Jeremiah2

NOTES OF BOOK OF JEREMIAH

1:1-2
After King Solomon’s death, the united kingdom of Israel had split into rival northern and southern kingdoms. The northern kingdom was called Israel; the southern, Judah. Jeremiah was from Anathoth, four miles north of Jerusalem in the southern kingdom. He lived and prophesied during the reigns of the last five kings of Judah. This was a chaotic time politically, morally, and spiritually. As Babylon, Egypt, and Assyria battled for world supremacy, Judah found itself caught in the middle of the triangle. Although Jeremiah prophesied for 40 years, he never saw his people heed his words and turn from their sins. 1:5
God knew you, as he knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that he has a purpose in mind for you.
1:6-8.
Jeremiah was “appointed” by God as “spokesman to the world.” God has a purpose for each Christian, but some people are appointed by God for specific kinds of work. Samson (Judges 13:3-5), David (1 Samuel 16:12-13), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17), and Paul (Galatians 1:15-16) were also called to do particular jobs for God. Whatever work you do should be done for the glory of God (Philippians 1:11). If God gives you a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence. If God has not given you a specific call or assignment, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers—to love, obey, and serve God—until his guidance becomes more clear. Often people struggle with new challenges because they lack self-confidence, feeling that they have inadequate ability, training, or experience. Jeremiah thought he was “too young” and inexperienced to be God’s spokesman to the world. But God promised to be with him. We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying God. He will always be with us. If God gives you a job to do, he will provide all you need to do it. God promised to be with Jeremiah and take care of him, but not to keep trouble from coming. God did not insulate him from jailings, deportation, or insults. God does not keep us from encountering life’s storms, but he will see us through them. In fact, God walks through these storms with us and rescues us. 1:10
God appointed Jeremiah to bring his word to “nations and kingdoms.” Jeremiah’s work was to warn not only the Jews but all the nations of the world about God’s judgment for sin. Don’t forget in reading the Old Testament that, while God was consistently working through the people of Judah and Israel, his plan was to communicate to every nation and person. We are included in Jeremiah’s message of judgment and hope, and as believers we are to share God’s desire to reach the whole world for him.
1:11-14.
The vision of the branch of an almond tree revealed the beginning of God’s judgment because the almond tree is among the first to blossom in the spring. God saw the sins of Judah and the nations, and he would carry out swift and certain judgment. The boiling pot tipping from the north and spilling over Judah pictured Babylon delivering God’s scalding judgment against Jeremiah’s people.
1:14-19
The problems we face may not seem as ominous as Jeremiah’s, but they are critical to us and may overwhelm us! God’s promise to Jeremiah and to us is that nothing will defeat us completely; he will help us through the most agonizing problems. Face each day with the assurance that God will be with you and see you through. 1:16
The people of Judah sinned greatly by continuing to worship other gods. God had commanded them specifically against this (Exodus 20:3-6) because idolatry places trust in created things rather than the Creator. Although these people belonged to God, they chose to follow false gods. Many “gods” entice us to turn away from God. Material possessions, dreams for the future, approval of others, and vocational goals compete for our total commitment. Striving after these at the expense of our commitment to God puts our heart where Judah’s was—and God severely punished Judah.

2:1-37
In this section, the marriage analogy sharply contrasts God’s love for his people with their love for other gods and reveals Judah’s faithlessness. Jeremiah condemned Judah (he sometimes called Judah “Jerusalem,” the name of its capital city) for seeking security in worthless, changeable things rather than the unchangeable God. We may be tempted to seek security from possessions, people, or our own abilities, but these will fail us. There is no lasting security apart from the eternal God.
2:2
We appreciate a friend who remains true to his or her commitment, and we are disappointed with someone who fails to keep a promise. God was pleased when his people obeyed initially, but he became angry with them when they refused to keep their commitment. Temptations distract us from God. Think about your original commitment to obey God, and ask yourself if you are remaining truly devoted.
2:3
The first fruits, or the first part, of the harvest were set aside for God (Deuteronomy 26:1-11). That’s how Israel was dedicated to him in years gone by. Israel had been as eager to please God as if she were his young bride, a holy, devoted people. This contrasted greatly with the situation in Jeremiah’s time. 2:4-8.
The united nation of Israel included both the “people of Israel” and the “people of Jacob” (Judah). Jeremiah knew Israel‘s history well. The prophets recited history to the people for several reasons: (1) to remind them of God’s faithfulness; (2) to make sure the people wouldn’t forget (they didn’t have Bibles to read); (3) to emphasize God’s love for them; (4) to remind the people that there was a time when they were close to God. We should learn from history so we can build on the successes and avoid repeating the failures of others
Baal was the chief male god of the Canaanite religion. ”Images of Baal” (2:23) refers to the fact that Baal was worshiped in many centers in Canaanite practice. Baal was the god of fertility. Worship of Baal included animal sacrifice and sacred prostitution (male and female) in the high places. Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, introduced Baal worship into the northern kingdom, and eventually it spread to Judah. The sexual orientation of this worship was a constant temptation to the Israelites, who were called to be holy.
2:10.
God was saying that even pagan nations like Cyprus (in the west) and Kedar (the home of Arab tribes living in the desert east of Palestine) remained loyal to their national gods. But Israel had abandoned the one and only God for a completely worthless object of worship.

