THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH LIFE LESSONS IN PLANS AND PURPOSES

Original Link INTRODUCTION Mon peuple, Mon peuple it is that time of the month again well, it was that time of the month when I had all my records together ready to type my blog. However, you know that things have drastically changed since then. Now I realize why most Pastors just keep it simple, healing and prosperity. They do not get involved with books such as Jeremiah. Since my bags with all my articles and years of research from as far as Germany and Little Rock, Arkansas I realize that Jeremiah was not only thrown in the dungeon and fed bread and water (thank God for the Ethiopian, may they continue to make strides in their nation) but his scrolls were also torn up and had to be rewritten Jeremiah 36 verses 22 - 24, 27 - 29. We will deal with that as we proceed through the book of Jeremiah. I mean people, in Little Rock I had to pay to photocopy over one hundred of fifty pages out of two Bible Commentaries. I just read part of one of the commentaries because I was waiting to savour it when I had the time. Anyway life goes and I do not want to have three months of blogs backing up again too much work to get caught up with. However we should be in the book of Jeremiah for a period. Let us get caught up where I left you in November. There are a lot of things to recount. I see where I left you in Muskogee, Oklahoma. That seems like it was in another century. I was given a ride by one of the ladies from the Baptist church. We had lunch in Broken Arrow. This was indeed a treat not the food but the antics of the people I encountered. Stacy decided that we would have a meal at McCallister; we both ordered salads. That is where the similarity ended. We were both eating our salads when I discovered a small piece of lettuce leaf in my salad which had gone bad. I called the waitress and asked that the plate be taken away. I did not want a replacement but the Supervisor insisted so I took another salad. Of course they did the same thing again, We ignored them and then left. After leaving the restaurant we drove straight to Tulsa. After winding our way through the town we eventually ended up at the Transit Center on Denver Street at which point we said our farewells. I decided to just explore the town before it became dark. Just up the road past the library and the court house I discovered Plaza of America and my first homeless people you guess, they were all black. One gentleman told me had spent the night on the plaza ‘en plein air.’ I told him he did not have to. I continued walking, one of the first things you notice about the city is the number of churches and the magnitude I mean these churches rival any of the brand name churches to be found in Europe. In fact, while I was there the whole time one of the scriptures which kept coming to my mind was ‘Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people Proverbs 14 verse 34 and when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice Proverbs 29 verse 2.’ The standard of living is the best I have seen anywhere in the United States, no run down or shabby neighbourhoods. Rivals the lifestyle of Switzerland. The next day I sorted out my bus pass and visited the Walmart at Memorial and the library. Based on my reception at the latter I decided that I would not be staying because of the one hour I would be allowed per day. In view of this I decided I would expedite my sight seeing. I decided I would visit Oral Roberts University. What a bam bam! Even before I entered any of the buildings I was seeing tell tale signs that I was not welcome. Of course I ignored it, this was an organization of faith. It was only the Nazis and Mafias trying to rob me of my blessings. However, while I was in the office building waiting for the receptionist to assist me the Security came and said I had to leave. Nobody in the office objected. After getting my documents together the security escorted me off the premises. I asked him which way he wanted me to walk. We decided. Then, while I was walking he wanted me to take another route, so I just continued walking. When I reached almost to the end of the property he advised me that I could visit the church across the road. I told him they needed to attend the church more than I because the Torah had left their organization. He agreed with me. I went across the road to the bus stop, the Walmart Store in the background. One black lady at the bus stop decided to take me on because she did not want her grandsons to see my sign. I ignored her. She called me a nappy headed African I laughed at her and told her thanks. My sign had some Jamaican patois on it. She decided she was going to call the police. I still ignored her. The Nazis and Mafias like to manipulate people. Then the bus came and I went in and left her cursing angrily. While I was on the bus one gentleman decided to apologize for the behaviour displayed by the lady. I just looked at him! The cynicism of the white man! Some highlights from the ORU Campus. I saw the statue of the praying hands. I gather it used to be in the city centre. I also saw the prayer tower. My