JEREMIAH

1
JEREMIAH LAMENTATIONS
2
JEREMIAH
3
AUTHOR

• Jeremiah name means The Lord throws
• 626 BC-586 BC
• Death Uncertain may have been stoned
• Commanded not to marry or have kids (161-4)
• Prophet of Doom Only had a few friends.
• Secretary Baruch (364-32)
• Self-critical timid by nature (16 1024)
• Confesses often makes startling statements
  (121 1518)

4
BACKGROUND

• Time of storm and stress for nations
• Nabopolassar of Babylon took up rule in 626 (year
  of Jeremiahs call)
• King Josiah (Jeremiahs friend) dies in battle in
  609 BC.
• New king Jehoiakim hates Jeremiah sent to prison
  and persecution
• Later, the king Zedekiah also mistreated
  Jeremiah at times though at end of Z. life, made
  treaty with Jeremiah (3814-27)
• Jeremiah under house arrest until 586 (3828)
• Over 70, joins those who fled to Egypt (434-7)
• Thus called the weeping prophet

5
THEOLOGICAL THEMES AND MESSAGE

• Shows contempt for false prophets
• Prophesied against own people, though loved them
  and prayed for them
• Judgmentpervasive theme though offered
  repentance as answer
• Called Judah to submit to Babylon seen as a
  traitor (but actually a patriot)
• God as ultimate
• God is concerned about individuals
• Gods judgment would not be the final word.
  Mercy and covenant faithfulness would win. God
  wold make new covenant with his people (3131-34)

6
LITERARY FEATURES

• Longest book in the Bible (by words)
• Prose lofty and lyrical
• Repetition sword, famine, and plague
• Use of symbolism

7
LAMENTATIONS
8
AUTHOR DATE

• Anonymous
• Written while in Exile
• If by Jeremiah, at the very end of his life
  (586-516)

9
LITERARY FEATURES

• Poetic
• 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th laments all have 22 verses
  (reflecting Hebrew Alphabet)
• 3rd lament33 line units, each beginning with the
  successive Hebrew letter

10
ITEMS OF INTEREST

• Only Bible book that consists solely of Laments
• Orthodox Jews read it aloud every 9th day of Ab
  (destruction of Temple)
• Many read it each week at the Western Wall in
  Jerusalem
• Roman Catholics read it on the last 3 days of
  Holy Week

11
THEMES AND THEOLOGY

• Recites horrors of devastation
• Wholesale devastations and slaughter against
  kings and commoners alike
• Starving mothers reduced to cannibalism
• Ceremony and Worship came to an end
• Wrestles with nature and ways of God
• Humans only instruments God destroyed the city
• Due to sin and covenant-breaking
• Must acknowledge sin (in midst of weeping)
• Ends with appeal for restoration
• Middle of book focuses on Goodness of God
  (321f)