2:13.
Who would set aside a fountain of living water for a cracked cistern, a pit that collected rainwater but could not hold it? God told the Israelites they were doing that very thing when they turned from him, the fountain of living water, to the worship of idols. Not only that, but the cisterns they chose were broken and empty. The people had built religious systems in which to store truth, but those systems were worthless. Why should we cling to the broken promises of unstable “cisterns” (money, power, religious systems, or whatever transitory thing we are putting in place of God) when God promises to constantly refresh us with living water (John 4:10)?

2;17-17.
Memphis was near modern Cairo’s present location in lower Egypt, and Tahpanhes was in northeastern Egypt. Jeremiah could be speaking of Pharaoh Shishak’s previous invasion of Judah in 926 B.C. (1 Kings 14:25), or he may have been predicting Pharaoh Neco’s invasion in 609 B.C. when King Josiah of Judah would be killed (2 Kings 23:29-30). Jeremiah’s point is that the people brought this on themselves by rebelling against God.
2:22
The stain of sin is more than skin-deep. Israel had stains that could not be washed out, even with the strongest cleansers. Spiritual cleansing must reach deep into the heart—and this is a job that God alone can do. We cannot ignore the effects of sin and hope they will go away. Your sin has caused a deep stain that only God can remove if you are willing to let him cleanse you (Isaiah 1:18; Ezekiel 36:25). 2:23-27.
The people are compared to animals who search for mates in mating season. Unrestrained, they rush for power, money, alliances with foreign powers, and other gods. The idols did not seek the people; the people sought the idols and ran wildly after them. Then they became so comfortable in their sin that they could not think of giving it up. Their only shame was in getting caught. If we desire something so much that we’ll do anything to get it, it is a sign that we are addicted to it and out of tune with God. 2:30.
Being a prophet in Jeremiah’s day was risky business. Prophets had to criticize the policies of evil kings, and this made them appear to be traitors. The kings hated the prophets for standing against their policies, and the people often hated the prophets for preaching against their idolatrous life-styles (see Acts 7:52).

