In Jeremiah's time there was no shortage of people claiming to be prophets and priests. Jer 8:11 says of the prophets and priests, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace." In the time of many successful and self-appointed excusers of God, one man was called by God to give an unpopular message nobody wanted to hear. It was a negative message of disaster for the ungodly people of the time; yet future believers would see within that message consolation and promises of hope. Strangely, despite all of the false prophets of God, Hananiah, Pashur, etc. who did not receive any revelations from God, the voice of one man, who was serious about God, rings clear over 1600 years later.

A danger today is that the gospel message can be told in such a watered down fashion that its seriousness and urgency are lost, which dress the wounds of sin as though they were not serious. We can be so distracted by pop psychology, trends, and other things that we lose sight of the seriousness of counting the cost for Christ and stop communicating the urgency of the Gospel.

The land of Judah was all that was left after the Assyrians devastated the kingdom of Israel and carried off its inhabitants in 722 B.C. Jerusalem was miraculously saved, but would God save again against the Babylonians. The people needed an answer and God provided it through Jeremiah provided it: NO WAY. For those who have forsaken God and followed after their own creations, do not trust on where you go to church or what religion you belong to save you. God will allow formerly godly organizations, churches, and even His temples to be destroyed before ceasing to take rebellion seriously.

An Outline of the Book of Jeremiah

God Watches and Warns : 1-10

When God Gets Serious - With You : 1

Reasons for Wrath : 2

Plea for the Faithless & Unfaithful : 3-4:4

Disaster Descends : 4:5-31

The Absence of the Upright : 5

The Attack of Terror : 6

The Temple Gate Sermon : 7-9

Explanations and Lessons : 10

Broken Covenant, Ruined People : 11-19

God's Judgment : 14-17

Religion Gone to Pot : 18-19

Reactions of Man and God : 20-29

Different Kinds of Evil : 20-22

The Righteous Branch & Bad Prophets : 23

When the People Do Not Give a Fig : 24

70 Years in Babylon & Bad Prophets:25-29

The Future Promise : 30-31

The Field of Dreams : 32

Promise of Restoration : 33

The Book of Personal Memoirs : 34-45

The False Freedom of Sin : 34

The Recabite Response : 35

The 587 Fall of Jerusalem : 39-44

Message to Baruch : 45

The Book of Foreign Oracles (News for Nine Nations) : 46-51

About Egypt : 46

About the Philistines : 47

About Moab : 48

About Five Other Nations : 49

About Babylon : 50-51

Review of the Destruction 587 B.C. : 52

Memory verse: Jer 1:18 "Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land..."

1. Does Jer 1:5 prove that Jeremiah existed before conception or not?

2. Point to ponder: If God knew what Jeremiah would do before Jeremiah was born, did Jeremiah really have any choice in obeying God or not?

3. When did God appoint Jeremiah to be a prophet? See verse 5 and verse 10.

4. In Jer 1:6 Jeremiah is telling God he cannot do this. Who else in the Bible also told God they could not do it? How come telling God you cannot do what God commands can be bad? How come it can be good?

5. How else told God they could not do something and had their mouth or lips touched?

6. Read James 3:5-12. What are the way(s) you need your mouth touched?

7. How do you think Jeremiah might have felt about God always being there to rescue him in 1:8 and 1:19? Do God's obedient people ever need to be rescued?

8. Do you think the essence of Jeremiah's role is in 1:9, 1:10, or something else?

9. In Jer 1:11-12 the only possible connection is that the words for almond and watching are shaqed and shaqad. In other words, this is a pun. Many times in the Bible God uses puns (Micah 1:10-15, etc.) but these are not used for humor but to make a point easier to remember.

10. Why do you think God's second prophecy to Jeremiah was the almond tree?

11. Is there a dominant motif in your life that is a vision or a Bible verse?

12. What is the parallelism in Jer 15 versus Jer 16?

13. What verse in chapter 1, prior to verse 11, does Jer 1:11-12 relate to?

What verse in chapter 1, prior to 11, does Jer 1:13-16 relate to?

