Week 6 – Book of Jeremiah
Read: Jeremiah Chapter 6; additional reading: Matthew
11:28-30
Background
Jeremiah’s biography can be found in the two books of the
Bible credited to him, Jeremiah and Lamentations. Born into a
priestly family in the small town of Anathoth, just three miles north of
Jerusalem, his father is Hilkiah, the High Priest here. Accepting his divine
calling to become a prophet during the 13th year of King Josiah’s
reign in 627 BC, Jeremiah is possibly younger than 20. Having been told not to
marry or have children, Jeremiah becomes known as the “preaching prophet” and
continues in ministry for 40 years.
Scripture teaches God chooses Jeremiah as His messenger
before his conception. His ministry covers the reigns of the last 5 kings of
Judah, from Josiah to Zedekiah. With God’s message rejected by the people, this
creates much suffering and ridicule for this servant of God. Despite the
hardships and anguish, Jeremiah will faithfully serve God as His prophet,
bringing His message to the Hebrew people of the Southern Kingdom known as
Judah.
In Biblical commentaries, Jeremiah is commonly known as
“the weeping prophet” because of his sincere sorrow for his community, for his
people. Empathy defines Jeremiah’s feelings toward his fellow Hebrew citizens.
His heart breaks for them as God’s judgment comes. God allows Jeremiah to
witness the prophesies revealed, the horrific devastation of Jerusalem. Most
commentaries believe Jeremiah writes Lamentations after the fall of
Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Jeremiah remains a true and faithful follower of God,
believing that Yahweh is the LORD of Judah and of all nations. Messages of sin
and consequences fill the book of Jeremiah, and frequently Jeremiah
reminds the people of God’s mercy and faithfulness, of His promises of
restoration. While false prophets proclaim false peace to this nation of
rebellious people, Jeremiah brings light to this darkness exposing these lies
and false hope. Because of His Covenant with Israel, God’s people can come back
to Jerusalem with a new vision, a new hope – true Shalom. Inside and wrapped
around the messages of judgement, Jeremiah always reminds the people of God’s
mercies. Jeremiah understands the righteous nature of God.
Tradition marks Jeremiah’s death around 570 BC although
there is no record in Scripture. Jeremiah is exiled to Egypt after Jerusalem
falls, and some historians say it is possible that “the weeping prophet” is
stoned to death in Egypt by his fellow countrymen.
Study
In the beginning of Chapter 6, Jeremiah gives God’s
message, first, to his own neighbors in Anathoth, a city in the tribe of
Benjamin. The reference to “Tekoa” is a town 6 miles South of Bethlehem, some
11 miles from Jerusalem, and the hometown of the prophet, Amos, and known as
the hill country of Judah. The next location we see is Beth Haccerem, meaning house
of the vineyard, which is signal point 2 miles south of Jerusalem. The Jews have “three main ways to get
military info: trumpet signals (v 1), signal fires (v 1), and watchmen on the
walls (v 17).” We
continue to see the warnings about disaster and great destruction from the
north (v 1). In verses 5-9, God gives
specific instructions to the Babylonian army, the how and why for taking the
city of Jerusalem.
Our empathetic Jeremiah laments
the people’s blatant disregard, and his “weary” and burdened heart aches for
this coming calamity. “Nobody is listening” seals their fate. Because of their
greed no one will be exempt, “from the least… even to the greatest”, “from the
prophet and even to the priest”. (v13) These false teachers giving false hope
to the men, women, and children - all will experience God’s judgment.
In verse 14 we hear God’s
frustration with these false leaders who are giving false peace, “there is no
peace.” This peace, the Hebrew word Shalom, describes not simply
a time or place without disturbance; rather, this peace is true peace, a
wholeness or completeness. There is no peace in Judah.
How does one find this peace?
God tells them to seek the “ancient paths”. Where does one find “the good way”
in verse 16? These ancient paths are simply the old ways of the Chosen People,
the Torah, the Law, the lessons of Moses. The people reject the good way, do not
listen, and offer empty sacrifices. God’s anger will bring “stumbling blocks”
(v 21) such as famine and invasion, and all will suffer.
The chapter closes with a
lesson that calls the rebellious people of Judah “rejected silver”. The
reference of “bronze and iron” in verse 28 is symbolic language describing the
rebellious nature of the people, “stubborn rebels” and “corrupters”. The Chronological
Study Bible Commentary says that silver naturally occurs in nature mixed
with lead. To get pure silver, the process includes heating the silver to a
high temperature, and the impurities will rise to the top. These impurities,
called dross, are then skimmed off. The process is repeated until the silver is
free of impurities. God says that their wickedness, the dross, is “not drawn
off”. In other words, the people reveal their impurities in their lives.
Because they are not willing to seek purification or righteousness through a
true repentance, they remain as impure silver – rejected silver.
Reflection
The LORD says, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for
the ancient paths, ask
where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…” (Jeremiah
6:16) These words speak to me this week, call to my heart and mind and soul. We
all find ourselves as this common intersection, sometimes we are lost and need
directions, sometimes we have questions and seek answers, sometimes we are weary
and simply need rest. In fact, we probably come to this crossroads several
times a day: tell the truth or manipulate it, keep a confidence or boast
being-in-the-know, abstain from critical comments or make that condescending
remark, choose to be kind or turn the other way with indifference. As
Christians, we are called to live a better way, a right-living way with God. I
must do better.
Every day we “stand at the crossroads” of good and evil; we mingle
with good enough and not-so-bad, with just okay and almost-too-far. You get
what I am saying! We stand beside some people who offer veiled taunts while
others shout blatant hostility. Looking the other direction, we see folks who
give simplistic replies or just say nothing. This contrast on paper reflects the
greater chasm between choosing the world over choosing God, being insolent over
intentional, being ambiguous over authentic. I must ask and choose “the good
way”.
The ancient paths lead us to true rest. After mentioning Matthew
11:28-30 last week, I discover this week that verse 29 quotes Jeremiah
6:16, “and you will find rest for your souls.” This “rest” means a “state of
refreshment and life, a state of renewal for one’s life and soul.” In the same way, shalom offers more than
peace, reflecting a deeper, more complex idea that conveys a completeness
evidenced by the blessing of spiritual security and rest, of wholeness and
well-being. This rest and this peace come from Jesus. In Hebrew, Jesus is
called Yeshua and is also known as Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace. My
favorite version of Matthew 11:29 is in The Message which paints
the image of true rest as “to learn the unforced rhythms of grace”. I need this
rest for my soul!
Application
The very last line in Jeremiah 6:16 is dismal, “But they
said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” The history of faith takes us way back – long before
denominations, even before the 1st century theology of grace. Prophesies
written long, long ago tells us that our faithful God always reveals “The Way”!
·
Do you find yourself standing with Judah
saying, “We will not walk in it!” or “No, that’s not the road we want!” (NLT)
Test the ancient paths - evaluate these faith-based beliefs and
hold them as a standard to culture, as a standard to your own living.
·
Ask yourself: Where have I gone astray? How
can I do better? What changes must I make to reflect God’s Way in my living?
Donna Oswalt
*I hope you are finding these lessons purposeful and useful in
your devotional and study time.