A casual reading of Jeremiah may feel like another doom and gloom message. This time, read Jeremiah as a concerned parent who lost their first child (Israel, the Northern Kingdom) due to bad behavior and lack of trust in God and is about to lose their second child (Judah, the Southern Kingdom) in similar fashion. Hear the concern in God's voice as echoed by Jeremiah.
Jeremiah prophesied during the final five kings of Judah, trying his best to turn them around and have them come back to God. They persecuted Jeremiah and put their trust in the Throne of David, the Temple, the formalities of worship, on foreign gods and in Egypt to save them from destruction.
Look for the words of love, grace, mercy, hope and restoration in between all the warnings and destruction.
Matthew 16:13-14 says some people confused Jesus for Jeremiah. How did Jeremiah prefigure Jesus and what can you learn about God through Jeremiah?
Look for the recurring theme of the new covenant - true worship from the heart.
[Bonus] The chapters in Jeremiah were not compiled in chronological order If you want to read them chronologically, try this order as suggested in the Adventist Bible Commentary.
|
Judah’s King |
Chapters in Jeremiah |
Notes / Events |
|
Josiah |
1-6; 14-16 |
Josiah was the last good king of Judah. Fall of Nineveh/Assyria to the Babylonians and Medes. |
|
Jehoahaz |
|
Reigned only 3 months |
|
Jehoiakim |
17; 7-11; 26; 35; 22; 25; 18-20; 36; 45; 12 |
Jehoiakim was a godless man and did his utmost to persecute Jeremiah. 1st deportation to Babylon (including Daniel). |
|
Jehoiachin |
13; 23 |
Only reigned 3 months before being taken captive to Babylon. 2nd deportation to Babylon (including Ezekiel). |
|
Zedekiah |
24; 29-31; 46-51; 27-28; 21; 34; 32-33; 37-39 |
The last king of Judah. He presided over the fall of Jerusalem. |
|
(586-? BC) |
40-44; 52 |
After the fall of Jerusalem |
Listen to the book of Jeremiah from BibleGateway: ESV, KJV, MSG, NIV, NKJV
Short Outline of the Book of Jeremiah from the English Standard Version: