Class Notes, Jer 1:1-19

• Introduction:
• The composition and structure have led many to suggest the book had an editor or editors
• Baruch provided assistance, much like Timothy did for Paul
• The very last chapter (discusses events 25 years after previous even) could also have been written by Jeremiah, although he would be 83 (Constable)
• Jeremiah's birth is unclear, many believe 643
• Contemporary prophets: Zephaniah and Habakkuk before the exile, and Ezekiel and Daniel after the exile
Jer 1:1-3 (NIV) The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
• Jeremiah's ancestral roots
• Jeremiah's hometown was Anathoth, a Levitical town in the territory of Benjamin three miles northeast of Jerusalem.  Jeremiah's father, Hilkiah, was evidently a descendant of Abiathar, a descendant of Eli (1 Sam. 14:3). Thus Jeremiah had ancestral connections to Shiloh, where the tabernacle stood during the Judges Period of Israel's history (the amphictyony). Jeremiah referred to Shiloh in his Temple Sermon (7:12, 14; cf. 26:6). Abiathar was the sole survivor of King Saul's massacre of the priests at Nob, also only a few miles northeast of Jerusalem (1 Sam. 22:20). Later Solomon exiled Abiathar to Anathoth, where Abiathar had property, because Abiathar had proved unfaithful to David (1 Kings 2:26). Jeremiah's father Hilkiah may have been the high priest who found the book of the Law in the temple during Josiah's reforms (2 Kings 22:8-10). Even though Jeremiah came from a priestly family (like Ezekiel and Zechariah), there is no indication that he ever underwent training for the priesthood or functioned as a priest. (Constable)
• Timeframe of Jeremiah's ministry
• Call to office, approximately 627 BC or around 20 years old (a year after Josiah begins his reforms, 628 BC)
• Ministry ended approximately 587 BC
• Uniqueness
• Jeremiah encountered more opposition from enemies than any other prophet (message was unconditional surrender to Babylon)
• Jeremiah is unique in recording his own feelings as he ministered
• Jeremiah was the "weeping prophet to a wayward people"  (Dyer)
Jer 1:4-10 (NIV) The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 "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."
6 "Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
• What does verse 5 say about Jeremiah's calling?
• God had determined his destiny before his birth, even before his conception
• The scriptures do talk about God laying out good works in advance for us to do (destiny).  But the scriptures also clearly point out our free will.  We must choose to obey.  While God foreknew Jeremiah's obedience, Jeremiah still had to choose to obey
• What does verse 4 say about our personhood?
• Personhood exists even before conception (I knew you)
• How does Jeremiah respond to God's call?
• He does not feel qualified
• He feels he is too young (lacks knowledge and wisdom)
• He does not think he is a good speaker
• APPLICATION: these are the same excuses some use for not teaching
• How does God respond to Jeremiah's objection?
• He doesn't rebuke him, but he does dismiss both of his arguments
• As for too young (lacking knowledge and wisdom), God says for him to speak what he commands
• As for speaking ability, God touches his lips and put his words in Jeremiah's mouth.  God gives him the ability he lacks for the job he requires him to do
• Finally, God appoints him king-maker, placing him above all kings and nations
Jer 1:11-12 (NIV) The word of the Lord came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"
"I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied.
12 The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
• This is Jeremiah's first entre' into prophecy.  It is really simple, you must answer the question, "What do you see?"
• Nothing hard, just tell others what God has shown you
• Interestingly, God's explanation doesn't seem to fit the image
• Budding olive branch -- only obvious reference would be Aaron's rod
• Never used again as a type in Jeremiah, although Aaron's rod turns into a rod of discipline in Ezekiel
• There is a word play here. Almond tree in Heb. is shaqed.  It blooms the earliest in Israel.  So when you see an almond tree blooming, you know that Spring is near.  The phrase "will hasten" (KJV) or "watching to see" (NIV) in Heb. is shaqad, meaning to be alert, sleepless, on the lookout.  So God is on watch to see that his word is fulfilled.  And, that times are near for the fulfillment of his word
• Another interesting point is that God says he is watching to see His word fulfilled.  That places God in a passive-active role.  He is passive in that he allows the affairs of the world to proceed, but he is active when it is important to make sure some specific prophecy is fulfilled
• Rom 8:28 says the same thing
• Rom 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
• In other words, the particular events are allowed but God but may not be his specific design.  But, he promises to bring "good" out of those events, although our definition of good is quite limited compared to God's definition of good
Jer 1:13-16 (NIV) The word of the Lord came to me again: "What do you see?"
"I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered.
14 The Lord said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares the Lord.
"Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.
16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshiping what their hands have made.
• Jeremiah did so well in Prophecy 101, that he is ready to move onto Prophecy 102.  Incidentally, the Hebrew could be suggesting that this was another time.  God again asks him, "what do you see?"
• There is a pot
• It is in the north (kingdoms from the north)
• It is boiling (it is very hot).  KJV says seething
• God says that it will bring "ra'" which is the word for evil in Hebrew.  It can be translated as both natural or moral evil
• Here is a case where the phraseology is active "I am about to summon" and also passive "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live …"
• Also, "the kings will come" (God is passive)
• "they will come against all" (God is passive)
• And, "I will pronounce judgment" (God is active)
• Bottomline: we have free will and yet God is in charge.  He works to bring about his will using creatures with free will
• God pronounces judgment on his people for their wickedness.  He describes the wickedness as expressing itself in three ways
• The first reason is the act of forsaking God. 
• To forsake means to abandon or to renounce, give up
• Israel gave up on their faith in God.  One can become too sophisticated, too knowledgeable to still believe.  More likely, and consistent with the next few verses, they found a faith that suited them better, that they were more comfortable with living
• God calls it wickedness.  The statement that there are many ways to God is another form of wickedness because it is untrue.  The God of the bible is the only way, and in these last days he has made himself known through his son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is now the only way to the Father (John 14:6)
• God's second reason for judgment, also called wickedness, is the burning of incense to other gods
• To burn incense is most commonly associated with prayer
• The people sought to have their prayers answered by other gods -- maybe they didn't like the answers that God gave them.  Maybe they did not like all the "no's" in response to their selfish prayers
• Rather than exercising faith that God knows what is best, they chose another god
• God's third reason for judgment, also called wickedness, is the worship of what man's hands created
• God exists only -- he is not created
• There is no creation, no feasible work, no imagined beauty, that can encapsulate the greatness and glory of God
• Any work merely brings God down to our level.  Any work dismisses the glory and power of God.  We worship created things rather than the creator
• We need to reserve our worship for God alone
Jer 1:17-19 (NIV) "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land — against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
• We get a hint at what Jeremiah's ministry will be like from these verses
• A lot of reason to be scared
• He will be one person against many
• His enemies will the include kings (executive / ruler), officials (legal), the priests (religious element), and the people (the popular vote)
• They will fight against you.  Essentially, everyone will be against you
• They will not overcome you
• God promises to rescue you.  Which is not very encouraging to realize that you will need rescuing
• APPLICATION:  Jeremiah cared deeply for his people.  God gave him a very unpopular message.  He lived during a very painful time in the history of Israel.  He is called the weeping prophet and it is easy to see why.  I'm sure there were some glimpses of joy in the midst of all the pain.  I don't see how anyone can survive without them.  But the overall tenor of his life had no similarity to middle class American Christianity.  How cheap and tawdry one feels when we think about the things we complain about ...