Jeremiah

Purpose
The purpose of Jeremiahs message was to exhort the people of Judah to return to the covenant by warning them of the Lords impending judgment through the Babylonian Empire.

Authorship & Genre

The book was written by the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, as described in detail in chapter 36. God specifically commanded Jeremiah to write down His words, and he hired Baruch as his scribe. King Jehoiakim burned Baruchs first manuscript, but a second was written and preserved. The book consists of interspersing sections of prophetic oracles spoken by Jeremiah and editorial narrative, possibly supplied by Baruch.

Key Verse
Jeremiah 31:33: But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD, I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (NASB)

Structure
1 Call of Jeremiah 2 25 26 29 30 31 32 Oracles of Persecution Judgment of Jeremiah on Judah Condemnation Oracles of Salvation Consolation 45 46 51 52 Oracles of Rejection Judgment Fall of of on the Jerusalem Jeremiah Nations Condemnation

Theological Themes

New Covenant: In chapter 31, Jeremiah introduces the New Covenant. The last of the Old Testament covenants, the New Covenant expands on the Abrahamic Covenants promise of blessing. It describes precisely how the blessing of Abraham would extend to the entire world through spiritual renewal. Call to Ministry: Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet because of the intense persecution and rejection he faced by his people. The vivid call of Isaiah to ministry and his frequent laments to God serve as examples to Gods ministers throughout history. Fruitful ministry is not an indicator of ones faithfulness to God or His call. Covenant Failure: Jeremiah indicted the people for their failure to adhere to the covenant that God established with them through Moses. His message of judgment is reminiscent of the curses in Deuteronomy 34, where God promised that if the people failed to keep the covenant, they would be cast out of the land. In Jeremiah we see the fulfillment of Deuteronomys curses.