Introduction to Jeremiah: The Judgment of the Lord

The Book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book in the Old Testament, written by Jeremiah, a priest and prophet called by God to warn Judah of impending judgment. His ministry spanned from 627–586 BC, during the reigns of Judah’s last kings and the Babylonian exile. The book addresses Judah’s idolatry, moral corruption, and covenant unfaithfulness, warning that Babylon would be God’s instrument of judgment. Despite rejection and persecution, Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed God’s message, urging repentance.

  • This whole country will beome a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

    Jeremiah 25:11 (ESV)

  • Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

    Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)

  • "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

    Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)

Authorship

  • The Book of Jeremiah is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, a priest from Anathoth in Benjamin (Jeremiah 1:1). Conservative scholars affirm Jeremiah as the principal author, though portions may have been compiled by his scribe, Baruch (Jeremiah 36:4). The book contains autobiographical sections, prophetic oracles, and historical narratives, likely written over the course of Jeremiah's forty-year ministry (627–586 BC).

Date of the Book

  • The book covers the period from Jeremiah's call in 627 BC (the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign) to the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC. The text likely reached its final form during Jeremiah’s later years or shortly after his death, possibly compiled by Baruch.

Purpose of the Book

  • The purpose of the Book of Jeremiah is to deliver God's message of impending judgment to Judah for breaking the covenant through idolatry, moral corruption, and social injustice. It also provides hope for future restoration, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Jeremiah's ministry serves as a divine call to repentance and trust in God amidst political turmoil and spiritual rebellion.

Jeremiah’s Historical Context

  • Jeremiah lived during one of the most tumultuous periods in Judah's history:

    • Josiah's Reforms (640–609 BC): King Josiah initiated significant religious reforms, attempting to bring Judah back to covenant faithfulness.

    • Decline of Assyria: With the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC, Babylon emerged as the dominant power.

    • Babylonian Invasions: Judah faced successive invasions by Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC.

    • Egyptian Influence: Judah vacillated between alliances with Egypt and Babylon, contributing to political instability.

    Jeremiah's message was often rejected by his contemporaries, who viewed his warnings of Babylonian conquest as unpatriotic and defeatist.

Theological Themes

  1. Covenant and Judgment: Judah’s failure to uphold the covenant results in divine judgment, highlighting God's justice.

  2. God's Sovereignty: God governs history, raising up Babylon as His instrument of judgment.

  3. Call to Repentance: God's desire for repentance underscores His patience and mercy.

  4. Hope and Restoration: The promise of a "new covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31–34) emphasizes God's plan for redemption and a transformed relationship with His people.

  5. Faithful Servanthood: Jeremiah’s perseverance amidst persecution reflects the cost of prophetic ministry.

How to Read Jeremiah

  1. Read Jeremiah as a single narrative: Read Jeremiah as a single narrative which focuses primarily on oracles or sermons to Judah & Israel throughout Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry. However, there are huge historical gaps in these sermons.  

  2. Read Jeremiah considering the Historical Context of Kings & Chronicles:

    1. Deuteronomy 28–30: Covenant blessings and curses parallel Jeremiah’s warnings of judgment.

    2. Isaiah 6: Isaiah’s prophetic call echoes Jeremiah’s divine commission (Jeremiah 1).

    3. Lamentations: Written by Jeremiah (traditionally), it laments the destruction of Jerusalem.

    4. Ezekiel 36–37: Themes of restoration and a new heart align with Jeremiah 31:31–34.

    5. 2 Kings 22–25: Historical narratives of Judah's decline overlap with Jeremiah's ministry.

  3. Read Isaiah identifying near & far fulfillments of the prophecies. The near fulfillments refer to the context of ancient Israel. The far fulfillments refer to the context of Jesus, the Messiah & His people.

An Outline of Jeremiah

I. Introduction and Call of Jeremiah (1:1–19)

A. Title and Background (1:1–3)
B. Jeremiah’s Divine Calling (1:4–10)
C. Two Visions Confirming His Call (1:11–16)
D. Jeremiah’s Commission and God’s Assurance (1:17–19)

II. Prophecies of Judgment Against Judah (2:1–25:38)

A. Judah’s Apostasy and Idolatry (2:1–3:5)


1. God’s faithfulness contrasted with Judah’s unfaithfulness (2:1–13)
2. Condemnation of idolatry and spiritual adultery (2:14–37)
3. Call to return to the Lord (3:1–5)


B. The Call to Repentance and Coming Judgment (3:6–6:30)


1. Future restoration for the repentant (3:6–4:4)
2. Warning of disaster from the north (4:5–31)
3. Corruption of Jerusalem’s leaders (5:1–31)
4. The certainty of judgment (6:1–30)