2:31-32.
Forgetting can be dangerous, whether it is intentional or an oversight. Israel forgot God by focusing its affections on the allurements of the world. The more we focus on the pleasures of the world, the easier it becomes to forget God’s care, his love, his dependability, his guidance, and most of all, God himself. What pleases you most? Have you been forgetting God lately? 2:36
God is not against alliances or working partnerships, but he is against people trusting others for the help that should come from him. This was the problem in Jeremiah’s time. After the days of David and Solomon, Israel fell apart because the leaders turned to other nations and gods instead of the true God. They played power politics, thinking that their strong neighbors could protect them. But Judah would soon learn that its alliance with Egypt would be just as disappointing as its former alliance with Assyria (2 Kings 16:8-9; Isaiah 7:13-25). 3:1.
This law, found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, says that a divorced woman who remarries can never be reunited with her first husband. Judah “divorced” God and “married” other gods. God had every right to permanently disown his wayward people, but in his mercy he was willing to take them back again.
3;2
“Like a nomad in the desert” means that Judah ran to idolatry as an Arab thief might hide and wait to plunder a passing caravan. It was a national preoccupation. 3:4-5.
In spite of their great sin, the people of Israel continued to talk like they were God’s children. The only way they could do this was to minimize their sin. When we know we’ve done something wrong, we want to downplay the error and relieve some of the guilt we feel. As we minimize our sinfulness, we naturally shy away from making changes, and so we keep on sinning. But if we view every wrong attitude and action as a serious offense against God, we will begin to understand what living for God is all about. Is there any sin in your life that you’ve written off as too small to worry about? God says that we must confess and turn away from every sin. 3:6-10
The northern kingdom, Israel, had fallen to Assyria, and its people had been taken into captivity. The tragic lesson of their fall should have caused the southern kingdom, Judah, to return to God, but Judah paid no attention. Jeremiah urged Judah to return to God to avoid certain disaster. This message came between 627 and 621 B.C., during Josiah’s reign. Although Josiah obeyed God’s commands, his example apparently did not penetrate the hearts of the people. If the people refused to repent, God said he would destroy the nation because of the evils of Josiah’s grandfather, King Manasseh (2 Kings 23:25-27).
3:11-13
Israel was not even trying to look as if it were obeying God, but Judah maintained the appearance of faith without a true heart. Believing the right doctrines without heartfelt commitment is like offering sacrifices without true repentance. Judah’s false repentance brought Jeremiah’s words of condemnation. To live without faith is hopeless; to express sorrow without change is hypocritical. Being sorry for sin is not enough. Repentance demands a change of mind and heart that results in changed behavior.
3:12-18
The northern kingdom, Israel, was in captivity, being punished for its sins. The people of Judah undoubtedly looked down on these northern neighbors for their blatant heresy and degraded morals. Even so, Jeremiah promised the remnant of Israel God’s blessings if they would turn to him. Judah, still secure in its own mind, should have turned to God after seeing the destruction of Israel. But the people of Judah refused, so Jeremiah startled them by telling about God’s promise to Israel’s remnant if they would repent. God promised to give his people leaders who would follow him, filled with knowledge (wisdom) and understanding. God saw Israel’s lack of direction, so he promised to provide the right kind of leadership. We look to and trust our leaders for guidance and direction. But if they do not follow God, they will lead us astray. Pray for God-honoring leaders in our nations, communities, and churches—those who will be good examples and bring us God’s wisdom.
In the days of David and Solomon’s reign over a united Israel, the people had a beautiful Temple, where they worshiped God. The Temple housed the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence with the people. The Ark held the tablets of the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 25:10-22). Those days with the Ark wouldn’t be missed in the future Kingdom because God’s presence by the Holy Spirit would be there personally among his people. 3:22-25.
Jeremiah predicted a day when the nation would be reunited, true worship would be reinstated, and sin would be seen for what it is. Our world glorifies the thrill that comes from wealth, winning, and sexual pleasure, and it ignores the sin that is so often associated with these thrills. It is sad that so few see sin as it really is—a deception. Most people can’t see this until they are destroyed by the sin they pursue. The advantage of believing God’s Word is that we don’t have to learn by hard experience the destructive results of sin. 4:3
Jeremiah told the people to plow up the hardness of their hearts as a plow breaks up unplowed ground—soil that has not been tilled for a season. Good kings like Josiah had tried to turn the people back to God, but the people had continued to worship their idols in secret. Their hearts had become hardened to God’s will. Jeremiah said the people needed to remove the sin that hardened their hearts before the good seed of God’s commands could take root. Likewise we must remove our heart-hardening sin if we expect God’s Word to take root and grow in our life. 4:6-7.
The disaster from the north would come from Babylon when Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar II would attack (see 2 Chronicles 36). 4;10
Jeremiah, deeply moved by God’s words, expressed his sorrow and confusion to God. Jeremiah was intercessor for the people. These people had false expectations because of the past promises of blessings, their blindness to their own sin, and the false prophets who kept telling them that all was well.
Disaster was announced first from Dan and then on to the hills of Ephraim because Dan was located at the northern border of Israel. Thus, the Danites would be the first to see the approaching armies as they invaded from the north. No one would be able to stop the armies because they would be coming as punishment for the people’s sin. 4:19-31.
Jeremiah was anguished by the sure devastation of the coming judgment. This judgment would continue until the people turned from their sin and listened to God. Although this prophecy refers to the future destruction by Babylon, it could also describe the judgment of all sinners at the end of the world.
Judah was clever at doing evil but did not know how to do what was right. Right living is more than simply avoiding sin. It requires decision and discipline. We must develop skills in right living because our behavior attracts attention to our God. We should pursue excellence in Christian living with as much effort as we pursue excellence at work. 4:22
Judah was clever at doing evil but did not know how to do what was right. Right living is more than simply avoiding sin. It requires decision and discipline. We must develop skills in right living because our behavior attracts attention to our God. We should pursue excellence in Christian living with as much effort as we pursue excellence at work.

