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: 6. Against Kings
Jer 22:8-12, 18-30
8 “People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?’ 9 And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods.’”
10 Do not weep for the dead king or mourn his loss;
rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,
because he will never return
nor see his native land again.
11 For this is what the Lord says about Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: “He will never return. 12 He will die in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again.”
18 Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:
“They will not mourn for him:
‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’
They will not mourn for him:
‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
19 He will have the burial of a donkey—
dragged away and thrown
outside the gates of Jerusalem.”
20 “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,
let your voice be heard in Bashan,
cry out from Abarim,
for all your allies are crushed.
21 I warned you when you felt secure,
but you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your way from your youth;
you have not obeyed me.
22 The wind will drive all your shepherds away,
and your allies will go into exile.
Then you will be ashamed and disgraced
because of all your wickedness.
23 You who live in ‘Lebanon,’
who are nestled in cedar buildings,
how you will groan when pangs come upon you,
pain like that of a woman in labor!
24 “As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25 I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.[d] 26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. 27 You will never come back to the land you long to return to.”
28 Is this man Jehoiachin a despised, broken pot,
an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled out,
cast into a land they do not know?
29 O land, land, land,
hear the word of the Lord!
30 This is what the Lord says:
“Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring will prosper,
none will sit on the throne of David
or rule anymore in Judah.”
A. Find Out :
- Why was the Lord dealing with Jerusalem? v.9
- What happened to Shallum & would happen to him? v.11,12
- What was Jehoiakim’s future? v.19
- What had he done? v.21
- Why may Jehoiachin not rest easy? v.24,25
- What future is there for their family? v.30
B. Think:
- Read 2 Chronicles 36:2-10 for the historical background and check the Introduction to these notes.
- What were the ends of Shallum (Jehoahaz), Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin? Why?
C. Comment:
Here we see something of the significance of Jeremiah’s ministry, as he prophesies into the lives of these three kings of Jerusalem before it was first taken by Nebuchadnezzar.
Josiah had been a good king (even though he died for foolishly fighting the king of Egypt), yet his son Jehoahaz (otherwise known as Shallum) did evil (2 Kings 23:32) and was carried off to Egypt for his unfaithfulness. Jeremiah prophesied his death there, which happened (2 Kings 23:34). Josiah’s next son, Jehoiakim then ruled and also did evil (2 Chronicles 36:5) and was carried off to Babylon. Jeremiah prophesied his being carried out of Jerusalem and being buried, and it was so.
Finally Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin rules and feels hopeful. Jeremiah says he has no hope for he too will be exiled, and so it was (2 Chronicles 36:10). Jeremiah spoke into the lives of these three foolish kings and because they would not repent, God’s word was fulfilled for each of them.
D. Application?
- Thank the Lord that He warns and warns and warns before He brings judgement.
- Thank the Lord that He is faithful and will always fulfil His word.