Jeremiah was separated to God, and ordained a prophet unto the nations before his birth, in this, like John the Baptist. He was of Aaronic descent, his father being a priest residing in Anathoth, a place about four miles from Jerusalem. He began his prophetic ministry at a very early age—in the 13th year of the reign of the godly King Josiah; his extreme youth, and the gravity and arduous nature of the service to which he was called, evidently appalled the young prophet, as he shrank from his commission, saying, "Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." Strengthened and reassured that it was Jehovah's mission, Jehovah's word, and Jehovah's presence (Jer. 1:4-104Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 9Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. (Jeremiah 1:4‑10)), he began and continued his service, which was one of almost uninterrupted suffering for a period of about 40 years, all through the successive reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah.
We have a good deal of the personal history of the prophet interwoven with his ministry; in this he resembles the great apostle of the Gentiles, whose personal biography and inward life and feelings are inseparably linked with truths and revelations of everlasting and vital importance. Another point of resemblance between the prophet and the apostle is in their sufferings, and as recounted by themselves; probably no Old Testament prophet suffered so much and so continuously as Jeremiah, and, certainly, no New Testament servant suffered as did the great apostle. In Isaiah, the glorious predictions and magnificent prophecies leave us transported amidst visions and glories and grandeurs, and we never once think of the man; but in Jeremiah the ground is lower, the atmosphere very different, our hearts are drawn to the man whose messages are treated with contempt, and the faithful unfolder of the mind of Jehovah thrown again and again into the filthy underground dungeons of Jerusalem. Apparently too, the mission of Jeremiah was fruitless, no present results were effected. Solemnly he warned the nation of impending ruin; plainly he told them of their sin, uncovered their wickedness, and spared neither king, priest, nor people. The appeals to the conscience of Judah are of the most searching character. His rebukes and remonstrances most stern and unqualified. Again, we see him breaking his heart over their impenitence and hardness, saying, "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people" (Jer. 9:11Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! (Jeremiah 9:1)). But all were unavailing to win back to God the alienated heart of Judah; the tears, words, and prayers of the prophet seemed fruitless. Judah was bent upon her own way and upon her own destruction. Even during the closing years of Judah's last king, Zedekiah, Jeremiah in the name of the Lord, again and again counseled submission to the Chaldeans then besieging Jerusalem; the dungeon and nearly death was the answer.
After the capture of the city, and when the Word of the Lord had been fully vindicated, and the predictions of the prophet been fulfilled to the letter, no reward or inducements could lead the faithful Jeremiah to forsake the feeble remnant left in the land by the Chaldean conqueror, for a life of honor and ease in the imperial city of Babylon (Jer. 40.). Jeremiah would cling to the land and the people on whom the eyes of Jehovah rest perpetually; most touching proof of a heart devoted to Jehovah and His people! Upon the murder of Gedaliah, the Babylonian governor of Judah, the people terrified, fled for protection and safety to Egypt, and that in spite of the earnest remonstrances of the prophet, who assured them of safety by remaining in the land (Jer. 41, 42). But the Word of the Lord which had been so often disregarded, was again set at defiance; they went to Egypt, but thither the sword of the Chaldean reached both them and Egypt; and again, as always, the Lord vindicated His own blessed Word. The last notice of our prophet is with the apostate remnant in Egypt, lifting up his voice in testimony against their idolatry (Jer. 44.).
There is not at all the comprehensiveness of Isaiah in these prophecies, but there is much more direct appeal to the conscience and touching heart-breaking expressions of sorrow; Judah, too, is very specially the subject of testimony, and the object to whom these moral appeals are immediately addressed. The anticipations of future blessing for all Israel are very full; their moral condition occupying a prominent place in these latter-day prophecies (Jer. 30-33.). It is in this book also that the duration of the Babylonian captivity—70 years—is stated; and, further, that at its close the Chaldean Empire would be utterly destroyed (Jer. 25:11-14; 29:10-1411And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. 13And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations. 14For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands. (Jeremiah 25:11‑14)
10For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. (Jeremiah 29:10‑14)). The prophecies of Jeremiah also formed the ground work of those wonderful communications bearing upon the full blessing of all Israel at the close of the 70 weeks or 490 years, seven years of which have yet to be accomplished (Dan. 910Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. 12And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. 14Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. (Daniel 9:10‑14)). The sins of the people—of Judah—and impending judgments, with details of the condition of things in Jerusalem before the Babylonian attack, and after the capture of the city amongst the poor of the people left in the country under the administration of Gedaliah, with judgment of the nations immediately or remotely connected with the Chaldean invasion of Judah, and promises of full latter-day blessing for all Israel—are the main subjects of the book; only it is well to see that the great effort is to reach the conscience of all to whom the prophecy refers.
The various dates of the prophecies are not given chronologically, hence moral sequence must be sought. The following simple threefold division may assist in the understanding of the book as a whole.
GENERAL DIVISIONS.
1.-In this section the moral appeals to the heart and conscience of Judah are numerous and forcible. The history does not go beyond the capture of Jerusalem; but in the closing chapters of the section, Babylon and all the surrounding nations come in for judgment. Jer. 1-25.
2.-Here many interesting details are given of the siege of Jerusalem, and of the state of things previous to that important epoch. Israel as well as Judah are embraced in the prophecies of Jer. 30.-33.; the promises of future blessing are very full and rich, Jer. 26.-38.
3.-Jerusalem captured; Jeremiah released from prison; and the history and fate of the people who went to Egypt; Babylon, Egypt, and other nations all judged with the most blessed intimations of future mercy and blessing for all Israel. Jer. 39.-52.
NOTE.