THE FAILURE OF THE WORTHLESS SHEPHERDS (JEREMIAH 23:1). YHWH passes His verdict on the false rulers who have failed His people. Note the dual double repetition of ‘the word of YHWH' in Jeremiah 23:1 indicating the seriousness of His words, two referring to His judgments, and two to His restorative... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROMISE OF THE COMING SON OF DAVID WHO WILL TRIUMPH AND RULE WISELY (JEREMIAH 23:1). Having disabused the people's minds about the likelihood of any of their current kings being the anticipated deliverer of the house of David, Jeremiah now promises that one day such a figure will come, but he on... [ Continue Reading ]
SUBSECTION 7). WORDS CONCERNING VARIOUS KINGS (JEREMIAH 21:1 TO JEREMIAH 24:10). This subsection proceeds in logical sequence although not chronologically, and will centre on three special themes, firstly on the fact that all hope for Judah in the short term has now gone, secondly that the promises... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH WILL IN THE FUTURE RESTORE THE REMNANT OF HIS FLOCK FROM EXILE AND THEY WILL BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, AND HE WILL SET UP TRUE SHEPHERDS OVER THEM (JEREMIAH 23:3). It is made clear here that exiles will return from all parts, and will establish a well populated country. There is no good reason... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING SON OF DAVID (JEREMIAH 23:5) The fact is now brought out that one day a Son of David would arise from the house of David who would restore His people's fortunes and establish the everlasting Kingly Rule of God. It is a regular promise in Scripture, commencing with the promises made to Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING SALVATION OF HIS PEOPLE (JEREMIAH 23:6). And when this son of David came Judah would be delivered and Israel would dwell in safety. They would be free and independent under His rule. This was partly fulfilled in Jesus' establishment of His ‘congregation' (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 21:43; com... [ Continue Reading ]
1). JEREMIAH EXPLAINS HOW DIFFICULT HE IS FINDING IT TO PROCLAIM YHWH'S HOLY WORDS AGAINST THE PROPHETS AND OUTLINES THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR PROPHESYING ON THE LAND. YHWH HIMSELF THEN DECLARES WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE ON THE PROPHETS THEMSELVES (JEREMIAH 23:9). Jeremiah's diatribe against the... [ Continue Reading ]
JEREMIAH'S DIATRIBE AGAINST THE PROPHETS, HEADED AS ‘CONCERNING THE PROPHETS' (JEREMIAH 23:9). Having set right the vision of the future, Jeremiah now turns on those who had been distorting that vision in one way or another, the prophetic guild. Like the current ‘sons of David' they too were inadequ... [ Continue Reading ]
2). YHWH CALUMNIATES THE FALSE PROPHETS AND QUESTIONS WHAT THEY TEACH, EXPLAINING WHAT THE RESULTS OF THEIR PROPHESYING WILL BE, AND EMPHASISING THAT THEY WERE NOT SENT OR ENLIGHTENED BY HIM (JEREMIAH 23:13). Jeremiah now compares the prophets of Judah with the prophets who had brought doom on Isra... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH REJECTS THE TESTIMONY OF THE FALSE JERUSALEM PROPHETS AND REVEALS HIMSELF AS THE ALL-KNOWING ONE), CONDEMNING THE TEMPLE PROPHETS AS FALSE DREAMERS WHO CAUSE THE PEOPLE TO ERR. THEY ARE IN DIRECT CONTRAST WITH THOSE WHO HAVE THE TRUE WORD OF YHWH WHICH IS LIKE A FIRE AND A HAMMER WHICH BREAKS R... [ Continue Reading ]
BOTH JEREMIAH AND THE FALSE PROPHETS ARE FORBIDDEN TO USE THE PHRASE, ‘THE BURDEN OF YHWH' (JEREMIAH 23:33). God now puts a blanket ban on speaking of a ‘burden' from YHWH. This is not just arguing about a technicality (as some have strangely suggested), but is rather indicating that the time for ‘b... [ Continue Reading ]