C. Temple Sermon: False Religion Exposed (7:1–10:25)


1. Misplaced trust in the temple (7:1–29)
2. Idolatry and judgment (7:30–8:17)
3. Jeremiah’s lament over Judah’s sins (8:18–9:26)
4. The futility of idols and God’s sovereignty (10:1–25)


D. Covenant Disobedience and Persecution of Jeremiah (11:1–20:18)


1. The broken covenant (11:1–17)
2. Plots against Jeremiah (11:18–12:17)
3. Symbolic warnings: linen belt and wine jars (13:1–27)
4. Coming drought and judgment (14:1–22)
5. False prophets and their doom (15:1–16:21)
6. Sabbath violation and God’s rebuke (17:1–27)
7. Jeremiah’s suffering and lament (18:1–20:18)


E. Final Warnings Before the Exile (21:1–25:38)


1. Judgment on King Zedekiah and his house (21:1–22:30)
2. Condemnation of corrupt leaders (23:1–40)
3. Vision of the two baskets of figs (24:1–10)
4. The prophecy of the 70-year exile (25:1–14)
5. Judgment on the nations (25:15–38)

III. Narratives of Jeremiah’s Life and Conflicts (26:1–45:5)

A. Jeremiah’s Trials and Conflicts (26:1–29:32)


1. The trial at the temple (26:1–24)
2. The yoke of Babylon (27:1–22)
3. The false prophet Hananiah (28:1–17)
4. Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles (29:1–32)


B. The Book of Consolation: Future Hope and Restoration (30:1–33:26)


1. Promise of return and restoration (30:1–24)
2. The New Covenant (31:1–40)
3. Jeremiah buys a field (32:1–44)
4. God’s covenant with David and the priests (33:1–26)


C. Jerusalem’s Fall and Jeremiah’s Suffering (34:1–39:18)


1. Zedekiah’s rebellion and captivity (34:1–22)
2. Rechabites as a model of obedience (35:1–19)
3. Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah’s scroll (36:1–32)
4. Jeremiah’s imprisonment and rescue (37:1–38:28)
5. The fall of Jerusalem (39:1–18)


D. Events After Jerusalem’s Fall (40:1–45:5)


1. Jeremiah among the remnant (40:1–6)
2. The assassination of Gedaliah (41:1–18)
3. Jeremiah warns against going to Egypt (42:1–22)
4. Judgment on Egypt and idolatry (43:1–44:30)
5. A message to Baruch (45:1–5)

IV. Prophecies Against the Nations (46:1–51:64)

A. Judgment on Egypt (46:1–28)
B. Judgment on Philistia (47:1–7)
C. Judgment on Moab (48:1–47)
D. Judgment on Ammon, Edom, and Damascus (49:1–27)
E. Judgment on Arabia and Elam (49:28–39)
F. Judgment on Babylon (50:1–51:64)

V. The Fall of Jerusalem Revisited (52:1–34)

A. Summary of Zedekiah’s Reign and the Fall (52:1–11)
B. The Destruction of the Temple and Exile (52:12–30)
C. The Release of Jehoiachin in Babylon (52:31–34)

Visual Images in Isaiah

The Book of Jeremiah is dark & ominous imagery that conveys its theme primarily of judgment. There are also images of salvation, and hope. Below are some of the major visual images:

  1. The Potter and the Clay (Jeremiah 18:1–6): Illustrates God’s authority over nations and individuals.

  2. The Broken Cisterns (Jeremiah 2:13): Symbolizes Judah’s reliance on false gods.

  3. The Yoke (Jeremiah 27:1–15): Represents submission to Babylon.

  4. The Boiling Pot (Jeremiah 1:13–14): Depicts impending invasion from the north.

  5. The Good and Bad Figs (Jeremiah 24:1–10): Distinguishes between faithful and unfaithful exiles.

  6. The Linen Belt (Jeremiah 13:1–11): Reflects Judah’s ruined relationship with God.

  7. The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34): Offers hope of internal transformation through the Spirit.

Next Steps

Search this theme in Jeremiah: Judgment

  1. Read Jeremiah & keep a journal.

  2. Look for the key words: transgressed, transgression, sin, judgment

  3. Write out the verse with the key word in it.

  4. Look for the concept which is connected to the key word & identify how it is being used.

  5. Identify the eternal truth that is being taught.

  6. Look for some of these verses in the New Testament especially their connection to Jesus, his people & his gospel along with the human sin nature, forgiveness of sin & righteousness.