4:27
God warned that destruction was certain, but he promised that the faithful remnant would be spared. God is committed to preserving those who are faithful to him. 5:1.
Jerusalem was the capital city and center of worship for Judah. God was willing to spare the city if only one person who was just and honest could be found (he made a similar statement about Sodom; see Genesis 18:32). Think how significant your testimony may be in your city or community. You may represent the only witness for God to many people. Are you faithful to that opportunity? 5:3.
Nothing but truth is acceptable to God. When we pray, sing, speak, or serve, nothing closes the door of God’s acceptance more than hypocrisy, lying, or pretense. God sees through us and refuses to listen. To be close to God, be honest with him. 5:4-5.
Even the leaders who knew God’s laws and understood his words of judgment had rejected him. They were supposed to teach and guide the people, but instead they led them into sin. Jeremiah observed the poor and ignorant—those who were uninformed of God’s ways—and realized they were not learning God’s laws from their leaders. Thus, God’s search in Jerusalem was complete. There were no true followers in any level of society. 5:7.
God held these people responsible for the sins of their children because the children had followed their parents’ example. The sin of leading others, especially our children, astray by our example is one for which God will hold us accountable. 5:15
Babylon was indeed an ancient nation. The old Babylonian Empire had lasted from about 1900 to 1550 B.C., and earlier kingdoms had been on her soil as early as 3000 B.C. Babylon in Jeremiah’s day would shortly rebel against Assyrian domination, form its own army, conquer Assyria, and become the next dominant world power. 5:21.
Have you ever spoken to someone, only to realize that the person didn’t hear a word you were saying? Jeremiah told the people that their eyes and ears did them no good because they refused to see or hear God’s message. The people of Judah and Israel were foolishly deaf when God promised blessings for obedience and destruction for disobedience. When God speaks through his Word or his messengers, we harm ourselves if we fail to listen. God’s message will never change us unless we heed it. 5:22-24.
What is your attitude when you come into God’s presence? We should come with respect and trembling because God sets the boundaries of the roaring seas and sends the rain, assuring us of plentiful harvests. God had to strip away all the benefits that Judah and Israel had grown to respect more than him, with the hope that the people would turn back to God. Don’t wait until God removes your cherished resources before committing yourself to him as you should. 5:28-29.
People and nations who please God treat the fatherless (orphans) justly and care for the poor. Wicked men in Israel treated the defenseless unjustly, which displeased God greatly. Some defenseless people—orphans, the poor, the homeless, and the lonely—are within your reach. What action can you take to help at least one of them? 6:1.
The Lord warned Jeremiah’s own tribe of Benjamin to flee, not to the security of the great walled city of Jerusalem because it would be under siege, but toward Tekoa, a town about 12 miles south of Jerusalem. The warning smoke signal was lit at Beth-hakkerem, halfway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. 6:3.
The shepherds were the leaders of Babylon’s armies, and their flocks were their troops.
6:9.
The “few who remain in Israel” is not to be confused with the righteous remnant. This remnant refers to those left after the first wave of destruction. Like a grape gatherer, Babylon wouldn’t be satisfied until every person was taken. Babylonians invaded Judah three times until they destroyed the nation and its Temple completely (2 Kings 24–25). 6:10
The people became angry and closed their ears. They wanted no part of God’s commands because living for God did not appear very exciting. As in Jeremiah’s day, people today dislike God’s demand for disciplined living. As unsettling as people’s responses might be, we must continue to share God’s Word. Our responsibility is to present God’s Word; their responsibility is to accept it. We must not let what people want to hear determine what we say. 6:14
Ignore it and maybe it will go away!” Sound familiar? This was Israel’s response to Jeremiah’s warnings. They kept listening to predictions of peace because they did not like Jeremiah’s condemnation of their sin. But denying the truth never changes it; what God says always happens. Sin is never removed by denying its existence. We must confess to God that we have sinned and ask him to forgive us. 6:16
The right path for living is ancient and has been marked out by God. But the people refused to take God’s path, going their own way instead. We face the same decision today—going God’s old but true way, or following a new path of our own choosing. Don’t be misled. The only way to find peace and “rest for your souls” is to walk on God’s path. 6:20
Sheba, located in southwest Arabia, was a center of trade in incense and spices used in pagan religious rituals. 6:29-30.
Metal is purified by fire. As it is heated, impurities are burned away and only the pure metal remains. As God tested the people of Judah, however, he could find no purity in their lives. They continued in their sinful ways. Do you see impurities in your life that should be burned away? Confess these to God and allow him to purify you as he sees fit. Take time right now to reflect on the areas of your life that he has already refined; then thank him for what he is doing. 7:1-15
As this section opens, God sends Jeremiah to the Temple gates to refute the false belief that God would not let harm come to the Temple or to those who lived near it. Jeremiah rebukes the people for their false and worthless religion, their idolatry, and the shameless behavior of the people and their leaders. Judah, he says, is ripe for judgment and exile. This happened during the reign of Jehoiakim, a puppet of Egypt. The nation, in shock over the death of Josiah, was going through a spiritual reversal that removed much of the good Josiah had done. The themes of this section are false religion, idolatry, and hypocrisy. Jeremiah was almost put to death for this sermon, but he was saved by the officials of Judah (see chapter 26). 7:2-3.
The people followed a worship ritual but maintained a sinful life-style. It was religion without personal commitment to God. Attending church, taking communion, teaching church school, singing in the choir—all are empty exercises unless we are truly doing them for God. It is good to do these activities, not because we ought to do them for the church, but because we want to do them for God. 7:9-11.
There are several parallels between how the people of Judah viewed their Temple and how many today view their churches. (1) They didn’t make the Temple part of their daily living. We may go to beautiful churches well-prepared for worship, but often we don’t take the presence of God with us through the week. (2) The image of the Temple became more important than the substance of faith. Going to church and belonging to a group can become more important than a life changed for God. (3) The people used their Temple as a sanctuary. Many use religious affiliation as a hideout, thinking it will protect them from evil and problems. 7:11-12.
Jesus used these words from 7:11 in clearing the Temple (Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). This passage applied to the evil in the Temple in Jesus’ day as well as in Jeremiah’s. God’s Tabernacle had been at Shiloh, but Shiloh had been abandoned (Psalms78:60; Jeremiah 26:6). If God did not preserve Shiloh because the Tabernacle was there, why would he preserve Jerusalem because of the Temple?
Israel, the northern kingdom, had been taken into captivity by Assyria in 722 B.C. 7:18
The Queen of Heaven was a name for Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of love and fertility. After the fall of Jerusalem, the refugees from Judah who fled to Egypt continued to worship her (44:17). A papyrus dating from the 5th century B.C., found at Hermopolis in Egypt, mentions the Queen of Heaven among the gods honored by the Jewish community living there.
7:19
This verse answers the question, Who gets hurt when we turn away from God? We do! Separating ourselves from God is like keeping a green plant away from sunlight or water. God is our only source of spiritual strength. Cut yourself off from him, and you cut off life itself.
7:21—23.
God had set up a system of sacrifices to encourage the people to joyfully obey him (see the book of Leviticus). He required the people to make these sacrifices, not because the sacrifices themselves pleased him, but because they caused the people to recognize their sin and refocus on living for God. They faithfully made the sacrifices but forgot the reason they were offering them, and thus they disobeyed God. Jeremiah reminded the people that unless they were prepared to obey God in all areas of life, acting out religious rituals was meaningless. 7:25.
From the time of Moses to the end of the Old Testament period, God sent many prophets to Israel and Judah. No matter how bad the circumstances were, God always raised up a prophet to speak against their stubborn spiritual attitudes.
7:31-32
The shrines of Topheth (meaning “fireplace”) were set up in the valley of the son of Hinnom, where debris and rubbish from the city were thrown away. This altar was used to worship Molech—a god who required child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10). Their valley of sacrifice would become their Valley of Slaughter by the Babylonians. At the place where the people had killed their children in sinful idol worship, they themselves would be slaughtered.
8:1-2
The threat that the graves of Judah’s people would be opened was horrible to a people who highly honored the dead and believed that it was the highest desecration to open graves. This would be an ironic punishment for idol worshipers—their bones would be laid out before the sun, moon, and stars—the gods they thought could save them. 8:4-6
When people fall down or realize that they are headed in the wrong direction, it only makes sense for them to get up or change directions. But as God watched the nation, he saw people living sinful lives by choice, deceiving themselves that there would be no consequences. They had lost perspective concerning God’s will for their lives and were trying to minimize their sin. Are there some indicators that you have fallen down or are heading the wrong way? What are you doing to get back on the right path?

