In Today's Email:
Jeremiah 23 Notes
In this chapter the leadership failure in Judah is contrasted to the glory of the coming Christ.
vs. 1-4 – The pastors (shepherds) here are the leaders of Israel. The comparison of leaders to shepherds is common, especially because of David. The leaders were driving the people toward judgment. God would spare a remnant of the people, but the leaders would be replaced.
vs. 5-8 – Jeremiah gives one of the most magnificent prophecies of Christ the Messiah and His Kingdom.
vs. 9-14 – The false prophets in Judah are compared to those of the Northern Kingdom before it fell. They and the priests are utterly corrupt.
vs. 15-32 – The righteous and holy God would poor His wrath on those that spoke falsely in His name.
vs. 33-40 – God’s message to the people of Judah is that judgment is coming. Any prophet that said otherwise was not speaking the true revelation of God.
Jeremiah 24 Notes
In this chapter Jeremiah receives a vision of two baskets of figs.
vs. 1-3 – This passage is connected to the taking of king Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) and others captive in II Kings 24:10-16. The vision that Jeremiah sees is of two baskets of figs, one with good figs and the other with bad figs.
vs. 4-10 – The explanation of the vision of the figs. The good figs are the faithful remnant that will return from captivity. The bad figs are the wicked that will be consumed in judgment, including king Zedekiah. Note in vs. 8 that some escaped the Babylonian assault by fleeing to Egypt.
Jeremiah 25 Notes
In this chapter the 70-year Babylonian Captivity is revealed.
vs. 1-7 – This prophecy came in 605 B.C. Jeremiah summarizes his ministry thus far in vs. 3 as being from 628 to 605 B.C. During this time the people had failed to heed the call to repent from the faithful prophets who tried in vain to turn the heart of the nation.
vs. 8-11 – The coming invasion by Babylon under Nebucahdnezzar is seen. The important part of this prophecy is vs. 11 which gives the length of the Babylonian Captivity as 70 years.
vs. 12-14 – The fall of Babylon before the end of the 70-year captivity is announced.
vs. 15-29 – This passage deals primarily with the judgment of the nations through the conquests of Babylon. It could also have some hints of Armageddon as Christ judges the nations.
vs. 30-38 – The coming destruction of the conquests of Babylon.
Closing Thoughts
There is much wisdom in the comparison of leaders to shepherds. It is one of the most brilliant ideas that came from Jewish culture. Leaders should not simply drive people, but should nurture them and help them grow. Too many leaders, secular and sacred, today care only for what they get from people. A true shepherd of people invests in their followers and takes care of them.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “Come, O Thou All-Victorious Lord” by Charles Wesley. Throughout these prophetical books and the various judgments that we see, God is always victorious in His dealing with man.
Come, O thou all-victorious Lord,
Thy power to us make known:
Strike with the hammer of thy word,
And break these hearts of stone.
O that we all might now begin
Our foolishness to mourn;
And turn at once from every sin,
And to the Saviour turn.
Give us ourselves and thee to know
In this your gracious day;
Repentance unto life bestow,
And take our sins away.
Conclude us first of unbelief,
And freely then release;
Fill every soul with sacred grief,
And then with sacred peace.
Impoverish, Lord, and then relieve,
And then enrich the poor;
The knowledge of our sickness give,
The knowledge of our cure.
That blessed sense of guilt impart,
And then remove the load;
Trouble, and wash the troubled heart
In the atoning blood.
Our desperate state through sin declare,
And speak our sins forgiven:
By perfect holiness prepare,
And take us into heaven.