Highlights from the Book of Jeremiah Treasures from God's Word Summaries WT Library References Table of Contents Source Material ............................................................................... 5 An Introduction to the Book of Jeremiah ..................................... 6 Summary of the Highlights of Jeremiah ....................................... 8 Arrangement ................................................................................ 8 Highlights of Jeremiah ................................................................ 8 Youthful Jeremiah is commissioned as a prophet ................... 8 Jeremiah fulfills his commission “to tear down” ..................... 8 Jeremiah carries out his assignment “to build” and “to plant” ....................................................................................................... 9 Jeremiah suffers because of his bold prophesying ................ 9 Events from the fall of Jerusalem until the flight into Egypt .. 9 Prophecies Recorded by Jeremiah ......................................... 10 Jeremiah - Outline of Contents ................................................... 11 Why Beneficial ........................................................................... 11 Treasures from God's Word Summaries .................................... 12 Chapters 1-4 "I Am with You to Save You" .............................. 12 Chapters 5-7 They Stopped Doing God’s Will ........................ 13 Chapters 8-11 “Humans Can Have Success Only with Jehovah’s Guidance” ................................................................ 14 Chapters 12-16 Israel Forgot Jehovah .................................... 15 Chapters 17-21 Let Jehovah Mold Your Thinking and Conduct ..................................................................................................... 17 Chapters 22-24 Do You Have “a Heart to Know” Jehovah? .. 18 Chapters 25-28 Be Courageous Like Jeremiah ...................... 19 Chapters 29-31 Jehovah Foretold the New Covenant ........... 20 Chapters 32-34 A Sign That Israel Would Be Restored ......... 21 Chapters 35-38 Ebed-melech—An Example of Bravery and Kindness .................................................................................... 22 Chapters 39-43 Jehovah Will Render to Each One According to His Works ............................................................................... 23 Chapters 44-48 Stop “Seeking Great Things for Yourself” ... 24 Chapters 49-50 Jehovah Blesses Humility and Punishes Arrogance ................................................................................... 25 Chapters 51-52 Jehovah’s Word Comes True in Every Detail ..................................................................................................... 26 Jeremiah: WT Library References Chapters 1-4 ............................................................................... 27 Chapters 5-7 ............................................................................... 52 Chapters 8-11 ............................................................................. 65 Chapters 12-16 ........................................................................... 79 Chapters 17-21 ........................................................................... 89 Chapters 22-24 ......................................................................... 108 Chapters 25-28 ......................................................................... 126 Chapters 29-31 ......................................................................... 151 Chapters 32-34 ......................................................................... 187 Chapters 35-38 ......................................................................... 201 Chapters 39-43 ......................................................................... 211 Chapters 44-48 ......................................................................... 218 Chapters 49-50 ......................................................................... 239 Chapters 51-52 ......................................................................... 251 Jeremiah – Outline of Contents Source Material This material has been sourced from the 2015 Watchtower Library compact disk. Scriptures Included. Only verses that are explained in some way are included in the Scripture Index. Hence, if the material explains the meaning of the text, gives its background, tells why the text was written, or clarifies an original-language word and its implications, the text would be indexed, since the verse or part of it is explained. Scriptures that are used as proof texts but that are not explained are omitted. For example, Ezekiel 18:4 may be used merely to show that the soul dies. In this instance the scripture would not be indexed, since no explanation of the text is given. Additional personal research is encouraged. Page 5 Index – Jeremiah Jeremiah – Outline of Contents An Introduction to the Book of Jeremiah Jehovah used the Prophet Jeremiah to write one of the largest books in the Bible. In addition to being a prophetic book, the Book of Jeremiah provides an account of the prophet’s own experiences and personal feelings. Before Jeremiah was born Jehovah took special interest in this boy who would be born into a priestly family. Jeremiah became a researcher and an accurate historian. He wrote the books of First and Second Kings, and Lamentations. He may have been close to 25 years old when Jehovah appointed him as a prophet, in the year 647 B.C.E. This was less than 100 years after the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It was a time of turbulent changes as rival powers jockeyed for control of the region. Jeremiah served as a prophet for about sixty seven years, until 580 B.C.E. His career as a prophet spanned the reins of Good King Josiah and wicked Kings Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Jeremiah had been a prophet for about 40 years when in 607 B.C.E. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, and a remnant of survivors taken captive to Babylon. Later Jeremiah was taken to Egypt where he continued in his assignment as Jehovah’s prophet. The book of Jeremiah was completed in 580 B.C.E., 27 years after Jerusalem's destruction. The prophets Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah and Ezekiel were also inspired to write during this time period. The prophet Daniel was another contemporary, but he did not complete his book until about 536 B.C.E. The Book of Jeremiah contains 52 chapters. The events are not written in chronological order but according to subject. In the opening chapter, Jehovah commissions Jeremiah as his prophet to convey both a message of judgment, and a message of hope. Chapters 2 to 24 include Jehovah pronouncing judgment on the people of Jerusalem for such wicked actions as idolatry and violence. At Jehovah's direction Jeremiah smashes an earthenware flask to illustrate that God would punish the nation for his bad conduct. Chapters 29 to 34 contain comfort for faithful Jewish exiles. Jeremiah restates Jehovah's promise to restore the Jews to Jerusalem and to fulfil his covenant with David for an everlasting Kingdom that will bring about righteousness in all the earth. Did you know? The prophet Daniel discerned from the Book of Jeremiah that the desolation of Jerusalem would last for 70 years and that God's people were about to be released. Page 6 Index – Jeremiah Jeremiah – Outline of Contents Many chapters recount how Jeremiah boldly proclaimed Jehovah's message in the face of fierce persecution. In chapter 36, Jeremiah dictates to his secretary Baruch the words Jehovah directed against God's people and all the nations. On hearing the message read to him King Jehoiakim cuts up the scroll and throws it into the fire. However, Jehovah directs Jeremiah to have it written again. Chapter 38 relates how King Zedekiah hands Jeremiah over to his enemies who throw the prophet into a muddy cistern. He is rescued later by Ebed-melech, a faithful worshipper of Jehovah. The Book of Jeremiah contains strong pronouncements of judgment against many nations including Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom and Babylon. These nations were condemned for their enmity toward God's people. Among the events that Jeremiah recorded are the last days of Jerusalem; Babylon’s destruction of the city; and, the aftermath of the destruction. As you study the book of Jeremiah observe how Jehovah condemned the wicked, but gave hope to the faithful; how Jeremiah faithfully stuck to his assignment despite hardship; and, how Jehovah promised to establish a kingdom that will bring about righteousness in all the earth. Page 7 Index – Jeremiah Jeremiah – Outline of Contents Summary of the Highlights of Jeremiah Prophecies and a historical record written by Jeremiah at the direction of Jehovah. Jeremiah was commissioned as prophet in the 13th year of King Josiah (647 B.C.E.) to warn the southern kingdom, Judah, of her impending destruction. This was less than a century after the prophet Isaiah’s activity and the fall of Israel, the northern kingdom, to the Assyrians. Arrangement The book is not arranged chronologically, but, rather, according to subject matter. Dating is presented where necessary, but the majority of the prophecies are applicable to the nation of Judah throughout the general period of the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. God repeatedly told Jeremiah that the nation was incorrigibly wicked, beyond reform. Yet those with right hearts were given full opportunity to reform and find deliverance. As to being