8;16
Dan was the northernmost tribe in Israel. 8:18
Jeremiah was pleading with God to save his people.
8:20-22
These words vividly portray Jeremiah’s emotion as he watched his people reject God. He responded with anguish to a world dying in sin. We watch that same world still dying in sin, still rejecting God. But how often is our heart broken for our lost friends and neighbors, our lost world? Only when we have Jeremiah’s kind of passionate concern will we be moved to help. We must begin by asking God to break our heart for the world he loves.
8:22.
Gilead was famous for its healing medicine. This is a rhetorical question. The obvious answer is, “Yes—God,” but Israel was not applying the “medicine”; they were not obeying the Lord. Although the people’s spiritual sickness was very deep, it could be healed. But the people refused the medicine. God could heal their self-inflicted wounds, but he would not force his healing on them. 9;1-6
Jeremiah felt conflicting emotions concerning his people. Lying, deceit, treachery, adultery, and idolatry had become common sins. He was angered by their sin, but he had compassion, too. He was set apart from them by his mission for God, but he was also one of them. Jesus had similar feelings when he stood before Jerusalem, the city that would reject him (Matthew 23:37). 9:22-23.
People tend to admire three things about others: wisdom, power (might), and riches. But God puts a higher priority on knowing him personally and living a life that reflects his justice and righteousness. What do you want people to admire most about you?
9:25-26
Circumcision went back to the time of Abraham. For the people of Israel, it was a symbol of their covenant relationship to God (Genesis 17:9-14). Circumcision was also practiced by pagan nations, but not as the sign of a covenant with God. By Jeremiah’s time, the Israelites had forgotten the spiritual significance of circumcision even though they continued to do the physical ritual. 10:2-3
Most people would like to know the future. Decisions would be easier, failures would be avoided, and successes would be assured. The people of Judah wanted to know the future, too, and they tried to discern it through reading the signs in the sky. God made the earth and the heavens, including stars that people consult and worship (10:12). No one will discover the future in man-made charts of God’s stars. But God, who promises to guide you, knows your future and will be with you all the way. He will not reveal your future to you, but he will walk with you as the future unfolds. Don’t trust the stars; trust the one who made the stars. 10:8
Those who put their trust in a chunk of wood, even though it is carved well and looks beautiful, are foolish. The simplest person who worships God is wiser than the wisest person who worships a worthless substitute, because this person has discerned who God really is. In what or whom do you place your trust? 10:9
Tarshish was located at the westward limit of the ancient world, perhaps in what is now Spain (see Jonah 1:3). It was a source of silver, tin, lead, and iron for Tyre (Ezekiel 27:12). The location of Uphaz is unknown. Instead, it may be a metallurgical term for “refined gold.” No matter how well made or how beautiful idols are, they can never have the power and life of the true and living God.
10:19-21.
In this section, Jeremiah uses the picture of nomads wandering in the wilderness trying to pitch their tents. The shepherds of the nation are the evil leaders responsible for the distress. “Flocks” are the people of Judah. Instead of guiding the people to God, the leaders were leading them astray. 10:23-24.
God’s ability to direct our life is far superior to our ability. Sometimes we are afraid of God’s power andplans because we know his power would easily crush us if he used it against us. Don’t be afraid to let God correct your plans. He will give you wisdom if you are willing. 11:1-17
This section concerns the broken covenant, and a rebuke for those who returned to idols after Josiah’s reform. Jeremiah’s rebuke prompted a threat against his life by his own countrymen. As Jeremiah suffered, he pondered the prosperity of the wicked. As he brought these words to a close, he used a rotten linen belt and filled wineskins as object lessons of God’s coming judgment (see the note on 13:1-11). 11:14.
At first glance this command is shocking: God tells Jeremiah not to pray and says he won’t listen to the people if they pray. A time comes when God must dispense justice. Sin brings its own bitter reward. If the people were unrepentant and continued in their sin, neither their prayers nor Jeremiah’s would prevent God’s judgment. Their only hope was repentance—sorrow for sin, turning from it, and turning to God. How can we keep praying for God’s help if we haven’t committed our life to him? God’s blessings come when we are committed to him, not when we selfishly hang on to our sinful ways.
To Jeremiah’s surprise, the people of Anathoth, his hometown, were plotting to kill him. They wanted to silence Jeremiah’s message for several reasons:

