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!

From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, which are twenty-three years, the word of the LORD has come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and giving notice; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD has sent unto you all his slaves the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear, when they said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: Jeremiah 25.3-5


According to 2 Chron 34.3 Josiah began to purge Jerusalem and Judah of pagan practices in his twelfth year. The twenty three years of Jeremiah’s activity would extend from 627 to 605 BC. In Jeremiah’s view (and the Biblical account), the people failed to observe Josiah’s reforms from the outset; they quickly returned to their former ways.


According to Jeremiah , a main function of prophecy is to cause the people to repent. Now it begins to change as Jeremiah moves towards describing the coming calamities for refusing to repent. Again we must understand that the Lord wants us to repent from pagan, new age, human secular mixture in our assemblies! If you want to move forward with God heed His word!


Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Jeremiah 26.8


The people react by calling for Jeremiah’s death, the punishment for a false prophet (Deut 18.20). The priests are upset because Jeremiah is threatening the Temple, their central institution and the basis of their livelihood, while the prophets feel that he is an illegitimate competitor.

The truth is not always pleasant--we don't always want to hear it!


Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people…Thus hath the LORD said: Hearken not unto the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD’s house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon; for they prophesy a lie unto you. Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon and live: why should this city be laid waste? But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them pray now unto the LORD of the hosts that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD and in the house of the king of Judah and at Jerusalem, not go to Babylon. Jeremiah 27.16-18


Jeremiah chastises the false prophets by saying that they should be praying that the temple not be looted. If they were true they would see the sin of the people and be wrestling with God for repentance (revival) to occur. Instead the false prophets tell the people what they want to hear--that everything is going to be OK. They speak smooth sweet words--not the truth. Which do you prefer?


Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck and broke it. And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people…Thus hath the LORD said: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the Gentiles within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. Jeremiah 28.10-11

 
Hananiah’s action of breaking Jeremiah’s yoke symbolizes that his message of deliverance takes precedence over Jeremiah’s message. There is nothing Jeremiah can say at this point and he leaves. Jeremiah did not force a word from the Lord but went home to wait for the Lord to speak to him. He will soon return!


And after Hananiah…had broken the yoke from off the neck of Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah…Go and tell Hananiah…Thus hath the LORD said: Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make yokes of iron instead. For thus hath the LORD of the hosts the God of Israel:  I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these Gentiles, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…Then said the prophet Jeremiah…Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD has not sent thee; and thou hast made this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus hath the LORD said; Behold, I will send thee away from upon the face of the earth; this year thou shalt die because thou hast spoken rebellion against the LORD. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. Jeremiah 28.12-17


Jeremiah returns with an iron yoke to symbolize his message that submission to Babylon is inevitable. He also predicts Hananiah will die (cf. Amos 7.10-17; Isaiah chs 36-39). Interesting to note: Hananiah began his prophecy in the fifth month of Av. This is the month when terrible events overtake Israel. The Temple will later fall to Babylon on the 9^th of Av. Then Hananiah will die in the seventh month of Tishri, two months later. Tishri is when the Day of Atonement is observed--the day of wrath for the wicked! The Bible is full of such rich symbolism.


Thus hath the LORD of the hosts the God of Israel said regarding Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and regarding Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy falsely unto you in my name; Behold, I deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; Jeremiah 29.21


The false prophets will be slain before the eyes of those left behind in Jerusalem. In our day false prophets will be exposed and will not prosper--if we are discerning!


Next: More Notes on Jeremiah