Search The Scriptures —Study 33 — Jeremiah 49:34 – 50:46

Study 33 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 49:34 – 50:46

Elam was a country north of the Persian Gulf and east of Babylon. This prophecy, delivered soon after the first deportation from Judah om 597, no doubt warns the exiles against expecting relief from this direction. Jeremiah looked ahead, beyond the judgment of which Babylon was to be the instrument, to the time when Babylon herself would be judged. Chapter 50  may be divided as follows: Babylon’s falls (verses 1-3); a message of comfort to Israel (verses 4-7); attackers to begin their work (verse 14-16); Israel’s return to her land and to her God (verses 17-20); the attackers bidden to press on (verse 21-28, 29-34, 35-40); description of the attackers (verses 41-46).

1.     Why are God’s people to be restored?

2.     Consider the solemn truth that, while God may use a nation as His instrument, this does not absolve that nation from responsibility before God. Why would Babylon receive no mercy? See especially verses 7, 11-15, 24-25, 27-29, 31; Is. 14: 5, 6, 17; 47:6, 7; 51:22, 23; La. 1:7.

Notes

1.     50:2. ‘Bel’ and ‘Merodach’ are names of the supreme god of Babylon.

2.     50:7. Cf. 40:3.

3.     50:16. A reference to foreigners in Babylon. Cf. 46:16 and Note.

4.     50:21. ‘Merathaim’ (perhaps a name for southern Babylonia) and ‘Pekod’ (a people of eastern Babylonia) are probably used here because they are very close to the Hebrew words for ‘double rebellion’ (or ‘bitterness’) and ‘punishment’ (or ‘visitation’) respectively.

5.     50:36a. Cf. Is. 44:25

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Search The Scriptures —Study 32 — Jeremiah 49:1-33

Study 32 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 49: 1- 33

This chapter contains prophecies on four neighbouring nations, namely Ammon (verses 1-6), Edom (verses 7:22), Damascus (verse 23-27, and Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor (verses 28-33). Ammon was concerned along with Moab in the two incidents mentioned in the introduction to chapter along with Moab in the two incidents mentioned in the introduction to chapter 48. Antagonism between Israel and Edom was long standing, and Edom had recently taken advantage of the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC to occupy cities in southern Judah (Ob. 10-14). Edom had also considered revolt against Babylon (27:3). Kedar was a nomadic Arabian tribe, and Hazor is probably used collectively of the region occupied by semi-nomadic Arabs (cf. 25:23, 24).

1.     What was Ammon’s sin against Israel? Cf. Am. 1:13; Ex. 20:17; Lk. 12:15. In what was her trust placed? Cf. 48:7; Pr. 10:28; Mk. 10:23, 24. What was to be her punishment?

2.     Notice the vivid metaphors describing the severity of Edom’s fate, as e.g., in verses 9, 10, 19, 20. Note, too, its comprehensiveness, from Teman and Bozrah in the north, to Dedan, south of Edom in Arabia. Why is the judgment against Edom (Essau’s descendants) so severe? Cf. verse 16; Mal 1:2-4; Heb. 12:16, 17.

3.     The sins that brought judgment upon Damascus and Kedar are not specified. Read again 25:15-38, and note the reasons given there for judgment upon nations mentioned in this chapter.

Notes

1.     Verses 1, 3. ‘Milcom’ was the national deity of the Ammonites.  The Ammonites took advantage of the deportation of the Gadites by the Assyrians in 733 Bc (2 Ki. 15:29).

2.     Verse 3.  The word ‘daughters’ here refers to towns and villages which looked to Rabbah as their head. In verse 4 ‘daughter’ refers the whole people.

3.     Verse 8. ‘Dwell in the depths’: i.e., hidden away from observation. Cf. verse 30.

4.     Verse 17. ‘Hiss’ i.e., draw in the breath with astonishment, gasp.

5.     Verse 19, 20.  The picture of a lion coming up out of the jungle on the fringe of Jordan and doing what pleases with the flock, no shepherd being able to challenge him.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 31 — Jeremiah 48

Study 31 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 48

Within Jeremiah’s lifetime, Moab was in league with the Chaldeans against Judah during Jehoiakim’s reign (2 Ki. 24:2; cf. Je. 12; and later, in Zedekiah’s reign discussed with other nations a possible revolt against Babylon (27:1-11).

1.     The chapter may be divided into five sections: verses 1-10, verses 11-20, verses 21-27, verses 28-39, verses 40-47. What heading would you give to each of these sections to sum up its contents?

2.     What reason for the judgment is given in verse 11? What warning should we take for ourselves? Cf. Dt. 8:11-18; Is. 47: 8-11; Am. 6:1-7; Zp. 1:12. What other reasons for the judgment are set forth in this chapter.

Notes

1.     All the numerous places-names refer to Moabite territory. Some have not been identified, including ‘madmen’ (verse 2; the lxx reads ‘Yet you, i.e., Moab, shall be brought to silence’).

2.     Verses 7, 13. ‘Chemosh’: the god of Moab. ‘Bethel, their confidence’: see Am. 5:5; 10-13 for false worship at Bethel. Bethel means ‘house of God’, and there may be present also an allusion to false trust in the Temple; see Je. 7:1-15.