(1) Economic—his condemnation of idol worship would hurt the business of the idol makers;

(2) Religious—the message of doom and gloom made the people feel depressed and guilty;

(3) Political—he openly rebuked their hypocritical politics; and

(4) Personal—the people hated him for showing them that they were wrong.

Jeremiah had two options: run and hide, or call on God. Jeremiah called, and God answered. Like Jeremiah, we can both run and hide when we face opposition because of our faithfulness to God, or we can call on God for help. Hiding compromises our message; calling on God lets him reinforce it.
12:1-6
Many people have asked, “Why are the wicked so prosperous?” (See, for example, Job 21:4-21 and Habakkuk 1:1-4.) Jeremiah knew that God’s justice would ultimately come, but he was impatient because he wanted justice to come quickly. God didn’t give a doctrinal answer; instead, he gave a challenge: If Jeremiah couldn’t handle this, how would he handle the injustices ahead? It is natural for us to demand fair play and cry for justice against those who take advantage of others. But when we call for justice, we must realize that we ourselves would be in big trouble if God gave each of us what we truly deserve
12:5-6
Life was extremely difficult for Jeremiah despite his love for and obedience to God. When he called to God for relief, God’s reply in effect was, “If you think this is bad, how are you going to cope when it gets really tough?” God’s answers to prayer are not always nice or easy to handle. Any Christian who has experienced war, bereavement, or a serious illness knows this. We are to be committed to God even when the going gets tough and when our prayers for relief are not immediately answered. .13:1
A linen belt was one of the more intimate pieces of clothing, clinging close to the body. It was like underwear. Jeremiah’s action showed how God would ruin Judah just as Jeremiah had ruined the linen belt. 13;1-11
Actions speak louder than words. Jeremiah often used vivid object lessons to arouse the people’s curiosity and get his point across. This lesson of the linen belt illustrated Judah’s destiny. Although the people had once been close to God, their pride had made them useless. Proud people may look important, but God says their pride makes them good for nothing, completely useless. Pride rots our hearts until we lose our usefulness to God. 13:15
While it is good to respect our country and our church, our loyalties always carry a hidden danger—arrogance. When is pride harmful? When it causes us to (1) look down on others; (2) be selfish with our resources; (3) force our solutions on others’ problems; (4) think God is blessing us because of our own merits; (5) be content with our plans rather than seeking God’s plans. 13:18
The king was Jehoiachin, and the queen mother was Nehushta. The king’s father, Jehoiakim, had surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar but later rebelled. During Jehoiachin’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar’s armies besieged Jerusalem, and both Jehoiachin and Nehushta surrendered. Jehoiachin was sent to Babylon and imprisoned (2 Kings 24:1-15). Jeremiah’s prophecy came true. 13:19
The Negev region is the dry wasteland stretching south from Beersheba. The towns in this area would be closed to any refugees fleeing the invading army.
13:23
Not even the threat of captivity could move the people to repent. The people had become so accustomed to doing evil that they had lost their ability to change. God never rejects those who sincerely turn to him. God was warning them to repent before it became impossible to change. We must never put off until tomorrow those changes God wants us to make. Our attitudes and patterns for living can become so set that we will lose all desire to change and will no longer fear the consequences.