What two verses in chapter 1, prior to 11, does Jer 1:17-19 relate to?

14. What was the command, promise and warning given to Jeremiah in Jer 1:17-19?

15. Imagine you were Jeremiah and God told you the things he told Jeremiah in chapter 1? How would you respond? Would it be difficult for you to do this or not?

16. Who has a role like Jeremiah today? How?

Memory verse: Jer 2:13 "My people have committed two sins; They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

1. What positive things did God bring to mind in 2:1-3?

2. In one sense, the whole reason for writing Jeremiah 2 is given in verse 9. What is the reason?

3. In chapter 2 there are twelve verses that contain questions that God asked Jerusalem. What are the questions? Hint: verses 6, 8, 24 are rhetorical questions and do not count. Now put the questions into three categories A, B, and C. (The 2nd and 4th questions might fit into two categories.)

Verse Category Question

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4. What are the three categories.

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5. How does verse 2:13 summarize the charges against God's people back then?

6. Looking at the questions in the first category, why do you think God's people committed the first sin?

7. What do you think is the cause and effect of the last part of verse 19?

8. Looking at the questions in the second category, why do you think God's people committed the second sin?

9. What do you think was the lure (or tempting desirability) of committing the sin in verse 25? What is the lure today?

10. These people were not stupid, even though one might think so after reading the first part of verse 2:27? What do you think is the lure of the sin in verse 2:27? What is the lure today?

11. What are ways Jer 2:13 summarizes charges against God's people today? What about the middle of verse 2:27? Do you have a greater tendency towards one of the two parts? Why?

12. Do you think worshipping images and idols and other gods is an imperfect way to worship God? See Jer 2:5, 8:19, 10:3, Jonah 2:8, and 1 Cor 10:20.

13. What do you think of Pope John Paul's statements about other religions?

14. Point To ponder: Since we know that God is fair, what about those who have never heard the gospel?

15. After reading all of chapter 2, how could the people have a rationalization like verses 2:35 and 3:4-5? How do people rationalize today? What is your most common way of rationalizing?

16. On your own... Why do you think the following imagery is appropriate

Slave/plunder 2:14,16,20

Prey: 2:15, 2:30, 4:7; 5:6; 20:25

Vine 2:21; 5:10; 6:9

Dirty hands and heart 2:22; 4:14

She-camel/donkey, stallions 2:23-25; 5:8

Loose woman 2:20,21,22; 3:1-13; 4:30

Wood consumed by fire. Jer 5:14;

Memory verse: Jer 3:22 "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding. Yes we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God."

1. In Jer 3:1-2 God accuses Judah of living as a prostitute with many lovers. What are the different ways that is true? In a spiritual sense, can Christians do that today? Is so, How?

2. One way people can live falsely is by ignoring or downplaying the wrath of God in Jer 3:4-5. What are some other verses in the Bible that clearly mention the wrath of God?

3. Some Christian evangelists seem to ignore the wrath of God. For other Christian evangelists, it seems that is all they talk about. What do you think is the balance of talking about the wrath of God?

4. Some Christians have been accused of trying to scare people into heaven by talking about the wrath of God. Can you overdo it, and if so how?

5. Some Christians are accused of misrepresenting God, and only saying that He is nice, and not giving people the whole picture. Can you under do it, and if so how?

6. What is the difference between being faithless and being unfaithful in Jer 3:6-14?

7.. How are people faithless and unfaithful today?

8. What do you think is the significance of not missing the ark in Jer 3:15-17?

9. The ark is no longer needed because

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10. What positive use can Christian symbols, objects, and religious organizations have?

11. What negative use can Christian symbols, objects, and religious organizations, even godly ones, have?

12. When in evangelism, if at all, would you mention that God's wrath can break out and burn like fire, as Jeremiah said in Jer 4:4?

