JEREMIAH LESSON 23


     We will begin this lesson in Jeremiah 22:1 "Thus saith the LORD;
Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,"

     Word had been sent to them before, but this was to be said to
their faces. A great deal of the problems in the land could be traced
to the leadership. Now, God tells Jeremiah, "Go to the king, and tell
him to his face, the message I have for him".

     Jeremiah 22:2 "And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of
Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants,
and thy people that enter in by these gates:"

     Even though the message is spoken directly to the king, it still
pertains to all of the people.

     Jeremiah 22:3 "Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and
righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the
oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the
fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place."

     To be earthly king over the family of God, took on grave
responsibilities. The judgement of this king must be an example to all
the heathen countries around them. The king, here, had to be aware
that he was king, because God put him there. His judgement had to be
righteous and just, because he represented God to the world. They had
to live the golden rule. They were not to deal unfairly with anyone.

     Jeremiah 22:4 "For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there
enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of
David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his
people."

     If they conduct themselves the way God would have them to, they
could remain kings, and their descendents after them could be kings.
God's blessings would be upon them as long as they were obedient to
God.

     Jeremiah 22:5 "But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by
myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation."

     The LORD swore by Himself, because there was no greater. If they
live like the world and disobey God, they will be destroyed.

     Jeremiah 22:6 "For thus saith the LORD unto the king's house of
Judah; Thou [art] Gilead unto me, [and] the head of Lebanon: [yet]
surely I will make thee a wilderness, [and] cities [which] are not
inhabited."

     Gilead, in the verse above, is a place and not a man. It, along
with Lebannon, was covered with beautiful cedar trees. On close
inspection, you would find that Gilead had been a place of ruins at
one time, however. In the sense it is used above, I believe it speaks
of the beauty of the king's house made of cedar. Even though these
places are so physically beautiful, God will destroy them, if they
remain unfaithful to Him.

     Jeremiah 22:7 "And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every
one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and
cast [them] into the fire."

     Cedar is an almost indestructible wood, but it will burn, if
placed in the fire. God says, even the beauty of the cedars will burn
in the fire of His wrath.

     Jeremiah 22:8 "And many nations shall pass by this city, and they
shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done
thus unto this great city?"

     Many people of other nations have come to see the beauty of the
city, but after the destruction, they will realize God destroyed it.
They will be questioning what great sin they committed, to bring such
anger from God?

     Jeremiah 22:9 "Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken
the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and
served them."

     Even the outside world will know the reason for the great
destruction, is because they have broken their covenant with God. The
specific sin they committed, was the worship of false gods. The first
commandment God had given them was to have no other gods.

     Jeremiah 22:10  "Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him:
[but] weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more,
nor see his native country."

     This is saying that death was merciful, because it was over and
done with. Those who were taken captive would look back with grief at
the loss of the promised land.

     Jeremiah 22:11 "For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son
of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father,
which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any
more:" Jeremiah 22:12 "But he shall die in the place whither they have
led him captive, and shall see this land no more."

     Shallum was the son of Josiah, who was taken into exile after
reigning a very short time, and did not take Josiah's place as king.
Shallum was spoken of in Chronicles as Jehohaz.  Jehoiakim took over
as king. The comparison is, he shall not return anymore.

     Jeremiah 22:13  "Woe unto him that buildeth his house by
unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his
neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;"

     Shallum did not reign long enough to leave a legacy of good or
evil. It appears, Jehoiachim was very evil for his 11 year reign. He
did not follow in the footsteps of Josiah, who did right in the sight
of God. He was greatly responsible for the introduction of false
worship. Everything he did indicated his unrighteousness. Everything
he built was deceitfully built. God will greatly punish him.

     Jeremiah 22:14 "That saith, I will build me a wide house and
large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and [it is] ceiled with
cedar, and painted with vermilion."

     This tells of the magnificence. Nothing was spared in the
building of it. It appears, it was quite large and had beams of
cedarwood. This was the most expensive wood a person could use.
Vermilion is red, so it was painted red.

     Jeremiah 22:15 "Shalt thou reign, because thou closest [thyself]
in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and
justice, [and] then [it was] well with him?"

     Just the fact he had an expensive mansion, made with cederwood,
did not make him a king. Josiah, the father of Jehoiachim, was a good
king. He ate and drank and had parties, but he was fair with all
mankind. Jehioachim would have done well to be like his father. He
thought only of himself. He was an evil king. It does not mean that
God would forbid him to eat and drink, it just means he needed to be
more aware of the needs of his people. He, also, needed to worship
God.

     Jeremiah 22:16 "He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then
[it was] well [with him: was] not this to know me? saith the LORD."

     We see the fairness that his father judged with. The reason the
father judged fairly, was because of his relationship with God. God
blessed him mightily.

     Jeremiah 22:17 "But thine eyes and thine heart [are] not but for
thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression,
and for violence, to do [it]."

     Jehoiachim was a greedy man. He wanted other people's
possessions. If anyone got in his way, he just killed them. He was not
just in his judgements. He ruled the people with violence.

