Sit quietly for a while and see what God brings to mind. How might you cooperate better with God in this training? Take time to listen.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Take some time to confess and repent before the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