Note: Study in warning

Memory verse: Jer 4:14 "O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?"

1. In Jer 4:6-8 did God allow Judah to be laid waste or did God cause it? What is the difference?

2. In Jer 4:6, 4:18, and 5:14-15 did God bring this upon them or did they bring it on themselves? What is the difference?

3. How does the statement, "God brings disaster too" differ from the popular conception of God that many people have?

4. What do you think the term "fierce anger of the LORD means" in Jer 4:8; 4:26, and 4:4?

5. Should God have given them an escape from His fierce anger? Did He?

6. In Jer 4:10 who was actually doing the deceiving. You might want to look ahead to Jer 6::13-15.

7. If God did not deceive the people in Jer 4:10, yet all of the Bible is true, how can you explain this?

8. Jer 4:13 echoes what verse in the New Testament? What is its significance?

9. In Jer 4:15 why would the voice be announcing from Dan? Jer 8:16 also refers to Dan.

10. What is Jeremiah's reaction in Jer 4:19?

1. Jer 5:1 is sort of a divine scavenger hunt. In Jer 5:1 God was speaking to Jeremiah, so Jeremiah had to find one upright man besides himself. What do you think the point of this was?

2. What are the divisions and connections in verses 5:1 through 5:6?

3. How is Jer 5:1 similar to Gen 18:20-33 when Abraham pleads with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of ten righteous people?

4. How does Jer 5:1 relate to Jer 15:1, and Ezek 14:14?

5. Some people do not heed correction in Jer 5:3 and 2:30. Why do you think this is true then and today?

6. Does God have "requirements" today, as in Jer 5:4?

7. Define backsliding in Jer 5:6.

8. How does Jer 5:21 compare with Isa 42:20, 43:8; 44:18?

9. What do Jer 5:22 and the last part of Jer 2:19 have in common? Why is this the root of many other sins?

10. How can our sins deprive us of the good God intends us to have in Jer 5:26?

"Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." Rom 11:22

Slow to anger. Ex 34:6; Num 14:18; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; Ps 103:8; Ps 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3; 2 Pet 3:9

Not be slow to repay those who hate him. Dt 7:10

Fierce wrath/anger. Jer 6:4; 1 Sam 28:18; Lam 1:12

Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath. Matt 3:7; Luke 3:7

All without Jesus remain as objects of God's wrath.Rm2:5-6;John 3:36;5:9;9:22;Ep2:3;1Th1:10;Jn3:36

Lord's wrath remains upon him. John 3:36

Rom 2:5 storing up wrath

God bears with patience objects of His wrath. Rom 9:22

We are by nature objects of wrath. Eph 2:3

Rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thess 1:10

God did not appoint us to suffer wrath. 1 Thess 5:9

Save us from the wrath of the Lamb! Rev 6:16

The winepress of God's wrath. Rev 14:19-20; 19:15; Isa 63:1-4; Lam 1:15; Joel 3:13

He has poured out His wrath like fire. Lam 2:4; Ps 50:3-6; Dt 29:20; 2 Sam 6:8

For the Son's wrath can flare up in a moment. Ps 2:12

Stiff-necked after many rebukes will be destroyed suddenly. Prov 29:1

Drinking the wine of wrath. Job 21:20; Rev 16:19; 14:10; Jer 25:15; 51:7;

God setting aside His wrath and fierce anger. Ps 85:3

"For my own sake I delay my wrath" Isa 48:9

Even God's wrath brings Him praise. Ps76:10;Ex9:16;~10:1-2;14-15;Jg5;Rm9:17~Ex10:1-2

God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but rather desires that they turn from their wickedness & live. Ez18:23,32;33:11;2Pt3:9;1Tm2:5;Mt18:14

God is not slow in keeping His promises, but patient, not wanting any to perish. 2 Pet 3:9

Memory verse: Jer 6:14 "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace."