     Jeremiah 22:18 "Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning
Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for
him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for
him, [saying], Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!"

     He was an evil king, and no one would grieve when he was gone. He
had been trouble for all who knew him.

     Jeremiah 22:19 "He shall be buried with the burial of an ass,
drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem."
     There will be no funeral for him. He will be treated no better
than an animal that dies. He acted like an animal, so he would die
like an animal.

     Jeremiah 22:20  "Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice
in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are
destroyed."

     "Lovers", here, probably are speaking of nations that they had
made war agreements with. It appears, they will be of no help at all.
They are defeated, too.

     Jeremiah 22:21 "I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; [but] thou
saidst, I will not hear. This [hath been] thy manner from thy youth,
that thou obeyedst not my voice."

     We see, from this, that these people had always been the same.
Jacob's family, who became Israel, had never called on God in the good
times. They strayed away from God when times were good. The only time
they sought God, was when they were in terrible trouble. God tried to
tell them of the terrible punishment that was coming, if they did not
give up their false gods and return to Him, but they would not listen.
When they disobeyed God, the curses came upon them.

     Jeremiah 22:22 "The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy
lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and
confounded for all thy wickedness."

     It is almost as if God is saying, "What will it take to get you
to repent?"  The wind will destroy the pastors {shepherds}. Those who
have been your partners will go into captivity. Surely they will be
wise enough to see what is happening, and return to God. They have
sinned so much, they know no shame.

     Jeremiah 22:23 "O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in
the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the
pain as of a woman in travail!"

     Lebanon means the buildings made with cedarwood. This is really
speaking of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The destruction will come on
them quickly, without warning as the pains of a woman about to give
birth. How will they feel when the battle begins? Will they turn to
God then, or die in their sin?

     Jeremiah 22:24 "[As] I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the
son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet
would I pluck thee thence;"

     The signet ring was a sign of having the power of that person.
The signet was used many times to seal a deal. Joseph was given the
signet in Egypt, when he was given power and authority next to the
king. This, perhaps, is saying the king would not be able to stop this
even with all of his power and authority.

     Jeremiah 22:25 "And I will give thee into the hand of them that
seek thy life, and into the hand [of them] whose face thou fearest,
even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the
hand of the Chaldeans."

     This leaves no doubt at all of their outcome. God has given
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and the Chaldeans, the power and authority
to destroy them. This destruction will be from the king of the land
down to the poorest person. It is God who has placed them in their
hands to carry out His judgement.

     Jeremiah 22:26 "And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that
bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there
shall ye die."

     This is all of Judah and Benjamin that will be given over to the
Babylonians. Those who live will be captive slaves in Babylon. Many
will die in the foreign land.

     Jeremiah 22:27 "But to the land whereunto they desire to return,
thither shall they not return."

     When God slams the door shut, it is shut until He opens it. No
one else can open it. Their heart's desire will be to come home, but
they will not be allowed to.

     Jeremiah 22:28 "[Is] this man Coniah a despised broken idol? [is
he] a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he
and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?"

     Coniah was believed to be another name for Jehoiachin. It
appears, from this that he thought of himself as a god. He spent 36
years in captivity in Babylon. He was very evil.

     Jeremiah 22:29 "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the
LORD."

     This is a sorrowful saying, showing the seriousness of their
transgressions. God, perhaps, was sorrowful that He had made the
earth.

     Jeremiah 22:30 "Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless,
a man [that] shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed
shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more
in Judah."

     The judgement against Jehoiachin was not just for him, but for
his seed, as well. He would have no children, who would ever reign.
God goes so far as to say, that no one even like him, will ever reign
in Jerusalem again.






                         Jeremiah 23 Questions


1.  Where did God send Jeremiah in verse 1?
2.  Whose throne did the king sit upon?
3.  Who else was the message for?
4.  What instructions did Jeremiah give him in verse 3?
5.  Why was it so important for him to be just in his judgements?
6.  If he does what God says, what will happen?
7.  What will happen to this house, if they do not heed God's warnings
    disobey Him?
8.  Why did the LORD swear by Himself?
9.  What did the LORD call the king's house of Judah?
10. Gilead, in verse 6, is a ________ not a ______.
11. Cedar is an almost indestructible _________.
12. The people of other nations passing by will ask what question
    about the destruction?
13. Why had God done this?
14. Weep ye not for the ________.
15. Who should they weep for?
16. Who was Shallum?
17. What was another name for Shallum?
18. Who is verse 13 speaking woe to?
19. How long did Jehoiachim reign?
20. Who was his father?
21. What had he said he would build?
22. What were the beams of the house made of?
23. Just because he had a mansion, did not make him ______.
24. His father reigned ___________.
25. Jehoiachim is so evil no one will ________ for him when he dies.
26. He shall be buried with the burial of an ______.
27. Who does verse 20 say to cry for?
28. God spoke to them in their prosperity, did they listen?
29. When was the only time they would seek God?
30. Who was Coniah?
31. Who had God given power to destroy them?
32. How long was Coniah in captivity?
33. The judgement against Jehoiachin extended to whom?