Jeremiah 24 Jeremiah: A Theology of the Heart October 26, 2014

Josiah’s Family Tree (Judah) Josiah Reign: 31 Years Death: Shot by archers during the battle against Neco of Egypt. He died upon his arrival back to Jerusalem. Jeconiah/Jehoiachin Reign: 3 Months, Ten Days Death: King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem, sends for him, and brings him to Babylon where he lived and died. Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians Zedekiah Reign: 11 Years Death: Unknown. His reign saw the second rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar ( BC). Jerusalem was captured after a lengthy siege, the temple burnt, Zedekiah blinded and taken into exile, and Judah reduced to a province. Jehoahaz Reign: 3 Months Death: Neco, king of Egypt, dethroned him and was replaced by his brother, Jehoiakim. Carried off to Egypt, where he died. Jehoiakim/Eliakim Reign: 11 Years Death: Natural Causes. Placed on throne by Neco, king of Egypt. The Battle of Carchemish occurred in the fourth year of his reign (Jeremiah 46:2)

Clash of Empires EGYPT BABYLON

Megiddo: “You shall not pass…..” Josiah Dies (609 BC)

Pharaoh Neco Dethrones King Jehoahaz Pharaoh Neco Installs Jehoiakim as King

Battle of Carchemish (605 BC) VS EGYPTBABYLON

King Jehoiakim Dies; King Jeconiah taken Captive

Nebuchadnezzar appoints Zedekiah King of Judah

Jeremiah 24 : The Vision 1 After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the Lord. 2 One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. 3 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”

Who Speaks? 4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. 8 “But thus says the Lord: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall (will) drive them. 10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.”

Who Controls? 4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. 8 “But thus says the Lord: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall (will) drive them. 10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.”

Figs in the Promised Land Three crops of figs: 1.Early Figs 2.Main Fig Crop 3.Green/Late Figs

Figures of Speech 4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like ( ) these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. 8 “But thus says the Lord: Like ( ) the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall (will) drive them. 10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.” ellipsis simile

Meaning of the Simile? 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah…” How are the exiles like good figs? 8 “But thus says the Lord: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah….” How are the Judeans like bad figs? Like these good figs (in the vision), so the exiles are good…? The focus is not on the people, it is on God’s disposition toward the people. NO ! Like the bad figs (in the vision), so Zedekiah is bad…?

Figures of Speech 4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like (one reacts to) these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. 8 “But thus says the Lord: Like (one reacts to) the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall (will) drive them. 10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.” ellipsis simile

Hope 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. He had said that he would regard them Now adds, I will set my eyes upon them Wait there’s more! I will set my eye upon them, for good.

Hope and Restoration 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. When the juxtaposition of a negative to an affirmative occurs in Hebrew it emphasizes the contrast. The "echo" of a similar form serves to underscore the basic point even more: “I shall be so far from plucking them up, that I will plant them; I shall be so far from pulling them down, that I will build them up." God had sent the exiles away, but it was in his power to restore them.

The Promise: More than Restoration Jeremiah 24 :7 - I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. Deuteronomy 29:4 - Hitherto God has not given thee a heart to understand. Deuteronomy 6:5 - You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Transformation 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. The word heart is to be taken here to be the core of who they are including not only their mind or understanding or will, but also their affections. Change them inwardly God will give them a conviction as to their sins He will lead them by his Spirit to repentance Not only return to their own country, but would also become a true people of God.

Judgment But thus says the Lord… Conjunction introduces a contrast (Though the condition of those who had been driven into captivity was for the present harder) yet God would deal more severely with those who remained. Complacency - God had for a time spared them, and they did not repent, but hardened themselves more and more in their wickedness. 8 “But thus says the Lord: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.

Zedekiah’s Fate Foretold Deuteronomy 28: 37 - And you shall become a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the Lord will lead you away. Jeremiah 24: 9 - I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them. 9 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them.

Spiritual Blindness 10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers. Judgment Grace is not “cheap” – “…which I gave to them and to their fathers. Misplaced confidence.

God's Judgment is Sure God’s Faithfulness to his Promises Irresistible Grace Brings Hope The Threat of Spiritual Blindness is Real