Bible Study Notes in Jeremian- Chapter 44

Jeremiah 44

 

-God’s word comes to Jeremiah for all the Jews living in the land of Egypt following the conquest of Judah and the rebellion of the prophetic word by Johanan and Azariah and all the arrogant men, which led them to the Pharaoh and his vain protection. God’s word starts with the fact that they had already seen the futility of disobedience, which brought all their calamity for destruction in Jerusalem and all Judah. The primary crime committed against the LORD is listed as burning sacrifices to false gods and serving them even after He had sent His prophets over and over again to turn them from wickedness and vanity. They did not listen or incline their ears to repent from their sin and trust only in the way of the LORD. Therefore, their homeland has become a ruin and a desolation (Jeremiah 44:1-6). God then asks through the prophet Jeremiah why they are doing great harm to themselves in this manner by the whole community provoking Him to anger with the works of their hands in a foreign land, a place He never called them to go. He tells them they are simply cutting themselves off in their ignorance, arrogance, and pride to become a curse and a reproach to all the nations of the earth. They had forgotten the wickedness of their fathers and the kings of Judah, not even becoming contrite in the aftermath of the conquering enemy before their God to fear Him and walk in His law or statutes, which He set before them. Therefore, the LORD say that He is setting His face against them for woe, even to cut off all of Judah except for a very small remnant. They will die by the sword, famine, and pestilence in the land of Egypt becoming a curse, an object of horror, an imprecation (curse, execration, or swearword), and a reproach (Jeremiah 44:7-14).

-Then all the men who knew their wives were burning pagan sacrifices to false gods responded unfavorably to Jeremiah, and in reality, God. They flat out told him that they would not listen to him and his message that was given in the Name of the LORD. They cited their struggles and felt like the queen of heaven had helped them more than the Living Covenant God in terms of having plenty of food and being well off with no misfortune. They erroneously believed that since they had quit doing their idolatrous rituals that they were lacking everything and had been made an end of by the sword and by famine (Jeremiah 44:15-19). Jeremiah’s response to that indicted them with the truth of what really lead to their misfortune and disaster in Jerusalem and Judah. The LORD would not forget their treachery in idolatry and false worship to unknown gods. When He was no longer able to endure it (their evil deeds, abominations, burned false sacrifices, sin, disobedience, not walking with God in His law, statutes, or testimonies) in His great patience, the land at that point became a ruin, an object of horror, a curse, and without inhabitant (Jeremiah 44:20-23). Jeremiah once again pronounces their doom as he taunts them to go ahead and confirm their vows to perform abominations against the LORD of Heaven. God’s Name would not be invoked again in the land of Egypt by the Judeans as the Living God, and He was watching over them for harm and not for good to see them destroyed by the sword and famine until they were all gone except for a very few. Just as Zedekiah, king of Judah, was given over to his enemy Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, so too would Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, be given over to his enemies (Jeremiah 44:24-30). *Application* The arrogance and futility of turning away from God for vain idols should be our primary lesson from this chapter, and in a greater sense this whole prophetic book of Jeremiah and the entirety of the Word of God in the Bible. It is a constant theme that we cannot save ourselves and that false belief systems will never deliver in the end. Don’t get bogged down with short term struggles in the true faith or temporary victories in the fleshly-false world system. God is all-powerful and we should walk with Him no matter what the circumstances feel like. Don’t make the same mistakes as these remnant Judeans who turned away from the One who really could have saved them.

 

Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 44:10

 

Bible Study Notes in Jeremiah- Chapter 43

Jeremiah 43

 