3.     Verses 11, 12. An illustration from the treatment of the juice of grapes.  It is left in a vessel until a sediment called ‘lees’ has formed at the bottom; then the liquid is poured into another vessel, and so repeatedly, until the liquid is clear. Moab had experienced no such purifying process, and so retained its original unrefined character.

4.     Verse 26. ‘Make him drunk’ : i.e., stagger with shock and despairing grief. Cf. 13:13; 25:16.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 30 — Jeremiah 46 and 47

Study 30 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 46 and 47

46:1 Introduction chapters 46-51. Chapter 46 falls into three sections: verses 2-12 (description of Egypt’s bid for power and defeat by the Chaldeans at Carchemish); verse 13-26 (prophecy of Nebuchadrezar’s invasion of Egypt; and verses 27, 28 (a message of comfort for Israel: see these verses in their original setting at 30: 10, 11). Chapter 47 prophesies the Chaldean conquest of Philistia.

1.     Read each section aloud, perhaps in Moffat’s translation, to catch the rhythm and force of these utterances. What is the relation of the God of Israel to the clash of these mighty powers? Cf. 46:10, 15, 25-26; 47:4, 6, 7. Note that God’s chosen people is not directly involved. Cf. Am. 9:7; Is. 40:15, 17, 23; 41:2. What does this tell of God’s control of the history of all the nations of the world, even if that control is hidden from our sight? Cf. Ps. 22:28.

2.     How is Egypt described (a) before the battle, (b) after it, and (c) during the invasion? Compare all this with there boast in 46:8, and read again 9:23-26.

Notes

1.     46:9. ‘Put, and ‘Lud’ were African tribes of uncertain location

2.     46:15. ‘Apis’: i.e., the sacred bull of Egypt, the supposed incarnation of Osiris.

3.     46:16. ‘’And they said”: the reference must be to foreign settlers or traders in Egypt, or to foreign mercenaries (verse 21).

4.     46:18. ‘Like Tabor…like Carmel’: i.e., ‘towering above’ the nations.

5.     46:22. The fleeing Egyptians are likened to a snake gliding away before the woodcutters, i.e., the invading armies from the north.

6.     46:25. Thebes was the famous capital of Upper Egypt, and Amon its local god.

7.     47:1. ‘Before Pharaoh smote Gaza’: it is uncertain when Necho smote Gaza.  The lxx omits the phrase.

8.     47:4. ‘Caphtor’ is the name used of Crete, the original home of the Philistines, and also of the neighbouring coastal regions which came under its control.

9.     47:5. ‘Baldness’ and ‘gash yourselves’ are tokens of mourning. Cf. 16:6. The ‘Anakim’ were among the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Palestine.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 29 — Jeremiah 44 and 45

Study 29 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 44 and 45

This is the last recorded scene of Jeremiah’s life. The now aged prophet, exiled in Egypt, visits some place where his fellow-countrymen are gathered and delivers a last message from their God, a message which they resolutely reject, thus drawing upon themselves their own destruction. Chapter 45 is a much earlier fragment, belonging, to the fourth year of Jehoiakim (see Note on 36:8)

1.     How would you sum up Jeremiah’s message in 44:2-14? What was the spiritual condition of the people as revealed in their reply (cf. 17:9; Is. 44:20)? And what was God’s final word to them, through His servant?  Cf. 1 Jn. 5:21.

2.     44: 17, 18, 21-23. Here are two divergent interpretations of Judah’s recent past. Outwardly, at least, there seems much to support to the idolaters’ standpoint. Since Josiahs’ reformation Judah had experienced nothing but trouble and calamity. Could outward events alone adjudicate between these two interpretations? Is there always an immediate correspondence between godliness and prosperity? Cf. Ps. 73.

3.     Chapter 45. Baruch was the son of a princely house.  His brother Seriah held an important office under the king (see 51:59), and he himself probably had ambitions (45:5).  His work for Jeremiah would reveal to him the doom of the city and the kingdom. What were his natural reactions? What was God’s message to him, and what may we learn from it for ourselves? Was Baruch’s distress greater than the Lord’s in having so to deal with His people (verse 4)? Cf. Mk. 10:42-45; Mt. 10:24, 25a.

Notes

1.     44:1. The three cities represent Jewish settlements in northern Egypt, and Pathros was the name given to Upper (i.e., southern) Egypt.

2.     44:17. ‘The queen of heaven’: see Note on 7:18 

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Search The Scriptures —Study 28 — Jeremiah 42 and 43

Study 28 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 42 and 43

1.     It is clear that the remnant of the people left in the land were obsessed by fear-fear of the Chaldeans (42:11) and fear of famine (42:16).  From both these evils Egypt appeared to offer a secure place of refuge (42:14). But, what did God say they ought to do? And what did He say would happen to them if they went to Egypt?

2.     Why did the people, in spite of their promise to obey God, take a wrong course? What did they lack spiritually that they failed to badly? Read carefully 42:20, 21 (see note 1 below), and cf. Mt.15:7, 8, Heb. 3:18, 19. What does this teach us about our attitude in seeking to know the will of God? Note 42:6. Are we guilty of making up our mind in advance? Cf. 43:2.