1. How is Jer 6:9 is like Micah 7:1-2

2. What are the sins in Jer 6:10? What is so serious about these sins?

3. How is the word of the LORD offensive to people today?

4. What are we to do about it when the word of the LORD is offensive to people? Stop speaking the word of the LORD?

5. In what ways do people today say "peace, peace when there is no peace" like in Jer 6:14?

6. What are ways in our witnessing that we can give a wrong impression of peace?

7. What exactly is a watchman in Jer 6:17? You might compare this with Ezek 33:1-20.

8. Who are the watchmen today?

9. What role did the prophets and priests play in all of this in Jer 5:30-31 and 6:13-15?

10. What is the meaning of Jer 6:16? How are we to obey this?

11. The disaster in Jeremiah 6 was caused by God. What is another way to look at disaster in Jer 6:19? How does this compare with a verse in Romans 6?

12. Does God always accept our offerings and service to Him in Jer 6:20? Why or why not?

13. In Jer 6:27 God used Jeremiah to test other people. What are different ways today that God can use other people, Christian, non-Christian, and false-Christian, to test you? What area do you think you would be strongest in? Which area would you be weakest in?

Memory verse: Jer 7:9-11 Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name and say, "'We are safe' -safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD."

This was Jeremiah's first (and his last) sermon in front of the temple gate in Jerusalem.

1. Some of the people had great trust, but what were they trusting in Jer 7:4,8,10?

2. What kinds of religious things are we prone to trust in today?

3. Who repeated these words in Jer 7:11 later?

4. Jer 7:16-19 seems rather strange. Why do you think God said this? You might also look at Jer 16:5, 11:14; 14:11.

The Queen of Heaven mentioned in Jer 7:18 and 44:17-19,25 was a very popular goddess in many cultures named Ashtarte or Ishtar to the Babylonians.

5. What harm did the people in Jer 8:8 do? What people have done that today to the Bible?

6. What people in other religions have done that to their scriptures?

7. Now by what two ways do we know that the Old Testament scripture is not corrupted today? Has anybody tried to corrupt the scriptures?

8. How does Jer 8:13 relate to Psalm 1 and possibly Matt 21:18-20?

9. What does Jer 8:20 say about God's patience? How does this relate to Jer 89:13,21 and Ezek 15?

10. What is the significance of the balm in Gilead in Jer 8:22?

11. Could you ever stand in front of a religious building and warn people about it?

12. Jer 9:15 mentions poisoned water. What do you think is like poisoned water today? You might want to refer back to Jer 2:13.

Memory verse: Jer 9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understand and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.' declares the LORD."

1. Jer 9:1 is a classic verse of Jeremiah's and God's feeling toward God's people, who are about to be destroyed. What are some of the reasons you can think of for the great weeping?

2. What reasons do we have to weep today?

3. During the peak of gangster activity in Chicago, it was said that an honest man, once he was bought, stays bought. What are different ways people can be adulterers and unfaithful people in Jer 9:2?

4. God's options seem limited in Jer 9:7? Why do you think that is the case?

5. What would it be like meeting somebody described in Jer 9:8? Has anybody ever thought of you that way?

6. How does Jer 9:23-24 relate to Jer 17:5-8? How about Jer 17:9?

7. How is an idol like a scarecrow in Jer 10:5? Do idols have power? What kind of power? How is the object of their power different?

8. What do you think it could mean allegorically, to "live under siege" in Jer 10:17?

9. Jer 10:23 is a verse that is easy to say, and easy to forget? What are some ways Jer 10:23 is true?

10. Why is Jer 10:23 so easy to forget?

Memory verse: Jer 12:8 "My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her."

1. Why is it significant that men from Anathoth, about 3 miles northeast of Jerusalem, were seeking Jeremiah's life?

2. What is the essence of Jeremiahs' complaint in Jer 12:2?

3. Do you think Jeremiah's attitude was right in Jer 12:3? Do you think it was reasonable? Does this remind you of another prophet?