-The powers that be in Judah (Azariah, Johanan, and all the arrogant men) refused to listen to Jeremiah’s revelation from the LORD so as to stay in the land for security and protection from the Almighty (see Jeremiah 42). They accused the prophet of speaking a lie about going Egypt, and they implicated Baruch for inciting Jeremiah against them for the result of having the Chaldeans putting them to death or taking them into exile. “So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces, and all the people, did not obey the voice of the LORD to stay in the land of Judah (Jeremiah 43:1-4).” Instead, and against the will and prophecy of God, they took the entire remnant who had returned from the dispersion in other nations, including Jeremiah, who were then living in the land of Judah, and they entered Egypt going as far in as Tahpanhes (this city was located in the far north near the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, Jeremiah 43:5-7). Here, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah telling him to take some large stones and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace there in Tahpanhes in the sight of some of the Jews. Jeremiah was told by God to say to them, “Behold, I am going to send and get Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and I am going to set his throne right over these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his canopy over them. He will also come and strike the land of Egypt; those who are meant for death will be given over to death, and those for captivity to captivity, and those for the sword to the sword (Jeremiah 43:8-11).” God continues, “And I shall set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt (who Israel ran to for help instead of Him), and he will burn them and take them captive. So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself with his garment, and he will depart from there safely. He (Nebuchadnezzar) will also shatter the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he will burn with fire (Jeremiah 43:12-13).” Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in history during 568-567 B.C. and quickly crushed them fulfilling the prophecy. So much for the great empire on which Judah had so adventurously placed its hopes against the Word of the LORD. *Application* How often do we ignore the red flags we get in discernment that is given as a warning from God for bad tidings? Wise up and respond to the promptings the Holy Spirit is giving you within your spirit as you pray and abide in Him for wisdom. He will lead you to dwell securely in His care because His nature is for your good.

 

Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 43:4

Bible Study Notes in Jeremiah- Chapter 42

Jeremiah 42

 

-Johanan and all the commanders and all the remnant people, both small and great, approached Jeremiah for a word from the LORD at a time of decision. They initially seemed very sincere in their willingness to receive what God would say as they looked for direction in an anxious time as whether to stay in the land and potentially incur the wrath of the Chaldeans or flee for the perceived safety of Egypt. As Jeremiah said he would indeed go to the LORD and tell them the entire message he received, these are their words, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send to us. Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God (Jeremiah 42:1-6).”

-At the end of ten days, God spoke to Jeremiah and the prophet relayed His message to the commanders, Johanan, and all the people both small and great. God told them that if they would stay in the land He would build them up again and not tear them down anymore. He promised to plant them and not uproot them. He told them NOT to fear the king of Babylon for He would protect them, deliver them, save them, and show them compassion and restoration. But, on the other hand, if they decided to flee down to Egypt and not stay in the land where God had placed them, they would experience the wrath of God in succumbing to the sword, famine, and pestilence as they reentered Egypt, the land of their former captivity (Exodus). He guaranteed that if they went back they would receive His just anger and wrath becoming a curse, an object of horror, an imprecation (curse, execration, or swearword), and a reproach resulting in no survivors or refugees with no opportunity of seeing the Promised Land again. What God was saying was that Egypt was a false sense of peace and that they should remain in the land where He would bless them despite the appearances of that reality. He was teaching them how to live by faith if they would only trust Him (Jeremiah 42:7-18). Therefore, they were commanded NOT to go into Egypt for God had testified against them if they did (Jeremiah 42:19). Sadly, the foreshadowing reality in the text by Jeremiah is that they were deceiving themselves in a delusion that they would not actually submit to the intercession and prayer on their behalf. Jeremiah, in his discernment, knew that they would disobey the words of the LORD and that the coming disaster was immanent (Jeremiah 42:20-22). *Application* God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). Do we really want to know His opinion and direction on the matters of our lives, or are we too headstrong to obey when He gives us a clear word? God has our best interest at heart if we will submit and obey His plan for our lives, no matter how difficult the path appears from our perspective.

 

Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 42:6

Bible Study Notes in Jeremiah- Chapter 41

Jeremiah 41

 

-This chapter gives some interesting intrigue narrative during the time of exile as to the leadership and people left in the land of Israel. After Gedaliah had ignored the warning from Johanan concerning the evil intentions Ishmael of the royal family, Ishmael, along with ten men came to Mizpah (for geographical info see http://bibleatlas.org/regional/mizpah.htm) and slew the appointed leader of the land while he was eating bread with his companions (Jeremiah 41:1-2). Ishmael and his men also slew the Jews who were with Gedaliah and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war (Jeremiah 41:3). The next day, 80 men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria came to Jerusalem with beards shaven and clothes torn and bodies gashed (sign of repentance and lamentation) to present grain offerings and incense before the LORD at His Temple. Ishmael deceived them and brought them into the city to kill them as well and throw all but ten of them into a cistern built by King Asa of Judah for King Baasha of Israel (1 Kings 15:17-22, 2 Chronicles 16:1-6). The ten begged for their lives and gave information on their stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in a field somewhere. From this we can speculate that Ishmael’s intentions on the killing for financial reasons. Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant people in Mizpah and proceeded north to eventually join up with the sons of Ammon (Jeremiah 41:4-10).

