Exploring the Bible // Jeremiah
The book of Jeremiah is another of the prophet books in the Old Testament, named for its main character and author. Jeremiah was a priest who never married but rather served as a prophet in the last days of Judah. God spoke to Jeremiah after Assyria had already captured Judah but before the exile to Babylon. The nation was in ruins and the people’s hearts lost.
With a timeline of roughly 626 B.C. to 580 B.C., this book is the longest of the prophetic books and at its heart is meant to call the wayward back to God.
Judah’s Faithlessness (Ch. 1-10)
In chapter one, Jeremiah is called and appointed to be a prophet. has two visions here and God calls out the apostasy of the nation of Israel. Essentially, God addresses their sins and declares a time of judgment for the wayward people in hopes of repentance.
God’s Holy Anger (Ch. 11-28)
Throughout the book, you’ll find God communicating to Jeremiah, and then you’ll find interjections from the prophet. Chapter ten is a declaration of God’s goodness, from Jeremiah, in the midst of the despair he sees around him.
This section of the book largely focuses on the destruction and judgment to come for the nation. And we see a picture of God’s wrath and holy anger. This is important to note because we oftentimes ignore these attributes of God. In truth, you can’t pick and choose the characteristics of God. He isn’t defined by you.
Along with His 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 there is 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩.
Along with His 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 there is 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦.
Along with His 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 there is 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.
The aspects that we shy away from or reject are also good and have incredible value that is often overlooked. His wrath judges darkness. His justice silences evil. His waiting makes a way for the provision.
If you love God, then you will embrace all of Him.
A New Hope (Ch. 29-38)
We just read a lot about God’s judgment and wrath, but now we get a picture of His goodness and coming deliverance.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 holds very familiar verses many often turn to for comfort:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
These words remind us of God’s love and care for us. They tell us that when we seek Him, we will find Him.
Healing the Incurable Wound (Ch. 30)
One of my favorite passages on healing in the whole Bible is found in this section of the book. In Jeremiah 30, God declared healing for the incurable wound.
Verse 12, “For this is what the Lord says: Your injury is incurable; your wound most severe.”
Right about now you’re saying, “Brittany, I thought you said healing was possible?”
Friend, it is. The story isn’t over; let’s keep reading in verse 17,
“But I will bring you health and will heal you of your wounds—this is the Lord’s declaration.”
What was incurable in verse 12 found healing in verse 17. In this beautiful account of the healing of Zion’s wounds, God gives a promise for the pain. A promise of restoration.
Those cutting words served up to you from a trusted friend; the betrayal of a ministry leader you work with; the loss of a loved one; the silence in your dark night of the soul; they all find healing in one place: God. That’s the difference between the incurable and curable—it’s the source of the healing.
How do you turn the pain over to a gracious God; how do you face the unlovely storm before you to find restoration? You go to the source of healing—God.
Israel’s Restoration (Ch. 33)
This chapter focuses heavily on restoration. Again, along with judgment God can restore.
In the CSB translation, the words “I will” or a reference to God “will” is used fifteen times in the chapter. This is an incredibly powerful picture of God’s faithfulness to us when we turn to Him, even when we have rejected Him. He is a gracious and loving God, amen?!
This chapter also shares a prophecy of Jesus in verses 14-16, and we hear yet again of God’s plan to restore people through Jesus Christ.
The Fall of Judah (Ch. 39-52)
The last part of the book records the fall of Judah and Jerusalem. This completes the exile of both nations, Israel and Judah, to Babylon. But we have hope because deliverance is coming!
What We Can Learn
Failing to walk in obedience has disastrous results. This book is a call for the faithless and rebellious to return to God and walk in full commitment to Him.
Memory Verse
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