real desire was just to visit that specific place. There was also an entertainment centre attached to the university. Since I was not very successful at ORU I decided I was going to visit Rhema Ministries, one of the thoughts which kept coming to mind was why do I continue to let white people kick me out of their places. I said to myself one day we black people would have our own things. I had to laugh at myself. I found out that Rhema Ministries was actually in Broken Arrow. There goes my bus woes. I had to figure out the bus system. The first attempt did not go well. I was able to reach it on the second attempt. When I reached the front door ‘di owner fi did yaad’ one black fellow had his truck parked right in front of the door. I went in any way. Talk about a cool reception. I entered and everybody was going about their business and ignoring me. I took up a brochure with a black fellow Ministering with a bluetooth in his ears. I went further in and decided I would have a cup of hot chocolate. I tried to get some change, one black lady gave me twenty, one dollar bills. I asked if she did not have any five dollar bills she answered in the negative. I enquired about the school and she advised some nebulous things. I just decided against the beverage and left. Saw quite a few black people milling around and since I had become invisible I decided to scoot out of there. There was a group of white people meeting on my way out. I just hurried across the road and was heading in the direction of the Walmart when the Holy Ghost said, do you want to stay or leave? As I looked up there was a bus across the road. I said, I am leaving. I ran across the road and jumped on the bus. I said Daddy from here on in I am sticking to the Jamaica Theological Seminary if this is their brand of Christianity I do not want anything to do with it. That is why I will forever talk about the Cornerstone Fellowship in San Antonio, Texas. It doesn't matter what you think of the person personally. You must have some benchmark by which your organization operates. In Tulsa, I also reported my ID stolen at the police station at the courthouse across from the Library. The police took my report and stamped it. One day I went to the library they sent this little fellow to watch me. I decided to play with him. I have wanted to ask someone for a very long time what wearing your pants under your bottom meant. I decided I was going to ask this fellow. I did just that with the Librarians looking on. The fellow uuum and ahhed until he said something about his underwear getting dirty. I said that is exactly why you should not have your pants down, He just said let me pull up my pants and left. Everybody within earshot smiled. I laughed! That is it people you need to confront some of these foolish teenagers who are being led astray. The next time I went to a laundromat of course the Nazis and Mafias had a nice young lady there who was dressed like a boy. I left the laundromat and then got the prompting and returned and left two of my tracts with her and said ‘Just do it’! She was dressed in Nike so I just turned it around on her. From that everywhere I went I kept seeing these young ladies dressed like men. Unfortunately, it was when I was leaving that I realized that they were sent for me to give them a tract. It was particularly obvious with one little one who was working at Starbucks she was very mannerly. I tell you the fields are white unto harvest. Now that I have the tract on Social media I can just refer it to everyone. Anyway I still had a bundle carrying with me because I did some free copying in Minnesota. That is one of the reasons the Nazis and Mafias stole all my bags this time. I might have a lot of bags but I am prepared for any situation. I could not stay at the Tulsa airport. They kept running me because I would not sleep at night and there was no direct bus service to the airport so I decided it was time to leave. On my last day at the library I had to call the white lady security guard a liar, Then they shut me down and got one black fellow to ask me to leave. Sic her blackie!! I was actually mapping my way out of Tulsa because at that time I had stopped taking the Greyhound Bus and they wanted their usual psychological analysis with one fool or the other. I told the guard she was the appointed liar for the day. Lord help my Holy Ghost! Just to advise people, it came strongly to me that while we especially in the Caribbean might take it for granted that our children are getting a religious education, there is now a generation growing up in America who do not know God and the queer community is capitalising on that - School Prayer in the United States. Oh, Tulsa is the first place they started injecting me through my clothes. I slept in the open near the Federal Reserve Bank. When I got up my shoulder did not stop itching. Since then they have been doing it over and over especially in Ottawa I realized I am being injected. That is why I cannot get any good denim to purchase. They need the right material for the needle. I took a bus which dropped me at sixty something street in one little village. I lay down on the grass