04.20.2011

Jeremiah's name means "Yahweh exalts". One of the main prophets of the bible. Jeremiah was also known as the weeping prophet (also written Lamentations) BECAUSE his job was to reveal the sins of people and explain the reason of impending disaster (which is destruction by Babylonian army and taken into captivity into Babylon) 


Jeremiah 1
The Superscription
The Lord spoke to Jeremiah in the 13th year of the reign of king Josiah (King of Judah)
The Lord spoke to Jeremiah during Jehoiakim reign, Son of Josiah (King of Judah) until -->
the 11th year of the Zedekiah's reign, son of Josiah (King of Judah)

This is the period where the people of Jerusalem taken into exile.
Jeremiah is a prophet who has seen both God's favour (during King Josiah's reign) and anger (During Jehoiakim and Zedekiah's reign. ) 


Jeremiah's Call and Commission
God has called Jeremiah even when he was in his mother's womb.
And even though Jeremiah felt that he was too young to do God's work, God assured him.

7The LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' But go13 to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you.  8Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you,14 for I will be with you to protect15 you," says the LORD. And even assured him that He will give Jeremiah the words to speak. In our context, I feel that God has called us to be His even when we were in our mother's womb too. And sometimes, perhaps, we feel inadequate to do God's work (be it serving in Youth or Children ministry) But God says that He will give us the words to speak. So we must seek Him to ask Him to teach us how to teach our young ones!  Also, I feel that God is saying like how we shouldnt be afraid of sharing the gospel with people older than us (example our parents). Because He is there to protect us.  Visions Confirming Jeremiah's Call and Commission.  - The branch of an almond tree which means that God is watching that His threats are carried out (His anger towards the people during Jehoiakim and Zedekiah time) - The pot of boiling water tipped towards them from the north which means tht there will be destruction from up north on all who lives in the land. God is passing His judgement on people of Jerusalem and Judah because they have turned away from Him. 2 Kings 24 1During Jehoiakim's reign,1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked.2 Jehoiakim was his subject for three years, but then he rebelled against him.3  2The LORD sent against him Babylonian, Syrian, Moabite, and Ammonite raiding bands; he sent them to destroy Judah, as he had warned he would do through his servants the prophets.4 2 Kings 25 1So King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and set up camp outside1 it. They built siege ramps all around it. He arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign.2  2The city remained under siege until King Zedekiah's eleventh year.  3By the ninth day of the fourth month3 the famine in the city was so severe the residents4 had no food.  4The enemy broke through the city walls,5 and all the soldiers tried to escape. They left the city during the night.6 They went through the gate between the two walls that is near the king's garden.7 (The Babylonians were all around the city.) Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.8  5But the Babylonian army chased after the king. They caught up with him in the plains of Jericho,9 and his entire army deserted him.  6They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah,10 where he11 passed sentence on him.  7Zedekiah's sons were executed while Zedekiah was forced to watch.12 The king of Babylon13 then had Zedekiah's eyes put out, bound him in bronze chains, and carried him off to Babylon. Even though Jeremiah has such scary visions about the country that he lives in, God still assured him that He will be with him. And that, He will protect him.  Jeremiah 2 The Lord Recalls Israel's Earlier Faithfulness The Lord reminds them of the Unfaithfulness of their ancestors I feel that Israel is kinda like us. LIke sometimes, we can be faithful towards God but sometimes we are unfaithful when we turn away from Him and turn to the other "gods" in our life. E.g. school/dance,, etc,,, And God remembers all these times when we are faithful and unfaithful. God, today I come before You and acknowledge that there are times when I am unfaithful towards You when I spend so much time studying my schoolwork but none to study Your word. I am sorry for these times. God, help me be faithful towards You and that I'll be so excited to spend time with You each and every day. Thank You God. In jesus name, amen. The Lord charges Israel with Spiritual Adultery Israel's Reliance on Foreign Alliances The Lord Expresses His exasperation at Judah's Persistant Idolatry