Bible Study Guide/ Jeremiah 1, (24-BSG-1J)/ Questions And Answers.

INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS – [1] Who was Jeremiah? (1:1) He was the son of Hilkiah, (one of the priests who were in Anathoth) in the land of Benjamin. He began to prophesy about the thirteenth year (627 B.C.) of the reign of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. Note — Jeremiah was a priest by birth and a prophet by a special divine call, as were some of the other prophets (see Eze. 1:3; Zech. 1:1).

[2] Who are the other seven Jeremiah’s in the Bible? Read 2 Kings 23:31; 1 Chr. 5:24; 1 Chr. 12:4; 1Chr. 12:10; 1 Chr. 12:13; Neh. 10:2; Neh. 12:1.

[3] How many times is Jeremiah, the prophet, named outside of his book? He is mentioned at least Nine times – Read 2 Chr. 35:25; 36:12; 36:21, 22; Dan. 9:2; Ezra 1:1; Matt. 2:17; 16:14; 27:9.

[4] How many times does the Old and New Testaments quote Jeremiah? At least Seven Times – [1] Dan. 9:2 (Jer. 25:11, 12; 29:10); [2] Matt. 2:18 (Jer. 31:15); [3] Matt. 27:9 (Jer. 18:2; 19:2, 11; 32:6–9); [4] 1 Cor. 1:31 (Jer. 9:24); [5] 2 Cor. 10:17 (Jer. 9:24); [6] Heb. 8:8–12 (Jer. 31:31–34); and [7] Heb. 10:16, 17 (Jer. 31:33, 34).

[5] What were Ten the major trials of Jeremiah? Trial by death threats (11:18–23); by isolation (15:15–21); by stocks (19:14–20:18); by arrest (26:7–24); by challenge (28:10–16); by destruction (36:1–32); by violence and imprisonment (37:15); by starvation (38:1–6); by chains (40:1); and by rejection (42:1–43:4).

[6] How long did Jeremiah continue in the exercise of the prophetical office? (1:2) About 40 years, until the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

[7] What was the condition of the Jewish nation at the time of Jeremiah? (1:3) It was almost wholly given up to idolatry and wickedness.

JEREMIAH CHAPTER 1/ Q & A:  [1] What is the main content of this chapter? God’s Call and Assurance to Jeremiah

[2] What does the chapter say about God? Notice Seven things God says about us– I knew you (1:5); I have sanctified you (1:5); I Ordained you (1:5); I have Sent (1:7); I have Commanded you (1:7); Don’t be afraid – I will be with you (1:8); I will Speak through you (1:9).

[3] How would you summarize what this chapter tells us most about God’s purpose and plan for those whom He calls? He sets them apart (1:5) and equips them for His holy service. He then uses them to reach out to their fellow (sinful men) and invite them to His saving grace!

[4] What response do you think this chapter should inspires us to do? See the section called ‘My Desire” in the today’s Worship Guide.

CAPTURE THE ESSENCE – [5] Who were the kings when Jeremiah prophesied? (1-3). Josiah, Zedekiah. “God’s call of Jeremiah came in the 13th year of the reign of Josiah. Josiah became king of Judah in 640 b.c., so his 13th year was 627 b.c. Josiah was the last righteous king of Judah. After his untimely death in 609 b.c., every king who ascended Judah’s throne was unworthy of the task. Jeremiah continued as God’s spokesman down to the fifth month of the 11th year of Zedekiah. That date was July–August 586 b.c. Thus Jeremiah’s ministry lasted at least 41 years.” [Charles H. Dyer, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 1, 1129].

A sequential reading of the book of Jeremiah based on this tentative chronology would be arranged as follows:

1. Josiah (640–609): chs. 1–6; 14–16.
2. Jehoiakim (609–598): chs. 17; 7–11; 26; 35; 22:1–19; 25; 18–20; 36:1–4; 45; 36:5–32; 12.
3. Jehoiachin (598–597): chs. 22:20–30; 13; 23.
4. Zedekiah (597–586): chs. 24; 29–31; 46–51 (?); 27; 28; 21; 34; 32; 33; 37–39.
5. After the fall of Jerusalem: chs. 40–44; 52. [Francis D. Nichol, Ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1977), 4:348].