-But Johanan and all the commanders of the forces that were with him heard of all the evil Ishmael had done and chase them down by the great pool that is in Gibeon (for geographical info see http://bibleatlas.org/regional/gibeon.htm). When the people taken captive by Ishmael saw Johanan and his forces that were with him, they were glad and turned around and came back with Johanan for safety and protection from their internment. Meanwhile, Ishmael and eight men with him escaped to the sons of Ammon. The remnant of Johanan ventured to Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem (for geographical info see http://bibleatlas.org/geruth_chimham.htm), on their way to Egypt because they were now afraid that the Chaldeans would be coming on account of the disruptions and unsettled situation in the land on account of Gedaliah’s death (Jeremiah 41:11-18). *Application* What can we take from this twisted and somewhat random historical narrative for our lives today? The answer lies in waiting on the LORD and submitting to His timing. God had told the remnant people His intentions for blessing in the land while their brothers and sisters were away in exile just in the previous chapter (Jeremiah 40:9-12). Ishmael and his zealous companions tried to subvert the peace for their own agenda and nationalistic pride it certainly appears. Our best response in any situation is to be patient and let the LORD have His way with us. When we do, we will find that things will somehow work out in a beneficial manner. When we take matters into our own hands when God isn’t in it, we screw things up every time. Don’t be an Ishmael. Go God’s way!

 

Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 41:2

Bible Study Notes in Jeremiah- Chapter 40

Jeremiah 40

 

-God came and spoke with Jeremiah after he had been released from Ramah when he had been taken with the exiles from Jerusalem and Judah. He receives at this time some encouraging words from Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, because of prophecies, which had come against the people of Israel due to their sin against the LORD and not listening to the Voice of God (Jeremiah 40:1-3). Now Jeremiah was being freed from the chains, and the whole land was before if he wanted. Or, he could go to Babylon as he was invited to come with the promise that he would looked after. He was given the choice of what seemed right to him. So in the end, Jeremiah was given respect and endured in the Promised Land as a true and steadfast man of God who knew his King and was bold in his character and prophetic word. He choose to stay with his new freedom and was given a ration and a gift from the captain of the bodyguard (Jeremiah 40:4-5).

-Then Jeremiah went to Mizpah to Gedaliah, who became the leader under Nebuchadnezzar in the land of Israel. Gedaliah encouraged the people to stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon that it may go well with them. He told them to gather in wine, summer fruit, and oil for their storage vessels and live in the cities that had been taken over. All the Jews who were in Moab, Edom, and all the other countries returned from all the places they had been driven, and they gathered in wine and summer fruit in great abundance (Jeremiah 40:6-12).

-At this point, Gedaliah gets a warning from Johanan that the sons of Ammon lead by Baalis was sending a man named Ishmael to take his life, but Gedaliah did not believe them. Johanan wanted to protect the appointed leader of the land of Israel and go kill Ishmael, but Gedaliah thought it to be a lie and refrained him from doing violence (Jeremiah 40:13-16). *Application* Premonitions and intrigue are constant in biblical accounts and often in our lives. Listen to the warnings that people of God are giving you in matters. It could save your life. Gedaliah dies shortly after this unheeded warning (Jeremiah 41:1-2).