14:1-22
This section opens with God sending a drought on Judah and refusing to answer their prayers for rain. It continues with Jeremiah’s description of judgment to come. 14;1-12
Drought was a judgment with devastating consequences. As usual, when their backs were to the wall, the people cried out to God. But God rejected their plea because they did not repent; they merely wanted his rescue. Not even Jeremiah’s prayers would help. Their only hope was to turn to God. 14:14
What made the people listen to the false prophets? These “prophets” said what the people wanted to hear. False teachers earn fame and money by telling people what they want to hear, but they lead people away from God. If we encourage false teachers, we are as guilty as they are. 14:19-22
Interceding for the people, Jeremiah asked God if Judah’s repentance would bring his help. But God refused to come to their aid (15:1) because the people were insincere, wicked, and stubborn. They knew he wanted to bless them, and they knew what they needed to do to receive that blessing. They wanted God to do his part, but they did not want to do theirs. It’s easy to express sorrow for wrong actions, especially when we want something, but we must be willing to stop doing what is wrong. God will forgive those who are truly repentant, but hypocrites will be severely punished. 15:1
Moses and Samuel were two of God’s greatest prophets. Like Jeremiah, both interceded for the people before God (Exodus 32:11; Numbers 14:11-20; 1 Samuel 7:9; 12:17;
Psalms99:6). Intercession is often effective. In this case, however, the people were so wicked and stubborn that God knew they would not turn to him. 15:3-4
The goal of these destroyers would be to destroy the living and devour the dead. Because of Manasseh’s evil reign and the people’s sin (2 Kings 21:1-16; 23:26; 24:3), the destruction would be complete. The people may have argued that they should not be held responsible for Manasseh’s sins, but they were continuing what Manasseh began. If we follow corrupt leaders knowingly, we can’t excuse ourselves by blaming their bad example.
15:17-21
Jeremiah accused God of not helping him when he really needed it. Jeremiah had taken his eyes off God’s purposes and was feeling sorry for himself. He was angry, hurt, and afraid. In response, God didn’t get angry at Jeremiah; he answered by rearranging Jeremiah’s priorities. As God’s mouthpiece, he was to influence the people, not let them influence him. There are three important lessons in this passage: (1) In prayer we can reveal our deepest thoughts to God; (2) God expects us to trust him, no matter what; (3) we are here to influence others for God. 16:1-21.
This section portrays the coming day of disaster. It begins by showing Jeremiah’s loneliness. He is a social outcast because of his harsh messages and his celibate life-style. He must not marry, have children, or take part in funerals or festivals. The section concludes with another appeal to avoid judgment by turning to God. The people did not heed Jeremiah’s words, however, and the first wave of destruction came almost immediately, in 605 B.C. (2 Kings 24:8-12). The second wave came in 597 B.C., and Judah was completely destroyed in 586 B.C. 16:5-7
In Jeremiah’s culture, it was unthinkable not to show grief publicly. The absence of mourning showed the people how complete their devastation would be. So many people would die that it would be impossible to carry out customary mourning rituals for all of them. 16;8-13.
Jeremiah was also told not to participate in parties or other joyful events to show how seriously God took the nation’s sins. In both cases (no public grief or joy), Jeremiah’s life was to be an attention getter and an illustration of God’s truth. Sometimes we think that the only way to communicate is through speaking or teaching, but God can use a wide variety of means to bring his message. Use your creativity. 16:14-16
The book of Exodus records God’s miraculous rescue of his people from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1–15). The people’s return from exile would be so momentous that it would overshadow even the exodus from Egypt. Even though his people had been so stubborn, God would once again show his great mercy. 16:17
Small children think that if they can’t see you, then you can’t see them. The people of Israel may have wished that hiding from God were as simple as closing their eyes. Although they closed their eyes to their sinful ways, their sins certainly weren’t hidden from God. He who sees everything cannot be deceived. Do you have a sinful attitude or activity that you hope God won’t notice? He knows about it. The first step of repentance is to acknowledge that God knows about your sins. 16;19
In this prayer, Jeremiah approached God with three descriptive names: strength, fortress, and refuge. Each name gives a slightly different glimpse of how Jeremiah experienced God’s presence, and each is a picture of security and protection. Let God be your strength when you feel weak, your fortress when enemies come against you, and your refuge when you need to retreat from life’s pressures. 17:1
God’s people continued to sin even though they had the law, the prophets of God, and history replete with God’s miracles. How could they do that? Why do we continue in sin even though we understand the eternal consequences? Jeremiah says the heart is deceitful (17:9), and “their evil ways are . . . inscribed with a diamond point on their stony hearts.” The Hebrews symbolized the various aspects of a person by locating them in certain physical organs. The heart was the organ of reason, intelligence, and will. So deep is our tendency to sin that only God’s redemption can deliver us. 17:5-8
Two kinds of people are contrasted here: those who trust in human beings and those who trust in the Lord. The people of Judah were trusting in false gods and military alliances instead of God, and thus they were barren and unfruitful. In contrast, those who trust in the Lord flourish like trees planted along a riverbank (see Psalms1). In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on. But those who trust in the Lord will have abundant strength, not only for their own needs, but even for the needs of others. Are you satisfied with being unfruitful, or do you, like a well-watered tree, have strength for times of crisis and even some to share as you bear fruit for the Lord? 17:9-10
