Step By Step: Old Testament 2Lesson 13: Jeremiah

Rev. Christopher J. RespassAntioch Bible Institute

Spring 2013

Jeremiah: Author

The Book of Jeremiah, is written by Jeremiah, “the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.” He is also know as “the weeping prophet” because we wept for Jerusalem. His name means “God will Exalt.”

Jeremiah: Date

According to Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign and also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. (Jer. 1:2-3)

Jeremiah: Date

Based on Jeremiah’s description, his ministry ran from 626-586BC. The actual book of Jeremiah was written and collected during that timeframe. (NOTE: Jeremiah used a scribe named Baruch to write down the words he dictated (see, Jer. 36:4, 32).

Jeremiah: Theme

The overarching theme for Jeremiah is the inescapable and inevitable judgment of God upon Israel for disobedience and rebellion.

Jeremiah: Theme

Jeremiah may be divided into four major sections:

1. The Call of Jeremiah (1:1-19)

2. Prophecies to Judah (2:1-45:5)

3. Prophecies to Gentiles (46:1-51:64)

4. The Fall of Jerusalem (52:1-34)

Jeremiah: The Call(Jeremiah 1:1-10)

1. God knew him before he was formed in the womb. (v5a).

2. God appointed as a prophet before he was born (v.5b)

3. Jeremiah was concerned about his age, but God comforted and assured Jeremiah (v.6-8).

Jeremiah: The Call(Jeremiah 1:1-10)

4. God put his words in Jeremiah’s mouth and gave him his ministry purpose:

to pluck, break, destroy, overthrow, build and plant

(v.9-10).

Jeremiah: The Teachings

1. Inspiration & Revelation—God can speak through everyday experiences (see, Jer. 18:1-12).

2. Personal Religion—the externals of religion are not necessary to hear the word of God. God is present and cares for his people. We can bare our hearts to God (see, Jer. 20:7-18).

Jeremiah: The Teachings

3. The Inner Nature of Sin—Sin is an inward problem that manifest outwardly (see, Jer. 17:1-10).

4. Prayer—We can go to God with all of our cares, concerns and needs (see, Jer. 15:10-21).

Jeremiah: The Teachings

5. Repentance—Repentance includes a godly sorrow for sin and a return to God. Failing to return to God leaves repentance incomplete (see, Jer. 3:6-14).

Jeremiah: The Teachings

6. Individual Accountability for Sin—Sin has corporate and individual aspects. Where Israel focused on the shared sins of the corporate body, Jeremiah called attention to the individual’s accountability for sin (see, Jer. 31:29-30).

Questions?