Approaching studies within Jeremiah, instead of trying to follow chronologically, which is difficult with this book, for roughly the first half of the book, the first 29 chapters, we will instead only produce studies within their appropriate chapters, theming them as follows:

• Jeremiah’s Calling                     Ch.1
• Jeremiah’s Main Message        Ch.2,3,5,7,21,22
• Jeremiah’s Action Parables      Ch.13,18,19,27
• Jeremiah’s Opposition              Ch.11,12, 14,18,20,26,28
• Jeremiah’s Message of Hope   Ch.3,23,24,25,29

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Jeremiah’s Main Message: 2. Israel & Judah Condemned

Jer 3:6-13

⁶ During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. ⁷ I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. ⁸ I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. ⁹ Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. ¹⁰ In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the Lord.

¹¹ The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. ¹² Go, proclaim this message toward the north:

“‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will frown on you no longer,
for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will not be angry forever.
¹³ Only acknowledge your guilt—
    you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods
    under every spreading tree,
    and have not obeyed me,’”
declares the Lord.

A. Find Out

1. During whose reign was this? v.6
2. What had Israel done? v.6
3. What had the Lord thought would happen? v.7
4. What had he done with Israel? v.8
5. What had Judah done? v.7c,8b,10
6. What did the Lord feel about this? v.11

B. Think:

1. What had been Israel’s sin?
2. What had been Judah’s sin?
3. Why was Judah’s sin worse that Israel’s

C. Comment:

We need to remember some history here.  Almost exactly a hundred years before, the northern kingdom (referred to as “Israel” based in Samaria) had fallen by God’s judgement (see 1 Kings17) i.e. God had “divorced” Israel because of their idolatry. Now the Lord speaks against the southern kingdom (referred to as “Judah”, based in Jerusalem) for having gone the same way.

Josiah had become king at the age of 8 and after 8 years had started to seek the Lord (see 2 Chron 34:1-8), and in the next 10 years had gone on to purify the land. It was a long job and Jeremiah’s words would have spoken into that situation.

The main point that the Lord now makes is that Judah is more guilty than Israel. Israel turned to idols and was removed for its sin. Israel’s activity was certainly faith-less.  Judah, on the other hand, had watched all that had happened to Israel and should have understood, but instead they wilfully went their own way and did the same things Israel had done. That made them purposefully unfaithful.  Knowledge brings greater responsibility and therefore greater condemnation when there is no repentance, that is why Peter says judgement  starts with the house of God, for WE should know! (see 1 Pet 4:17)

D. Application:

1. We should know, by the word and the Spirit. No excuses!
2. Our responsibility is therefore very high. Beware!

Message of Hope: “Promise of Restoration”

Jer 3:14-18

¹⁴ “Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. ¹⁵ Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. ¹⁶ In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. ¹⁷ At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. ¹⁸ In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

A. Find Out :

1. How did the Lord refer to Himself? v.14
2. Where did the Lord say He would bring them? v.14c
3. Who did He say He would give them? v.15
4. What will happen to them?  v.16a
5. What will they forget about? v.16
6. What will they call Jerusalem? v.17
7. Who will gather there? v.17

B. Think:

1. How is the way the Lord describes Himself matched by what He says He will do for them?
2. What sort of future has He in mind for Israel?
3. How does the future the Lord speaks about go far beyond just Israel?

C. Comment:

First it sounds bad – the Lord calls them “faithless people” but then He makes it sound better because He says He is their husband and that gives a sense of belonging. Then He says He will restore them and that is good news!

Wherever in the Old Testament there are long prophecies of warning of judgement, there is always a promise of final restoration.  God is not a defeatist. He is not going to leave it in a mess. He promises that AFTER judgement He will restore.

But note it isn’t everyone that He is saying He will restore. He says He will take ones & twos (who will respond to Him) and bring them back. Promise of restoration is NOT unconditional!

Many WILL be taken in the judgement but there WILL be those who He takes & brings back together to Him. He promises that He will give them His leaders to look after them and that He will make Jerusalem a great place again where He is known to be, where people from all over the world will come. Clearly all will know He is God!

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that even when He brings judgement & correction that is not the end.
2. Thank Him that always desires to restore us to Himself.