God makes it clear why we sin—it’s a matter of the heart. Our heart is inclined toward sin from the time we are born. It is easy to fall into the routine of forgetting and forsaking God. But we can still choose whether or not to continue in sin. We can yield to a specific temptation, or we can ask God to help us resist temptation when it comes. 17:11
There is a right way and a wrong way to do any task. Jeremiah says that the person who becomes rich by unjust means will end up foolish and poor. Whether at work, school, or play, we should strive to be honest in all our dealings. Getting a promotion, passing an exam, or gaining prestige by dishonest means will never bring God’s blessing or lasting happiness. 17:19-27
The people were working on the Sabbath, their day of rest (Exodus 20:8-11). They considered making money more important than keeping God’s law. If they would repent and put God first in their lives, God promised them honor among the nations. Over a century later, when Nehemiah led the exiles on their return to Jerusalem, one of his most important reforms was to reinstitute Sabbath observance (Nehemiah 13:15-22). The Negev is the southern part of Judah.
18:1-23
The parables in these chapters, probably written during the early years of Jehoiakim’s reign, illustrate God’s sovereignty over the nation. God has power over the clay (Judah), and he continues to work with it to make it a useful vessel. But Judah must soon repent, or the clay will harden the wrong way. Then it will be worth nothing and will be broken and destroyed. 18:6
As the potter molded or shaped a clay pot on the potter’s wheel, defects often appeared. The potter had power over the clay, to permit the defects to remain or to reshape the pot. Likewise, God had power to reshape the nation to conform to his purposes. Our strategy should not be to become mindless and passive—one aspect of clay—but to be willing and receptive to God’s impact on us. As we yield to God, he begins reshaping us into valuable vessels.
18:12
Our society admires assertiveness, independence, and defiance of authority. In a relationship with God these qualities become stubbornness, self-importance, and refusal to listen or change. Left unchecked, stubbornness becomes a way of life hostile to God. 18;18
Jeremiah’s words and actions challenged the people’s social and moral behavior. He had openly spoken against the king, the officials, the priests and prophets, the teachers, and the wise (4:9; 8:8-9). He wasn’t afraid to give unpopular criticism. The people could either obey him or silence him. They chose the latter. They did not think they needed Jeremiah; their false prophets told them what they wanted to hear. How do you respond
to criticism? Listen carefully—God may be trying to tell you something. 18;6
The valley of the son of Hinnom was the garbage dump of Jerusalem and the place where children were sacrificed to the god Molech. It is also mentioned in 7:31-32. Topheth was located in the valley and means “fireplace” and was probably where children were burned as sacrifices. 19:7-13
The horrible carnage that Jeremiah predicted happened twice: in 586 B.C. during the Babylonian invasion under Nebuchadnezzar and in A.D. 70 when Titus destroyed Jerusalem. During the Babylonian siege, food became so scarce that people became cannibals, even eating their own children. (See Leviticus 26:29 and Deuteronomy 28:53-57 for prophecies concerning this; and see 2 Kings 6:28-29; Lamentations 2:20; 4:10 for accounts of actual occurrences.) 20:1-2
This event took place during the reign of Jehoiakim of Judah. Jeremiah preached at the valley of the son of Hinnom, the center of idolatry in the city. He also preached in the Temple, which should have been the center of true worship. Both places attracted many people; both were places of false worship. 20:1-3.
Pashhur was the official in charge of maintaining order in the Temple (see 29:26 for a description of the responsibility). He was also a priest and had pretended to be a prophet. After hearing Jeremiah’s words, Pashhur had him whipped and put in the stocks (locked up) instead of taking his message to heart and acting on it. The truth sometimes stings, but our reaction to the truth shows what we are made of. We can deny the charges and destroy evidence of our misdeeds, or we can take the truth humbly to heart and let it change us. Pashhur may have thought he was a strong leader, but he was really a coward. 20:4-6
This prophecy of destruction came true in three waves of invasion by Babylon. The first wave happened within the year (605 B.C.). Pashhur was probably exiled to Babylon during the second wave in 597 B.C. when Jehoiachin was taken captive. The third invasion occurred in 586 B.C. 20:7-18
Jeremiah cried out in despair mixed with praise, unburdening his heart to God. He had faithfully proclaimed God’s word and had received nothing in return but persecution and sorrow. Yet when he withheld God’s word for a while, it became fire in his bones until he could hold it back no longer. When God’s living message of forgiveness and love becomes fire in your bones, you also will feel compelled to share it with others, regardless of the results.
21:1
Chapters 21–28 are Jeremiah’s messages concerning Nebuchadnezzar’s attacks on Jerusalem between 588 and 586 B.C. (see also 2 Kings 25). King Zedekiah decided to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:20), and the nobles advised allying with Egypt. Jeremiah pronounced judgment on the kings (21:1–23:8) and false prophets (23:9-40) for leading the people astray.

21;1-2
King Zedekiah probably was referring to God’s deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, in the days of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36–37). But Zedekiah’s hopes were dashed. He was Judah’s last ruler during the time of the Exile of 586 B.C.
21:1-14
Jeremiah had foretold Jerusalem’s destruction. The city’s leaders had denied his word and mocked his pronounce- ments. In desperation, King Zedekiah turned to God for help, but without acknowledging God’s warnings or admitting his sin. Too often we expect God to help us in our time of trouble even though we have ignored him in our time of prosperity. But God wants a lasting relationship. Are you trying to build a lasting friendship with God, or are you merely using him occasionally to escape trouble? What would you think of your family or friends if they thought of