JEREMIAH LESSON 35
We will begin this in Jeremiah 32:1 "The word that came to
Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah,
which [was] the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar."
Zedekiah would rule 11 years, so this is very near the end of his
reign. It appears, this was shortly after Jerusalem was attacked.
Jeremiah 32:2 "For then the king of Babylon's army besieged
Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the
prison, which [was] in the king of Judah's house."
Jeremiah had received permission from God to stay in Judah and
see its destruction. He was protected by God, and no harm came to him.
The court of the prison was probably the safest place to be. It was
next to the king's palace.
Jeremiah 32:3 "For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up,
saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD,
Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon,
and he shall take it;"
We see from this, that Zedekiah did not appreciate the prophecies
of Jeremiah. Jeremiah had spoken of the destruction of Judah and
Jerusalem, and Zedekiah did not like it. He would rather believe the
false prophecy of immediate restoration. You remember, in a previous
lesson, that Zedekiah {the false prophet} was roasted in the fire by
Nebuchadnezzar. The Zedekiah mentioned here, is king of Judah.
Jeremiah 32:4 "And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of
the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand
of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and
his eyes shall behold his eyes;"
This was the part of Jeremiah's prophecy that Zedekiah liked the
least. He felt he was too great to fall into the hands of the
Babylonians. The king of Babylon, of course, is Nebuchadnezzar. It is
not a subordinate that speaks judgement on Zedekiah. It is
Nebuchadnezzar, himself.
Jeremiah 32:5 "And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there
shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with
the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper."
Zedekiah will not even die in his own land. II Kings 25:7 And
they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes
of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to
Babylon." We can see from this, that it was a mistake to fight
against the judgement of God. It is of no benefit to fight against
God's judgement. "Until I visit him" means the time of his death.
Jeremiah 32:6 "And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto
me, saying,"
This is a break from the message before.
Jeremiah 32:7 "Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle
shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that [is] in Anathoth:
for the right of redemption [is] thine to buy [it]."
This is the LORD Speaking to Jeremiah. It is Jeremiah's uncle's
son who will come to him. Jeremiah's dad was priest in Anathoth. The
right of redemption was Jeremiah's, because this land had belonged to
his family. We could look at this as being very foolish in the natural
thoughts of man, but this is God telling Jeremiah to redeem the land.
Faith is believing in things that are not necessarily the practical
thing to do at the time. It is putting trust in God, and doing exactly
what God wants.
Jeremiah 32:8 "So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the
court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto
me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that [is] in Anathoth, which [is] in
the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance [is] thine, and
the redemption [is] thine; buy [it] for thyself. Then I knew that this
[was] the word of the LORD."
In verse 7, God told Jeremiah that Hanameel would come. In verse
8, we see that what God says is true. Jeremiah was probably like some
of us. He heard the voice of God, and then questioned whether it was
God. Now, he knows the voice was from God, because the very thing he
heard, has now happened.
Jeremiah 32:9 "And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son,
that [was] in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, [even] seventeen
shekels of silver."
To those Jeremiah had been prophesying to, it probably seemed
that Jeremiah was going against his prediction of the long captivity
by Babylon. The truth of the matter is, that Jeremiah, also, believed
his prophecy that God would restore this land to His people. "Silver"
symbolically means redemption. It is always silver that is used to
redeem. It is very interesting to me, that a man in prison would have
the money to buy the land. Many people claim to have faith, but this
is sincerity of faith. Jeremiah has put his faith into action.
Jeremiah 32:10 "And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed [it],
and took witnesses, and weighed [him] the money in the balances."
There seemed to be some type of legal document that was signed
before witnesses to seal the contract. This was, perhaps, similar to a
deed in our day.
Jeremiah 32:11 "So I took the evidence of the purchase, [both]
that which was sealed [according] to the law and custom, and that
which was open:"
The Jewish law was very strict about the transfer of land. God
had allotted each family a portion of land, and they must keep it in
the family. The custom of the Jews was to sell to a near kinsman. It
was lawful, as well, because they had signed the papers for the
transfer.
Jeremiah 32:12 "And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto
Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of
Hanameel mine uncle's [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that
subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in
the court of the prison."
The Jews were very good record keepers. This was recorded in
front of all these witnesses. The deed was given to Baruch for safe
keeping. The book of the purchase was very similar to a record we
would have at the court house.
Jeremiah 32:13 "And I charged Baruch before them, saying,"
Jeremiah 32:14 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take
these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed,
and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel,
that they may continue many days."
In all of the problems from the siege, it would have been easy
for the record to have been destroyed. Jeremiah had Baruch to put them
in an earthen vessel to be kept from harm. The earthen vessel would
protect them from the elements for a very long time.
Jeremiah 32:15 "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in
this land."
This purchase of the land on faith put strength into the prophecy
that houses, fields, and vineyards will be possessed in this land.
Notice, Jeremiah does not say when this will happen, just that it will
happen. He explains that God told him this, and he knows all that God
says is true. He not only says he believes, but proves his belief with
this purchase.
