Jeremiah: Profile of Courage Chapters “Broken Covenants”

Jeremiah - Spring 2013 WeekTopic Mar 6Dark Prophecies: Introduction and Jeremiah 1-6 Mar 13Dark Prophecies: Jeremiah 1-6 continued Mar 20False Worship: Jeremiah 7-10 Mar 27Broken Promises, Shattered Pride: Jeremiah Apr 3Sin Carved on the Heart: Jeremiah Apr 10The Potter, Pot, and Fire: Jeremiah Apr 17A Scattered Flock: Jeremiah Apr 24God’s Law on the Heart: Jeremiah May 1Broken Covenants: Jeremiah May 8God’s Indestructible Word: Jeremiah May 15Judgment and Justice: Jeremiah May 22God’s Justice Among Nations: Jeremiah May 29Summary of Jeremiah

Today’s Objectives Review last weeks lesson, including historical setting Learn how God reacted when the people of Jerusalem went back on a covenant to release Hebrew slaves See how God used a nomadic family to highlight the faithlessness of Judah Appreciate the necessity of keeping promises

Review of Chapters Examined Jeremiah’s prophecy of seventy years of exile Saw how Jeremiah handled confrontation with a false prophet Learned the characteristics of the new covenant Appreciated the necessity of change for spiritual growth

Date of Chapters Chapter 34: –“when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his dominion, and all the peoples, were fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof..” –When? –Siege of Jerusalem prior to exile, perhaps 587 B.C. Chapter 35: –“The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying…” –When? –Probably 606 B.C., prior to Nebuchadnezzar's first attack

Last Five Kings of Judah NameFatherReign ( B.C.) What happened? JosiahAmmon Killed at Megiddo JehoahazJosiah (4)608Pharaoh Necho II carried him into exile JehoiakimJosiah (2) Rebelled against Babylon and killed JehoiachinJehoiakim597Exiled to Babylon ZedekiahJosiah (3) Sons killed, blinded, then exiled to Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar's Attacks on Jerusalem DateExtentResult 605 B.C.Quick strikeSons of noble families deported for civil service (including Daniel) 597 B.C.Major AttackKing Jehoiachin deposed; leading families and skilled workers deported (Ezekiel included) B.C.Total DestructionCity and temple destroyed; King Zedekiah blinded; all but the poor deported

Key People Jeremiah –Served the last five kings of Judah –Confidant of King Josiah ( B.C. ), King Jehoiakim ( B.C. ), and King Zedekiah ( B.C. ) –Member of a priestly family and was from Anathoth –May have descended from Abiathar, a distrusted priest –Fled to Egypt with Beruch upon destruction of Jerusalem King Jehoiakim –King of Judah, B.C., corrupt and wicked –Carried off in first Babylonian captivity (2 Ch 36:6) Nebuchadnezzar –Babylonian King from B.C. –Military commander that defeated Egypt in 605 B.C. –Conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Key People King Zedekiah –Gained the throne at age 21 –Last king of Judah –Sent into exile –His sons were killed and then he was blinded Rechabites –Belong to the Kenites, connected with Midianites –Nomadic –Adhered to the law of Jehonadab (tribe father) –Forbidden to drink wine, live in cities, plant vineyards or sow seeds Pharaoh Hophra –Egyptian Pharaoh who assisted King Zedekiah and took in Jeremiah

A Change of Mind (34:1-7) pg 1 of 2 Siege of Jerusalem –18 months (early 587 B.C. to mid-586 B.C. ) –Cities around Jerusalem already taken –Jeremiah’s message from God to King Zedekiah Parallel of earlier warnings –Jerusalem would be defeated –Significant detail added, “City would be burned” –King Zedekiah’s deportation –However, the King would not die violently in warfare –Death would be peaceful with a royal burial

Two fortified cities still held out against Babyloncities –Lachish –Azekah –Cities that King Rehoboam fortified around 970 B.C. as part of 15 defensive positions surrounding Jerusalem Archaeological evidence –Clay remnants from Lachish found in the 1930’s –Called “ostraca” –Ostraca revealed communication between field commanders around Lachish during the Babylonian siege A Change of Mind (34:1-7) pg 2 of 2

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King Zedekiah arranges freedom for Hebrew Slaves –Why? –Violation of God’s law –Owners reducing the number of mouths to feed –Freed slaves may want to help protect the city Slave owners agree to a formal covenant –Guarantee slaves there freedom –False hopes raised due to Egyptian military assistance –Later disregard of the covenant Punishment for Covenant Breakers (34:8-22) pg 1 of 3

Bargaining with God –Decisions made for God when under difficult circumstances –Temptation to make promises during hard times –Eccl 5:2-5 Law of Moses regarding Hebrew slavery –Lev 25:39-42, Deut 15:12-15 –Every seventh year – slaves to be freed –Servants sold years of service –Master never technically owned a Hebrew slave, although in practice they were treated as such Punishment for Covenant Breakers (34:8-22) pg 2 of 3

God regarded the decision to free slaves as an act of repentance –God saw the vow as something that could not be broken –Retracting the covenant profaned the name of God –God promises them a more unattractive “freedom” to die horrible deaths –God promises Zedekiah that he would be captured by Nebuchadnezzar and lay waste to Judah Punishment for Covenant Breakers (34:8-22) pg 3 of 3

Jeremiah meets with the Recabites –Initial Babylonian incursions into Judah –Forced many rural families to move to Jerusalem for protection –Recabites were among the tribes that made the move –Jeremiah was to offer them wine to drink in the temple built by Solomontemple –Object lesson about faithfulness Offering of wine to the Recabites –What did they say/do? The Faithfulness of the Recabites (35:1-11) pg 1 of 2

Jonadab the son of Recab –250 years prior to Jeremiah (about 850 B.C. ) –After death of King Ahab (Northern Kingdom) –Assisted Jehu in removing Baal worship, exterminating priests of Baal –In his zeal, imposed numerous rules upon all of his decendents Remain nomadic Not live in houses Not plant crops or tend vineyards Drink wine Live as herders The Faithfulness of the Recabites (35:1-11) pg 2 of 2

God instructs Jeremiah to use the Recabite example –God commends the Recabites for their allegiance to tradition of a respected ancestor –People of Judah, by contrast, had been disloyal and disobedient to God –People of Recabite honored a single message, Judah had disobeyed many Clear point –People of Judah and Jerusalem had been faithless to the covenant made with God at Mt. Sinai –On the other hand, the Recabites set the example. Reward for Covenant Keepers (35:12-19)

Review Review last weeks lesson, including historical setting Learn how God reacted when the people of Jerusalem went back on a covenant to release Hebrew slaves See how God used a nomadic family to highlight the faithlessness of Judah Appreciate the necessity of keeping promises Next week: Chapters 36-38, The Indestructible Word of God