Zedekiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem in response. The city was taken and Zedekiah was captured. The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah.11 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes.
Nebuchadnezzar burned Jerusalem, including the temple. He took away the artisans, leaving the poor to work the fields. The city was looted. Jehoiachin king of Judah was freed by the new king of Babylon, but still was exiled.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 5: Jeremiah 52
12a) Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem in response. The people were starving, the city was taken, and Zedekiah was captured. Nebuchadnezzar burned Jerusalem, including the temple. He took away the artisans, leaving the poor to work the fields. The city was looted.
b) Zedekiah was captured. The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes.Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, , bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death.
c) The temple was where God dwelled. Once it was gone, the people had no place to meet God under the Old Covenant. It was a symbol that God had abandoned His people to His judgment.
13) It proves that God knows the future. It gives us faith that God is the One True God. It gives faith in prophecy.
14) I think it’s significant that Jehoiachin was never really “free.” He was still an exile in Babylon. Bible scholars point out that King Jehoiachin received small kindnesses out of God’s grace and as a foreshadow of God’s blessing and restoration of His people to come. It ends this chapter on a positive note.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 5: Jeremiah 52
A sad chapter and day for God’s people. It’s hard to read, especially of the temple’s destruction. But, it serves as a warning to us all to obey God with all our hearts, minds, and souls.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 5: Jeremiah 52
Almost every verse is fulfilled prophecy in Jeremiah 52.
We read about the evil reign of Zedekiah and what happened to him. Jerusalem is destroyed; the city is plundered; the people are left in ruin and/or carried away to exile. All the leaders were killed, too.
Bible scholars point out that King Jehoiachin received small kindnesses out of God’s grace and as a foreshadow of God’s blessing and restoration of His people to come. This ends the chapter (and the book of Jeremiah) on a positive note.
The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[a] and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess. They will serve God again. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. God is with them and will save them. God will not completely destroy them; only discipline them. ‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. 17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’
‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,and the palace will stand in its proper place. He will add to their numbers. They will bring him honor. God will punish all who oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’”
Jeremiah 31
I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” God will build them up again. They will proper again with plenty of fruit. The Lord will preserve a remnant adn they will come back to the Lord. The people will be delivered and redeemed and be abundant.
The Lord will make a new covenant with His people. I will put my law in their mindsand write it on their hearts. I will be their God,and they will be my people. I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more.” Jerusalem will be rebuilt.
Jeremiah 32
The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah. I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape the Babylonians[a] but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”
Jeremiah buys his uncle’s field because the Lord told him to do so.
I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it. The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the Lord. I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. The Lord will prosper them.
Jeremiah 33
The Lord says: They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath. I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness. Yet, the Lord will restore His people: Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.7 I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity[b] and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. The land will be restored and the people will prosper again. Jesus will come and save Judah. He will be called the Lord Our Righteous Savior.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 4: Jeremiah 30-33
9a) He will bring His people Israel and Judah back from captivity[a] and restore them to the land He gave their ancestors to possess. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place,your descendants from the land of their exile. God will not completely destroy them. ‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. 17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.
‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,and the palace will stand in its proper place. He will add to their numbers. They will bring him honor. God will punish all who oppress them. Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’”
I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” God will build them up again. They will proper again with plenty of fruit. The Lord will preserve a remnant adn they will come back to the Lord. The people will be delivered and redeemed and be abundant.
b) Because at this point in their history they are about to be taken captive. They needed words of encouragement that this would not be forever; that their children will inherit and inhabit the Promised Land once again. Everyone needs hope, or life is utterly meaningless. And, there is only hope found in God.
10a) The Lord will make a new covenant with His people. I will put my law in their mindsand write it on their hearts. I will be their God,and they will be my people. I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more.”
b) They have the Holy Spirit who guides them. Jesus fulfilled the law. The Holy Spirit tells us: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”[a] Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”[b]
c) I’m not weighed down by my sins as I know God forgives me. I know Jesus took my judgment. For that, I feel I do become closer to Jesus each and every day and can be more like him, too. I can pray and feel guided by the Holy Spirit as to what God wants me to do. This in and of itself is freedom.
11) By Jeremiah purchasing a piece of land that would soon be overrun by Babylonians and be worthless, the message was clear: God would restore Judah and God’s people would once again inherit the Promised Land.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 4: Jeremiah 30-33
LOVE Jeremiah 32:40: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 4: Jeremiah 30-33
Jeremiah 30
God says again how he will bring His people back from captivity. They will no longer be slaves. He will gather His people in the Promised Land and restore them. God’s judgment will be like a whirlwind.