4. God's answer in Jer 12:5-17 has three parts. What are the three parts, and what is the point of each part?

1. Read Jer 13:1-11. What shape would the linen belt be in? How does that relate to people?

2. Why do you think the allegory of the linen belt was right after chapter 12?

3. However, the people are not useless for any purpose. allegorically, what purpose can the people be used for?

4. Jer 13:12-14 is an unusual passage. Heavy drinking was common then, and Jeremiah says something that at first they might want to hear. What is their initial reaction to Jeremiah's message?

5. How does verse 13 relate to verse 14?

6. Water is a common theme in Jeremiah. What application do you see in 14:3-4?

7. Why is it that some "greatly love to wander " in Jer 14:10 while others do not?

1. How does Jer 15:1 relate to the phrase "God has no grandchildren?" What are other ways this verse applies today?

2. How come God is punishing them for Manasseh did in Jer 15:4? See 2 Ki 21:9,11 and 2 Chr 33:9. See also 2 Chr 33:12-16.

3. Who is speaking in Jer 15:10? Are there times when you have the attitude in Jer 15:10?

4. In Jer 16, it seems rather harsh that Jeremiah was commanded not to ever get married. Why do you think this was?

5. If God were to give you the same revelation, how would you take it?

Memory verse: Jer 17:5 "This is what the LORD says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away fro the LORD."

1. In Jer 17:1 there is sin that can come out of hearts fairly easily, and then there is the other kind. If someone cherishes sin in his or her heart as in Jer 17:1, is their heart then hopeless? See Ps 51:10, Jer 31:33, and Jer 17:14.

2. How is Jer 17:5-8 similar to Psalm 1?

3. What do you think Jer 17:9 means?

4. Will God hear your thoughts if you never speak them out loud? See Jer 17:10 and Rom 7:27.

5. What do you think are the main lessons God was teaching Jeremiah in Jer 18:1-12?

6. A word needs to be said about the valley of Ben Hinnom in Jer 7:31-33. How could it be such a bad place in God's eyes?

Memory verse: Jer 23:24 "'Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?' declares the LORD. 'Do not I fill heaven and earth?' declares the LORD."

This passage of scripture is filled with images: a branch, figs, a yoke, a cup, seventy years, and a promise. Let us try to understand what God's message was for each image.

1. How does Jer 22:30 relate to the Virgin birth of Jesus? Can we have a "childless" Christianity?

2. Jer 24 mentions two Baskets of Figs. What is the difference in God's eyes between the two baskets?

3. What is the difference in destiny between the two baskets?

4. How could people determine which basket they were in?

5. There are two ways we could apply this today: on a personal level, and a group level. The personal application is that the two baskets represent those who are saved and those who are not. How could this be applied on a group level?

6. Jer 25:11 is a key prophecy in the book of Jeremiah. What does this prophecy have to do with Daniel 9:2?

7. What key place in the New Testament reminds you of Jer 25:15-16?

8. Does the eternal God, who knows everything and is surprised by nothing, ever change His mind? Explain Jer 26:3. Perhaps your answer can also explain verses in three categories. Category I: Gen 6:5, Gen 20:3-7, Num 14:11-12, Ezek 20:13,14; 20:21,22, 33:8,14. Category II: Num 23:19; 1 Sam 15:29, Jer 4:28, . Category III: Jer 4:14, 7:3-7.

9. What are some other possible answers to the previous question? Hints: scope, time, timelessness, will.

10. God knows everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen; the end from the beginning. Do you speculate that God knows everything that might have been?

11. Following the prophecy of exile was a promise of exile in Jer 29:10-14. Some see this promise as one of the more precious parts of Jeremiah. What are the parts of this promise?

These four chapters have historically been given the name the book of Consolation. Even in the stern judgment of God there was consolation for his people when they repented.

