Encountering the Old Testament, 4th Edition

A Christian Survey

series: Encountering Biblical Studies

Chapter

28. Jeremiah 21鈥52 and Lamentations: Dealing with Disaster

Chapter Intro Video


Chapter Objectives

  • Outline chapters 21鈥52 of Jeremiah
  • Describe how Jeremiah challenged the rulers and false prophets
  • Explain why Jeremiah 30鈥33 is often called 鈥淭he Book of Comfort鈥
  • Compare God鈥檚 covenant with Moses with the new covenant with his people
  • List the incidents of disobedience leading to Jerusalem鈥檚 fall
  • Name the nations to which Jeremiah spoke oracles in chapters 46鈥51
  • Outline the book of Lamentations
  • Describe how acrostics are used in Lamentations
  • Summarize key themes from Lamentations

Chapter Summary

  1. Jeremiah challenged the rulers and false prophets by rebuking the rulers and the government, by rebuking the false prophets and their audiences, by describing God鈥檚 anger, by confronting the people about their behavior, by wearing a yoke, and by writing to the Judeans in exile in Babylon.
  2. God promised to spare Jerusalem if the king and his leaders truly repented.
  3. The yoke God instructed Jeremiah to wear symbolized Judah鈥檚 submission to Nebuchadnezzar.
  4. God had not forgotten his people, in spite of their sin.
  5. God promised that he would make a new covenant with his people.
  6. Jeremiah鈥檚 land purchase pointed to God鈥檚 coming restoration of the land.
  7. Jesus will one day fulfill some of Jeremiah鈥檚 prophecies by ruling as a good king and a faithful high priest.
  8. The Judeans in Egypt placed blame for their captivity on Jeremiah rather than on their own sin and continued to worship idols.
  9. The nations to which Jeremiah spoke oracles included Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazar, Elam, and Babylon.
  10. The author of the book of Lamentations used acrostics as a literary device.
  11. The author of Lamentations is in great sorrow because of Jerusalem鈥檚 total devastation.

Study Questions

  1. Describe King Zedekiah鈥檚 relationship with Jeremiah. Do you think Zedekiah really believed Jeremiah? Why or why not?
  2. Identify Judah鈥檚 last five kings and provide a brief summary of each one鈥檚 reign.
  3. Why did false prophets pose such a problem for God鈥檚 people?
  4. Describe the role of the Book of Comfort (chapters 30鈥33) in the book of Jeremiah. How was Jeremiah鈥檚 prophecy of the new covenant fulfilled in Jesus Christ?
  5. Why do you think the people refused to listen to Jeremiah even after Jerusalem fell?
  6. When was the book of Lamentations written? Provide a basic summary of the authorship question.