Key word: Return (47x)
Whereas Isaiah ministered to Judah as the fall of Israel approached, and beyond, Jeremiah ministered to Judah as Judah’s fall approached and beyond. About 70 years separated the prophecies of the two men. Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet because of his deep sorrows over Judah’s rejection of God and the resulting judgment (9:1). Jeremiah spends his whole ministry calling the people to repent and return to the Lord. For over 60 years, this was his message, and it was ignored by almost everyone. You could count Jeremiah’s converts on one hand, with a couple fingers left over.
Jeremiah was often a reluctant prophet. He didn’t want to become a prophet (1:6), often wanted to run away (9:2), felt sorry for himself (12:1- 6), was nicknamed, “terror on every side” (6:25), because of his message of doom, was persecuted (20:2-3), was not allowed to marry (16:2), lived under constant death threats (26:8-24), is accused of treason (37:13-15), and is ultimately drug off to Egypt against his will (43:6-7). And yet, Jeremiah remained faithful to the Lord and to his ministry for over six decades.
Yet Jeremiah had the privilege of revealing the new covenant (31:31-34) which prophesied of a better day ahead: a day of joy, worship, obedience and forgiveness. His prophecy would become one of the most important themes found in the New Testament book of Hebrews.
But for our key verse we will go with 17:9, which reminds us of why people rebel against the word and in need of redemption.
Key verse: Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