1. The last half of Jer 30:21 is as important a question in our time as in Jeremiah's. Many are willing to follow God on their own terms. Many are willing to learn about, teach about, and do God's work on His terms. But who is it that can solidly affirm Jer 30:21? Those are the people you look to as examples for your life.

2. Jer 31:15 is an example of a prophecy with a dual fulfillment. Rama is a little bit north of Jerusalem. How is this a throwback to Gen 42-44. (Rachel is dead at this time.) How is this fulfilled in Jer 52? How is this fulfilled in Matt 2:18?

3. How is Jer 31:33 the solution to the problem of Jer 17:1?

4. Most Church of Christ churches teach that musical instruments are bad to use in worshipping God. How does God feel about musical instruments in Jer 31:4.? Church of Christ people would say that is Old Testament, and they do not claim to follow the Old Testament. What does Col 3:16 say about Psalms, which were in the Old Testament and many of which were accompanied by musical instruments. What does Rev 5:8 show about God's attitude toward musical instruments? A key point is that we have to ask whether worship is primarily to please God, or primarily to follow the rules we feel it is our duty to follow.

5. Why did God command Jeremiah to buy a field in Jer 32:8-16? What point was God trying to make? You might get a hint from Jer 32:37-44.

6. Jer 32:17-25 is a lengthy prayer by Jeremiah. The first part is praise of God's greatness. There are different ways to praise God's greatness, and how is Jeremiah doing so?

7. The second part of Jer 32:17-25 is confession. Where does it start? Is there a clear line separating the description of God's ways and the confession?

8. The third part of Jer 32:17-25 is neither praise, thanksgiving, supplication, intercession, or confession. What is it? Is this sometimes missing in our prayers or not?

9. Jer 33:3 is a promise from God that is often overlooked. What is the promise?

10. Who is Jer 22:15 talking about?

11. Jer 33:17 is an important prophecy. What exactly is it saying? There is nobody on earth from David leading Israel today. Is this prophecy true?

This section of Jeremiah is full of action. A lot of things, most of them bad, insulting, or dangerous, happen to Jeremiah. Here is a summary.

The illusion of freedom Jer 34:8-22 Jerusalem taken Jer 39

Recabites Jer 35 Trust, freedom and flight Jer 40-43

The burned scroll Jer 36 Queen of heaven Jer 44

Jeremiah imprisoned Jer 37 Message for Faithful Baruch Jer 45

Jeremiah thrown in a cistern Jer 38

1. What were the two sins these people were committing in Jer 34:8-16?

2. People call it poetic justice when the punishment fits the crime. Do you think God's justice is always poetic as it was in Jer 34:17? How is Jer 34:18 also poetic justice? See Gen 15:9-11.

3. Jeremiah already knew the answer the Recabites would give, so what was the point of Jer 35?

4. How would you feel, if you produced a scroll summarizing decades of hard, thankless work, and the King burned it? Most Christians would respond one of at least two ways. What ways would Christians respond?

5. In Chapter 37, you cannot simply say Zedekiah was really good or really bad. How would you briefly describe him? How can Christians today be similar to this?

6. Jeremiah faithfully continued to warn the people in Jer 38:2-3 because of his love and concern for his people. How did the people appreciate Jeremiah in Jer 38:4? How did Zedekiah support Jeremiah in Jer 38:5 and Jer 38:8-10?

7. In Jer 38:24-27 Jeremiah was told to give a misleading answer, which he did. Did Jeremiah sin here or not? See also 1 Samuel 16:2-4 and Gen 42:23..

8. Jer 39 is similar to Jer 52, which identical to 2 Ki 25. How traumatic do you think this event was to the Jews, and how traumatic would it be without Jeremiah's prophecies? Why can things today be very traumatic for Christians, when they do not see the rationale behind something. Should these things be as traumatic?

