Judah’s Corruption (21-25)
Introduction
1. Up until now, the arrangement of the text has been
mainly chronological, but now it becomes mainly topical.
2. This section contains prophecies against Judah’s kings
and prophets and emphasizes the nation’s corruption.
I.
God and the Rulers of Judah (21:1-23:8)
A.
God’s Message for Zedekiah (21:1-10)
1.
Zedekiah sent messengers to Jeremiah during the days of the Babylonian
siege.
a)
King Hezekiah had sent men to Isaiah when Assyria threatened Jerusalem.
(2Ki. 18-19)
b)
But King Zedekiah would not receive a favorable response from the God he
had rejected.
2.
Jeremiah informed the king’s men that God would support the Babylonians
in the war. 21:4-7
a)
Jeremiah then told the people of Jerusalem that surrender was their only
hope. 21:8-10
b)
Because Babylon was God’s instrument for judgment, surrender was
submitting to God.
B.
God’s Message for the Royal House (21:11-22:9)
1.
Two separate addresses to the royal house are now included in the text.
2.
In both messages, the importance of doing justice is emphasized.
21:11-12; 22:1-5
3.
The ruler’s foolish confidence is rebuked and judgment on sin is
promised. 21:13-14; 22:6-9
C.
God’s Message for Josiah’s Sons (22:10-30)
1.
The following verses contain a compilation of Jeremiah’s prophecies
against Judah’s kings.
2.
Shallum/Jehoahaz, who was taken to Egypt, would not return to Judah
again. (22:10-12)
3.
Jehoiakim would be buried like a donkey, dragged and thrown outside the
gates. (22:13-23)
4.
(Je)Coniah would be carried away, and none of his descendants would rule.
(22:24-30)
D.
God’s Message for the Messiah (23:1-8)
1.
The promised return meant more than national restoration; it was a
spiritual revival. 23:1-4
a)
The shepherds of Israel were responsible for Israel being scattered and
judged for sin.
b)
But God would gather them again and give them spiritual shepherds to
guide them.
2.
A King would come from David’s line, a Branch of righteousness to rule
God’s people. 23:5-8
a)
Unlike Israel’s shepherds, Messiah would do justice and righteousness.
b)
The people would dwell securely under His care, instead of being
scattered as before.
E.
Application: What Does It Mean to Know God?
1.
The primary problem with Judah’s kings was that they did not know
Jehovah.
a)
This was the distinguishing characteristic between these kings and the
coming Messiah.
b)
Knowing God is man’s fundamental duty; those who do not will suffer
vengeance. 2Th. 1:8
2.
What does it mean to know God? It certainly means more than
knowing of Him or about Him.
a)
Jeremiah affirmed that King Josiah knew the LORD. 22:15-17
b)
Jehoiakim thought he was entitled to power; his use of power showed his
ignorance of God.
3.
To know God is to know His greatness and glory and to imitate His
character.
a)
Knowing God involves the daily, reverent awareness of God: godliness.
23:23-24
b)
Knowing God involves giving reverent attention to the mighty word of God.
23:29
c)
Knowing God involves practicing the character of God in our daily lives.
21:12; 22:3
d)
Knowing God involves turning to and giving our whole hearts to Jehovah.
24:7
II.
God and the Prophets of Judah (23:9-40)
A.
The Defilement of Judah’s Prophets (23:9-15)
1.
The prophets and priests of Judah had polluted the temple and the land
with sin. 23:11-12, 15
2.
They were guilty of adultery and lying. 23:14a
3.
They had encouraged the wickedness of men, instead of advocating
repentance. 23:14b
B.
The Deception of Judah’s Prophets (23:16-29)
1.
Jehovah warned the people not to listen to prophets who claimed to speak
in His name. 23:16
a)
Their preaching gave aid and comfort to the enemies of God. 23:17
b)
They claimed inspiration, but their message was not of God. 23:21-22,
25-27
2.
Jehovah was aware of their deception; He saw what they were doing.
23:23-24
a)
The contrast between the word of these men and the word of Jehovah was
evident. 23:28-29
b)
God would vindicate His word and bring violent destruction on their head.
23:18-20
C.
The Disaster of Judah’s Prophets (23:30-40)
1.
The false prophets had appropriated the language of genuine prophecy for
their own use.
a)
They had stolen the words of Jehovah from others instead of speaking
genuinely. 23:30-32
b)
They were preaching lies in the name of the LORD calling their lies
prophetic oracles.
2.
