The Book of JEREMIAH

Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, was a prophet from the priestly town of Anathoth and perhaps was descended from Abiathar. The meaning of his name is uncertain, but “Yahweh Exalts” and “Yahweh Throws” are possibilities. More is known about the personal life of this prophet than any other in the Old Testament because he has given us so many glimpses into his thinking, concerns, and frustrations.

Jeremiah was commanded not to marry or have children to illustrate his message that judgment was pending and that the next generation would be swept away. His closest friend and associate was his scribe Baruch. Other than this he had few friends. Only Ahikam, Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, and Ebed-Melech seem to qualify. Partly, this was because of the message of doom proclaimed by Jeremiah, a message contrary to the hope of the people and one that included a suggestion of surrender to the Babylonians. In spite of his message of doom, his scathing rebuke of the leaders, and contempt for idolatry, his heart ached for his people because he knew that Israel’s salvation could not be divorced from faith in God and a right covenantal relationship expressed by obedience.

Much of the message of Jeremiah is relevant because it is timeless. Sin always must be punished, but true repentance brings restoration. Our idolatry, which consists of such things as wealth, talent, or position, is called by new names, but the sin is the same, and the remedy is the same. God calls for obedience to His commands in a pure covenantal relationship. Sin requires repentance and restoration; obedience leads to blessing and joy.

Through his action and attitude Jeremiah portrays a lifestyle similar to that of Jesus, and for this reason he may be called a type of Christ in the Old Testament. He showed great compassion for his people and wept over them. He suffered much at their hands, but he forgave them. Jeremiah is one of the most Christlike personalities in the Old Testament.

Several passages from Jeremiah are alluded to by Jesus in His teaching: “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes?” (7:11; Matt. 21:13); “Who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not” (5:21; Mark 8:18); “Then you will find rest for your souls” (6:16; Matt. 11:29); “My people have been lost sheep” (50:6; Matt. 10:6).

A symbol of the Holy Spirit is fire. God assured Jeremiah, “I will make My words in your mouth fire” (5:14). At one point Jeremiah wanted to stop mentioning God, but “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not” (20:9). Today we would call this the work of the Holy Spirit in Jeremiah.

Apart from the normal work of inspiring the prophet and revealing God’s message to him, the Holy Spirit is the One to carry out the promise of a new covenant that will put God’s law in the minds of His people and write it on their hearts. The external commands of the old covenant will now be internalized, and the believer will have the power to conform in every respect to the moral law of God. The knowledge of God will be universal, and other peoples will be included in God’s blessing. Under the old covenant forgiveness was promised, but now forgiveness comes with the promise that God will remember their sin no more.

~NSFL Jeremiah 1-52