Reading for September 12th

 ORACLES AGAINST THE NATIONS

Chs.46-51: These poems, confirming the survival of those who wait in obedient faithfulness, consist of a collection of prophetic poems in judgement against Israel's enemies. Their location at the end of the book gives meaning to Jeremiah's title "propjet tot he nations (1.5, 10). God's voice in these poems announces that foreign nations had been instruments of divine punishment of Israel and Judah, but soon tables will turn to create a new future. These oracles address Israel's neighbors first (chs. 46-490 and close with oracles against Babylon (chs. 50-51). 

Read 46.1-12. In 46.1-25: Against Egypt. These poems bring to poetic fulfillment Jeremiah's prophecies to the Judean remnant that escaped into Egypt (ch.s 43-44). Babylon will destroy their safe haven. In verse 2: The date of the first poem in the fourth year of Jehoiakim sets the prophecy in the years when Babylon destroyed Egyptian power in the region. This means Jeremiah's word of the destruction of Egypt came much earlier than the events themselves. For survivors in exile, the date indicaesthat God plans have long been in place and that there is hope for the future. In verses 3-12: A battle scene, similar to scenes of the cosmic battle with the foe from the north in chs. 4-6 and 8-10, opens the poems. God calls troops to prepare for war. In verses 7-12: The Nile River, famous for its flooding, resembles the rise and fall of Egypt. Egypt cannot possible defend itself since, in this poetic vision, the enemy is divine. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 11th

 Read Jeremiah 45.1-5. In 45.1-5: Baruch's role. Chapter 45 brings the Baruch account to a close and also concludes chs. 26-44. In verses 2-3: Baruch utters a lament of sorrow, pain, and weariness that follows curses upon his own people in ch. 44. In verse 4: God replies through Jeremiah with language used frequently throughout the book, I am going to break down and pluck up the whole land. In verse 5: Suffering cannot be avoided, but Baruch will survive. He will gain his life as a prize o war.  With Baruch's lament and divine response to it, the main part of the book ends on a somber note. Baruch is a weary survivor who is promised only his life. The idealized vision of chs. 30-33 is far from sight. But according to chs. 37-45, Jeremiah, Baruch, Ebed-melech and a remnant survive. Survivors must obey Jeremiah's prophetic message as conveyed in the book. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 10th

 Read Jeremiah 44.11-30. Worship of the queen of heaven exemplifies the idolatry of the exiles. Jeremiah had accused the Judean families of worshipping this astral deity in the Temple sermon (7.1-8.3). Here Jeremiah accuses the women as central participants in this worship. The women, however, speak from their experience. When they stopped worshipping the goddess, their world fell apart. In verse 26: Because of its idolatry, the believing community will disappear in Egypt. They have no future because they turned from God. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 9th

 Read Jeremiah 44.1-10. In 44:1-30: Idolatry. Jeremiah delivers a final prophetic message to the Judeans living in Egypt. In verses 1-6: The fall of Judah and Jerusalem was caused by the people's failure to listen. Those who escaped to Egypt will suffer a similar fate, if they do not leave idolatry aside. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 8th

 Read Jeremiah 43.1-13. Johanan, the hero of ch. 42, turns insolent and accuses Jeremiah of lying and Baruch of inciting him. Both are forced into Egyptian exile against their will. They escape none of the pain of the exiles in Babylon, for they too leave their homeland as captives. In verses 8-13: Jeremiah directs a symbolic action of burying stones. Nebuchadrezzar will come and set up his rule there and destroy Egyptian deities. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 7th

 Emigration to Egypt

Chs. 42-44: Jeremiah is an ally of Babylon and an opponent of Egypt in the international power struggles that afflict Judah at this time. These chapters reflect anti-Egyptian viewpoints. They accuse survivors who go to Egypt of refusing to listen and engaging in idolatry. Paradoxically, Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch are also forced into exile. 

Read Jeremiah 42.1-22. Survivors of Ishmael's attack go to Jeremiah to make intercession on their behalf. Should they go to Egypt? They promise to obey his word. In verse 10: Jeremiah replies they must remain in Judah. Their God will rebuild them after the disaster, for which God has repented. In verses 18-22: There is no escape from Babylon. Comments or Questions..

Reading for September 6th

 Read Jeremiah 41.1-18. During a meal, Ishmael and ten men massacre Gedaliah and everyone with him, as well as pilgrims on their way to the Temple. They desecrate their bodies by dumping them into a cistern and take the remaining survivors as hostages. Johanan, one of the Judeans, gathers forces and rescues the hostages. The blood bath gives the Judeans reason to fear the Chaldeans and sets off the events narrated in the next chapters. Comments or Questions..