Verses 1-24
MESSAGES IN JEHOIAKIM’S REIGN
Having just considered discourses in Zedekiah’s reign, and now returning to that of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 25:1), it can be seen that the chapters are not arranged chronologically.
The first message is that of the seventy years captivity. We are familiar with that period as Judah’s forced stay in Babylon, and it is interesting to see the place where it was definitely predicted (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
Note what leads up to the prediction, God’s patience and faithfulness towards His people in their sin (Jeremiah 25:3-7); and His choice of Babylon as the Gentile power, into whose hands he is pleased for the time being, in judgment on Judah, to commit the sovereignty of the earth (Jeremiah 25:8-9). Note what follows. Babylon’s motive is selfish, and her time of punishment will surely come (Jeremiah 25:12-14). Practically all the nations are now included in the coming judgment (Jeremiah 25:15, to the end). The complete fulfillment is at the end of the age.
Some will be more interested in the next chapter, where the prophet because of his boldness (Jeremiah 26:1-7) is arrested and threatened with death (Jeremiah 26:8-9). In this case the priests, the prophets and the people are against him, but not the princes (Jeremiah 26:10). This is the method God adopted in the execution of His original promise to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:17-19). That is, He did not permit all of his enemies to be united against him at the same time.
The prophet has a hearing (Jeremiah 26:12-15). The princes express their opinions (Jeremiah 26:16). The elders give their judgment (Jeremiah 26:17-19). A case is cited of a prophet who, unlike Micah, lost his life as the result of his fidelity (Jeremiah 26:20-23). But happily that was not true of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24).
QUESTIONS
1. What period does this lesson cover?
2. Give the chapter of the seventy years captivity.
3. What distinction is divinely given Babylon?
4. How does God deliver Jeremiah from his enemies?
5. Give the history of the prophet’s trial.