Jeremiah 32:16 "Now when I had delivered the evidence of the
purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD,
saying,"
Many times, after we have acted on God's Word, we pray for
reassurance from God that we have acted properly. This prayer is just
that, asking for reassurance from God.
Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven
and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is
nothing too hard for thee:"
Every believer should take this very thing into consideration. If
God can make the world and everything in it, why should we doubt for
miracles? This prayer of Jeremiah's is for God to help his unbelief.
The man that brought his son to Jesus said, "I believe, help thou mine
unbelief". This is what Jeremiah is saying here. He believes, but he
is human. He needs encouragement. He is stopping and reviewing the
fact that God is capable of doing all things. The stretched out arm is
spoken of when God is dealing with mankind.
Jeremiah 32:18 "Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and
recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their
children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts,
[is] his name,"
In a sense, this prayer of Jeremiah's, is a praise of God.
Actually, Jeremiah is not asking God for anything, he is communing
with God on a level above the understanding of common man. Jeremiah
realizes that, even though God is a God of great love, He is, also, a
God of perfect justice. Jeremiah was expressing the absolute greatness
of God above any common man, when He says, "Great, Mighty God, LORD of
hosts."
Jeremiah 32:19 "Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine
eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every
one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:"
The answer to every problem of life is in the counsel of God. The
Bible is like a road map that leads us through the path of life. There
is nothing hidden from God. He not only sees our actions, but looks
into the heart of man, to see the intentions of the heart. Mankind may
look upon us and get an outside view of what we are, but God knows the
heart of man. There is nothing hidden from God. God's judgement is
made on man's heart condition. He will reward, or punish, not
according to appearance, but according to what really is.
Jeremiah 32:20 "Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of
Egypt, [even] unto this day, and in Israel, and among [other] men; and
hast made thee a name, as at this day;"
We know that the 10 plagues that came on Egypt discredited the
Egyptian false gods, and left even the evil men surrounding Pharaoh
saying, that Moses' God was God. We know from the 18th chapter of
first Kings, that Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to prove who
God really is. After God showed without a doubt that He was God, and
no other god lives, the people cried out to God, as in the next
Scripture. I Kings 18:39 "And when all the people saw [it], they fell
on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he [is] the God; the LORD, he
[is] the God." These are just a few, but God showed over and over that
He was the only God. He parted the Red Sea for them to cross. He fed
them 40 years in the wilderness with Mannah from heaven. There were so
many signs and wonders, the people came to expect signs.
Jeremiah 32:21 "And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of
the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong
hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;"
The one last sign from God that got them released from Egypt, was
the death of the firstborn of all of Egypt, when the firstborn of the
Hebrews were not killed. Pharoah, not only released them, but drove
them out. Moses struck the Rock in the wilderness, and water flowed to
give approximately 3 million people water to drink. Even the
countries, they passed near on their way to their promised land were
very frightened of the God of the Israelites. Joshua 5:1 "And it came
to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which [were] on the side
of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which [were]
by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from
before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their
heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of
the children of Israel." They were not afraid of Israel. They were
afraid of Israel's God.
Jeremiah 32:22 "And hast given them this land, which thou didst
swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and
honey;"
The promise had been made to Abraham, but was fulfilled when the
children of Israel came from Egypt and took possession. It was a
fruitful land, just as God had promised. One cluster of grapes was so
large one man could not carry it.
Jeremiah 32:23 "And they came in, and possessed it; but they
obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done
nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast
caused all this evil to come upon them:"
Jeremiah has been reviewing all the great miracles God had done
for them. He suddenly realizes all the terrible things happening to
them now, is because they were unfaithful to God. God promised to
bless His people, if they obeyed Him, and walked uprightly before Him.
If they did not obey Him, and walked in evil ways, He would bring
curses upon them. They brought the trouble on themselves.
Jeremiah 32:24 "Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to
take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that
fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the
pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold,
thou seest [it]."
Jeremiah is recognizing the fact that God had warned them of what
would happen, unless they repented and returned to God. They did not,
and God has brought the pestilence, sword, and famine, just as He said
He would. The Chaldeans have overrun them, and taken them.
Jeremiah 32:25 "And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee
the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into
the hand of the Chaldeans."
Jeremiah has given close attention to the greatness of God, now
it is as if he is saying, "Why did you tell me to buy the land"? He is
saying, "What can I do with this land while the Chaldeans are in
control of everything"?
Jeremiah 32:26 "Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah,
saying," Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all
flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"
God quickly reminds Jeremiah that He is God of all flesh. He
controls even the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah 32:28 "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will
give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of
Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:"
God has a purpose in giving this land over to the Chaldeans and
into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. They do not really
realize it, but God is in control of them, too.
Jeremiah 32:29 "And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city,
shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses,
upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out
drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger."
Not only does God tell Jeremiah that the houses are going to be
burned, but gives him the reason. They have worshipped false gods on
the roofs of these houses.
Jeremiah 32:30 "For the children of Israel and the children of
Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children
of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands,
saith the LORD."
The work of their hands, here, is speaking of the making of
idols. They have been rebellious children from the beginning. God has
been longsuffering and forgiving, but His patience has run out.