and relaxed for a couple of hours and then started walking until I reached the junction with highway 75 then I stopped. There was a Truck Stop here. I spent the night in the elements. The next day I continued walking. I should have just taken Highway 75; it was a much more direct route and it was not an Interstate Highway. I walked through mainly an industrial district. When I reached a certain point where I was actually nearing a town then one black lady was sent to offer me a ride. I just declined because she advised me she was returning to Tulsa. I got on the back road to Collinsville. I passed a church and then took a break and did some exercises on the grass before someone’s gate. Then I continued further up the road and stopped and began to eat on a gentleman’s lawn. He came out asking if I was okay and I wanted anything. No I did not want anything and yes I was okay. The next thing I know is two Sheriff’s Officers turned up. I immediately realized they were all up to no good so I separated myself from them and continued walking up the road. By the time I opened a Post Office box and shut it back it was the detective who was stalking me telling me he would arrest me. I told him I just looked in the box for 10 seconds and walked away and left him.The post office box was quite unique and I was curious. I stopped further up the road and was given a ride by an old gentleman to Collinsville. He also gave me a ten dollars scratch and win ticket. Ended up when we reached Collinsville he had to find the store and change it. I spent the night in Collinsville. I went into a Laundromat which I was told was open 24 hours only to be disturbed while I was in the restroom and told that the building would be closed. I had to grab my laundry and leave. There was a bank nearby. I just went there and hung my laundry on a tree while I did my devotion. The next morning I started walking early again. As I was walking along the highway my things started falling out and I realized that someone had put a hole in my bag. I needed the bag so I had to stop and sew it up. The next thing I knew there was a lady by my side enquiring if I was okay. I told her, yes and she offered me a ride to Oogalalah a couple of villages up the road. She was actually a Pastor from Tulsa. She gave me her card. She had her daughter and a dog with her, the latter’s name was Jackson. After she left me I sat and completed my sewing then moved on. By the time I reached the next property one gentleman had his dog which was off the leash. Fortunately, for me as I approached the property I crossed the road. Shortly after that a mixed race couple stopped and offered me a ride. The lady was from Belize. They dropped me off at Anawara. I got something to eat at a grocery store in the community. I found a park and finished drying my wet clothes from the previous night on the tree which was offering me shade. I ate, slept, organized my laundry and then moved out of the park. Further up the street was a Love’s Truck Stop. I stopped there and got a cup of tea. Then I moved on again. On my way out of the gas station I was offered a ride by a gentleman. It seems like everybody who offered me a ride either worked or lived in California. He lived in Coffeyville Kansas but worked in California. On reaching the town we went to the Greyhound Bus stop but it was not very inviting so I asked that he left me at the Walmart. I had something to eat and then was off with my Walmart Chariot of Fire to explore the town. It has hotels and an industrial sector with an airport close by so it is not so much a backwater town. When I entered I said to myself well Ron Kenoly now I can say I know Coffeyville. There is also an adjacent Coffeyville in Oklahoma where the Casino is located. Nice town has 5G towers and also some lovely churches. The next day I went to McDonalds, had a sausage roll and then went across the street to the church. The church was full of senior citizens. What can I say people? The service came and went! Unfortunately, it has two points I want to address. We will try to see if we can remember accurately. One is what the so-called founder of the Salvation Army is purported to have said; ‘he cannot save the world.’ All I said was true. All I am trying to save is one continent, Africa. Then there was an anecdote about a man and his son. Something about living in the town versus the country. Then the son was told about where they had a swimming pool but the other person had a Creek. In the town they had fences but in the country they had neighbours. I said from my observations most of the Creeks were dirty and the neighbours now had fences. After church I found a tree to lie under and read my Bible. Then I moved out with my Walmart Chariot of Fire to Walmart where I ate something and then when it was dusk I walked twenty six miles to Cherryvale. While I was walking the Nazis and Mafias tried their best to hit me off the road. One instance the police stopped me to say I was walking in the road. I said, ‘no such thing.’ Then another officer stopped me to say I was in black and the motorists were complaining that it was hard to see me at night. I should put on something light. I said, ‘Oh yeah and put my jacket on the handle of the Walmart Chariot and moved out. Almost immediately a truck almost wiped me out. I took off the jacket immediately. I reached Cherryvale at like 12 a.m. A Policeman greeted me. We had a conversation about the area being infested with drugs and unemployment. He advised that there was not much to see which was very accurate. I made my bed for the early morning by the bank in the town. The day was a public holiday however a worker turned up and displaced me. I went to a gas station across the road and used their facilities. Then a lady came and offered to buy me coffee. I refused, then I went outside. She went to her house to fetch something and her daughter turned up with some dishes and two packs of stew beef. I had to laugh at the Nazis and Mafias how desperately they wanted to feed me their poison. They try to convince people that I am dying of hunger. To cut to the chase people after speaking to them I moved on with my Walmart Chariot of Fire. I got some more rest under a tree. After getting up I threw away everything. Raphleta are you crazy? No, just cautious!! Now I am moving onto Kansas City, the capital of Kansas. After a couple of miles I was offered a ride by a gentleman who had the art of weaving some very tall tales. He came prepared with a big bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Fortunately for me I am only used to eating Kentucky Fried chicken on special occasions. I was not tempted. All I could think of was the fat present in the chicken.You should hear him tell you how he was healed; Suffice it to say he took me directly to a hospital in Kansas City, Missouri as pre planned by him and the Nazis. I hope the Chinese will give him back his job. Anyway, I insisted I was not going to stay by any hospital so he dropped me along one of the main streets along with my Walmart Chariot of Fire! I took a bus into the city centre. I felt sad having to leave my Walmart Chariot of fire by the street side. I hoped it reached home. I was attacked immediately by a white lady. I paid her no mind. This was a very harsh town. I was able to access the airport but they were not very hospitable. The library system was also very tight. I decided I would not stay long. Leaving was a serious challenge since I could not get any transportation. I mean one bus just stopped running when it was to take me near the Salvation Army Camp site. I walked it to Independence. Then I ended up going the wrong way with all the cut throats watching me. I was offered a drive by a nurse fellow to Warrensburg. Not a very receptive lot. I then headed out and got a ride from a lady to Higginsville. Another dead end. I then got a ride from a young lady who took me to Kingdom City. She should have dropped me in Columbia but the conversation was so interesting and the Nazis and Mafias wanted to introduce me to this Christian City. It is indeed one of the best locations I have been to. No harassment and no one overcharged me. I slept like a baby. They even had a Chapel for Truckers. I saw pretzels there for ninety nine cents. I have been trying to find that deal ever since.The next morning I was off again up Highway 70 and a gentleman gave me a ride. Now he is looking after his grandson. I think he used to teach and is into cartoons. He dropped me off at a town at the Community Centre with all the facilities but these community centres have public showers so I did not even enquire. I moved onto the Police Station to try and get my flashlight fixed. They were not much help so I went to look for the library. Unfortunately, the map I had received at City Hall was incorrect. I had to walk almost to the end of the town. Luckily it was not a very big town. I finally reached the library and was given my time on the laptop. They had this elaborate system of deception as per usual. I just used the laptop and headed up the road out of the town. Some way up the road this grandmother stopped and gave me a ride. Of course during the course of the journey she had to speak to her grandchildren and her daughter worked with the government e at the blood bank. Yawwnnnn! The stories are becoming monotonous. She dropped me near the highway so I could continue bombing. This time it was a truck with a happily married man thank God. Seems he is in the business of taking up strays and taking them in but the Nazis and Mafias told him he could not take in this stray so he left me in Mount Vernon, Illinois at the truck stop near Walmart. I got my shower and did my laundry. I tell you for Twelve Dollars these Truck Stops are much better than these hotels and motels in Canada where I am paying so much money. Then I went to Walmart and bought something. I stayed Saturday and left Sunday morning to my bombing corner. I decided I would not leave until I got a ride. I have stopped taking money from people. You want to give me money, place it in my account. Out of order with your little dollars!! I detect in my Spirit the Nazis and Mafias trying to use money to tie up my destiny. I take no money from anyone. Send it to the bank. Paypal is off limits; they steal every