THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH
Jeremiah |ˌjerəˈmīə| (c.650–c.585 bc), a Hebrew prophet. He foresaw the fall of Assyria, the conquest of his country by Egypt and Babylon, and the destruction of Jerusalem. The biblical Lamentations are traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah. A book of the Bible containing the prophecies of Jeremiah.
The book of Jeremiah is a book of the Bible containing the prophecies of the prophet, Jeremiah. God called Jeremiah to prophetic ministry in the first chapter when He said, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” And that’s exactly what he did. Jeremiah was appointed to reveal the sins of God's people and warn them of the consequences that result in disobedience.
But today, we read this book as a beautiful reminder of God’s relentless love for humanity. As we look over the chapters of God’s faithfulness to His promises to people who were constantly unfaithful to Him—we get a great picture of God’s character and of the need for a coming Messiah. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, God challenges His people to stop sinning and to turn from the self-destructive path they’ve chosen, drawing them back into obedience—into a closer relationship with Him.
“When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done?” No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!” Jeremiah 8:4-6
Jeremiah continues to warn God’s people against serving other idols—but they don't listen. So God sent a drought to the land because He wants to try anything to bring His people back into relationship with Him again. Sometimes God allows discomfort in our lives to turn our hearts back to Him.
After some time, the people respond in repentance by saying, “Why have you wounded us past all hope of healing? We hoped for peace, but no peace came…Lord we confess our wickedness and that of our ancestors, too. We all have sinned against you. For the sake of your reputation, Lord, do not abandon us. Do not disgrace your own glorious throne. Please remember us, and do not break your covenant with us. Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, you are the one, O Lord our God! Only you can do such things. So we will wait for you to help us.” Jeremiah 14:19-22
One of the most famous verses in the Bible, Jeremiah Chapter 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
This is a verse we print onto coffee mugs, pillowcases, and paint on our walls to remind us of God’s good plan for our lives. And it’s true. God has good plans for your life. He has plans for prosperity, for good—a future filled with hope! But in the verses and chapters just before this one we see that God is promising His people that they will be in exile for 70 years before they receive this promise. God sent His people into exile because of their disobedience. They couldn’t receive God’s promise until they proved their faithfulness to Him.
The book of Jeremiah is filled with ups and downs of people following after God and then completely turning away from Him to serve other gods. But in Jeremiah Chapter 32 we really get a good picture of God’s character and His loving-kindness that is still very real today in a section called, “A Promise of Restoration.”
“I will bring them back to this very city and let them live in peace and safety. They will be my people and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.” Jeremiah 32:37-41
No matter what you and I have done, or ever will do—God’s love for us will never change. It is the same yesterday, today, and forever. My prayer for us today is that we live in the promise God made to His people in Jeremiah 32. That we will live in peace and safety—and that we will serve God with one heart and one purpose: to worship Him forever.
XO-
Sabrina