9. In Jer 40 and 41, do you think Gedaliah was somewhat at fault for trusting Ishmael? Should we trust everyone, or trust no one? How do you decide the degree of trust you give someone?

10. The Queen of Heaven mentioned in Jer 7:18 and 44:17-19,25 was a very popular goddess in many cultures named Ashtarte, or Ishtar to the Babylonians. What was the lure of following her?

12. Some see a great similarity between the Queen of heaven in Jer 7:18, the woman of Babylon in Zech 5:10-11 and the woman named Babylon in Rev 4-6. Why would you not want to call someone the Queen of Heaven? Who calls someone the Queen of Heaven?

This section addresses nine nations: Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Edom, Ammon, Damascus, Kedar and Hazor, Elam, and Babylon. Geographically, the order generally goes from the west to the east, with Babylon (west of Elam) as the last one.

1. Summarize the following sections:

When Others Take What God has Given to His People : Ammon : Jer 49:1-6

When Wisdom is Abandoned : Edom : Jer 49:7-22

Troubled hearts and the Quick Flight from Fame to Fear : Damascus : Jer 49:23-27

To the winds! You Cannot Hide from His Judgment : Kedar and Hazor : Jer 49:28-33

2. Note that in Jer 50:1 Jeremiah makes a distinction between Babylon and the land of the Babylonians. Bel the dragon and Marduk the hero were the main gods of Babylon.

3. For what reasons did God decide to destroy Babylon? Hint: Jer 50:11, 14, 15, 17-18, 24, 29, 32, 34, 38.

4. What are the Jews supposed to do concerning Babylon in Jer 50:8, 51:6

5. What do these pairs of verses have in common?

Jer 50:8, 51:6,45,50 Rev 18:4

Jer 50:39-40; 51:29 Rev 18:3,21-23

Jer 50:46; 51:48 Rev 19:1-3

Jer 51:7 Rev 17:2,4; 18:3

Jer 51:13 Rev 17:1

Jer 51:13 Rev 18:3,11-15

Jer 51:35 Rev 17:6; 18:24

Jer 51:55 Rev 18:22-23

Jer 51:63-34 Rev 16:12

6. How completely does God forgive people's sins in Jer 50:20?

Overview:

God's omnipresence Jer 23:23-24

Messianic prophecies

Jer 22:28-30 Jehoiachin

Jer 31:15

Jer 33:17

The World in Jeremiah's Time

600 BC Population: World 180M, Egypt+Sudan 4M, Mideast 20M, China 47M

1 A.D. Population: World 260M, Egypt+Sudan 5M, Mideast 24M, China 71M

1995 Population: World 5720M, Egypt+Sudan 88M, Mideast 196M, China 1195M

641 B.C. The bad king Amon of Judah succeeds Manasseh, who was exiled to Babylon

640 B.C. The good king Josiah (8 yrs old) began to reign over Judah

627 B.C. Jeremiah called to be a prophet in Jeremiah 1

626 B.C. Babylonians gain independence from Assyria

622 B.C. The Temple was repaired under King Josiah and the law was discovered

612 B.C. Medes and Babylonians destroy Nineveh

609 B.C. Josiah killed in a senseless battle against the Egyptians

609 B.C. Jehoahaz (23 yrs old) rules for three months. Taken captive to Egypt

609 B.C. Jehoiakim (25 yrs old) rules 11 years. Drought in Jer 14. Taken captive to Babylon

605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon.

601 B.C. Jehoiakim rebels against Nebuchadnezzar (bad move)

598 B.C. Jehoiakin (18 yrs old) succeeds Jehoiakim for three months then exiled to Babylon

598 B.C. Zedekiah (21 yrs old) king of Judah for 11 years until he rebels. 1 ½ year siege

587 B.C. Jerusalem destroyed. Part of Jews exiled. Gedaliah becomes governor

587 B.C. Ishmael assassinates Gedaliah, Johanan son of Kereah takes Jews to Egypt

> 587 B.C. Tradition says Jeremiah delivered one more message than the Jews could stand.