But now God would punish those who claimed to speak oracles (burdens) in
His name. 23:33-40
a)
When false prophets asked Jeremiah for an oracle, He was to reply “You
are the burden!”
b)
Genuine inquirers should ask what the LORD spoke instead of asking for
His oracle.
3.
Because they falsely claimed to speak for God, God would bring
everlasting reproach on them.
D.
Application: How Are Prophets Tested?
1.
The OT gave the Israelites two tests for those who claimed to be
prophets.
a)
The Test of Prophecy: Do his predictions come true?
De. 18:21-22
b)
The Test of Prior Revelation: Does he agree with the established word of
God? De. 13:1-5
2.
How many of us are willing to reject a dynamic, beloved preacher when he
condones sin?
3.
How many are willing to accept one like Jeremiah who speaks what we don’t
like to hear?
III.
God and the Exiles of Judah (24)
A.
The Sign of the Figs (24:1-3)
1.
Jeremiah saw this vision after Nebuchadnezzar took his second wave of
captives.
a)
The first captives, including Daniel, were taken during the reign of
Jehoiakim. (605 B.C.)
b)
Later, a second group of captives were taken, including King Jehoiachin
and Ezekiel. (597)
c)
A final group of captives was taken five years after Jerusalem was
destroyed. (581)
2.
In the vision, Jeremiah saw two baskets containing figs set before the
temple of Jehovah.
a)
One basket contained very good figs, like figs that had just ripened.
b)
The other basket contained very bad figs, so rotten that they could not
be eaten.
B.
The Significance of the Figs (24:4-10)
1.
There was probably the feeling in Judah that those who were taken captive
were very bad.
a)
The people who were left in the land may have arrogantly assumed their
own righteousness.
b)
This vision shows us God’s plan with regard to the captives and those
that remained.
2.
The captives would be acknowledged by God; He had sent them away for
their own good.
a)
Jehovah would show them His favor; He would bring them back and build
them up.
b)
He would give them a new heart and relationship, and they would turn to
Him fully.
c)
These promises and prophecies are best understood as anticipating the
Messianic kingdom.
3.
Those that remained in the land, however, were like the very bad figs
that cannot be eaten.
a)
God would punish those who remained under the leadership of Zedekiah in
Judah.
b)
Consider the very different fates of Kings Jehoiachin and Zedekiah.
52:9-11, 31-34
IV.
God and the Judgment of Judah and the Nations (25)
A.
Judgment of Judah (25:1-11)
1.
In Jehoiakim’s fourth year, Nebuchadnezzar’s first year, God’s word came
to Jeremiah again.
a)
For twenty-three years Jeremiah had risen early to speak God’s word to
the people.
b)
Jehovah had sent many prophets to Judah to preach repentance, but they
refused to listen.
2.
The people of Judah had provoked the LORD’s wrath to their own hurt.
25:7
a)
God would bring His servant, Nebuchadnezzar, from the north to punish the
nations.
b)
Judah would be desolate, and the nations would serve Babylon seventy
years. 25:11
B.
Judgment of Babylon (25:12-14)
1.
After the seventy years, God would turn and punish Babylon for its
wickedness.
2.
Babylon would now be the one made desolate; what they had done would be
done to them.
3.
The judgment foretold by Jeremiah against the nations would be fulfilled
against Babylon.
C.
Judgment of the Nations (25:15-38)
1.
Then Jeremiah was given a wine cup of God’s fury to give to the nations
to drink.
¨
A wine cup of wrath is used repeatedly to describe judgment.
Ps. 75:8; Is. 51:17; Re. 14:10
2.
God would bring charges against the nations and unleash furious judgment.
25:30-33
a)
The text explicitly references the impact of God’s judgment on the
leaders. 25:34-38
b)
Proverbs 14:34: Righteousness exalts a nation, But
sin is a reproach to any people.
D.
Application: Jehovah Rules over the Nations
1.
Jehovah works justice among the nations; He builds up nations, and He
tears them down.
a)
National patriotism can blind us to the spiritual realities of sin and
suffering.
b)
Just as Jonah did not wish to preach to Nineveh, our loyalties can hinder
our service to God.
2.
Though we love our country, as Jeremiah loved his, we must acknowledge
its wickedness.
a)
We must affirm that God is just and will justly punish those that embrace
evil.
b)
God is greater than any nation; He can bring down the greatest or lift up
the least.
Conclusion
1. The sin and sufferings of Judah were exacerbated by
sinful leaders that did not know Jehovah.
2. Leadership is no excuse for individual sin; we need to
be committed to knowing God personally regardless.
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