Jeremiah 32:31 "For this city hath been to me [as] a provocation
of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto
this day; that I should remove it from before my face,"
They have not used the temple, or the city, the way God intended.
Their false worship has provoked Him to great wrath.
Jeremiah 32:32 "Because of all the evil of the children of Israel
and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to
anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their
prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem."
The memory of the evil done in God's holy city, is why God will
destroy it. Even the ones God had set up to rule over the people, had
been evil themselves. It is too much, God will burn it to the ground.
Jeremiah 32:33 "And they have turned unto me the back, and not
the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching [them],
yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction."
God had tried, over and over, to send prophets to them to warn
them of what would happen, if they did not repent. They turned their
backs to the message God had sent by the prophets. They refused God's
instruction.
Jeremiah 32:34 "But they set their abominations in the house,
which is called by my name, to defile it."
They had even set up idols in God's temple.
Jeremiah 32:35 "And they built the high places of Baal, which
[are] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and
their daughters to pass through [the fire] unto Molech; which I
commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do
this abomination, to cause Judah to sin."
Both the worship of Baal and Molech required their children to
walk through the fire. The worship of false gods benefits the false
gods. The worship of God benefits the person worshipping.
Jeremiah 32:36 "And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God
of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered
into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine,
and by the pestilence;" Jeremiah 32:37 "Behold, I will gather them
out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in
my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this
place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:"
God may drive them away, until they repent, but He will restore
His chosen ones to their land. The punishment is for a while, but then
God greatly blesses them, again.
Jeremiah 32:38 "And they shall be my people, and I will be their
God:"
We discussed before, that they must choose to be His people, and
then, He will be their God.
Jeremiah 32:39 "And I will give them one heart, and one way, that
they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children
after them:"
Their hearts will be changed by God Himself. This "one way" is in
Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. God has always taught to
be one in heart. The Spirit came on Day of Pentecost, because they
were with one accord.
Jeremiah 32:40 "And I will make an everlasting covenant with
them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will
put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me."
This everlasting covenant is the covenant of grace through Jesus
Christ. God will pour out unmerited favor on His children. They will
put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ their Lord.
Jeremiah 32:41 "Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good,
and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and
with my whole soul."
God has purified them with their captivity to Babylon. They are,
now, His precious children. God loves them with His heart and soul.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life." This is love beyond human understanding.
Jeremiah 32:42 "For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought
all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all
the good that I have promised them."
God has brought all this evil upon them to refine them, and the
minute that is done, He will pour out His blessings upon them. He
never breaks a promise. If He says it, you can count on it.
Jeremiah 32:43 "And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof
ye say, [It is] desolate without man or beast; it is given into the
hand of the Chaldeans."
All of the above was said to tell Jeremiah, why He told him to
buy the land. It was an act of absolute faith in the promise that God
would restore the land to them. Jeremiah was to buy the land in bad
times, to give the people hope that God would restore them to their
land. In the natural, it seemed foolish to buy this land that had
neither man nor beast. God knew that would change.
Jeremiah 32:44 "Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe
evidences, and seal [them], and take witnesses in the land of
Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of
Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the
valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their
captivity to return, saith the LORD."
Jeremiah's purchase was a purchase as an example of better days
to come. All of the procedures Jeremiah went through to buy the land,
would be the order of the day, when the land was restored. It was a
physical example of the fulfilling of the prophecy God had given
Jeremiah. It was saying, God has promised, it will be.
Jeremiah 35 Questions
1. At what time did God give Jeremiah the word in verse 1?
2. How long would Zedekiah reign?
3. When Jerusalem was besieged, where was Jeremiah?
4. Who had put Jeremiah there?
5. Who would Zedekiah rather believe than Jeremiah?
6. Why did Zedekiah, {the prophet} die in a fire?
7. Who speaks the judgement on Zedekiah?
8. What does the statement "Until I visit him" mean?
9. Who did God say would come to Jeremiah to sell him land?
10. Where was Jeremiah's dad the priest?
11. What made Jeremiah know, it was the Word of the LORD?
12. What was the price of the land?
13. What does "silver" symbolize?
14. What is verse 10 speaking of?
15. The custom of the Jews was to sell land to a near _________.
16. Where were the documents to be kept?
17. What is the prophecy of verse 15?
18. What was Jeremiah praying for, after the purchase?
19. What does the author say, every believer should take into
consideration?
20. What statement did the man make to Jesus, when he brought his son
for healing?
21. What description does Jeremiah give of God in verses 18 and 19?
22. What statement did the evil men of Egypt make after the 10
plagues?
23. Quote 1 Kings chapter 18 verse 39.
24. God brought forth Israel out of Egypt with ________ and _______.
25. Quote Joshua chapter 5 verse 1.
26. The land God gave the Israelites was a land flowing with _____ and
_______.
27. Why had the evil come upon God's people?
28. What does God quickly remind Jeremiah of?
29. How will the city be destroyed?
30. When God sent the prophets to warn these His people, what did they
do?
31. What was their sin?
32. Why had God told Jeremiah to buy the land?
33. What is the everlasting covenant?
34. Quote John chapter 3 verse 16.
35. What was Jeremiah's purchase of the land an example of?
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