[6] When was Jeremiah ordained to be a prophet? (1:5) Before his conception. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5, NKJV)

“The Hebrew verb translated “formed” (yṣr) is the same word found in Gen 2:7 and is related to the word for “potter” (Jer 18:2–4). Like a composer constructing the instrument on which music will be played, God created Jeremiah as a spokesman for the word of the Lord. The meaning for the Hebrew word “knew” (ydʿ) ranges from factual knowledge (Gen 27:2) to carnal knowledge (Gen 19:8; Judg 21:11). Here it involves choosing a relationship (Gen 18:19; Deut 34:10). The Lord was thinking about Jeremiah before he was born. At that time God had already designated Jeremiah to be a prophet.” [F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations, The New American Commentary, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 16:50].

[7] On what grounds did Jeremiah excuse himself when God called him to the prophetical office? (1:6) He felt inexperienced, young, and inadequate. “The young man shrank back in terror from the thought of being a prophet. A sense of unworthiness overwhelmed him, and his nature recoiled from a task in which he would be out of step with the men of his generation. As indicated also by his bitter complaint later in his ministry (ch. 15:10), he dreaded the enmity of men.” (SDA BC 4/ Jer. 1:6)

[8] In what terms did God encourage Jeremiah to obey the call?— “But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:7–8, NKJV)

[9] What did the LORD put in Jeremiah’s mouth? (1:9) He stretched out His hand and touched his mouth.

[10] The ‘touching’ of his mouth (lips) symbolized what?  Anointing/ Sanctification. God sanctified his speech! “After the call of the prophet, came this solemn act of consecration, symbolizing the communication of new powers of thought and utterance. Thus touched upon his lips (see Isa. 6:6, 7), Jeremiah was assured that there would be no uncertainty as to his message. He was to go forth to speak the words put into his heart by the Spirit of God (see Jer. 5:14; 15:16; cf. Isa. 51:16; 59:21; Matt. 10:20; 2 Peter 1:21)” — (SDA BC 4:355).

[11] What commission did God give to Jeremiah — “See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:10, NKJV)

[12] What was Jeremiah’s first vision, and how was it explained to him?— (Jer. 1:11-12) The Blossoming Almond Branch.

“God’s first confirming vision caused Jeremiah to see the branch of an almond tree. The Hebrew word for “almond tree” is šāqēḏ, from the word “to watch or to wake” (šāqaḏ). The almond tree was named the “awake tree” because in Palestine it is the first tree in the year to bud and bear fruit. Its blooms precede its leaves, as the tree bursts into blossom in late January.

The branch represented God who was watching to see that His word is fulfilled. God used a play on words to associate the almond branch with His activity. The word for “watching” is šōqēḏ, related to the Hebrew noun for “almond tree.” Jeremiah’s vision of the “awake tree” reminded him that God was awake and watching over His word to make sure it came to pass.” [Charles H. Dyer, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 1, 1131].

[12] What was Jeremiah’s second vision, and how was it explained?— (Jer. 1:13–15).

“God’s second confirming vision caused Jeremiah to see a boiling pot. The pot was a large kettle that was evidently sitting on a fire because it was “boiling”… The pot was tilting away from the north indicating that its contents were about to be spilled out toward the south.”

“The tilting pot represented disaster that will be poured out on those who live in Judah. The direction from which the pot was facing represented the peoples of the northern kingdoms whom God was summoning to punish the nation of Judah.”

Judah’s fall to Babylon would be God’s judgment for her idolatry. In forsaking God and worshiping what their hands had made the people of Judah had violated their covenant with God (cf. Deut. 28). The sin of Judah brought about her downfall.” —-[Ibid, p. 1131].

[13] What did the LORD make Jeremiah to be? (1:18) A fortified city; An iron pillar; A bronze walls against the whole land.

[14] These three figures and their indestructible position in which God would place Jeremiah implied what? — “Jeremiah had been uncertain about his qualifications for the prophetic office. He needed assurance, which the Lord abundantly provided. Jeremiah would be like a fortified city surrounded by attackers. His enemies would be his own people; but the Lord promised to make him as impregnable as a fortified city, as strong as an iron pillar, and as impervious to attack as a bronze wall (cf. Deut 31:6–8; Josh 1:6–9; Jer 15:20; Ezek 3:9). We would say that Jeremiah had to be hardheaded and thick-skinned in order to defend himself against kings, priests, and all the people of the land. His only offensive weapon would be the word of the Lord (23:29; cf. Eph 6:17). Believers today need the same inner resources to withstand the hostility and ridicule of an unbelieving world (cf. Eph 6:11; 1 Pet 5:8).” [F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations, The New American Commentary, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 16:56].

[15] What further promises of protection and assistance did God give to Jeremiah?— “For I, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land—against the [successive] kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land [giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome]. And they shall fight against you, but they shall not [finally] prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:18–19, AMP)