 

Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 40:4

Bible Study Notes in Jeremiah- Chapter 39

Jeremiah 39

 

-By the 9^th year in the 10^th month of Zedekiah, the Babylonians (Chaldeans) under Nebuchadnezzar laid siege on Jerusalem to capture it according to the Word of the LORD. By the 11^th year in the 4^th month the city wall was breached and all the Babylonian officials came in and sat at the Middle Gate (Jeremiah 39:1-3). This was in 586 B.C.. When Zedekiah and all the men of war saw the enemy, they fled and went out of the city in the night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls towards the Arabah (the Jordan Valley area to the east). But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook them in the plains of Jericho (just north of the Dead Sea area). They were seized and brought up to Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah in the land of Hamath (far to the north past the Sea of Galilee in what would today be Lebanon). There sentence was passed on the rebellious king (Mattaniah, or Zedekiah) that Nebuchadnezzar had set up as his person to rule Judah after Jehoiachin was taken into exile. Zedekiah’s sons and nobles were killed before his eyes and then his own eyes were gauged out with him being put in fetters of bronze to take him to Babylon as a prisoner where he would later die (2 Kings 24; 25, 2 Chronicles 36, Jeremiah 39:4-7; 52). The Chaldeans also burned the city of Jerusalem with fire including the king’s palace and the houses of the people, and they broke down the walls of the city (Jeremiah 39:8). As for the people who remained behind and capitulated to the Chaldeans, they were carried off to Babylon, but some of the poorest people who had nothing were left behind in Judah and given vineyards and fields (Jeremiah 39:9-10).

-Nebuchadnezzar was somehow aware of Jeremiah and his prophecies for the Babylonian nation’s benefit and gave orders to protect him so that no harm would befall him. He commanded that his guards deal with the prophet of God just as he (Jeremiah) tells them. Here we see the respect for Jeremiah that was too often lacking from the Jewish people, which resulted in their calamity. Jeremiah was allowed to stay among the people of the land (Jeremiah 39:11-14). Before this time, while he was still in captivity in the court of the guardhouse, the word of the LORD came concerning Ebed-melech the Ethiopian (who had saved his life, Jeremiah 38:7-13). This prophecy was predicting the coming fall of Jerusalem, but Ebed-melech’s deliverance from the men he dreaded. “’For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as booty, because you have trusted in Me,’ declares the LORD (Jeremiah 39:15-18).” *Application* We see the sovereignty of God to take care of matters that He declares through His prophetic Word here in this passage. What does it take in our life to avoid His judgment and certain calamity in our own lives? Trust in Him and His Word, that’s the simple message, yet so profound. Lean not unto your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your path just like He did with Jeremiah and Ebed-melech (Proverbs 3:5-6). He in the end will deliver and bless those who fear Him. For those who rebel, disaster will come as with Zedekiah and so many of the Judeans.

 

Verses to Memorize: Jeremiah 39:6-8, 18

Bible Study Notes in Jeremiah- Chapter 38

Jeremiah 38

 

-Jeremiah, because of the Word of the LORD given, finds himself at odds with raging men of influence in the city of Jerusalem who thought he was discouraging the men of war with his pessimistic prophecies and that giving up was the only way to survive (Jeremiah 38:1-4). They go to the king, Zedekiah, and want Jeremiah put to death for his prophecies. King Zedekiah tells them he can basically do nothing against them, which gives them opportunity to put him into a cistern of the king’s son, Malchijah, in the court of the guardhouse. Jeremiah is sinking in the mud of the cistern where there was fortunately no water, and it seemed he would die there. However, Ebed-melech the Ethiopian went to bat for the prophet of God and petitioned the king for a rescue effort, which was successfully made. He stayed from that time in the court of the guardhouse (Jeremiah 38:5-13). After these things, King Zedekiah came to Jeremiah wanting a word. Though hesitant (for good reason), the prophet told the king the truth about how to survive once again and the king hid the words and the prophet of God from further harm in the desperate situation that they faced with Babylonian siege and captivity inevitable (Jeremiah 38:14-28). *Application* People naturally do not like negative news. When God gives you a word that is negative in a situation, expect retaliation and hate just like Jeremiah experienced. But, also remember that God is with His people when He sends them on a mission with accurate and true prophetic words. He will rescue and use some random and sometimes even powerful sources for His deliverance, just like we see here in this passage. Do His will no matter how hard it may seem.

 

Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 38:15