3.     Over against the people and their failure contrast the character of Jeremiah. God had made the same promise to him that He now made to these Hebrews (see 1:18, 19); but how different was the response in Jeremiah’s case?  What are the outstanding features that you observe in Jeremiah in these chapters?

Notes

1.     42:21. Jeremiah anticipates the reply they were about to make in their fixed resolve to seek refuge in Egypt. Perhaps during the interval (verse 7) preparations for flight had been in hand.

2.     43:7.’Tahpanhes’ was on the eastern branch of the Nile not far from the Mediterranean.

3.     43: 10-13. Nebuchadrezzar did invade Egypt before two decades were out.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 27 — Jeremiah 39-41

Study 27 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 39-41

The fall of Jerusalem and the events immediately following.

1.     What message did Jeremiah give to Ebed-melech, and why? Cf. Mt. 10:40-42. Is your faith equally practical? Cf. Jas.  2:21-24.

2.     Note Carefully 40:2-3. Could the matter be better summed up than in these words of a heathen officer? Cf. Pr.29:1; Is. 30:9-14.

3.     Most Christians are too ready to believe evil of others. Gedaliah was the opposite. What can we learn from this example?

Notes

1.     39:3. ‘Rabsaris’ means chief of the princes; and ‘Rabmag’, chief of the magi.

2.     39:4. ‘Between the two walls’: i.e., of the city, probably ‘the wall along the west side of the east hill, and along the east side of the west hill’ (Driver).

3.     39:5. ‘Riblah’: in the far north, fifty miles south of Hannath.

4.     41:1. Ishmael was probably jealous that Gedaliah had been appointed governor, and sought to get the remnant of the Jews under his control (41:10).

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Search The Scriptures —Study 26 — Jeremiah 37 and 38

Study 26 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 37 and 38

Although Egypt had been decisively defeated by the armies of Babylon at Carchemish twenty years before (46:2), now a new king had arisen in Egypt who sought to oppose Nebuchadrezzar’s south advance. He sent an army, while Nebuchadrezzar was besieging Jerusalem, whose approach forced the Chaldeans to raise the siege.  This excited great hope, but Jeremiah was not deceived. The Chaldeans, he said, would come back and burn the city with fire.

1.     How do these tow attests of Jeremiah illustrate 1:18, 19? His arrest seems to have contributed to his safety (37:21). Should we expect to find God’s goodness in our hardest experiences? Cf. Ps. 23:4; Acts 27:21-25.

2.     Which do you think were harder to beat-the physical, sufferings or the reproaches hurled at him? Why did he not keep silent and so escape censure? See 20:7-11; Acts 4:18-20; 5:29.

3.     What can we learn from the character of Zedekiah as revealed in these chapters? Cf. Pr. 29:25a; Jas. 1:8.

Note. 37:12. ‘To take over some property among his own people’

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Search The Scriptures —Study 25 — Jeremiah 36

Study 25 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 36

1.     The events of this chapter cannot have been very long after those of chapter 26. (compare the dating in verse 1 with 26:1) God in His compassion bids Jeremiah make one more appeal. In what respects does it differ from that of Chapter 26 (a) in its content, (b) in the manner of its delivery, and (c) in its outcome?

2.     Why do you think the princes felt they must tell the king (verse 16)? Was it to get Jeremiah silenced (cf. Am. 7:10-13), or in the hope that the king might hearken to God’s word, as Josiah had done (2. Ki. 22:10, 11)? With verse 24, cf. Is. 66:2. Do you have the impression that this was a fateful moment for the nation, and that very much depended on the king’s action? Are there comparable decisions in your life?

3.     Compare verses 19 and 26. How do I describe a successful action or activity or my own?

Notes

1.     Verse 5: ‘I am debarred’: perhaps because of the fear of his causing a disturbance (cf. the impact of his Temple sermon in chapter 26), or perhaps because of some ceremonial defilement.

2.     Verse 8.  This verse sums up in brief the story of the following verses. Note form verses 1 and 9 the time taken to complete scroll. The incident of chapter 45 falls between verses 8, 9.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 24 — Jeremiah 35

Study 24 From the Book of Jeremiah is: Jeremiah 35

The Rechabites were a small class of sect who regarded Jonadab (cf. 2. Ki. 10:15) as their father or founder, and had received a charge from him to abstain from wine, from settled dwellings and from agriculture, i.e., the marks of a settled civilization. They normally lived a normal life, but in fear of the advance of the armies of the north, they had taken refuge in Jerusalem.

1.     What test did Jeremiah, at God’s command, apply to the Rechabites? And what message did God then give him to take to the people of Jerusalem?

2.     Verses 13-17. Consider the frequency of this complaint: see 7:13, 25, 26; 25: 3, 4, 7; 26:4, 5; 29:19; 44:4. Are you careful to heed God’s word to you, e.g., through teachers and preachers?

3.     What traits of the Rechabites should be the distinguishing features of Christians today? Cf. Mt. 24:12, 13; Heb. 10:36, 38, 39.

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