Jeremiah 31
Israel will have salvation in the latter days. God is faithful to Israel because of His everlasting love for them. He will build up His people, and they will be joyful. God will gather His people who have been scattered. Israel will repent, and God will forgive them. The people will be restored and blessed.
God promises a New Covenant because Israel could not keep the Old Covenant. There will be an inner transformation with the presence of the Holy Spirit. God loves His people and will forgive their sins. Jerusalem shall be restored.
Jeremiah 32
Jeremiah is told by God to purchase property as proof of a future for His people in the Promise Land. God will restore His people. Jeremiah prays for understanding. God responds with the judgment and with the restoration and the New Covenant promise.
Jeremiah 33
There is hope after the judgment for restoration. And, there shall be gladness and a branch of righteousness (Jesus) shall come. The covenant shall be repeated.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 3: Select Passages From Jeremiah 4-29 & 46-51
6a) Jeremiah 4:6: 13:18-20; 20:4-6; 25:8-14: The Babylonians are coming from the north. The king and queen will lose their crowns. The cities in the Negev will be shut up,
and there will be no one to open them. All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away.
Jeremiah 20:4-6: I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. 5 I will deliver all the wealth of this city into the hands of their enemies—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.’”
Jeremiah 25:8-14: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon will come against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. God will completely destroy[a] them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10 God will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
12 “But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,[b] for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate forever. 13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. 14 They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings; I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”
b) The exact time of the exile. The fact that it would be the Babylonians. The fact that the exile has a finite time. I love how God gives us concrete details for our benefits and in His mercy. It shows His love and His power.
7) Jeremiah 6:1-7; 11:22; 12:12-13: I will destroy Daughter Zion, so beautiful and delicate. I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe.
13 They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. They will bear the shame of their harvest because of the Lord’s fierce anger.”
8a) Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, and Elam.
b) They know that God will punish Babylon for what they did to His people in the same manner. May their blood be on those who live in Babylonia.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 3: Select Passages From Jeremiah 4-29 & 46-51
We see God’s perfect justice. He punishes His people for their disobedience, but he also punishes other evil-doers. This gives us confidence when we see horrors in this day that God has got it.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 3: Select Passages From Jeremiah 4-29 & 46-51
Judah had no chance against Babylon. The problem was them believing that they would be invaded. Those that believed should flee. Time was running out and judgment would come.
It’s important to realize that God raised Nebuchadnezzar up against His people. Many people have a hard time reconciling this, but it comes down to God’s omnipotence; He can do whatever He wants in His ways, not ours. God would use Babylon to conquer Judah, but also the surrounding nations. Then, God would punish Babylon by using the Persians.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 2: Select Passages From Jeremiah 2-29
3a)
Jeremiah 2:23-25; 3:13: Idol worphip, adultery, disobeyed God.
Jeremiah 5:13, 30-31, 23:10b-11: Prophets preach falsehoods and rule by their own authority rather than God’s. The prophets use their power unjustly. They are wicked and godless.
Jeremiah 5:26-28; 7:5-11: People have become deceitful, commit evil deeds, do not seek justice, do not promote the case of the fatherless, and they do not defend the poor. They shed innocent blood. They follow other gods. The people steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,[a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known. They are a den of robbers.
b) To acknowledge their guilt before the Lord so that they can receive forgiveness. And, to understand their sins so that they can work to correct them and not continue to make them.
c) I think He has helped me to become more aware of patterns in my sins and worked to help me correct them.
4a) Jeremiah was in pain and anguish over the people’s sins. He longs for them to repent. He feels crushed. He mourns over them. Horror grips him. He weeps day and night over their sins. Their sins overwhelm him.
b) They can stick to what the Bible says about sin and judgment and not put their own spin on things. Christians should not judge others based on their sins, either.
5) The Lord yearns to forgive His people if they just turn to Him. He does not want to punish, but does so to teach them a lesson. He loves deeply and will do anything for His people if they simply obey Him.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 2: Select Passages From Jeremiah 2-29
There is something about the analogy of me being like clay in God’s hands that I love. He molds me; He’s in control; He can change me.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 26, Day 2: Select Passages From Jeremiah 2-29
In total, there are 14 messages Jeremiah delivers to the people of the coming judgment.
Idolatry was the main sin, along with Israel’s leaders who failed to lead and were corrupt themselves.
God always offers a chance to come back to Him.
Jeremiah 18:1-11
God can do what He pleases with us at any moment in time. He can show mercy or show judgment.
God responds to our choices.
God’s people believed no harm could come to them because they were God’s people. They wanted to believe the happy prophecies of the false prophets. God points out here this is not so.
