NOTES ON JEREMIAH

Notes from the Jewish Study Bible

For the next few days I am going to publish some notes taken from the Jewish Study Bible on Jeremaih and overlay them with their meaning from a follower of Yeshua perspective.


If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15.19


The books of the prophets are types and shadows of the coming millennial kingdom. Within the historial context of Israel's rebellion and punishment we are seeing the coming end of the age. When Paul said the above quote he was looking towards the resurrection and the coming kingdom. Our present troubles are preparation for something much greater to come. As God's people we need to have a vision of the world to come in order to sustain us in times of trouble. Read on!

For thus says the Lord: “Do not enter the house of mourning, nor go to lament or bemoan them; for I have taken away My peace from this people,” says the Lord, “loving kindness and mercies. Jere 16.5


House of mourning refers to Israel’s adoption of a pagan ritual…the world mourns and the rains stop when the god Tammuz dies at the end of the rainy season in the spring (Easter). The goddess Ishtar must travel to the underworld bring Tammuz, her lover, back to life, thus restoring the rains and fertility to the world. The Lord does not take kindly to pagan mixture in the assembly. We must understand what is "pagan" in our assemblies today--new age is one to consider!


“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with the point of a diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars. Jeremiah 17.1


The reference to a pen of iron with a diamond point engraved on their hearts is a metaphorical description of the indelible nature of Judah’s wrongdoing. This image fits this section, which imagines Israel’s sin as grave and its punishment as final, with no opportunity for repentance. In Jeremiah, this engraved sin will ultimately be replaced by divine instruction (Torah) written on the heart when the covenant is restored (Jer 31.31-34). Metaphor = The application of a word or phrase to an object or concept it does not literally denote, in order to suggest comparison with another object or concept, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.”


Their sin was idolatry and pagan worship. Today our assemblies are mixed with this type of thing!
The Lord does not want this mixture. If we refuse to rid our life of the pagan mixture we can only go so far in God. This is not about salvation--we are saved. This is about going forward and resting in the protection of the Lord.


The lesson in Jeremiah is that those who refused to get the mixture out were harshly judged. There is more to being a believer than this world. There are rewards in the millennial age. Many will miss out! It is time to cleanse our temples (bodies)!


I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back and not the face in the day of their calamity.” Jeremiah 18.17


The east wind expresses God’s power (ref: Ex 14.21; 10.13; Jonah 4.8; Ps 48.8; Hosea 12.2; Isaiah 27.8). Called the “Sharav” in Heb or the “Hamsin” in Arabic, it is a dry desert wind that appears at the transitions from the dry to wet seasons and vice versa, often blowing a great deal of dust that blocks visibility and causes much damage.


Is your walk with God dry? Do you feel like you are wandering? Perhaps He wants you to rid your life of mixture that is hindering His presence in your life. Seek Him out.


I have heard what those prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies and that prophesy the deceit of their own heart? Do they not think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which each one tells his neighbour, so much that their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal? The prophet with whom the dream came, let him tell the dream; and he with whom my word came, let him speak my true word. What is the chaff to the wheat? said the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?


Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words each one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that sweeten their tongues and say, He said. Behold, I am against those that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and did tell them, and caused my people to err by their lies, and by their flattery; yet I did not send them, nor command them; and they did not profit this people at all, said the LORD. Jeremiah 23.25-32


These false prophets only claim they have had a dream; they speak whatever their mind devises. These dreams become more important and vital than seeking the Lord. The false prophets captivate God’s people with these false dreams. The dream story becomes a means to manipulate God’s people and make money.


Yes, God's people do have legitimate dreams and visions. God speaks to us this way--but beware those who have them all the time and use them as a tool of manipulation. He who has ears to hear will understand!


And when this people or the prophet or the priest shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will forsake you, said the LORD.
…Jeremiah 23.33-40


“Masa” = burden or “pronouncement.” This can mean a literal load that is carried. A “masa” is a prophetic responsibility that must be borne, although Jeremiah sometimes states that he does not want to do so. God will cast away those who falsely claim to speak a prophetic “masa.”


A word should confirm things already on your heart, should line up with the scriptural model, and should be confirmed as time passes. We should not be chasing "words" but rather, we should be seeking out what the word says. Learn to discern the true prophetic word from the false.


 Next: More Notes on Jeremiah