1. BACKSTORY

In 931 BC, because of King Solomon’s idolatry, the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah (1Ki 11:9-13 w/12:16-20). Shortly thereafter, both kingdoms began their own downward descent into idolatry and apostasy. The result, God sent His prophets.  As God’s mouthpiece, the prophets’ messages were primarily focused on Judah (the place of God’s house and city) – though Israel as well as surrounding nations were often included in their address.  The role of the prophet was two-fold:

1.1. To pronounce His judgment in the form of devastation and occupation by foreign invaders (Assyria, Babylon – even insects!) if the people did not repent and begin practicing righteousness.

1.2.  To proclaim restoration through such judgment.

This (then) was also the role of Jeremiah. Though young in age (1:7), God nonetheless called him to warn the His unfaithful Bride (Judah/Israel)  of the impending doom He was planning against them. It was the Babylonians and within the span of Jeremiah’s fifty plus years of ministry (631-570 BC), he would see God use their armies to not only destroy the holy city and its temple (586 BC), but also exile the majority of Jewish survivors far away in the land of Babylon. This would be the price for their unwillingness to repent and practice righteousness. This however would also be the way that God would cleanse the land and restore the nation. All would be a part of Jeremiah’s message in fulfilling his role (1:10-16). As such, what Jeremiah (as a book) offers is a generous look into God’s  marriage covenant and  sound gospel message,  as well as how God uses the Babylonian judgment to (prophetically)establish His redemptive purposes in Christ and the New Covenant.

2. CHAPTER QUESTIONS (19-24)

2.27. What does (19:1-9) teach us about our God?

2.28.  How are we to understand Jeremiah’s words in (20:7-18)? How are they different/the same as (15:10)?

2.29.  What is God’s point in (22:15-16)? How does this help us understand what God means in (9:24)?

2.30.  According to (23:14 and 17) why is God against Israel’s prophets ?

2.31.  What are the prophets and people considering to be the “burden of the Lord” based on (23:16-40)? How is their condition similar to what we see today in Evangelical Christianity?

3. SOUND GOSPEL and MARRIAGE COVENANT

Where in each chapter do we find aspects of the gospel (AL,LBS, C/C) or MC?