Jeremiah 1:1-3

The introductory verses to Jeremiah set the background for the book and provide an introduction for study.

The show us that:
1. Jeremiah was of a priestly line. His father was a Jewish Priest who lived in the region of Anathoth,
2. The book refers to that stage in Israel’s history when Judah (the southern kingdom) is in it’s last days. Israel, the northern kingdom had been taken into exile by the Assyrians in 722BC, and Judah was now in danger of the same fate, under the Babylonians. One of the kings mentioned in Jeremiah’s introduction is Josiah, who was a godly king, and whose reforms (621BC) attempted to deal with many of the religious abuses prevalent in that day. However, they did not last beyond his death, and the reign of his son, Johoahaz (609) returned Judah to her idolatrous ways.

Jeremiah received a call from God to declare to the people, that unless they repented of their sin, the consequences would be that they would bring God’s judgement upon them. At one point in the book he announces that the time for such repentance has passed, and that judgement had already been passed. 19:10

God’s judgement upon his wayward, ungrateful and disobedient people would be loss of the covenant promise, loss of the promised land. But there is also a message of salvation, for following God’s chastening of his people there would come about a new covenant. Jeremiah writes…

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, (Jeremiah 31:31 ESV)

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33 ESV)

Next study will look at Jeremiah’s call.