582 B.C. More Jews exiled to Babylon

561 B.C. Jehoiachin (now 55 yrs old) released from Babylonian imprisonment

568-567 BC. Babylonians and Apries conquer Egypt

539 B.C. Persians sack Babylon and add the Babylonian empire to their own

538 B.C. As Jeremiah prophesied, the Jewish exiles are allowed to return home

Main Themes

Trumpet 6:17

Disaster from the north: 6:1,22; 10:22

Disaster 45:5

Water 2:13,18; 6:7; (poisoned)9:15

Kill and oppress the poor Jer 2:34; 5:26-28

Forgot God 2:6,8,32; 3:21

No shame Jer 3:3; 6:15

No awe or fear of God. Jer 2:19; 5:22,24; 3:8

Justified themselves 2:23

Return

Death during labor 4:31

sword, famine, and plague Jer 5:12,17; 44:12,27

injury and sickness: Jer 10:19

Queen of Heaven (Ashtarte) Jer 7:18, 44:17-19,25

Heavenly bodies Jer 8;2

Baals 9:14

wood idols Jer 10:3-9

stones

as many gods as towns. Jer 11:13

provoked with images and idols 8:19

You know, the Bible is an amazing book. There are different views on this, but as we cannot understand everything about an infinite God, we cannot always understand the depths of His word. Though this answer may seem difficult to you know, this will all be clear to us when we get to heaven. Answering this question has been an interesting challenge.

Studies:

Wrath

Preaching to others who are calloused.

Preaching in front of a hostile group

Game: Mold the shape

Role play

1. In Jer 1:6 Jeremiah is telling God he cannot do this. Who else in the Bible also told God they could not do it? How come telling God you cannot do what God commands can be bad? How come it can be good?

2. In Jer 1:11-12 the only possible connection is that the words for almond and watching are shaqed and shaqad. In other words, this is a pun. Many times in the Bible God uses puns (Micah 1:10-15, etc.) but these are not used for humor but to make a point easier to remember.

3. Imagine you were Jeremiah and God told you the things he told Jeremiah in chapter 1? How would you respond? Would it be difficult for you to do this or not?

4. Who has a role like Jeremiah today? How?

5. What positive things did God bring to mind in 2:1-3?

6. How does Jer 2:13 summarize the charges against God's people back then?

7. Do you think worshipping images and idols and other gods is an imperfect way to worship God? See Jer 2:5, 8:19, 10:3, Jonah 2:8, and 1 Cor 10:20.

8. One way people can live falsely is by ignoring or downplaying the wrath of God in Jer 3:4-5. What are some other verses in the Bible that clearly mention the wrath of God?

9. When in evangelism, if at all, would you mention that God's wrath can break out and burn like fire, as Jeremiah said in Jer 4:4?

10. In Jer 4:6-8 did God allow Judah to be laid waste or did God cause it? What is the difference?

11. In what ways do people today say "peace, peace when there is no peace" like in Jer 6:14?

12. What are ways in our witnessing that we can give a wrong impression of peace?

13. Some of the people had great trust, but what were they trusting in Jer 7:4,8,10?

14. What kinds of religious things are we prone to trust in today?

15. Who is the Queen of Heaven in the Bible? She is mentioned in Jer 7:18 and 44:17-129,25.?

16. Jer 9:1 is a classic verse of Jeremiah's and God's feeling toward God's people, who are about to be destroyed. What are some of the reasons you can think of for the great weeping?

17. How is an idol like an ineffective scarecrow in Jer 10:5? Do idols have power? What kind of power? How is the object of their power different?

18. What do you think it could mean allegorically, to "live under siege" in Jer 10:17?

19. How does Jer 22:30 relate to the virgin birth of Jesus? Can we have a "childless Christianity?"

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