Reading for October 6th

HOW THE NATION WILL SURVIVE Chs. 26-52: The first "book" (chs 1-25) accused Judah of infidelity, promised destruction and exile, and defended God from accusations of injustice. The second "book" (chs. 26-52) presents stories and poems that reveal how to survive the period after the naton's fall to Babylon. No longer is repentance to avert the disaster the primary concern. The book's audience lives with the community's failure to repent. They themselves must repent and endure. Jeremiah appears here as a model of faithful endurance. Jeremiah's companion Baruch also appears in this part of the book. Baruch has traditionally been named as the writer of the stories about Jeremiah, particularly in chs. 37-45. The exilic period was a time of great conflict about how to survive. the book insists that survival requires continued submission to Babylon, repentance, and obedience as set out in the book of Jeremiah. In Chs. 26-29: Prophetic discord. These chapters set forth disputes about which prophetic vision of the future will ensure the nation's survial. Read Jeremiah 26.1-11. In 26.1-24.: Jeremiah on trial. This chapter shows that Jeremiah faced great conflict but that he is the true prophet and, hence, is to be heeded. In verses 1-6:The chapter refers to Jeremiah's Temple sermon (7.1-8.3) and summarizes it. What is of interest here, however, is the community's reponse to the sermon. Some accept it, priest, prophets, and King Jehoiakim reject it. Some ofthe leaders put Jeremiah on trial. Comments or Questions..