Bible 101: Lesson 22

Jeremiah

Jeremiah was the son of a priest, and had a mild-mannered, shy temperament. He was called by God to be a prophet at an early age, but did not want the appointment. He tried to avoid speaking the hard truths that God wanted him to deliver to his time. In Chapter 20, Jeremiah let us in on the struggle to avoid his responsibility and answer the call of God. “But if I say, “I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name; then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it.” (Jer 20:9)

So we have in Jeremiah a reluctant prophet who would rather grieve privately about the state of the nation, but is pushed front and center by the Holy Spirit. In fact, he is known as the Weeping Prophet because of his deep grief over the sin he saw all around him and the judgment of God that he knew was coming. And because of his obedience to God, he suffered all kinds of persecution, including imprisonment. His ministry spanned forty years, through the downfall of the Southern kingdom of Judah and into the period of exile.

Messianic Prophecies in Jeremiah

The Lord our righteousness
OT References: Jer 23:5-6; 33:16
NT Fulfillment: Luke 24:47

Born a King
OT References: Jer 30:9
NT Fulfillment: Matt 13:14-15; John 12:39-40; Acts 2825-27

Massacre of infants
OT References: Jer 31:15
NT Fulfillment: Matt 1:22-23; Luke 1:27-35

A new covenant
OT References: Jer 31:31-34
NT Fulfillment: Rom 9:33; 1 Pet 2:8