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HOPE AMONG RUINS Lesson One: Introduction to the Book of J eremiah A study of the book of Jeremiah by Pastor Kris Holroyd Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. Book Recommendations. Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope by Philip Ryken
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HOPE AMONG RUINS Lesson One: Introduction to the Book of Jeremiah A study of the book of Jeremiah by Pastor Kris Holroyd Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
Book Recommendations • Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope by Philip Ryken • A Commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming by Walter Brueggemann • Jeremiah by Louis Stulman • Jeremiah by Jack Lundbom (3 vols.) • ESV Bible Atlas and ESV Study Bible
Today • Historical Context • Some themes from the book
Historical Context • Manasseh 687-642 (2 Kings 21) • Reigns 55 years • Pagan worship flourishes • Aligns himself with Assyria • Assyria weakening, as Egypt declares independence
Historical Context (cont.) • Amon 642-640 (2 Kings 21) • Like his father • Pro-Assyrian • Assassinated by anti-Assyrian party
Historical Context (cont.) • Josiah 640-609 (2 Kings 22-23) • Assyria begins to regain power • Josiah put on throne at 8 years old by those seeking political independence and a return to the worship of YHWH
Historical Context (cont.) • Josiah 640-609 (cont.) • 622 BC widespread religious and nationalistic reformation • Repair of the temple • Centralized worship in Jerusalem • Book of the Law restored • Political independence
Historical Context (cont.) • Josiah 640-609 (cont.) • Meanwhile, in Assyria • Rapidly losing power • Big military defeat in 626 • Babylon rebels • Nabopolassar defeats Assyria in battle and becomes Babylonian king • Nineveh falls in 612 to Bablon/Medes coalition
Historical Context (cont.) • Josiah 640-609 (cont.) • Meanwhile, in Assyria (cont.) • Egypt (Pharaoh Neco II) helps Assyria retake a city in 609, but both defeated • Egypt perhaps delayed in battle with Judah at Megiddo; Josiah dies
Historical Context (cont.) • Jehoahaz 609 (2 Kings 23) • Made king when father Josiah dies in battle • Egypt, however, takes control of Judah while returning after loss to Babylon • Jehoahaz taken to Egypt
Historical Context (cont.) • Jehoiakim 609-598 (2 Kings 23-24) • Jehahaz’s older brother • Put on throne by PharoahNeco II • Egypt demands heavy tribute
Historical Context (cont.) • Jehoiakim 609-598 (cont.) • Four years later, Babylon surprise Egyptian army at Carchemish (605), soundly defeating them • Referenced in Jer. 46:2
Historical Context (cont.) • Jehoiakim 609-598 (cont.) • Babylon growing in strength, Nabopolassar dies, Nebuchadnezzar takes over • Jehoiakim switches allegiance to Babylon for three years
Historical Context (cont.) • Jehoiakim 609-598 (cont.) • 601 BC, Babylon and Egypt continue their war closer to Egypt • Babylon retreats north • Pro-Egyptian party encourages Jehoiakim to rebel; he declares independence • Babylon retaliates; Jehoiakim dies (perhaps assassinated)
Historical Context (cont.) • Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) 598-597 (2 Kings 24-25) • Placed on the throne when Jehoiakim dies • Full Babylonian army surrounds the city (Dec. 598) • Three months later, the city surrenders • Temple looted • Deportation: • Jehoiachin • Queen mother • High officials and skilled laborers
Historical Context (cont.) • Zedekiah 597-586 (2 Kings 24) • Jehoiachin’s uncle • Placed on throne by Nebuchadnezzar • National turmoil
Historical Context (cont.) • Zedekiah 597-586 (cont.) • Coalition hoped Babylon rule short lived, encouraged insurrection • Pro-Egyptian factions clash with Pro-Babylon • Exiles believed Jehoiachin still rightful king • Jeremiah, “pro-Babylon,” encourages patience, no rebellion
Historical Context (cont.) • Zedekiah 597-586 (cont.) • 589 BC Zedekiah declares independence and rebels • Babylon responds; Egypt attempts to help • 586 (after a 3 year siege), Jerusalem falls; temple and palace destroyed; more deportation
Historical Context (cont.) • After the Fall of Jerusalem • Gedaliah governs Judah • Family helped Josiah’s reforms • He supported Jeremiah’s ministry • Assassinated after about four years • Jeremiah says to stay in the land • He is accused of treason and hauled off to Egypt with those fleeing the land, perhaps fleeing a third Babylonian deportation
Historical Context (cont.) • After the Fall of Jerusalem (cont.) • Jeremiah prophecies in Egypt (chapter 44), particularly against those worshiping the queen of heaven • Jeremiah’s message to Egyptian exiles: the future of Judah lies with those in Babylon
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH • God’s incredible and long-suffering love • “Suffering love grows out of divine vulnerability and weakness…it reflects a situation of anguish occasioned by a broken relationship.” Stulman, 23-24) • Chapters 2-3 and Israel as an unfaithful wife
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) • God’s sovereign reign over the nations • Chapters 26-52 • God’s judgment on Judah • God’s judgment on the nations • God’s directing of the nations for his plans and people
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) • Theodicy • Why do bad things happen? • How can a good God let bad things happen?
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) • Jeremiah as example • Living faithfully when life gets hard • Jeremiah faces such hardships as: • Humiliation • Reproach • Threats on his life • Anxiety, sorrow, longing for death
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) • How to live in a non-”Christian” society • Jeremiah 29 and the letter to the exiles • How do the exiles live in pagan Babylon? • What can we learn from Jeremiah’s instructions to them with regard to living in our non-Christian culture today?
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) • The Covenant God makes with his people • The “new” covenant for the exiles • The new covenant as it points to the coming of Christ
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) • The formation of the Word of God • Jeremiah 36 and the burning of the scroll • The formation of the written word of God • True prophets versus false prophets: discerning truth in a world of falsehoods
SOME THEMES IN JEREMIAH (cont.) • Hope • Ultimately, Jeremiah is a book of hope for a people suffering judgment