cent that comes in my name. Then a little black fellow came and offered me a ride to Effingham, Illinois. Seems he is trying to move from Atlanta, Georgia up to Illinois to establish his business. He dropped me at another Truck Stop like the one in Kingdom City but it was not as elaborate. At the beginning of this town was a big cross. That is where their Christian charity ended. I immediately tried to hitch a ride out of the town but no one would give me a ride. Most people were giving me money which I refused. They sent the police on me. They told him I was going into the road. I went into the road to pick up a piece of paper which had blown away from me. I still continued bombing. However, it grew late and I moved on. As I said, the big cross was where their Christian charity ended. I walked along a highway and reached a bank and just rested there because it was raining heavily. I had a police visit me but a crook was written all over him so I just told him I was okay. He wanted to come and check on me intermittently. By now people you should know that is not for my benefit but the benefit of the criminals. They just wanted to keep an eye on me to know my movements. The bank was almost across from the Coin Laundry which was for sale. After the rain subsided I moved on up the road to the Pilot sign which I was seeing. Unfortunately, this was another Pilot like that in Tennessee it was not very hospitable. I just stood in a corner after using their restroom until around 5 a.m. I left. Then I tried hitching a ride but it was not bearing fruit so I walked through the town and realized that the town was full of banks. I named it the town where all families have a bank. Then the buses were just happily flying past me. I walked until I reached the Catholic Charities. They had a Thrift Store attached so I just stopped because people could not get under my clothes because of the Sweat top I had with the hoodie which covered my bottom etc. The people literally tore the sweatshirt piece by piece. I do not like to wear tatty clothes, the latter is cheap so I normally go through and throw out things the Nazis and Mafias have destroyed and replace what is necessary. I decided to stop and get a new pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, some scarves and a pair of gloves since the nights were becoming a bit chilly and my pants were in tatters as usual. I got a black sweatshirt. It was not as secure as the one I had gotten in Germany. I decided to reinforce it by taking the cord out of the German version and putting it in the new one. Thank God for Merl Grove High School and sewing skills. Most times these Nazis and Mafias bring their Psychologists to observe me. I just take out my needle and bread and start sewing up something they have destroyed panty, gloves. stockings, blouses etc. As a result when I was in the #In The USA everywhere I went they have these Hamish people following me. Obviously it is only Hamish who still uses needles and thread these days. I had to laugh when I was in Columbus, Ohio at the Greyhound Bus Station. The Hamish ladies waservivihsewing and having a jolly time like they were home. The store did not charge me for anything I purchased. People I did not wish I had picked up more. I'm walking with my bags. On Leaving the Catholic Charities one criminal lawyer picked me up. He was also incharge of another town. He told me he was going to drop me ten miles and dropped me four miles at the next little dead end town. I keep wondering why these people keep sending me criminal lawyers. I was so upset when I saw all these hillbillies acting as if they were bad. I eventually got a look at the map and decided to head back to Effingham. On my way back, I was picked up by this couple. They have children together and live in the same town but are not together. Of course the fellow invited me to his house. Of course I declined politely. He dropped me at the library. I then left after one hour and went to the Love Truck Stop. I spent the night there and ate a piece of chicken from the Church’s fast food restaurant. I was not called to use the facilities any further. They seem to be moving around with a certain posture which I did not like. The next morning I went to the feeder of the Interstate Highway to bomb a ride. I finally got a ride from a University Lecturer who lived in Tennessee. The usual story he and his wife were not seeing eye to eye etc etc. He likes to travel and we compared notes. He had travelled the USA extensively, done some of South America and a little of Europe. Where the USA and South America were concerned he was ahead of me. However, when it came to Western Europe I taught him a few lessons. We had a very healthy conversation while he was on his way to Missouri or Chicago. He dropped me off in Indianapolis at the Transit Center. This time around they had all types of conditions at the Central Library and the Psychologists team. Unfortunately people, I have to be piecing everything together from memory because all my Greyhound records have been stolen. I keep all my ticket stubs because there is never a boring ride on Greyhound. The Nazis and Mafias are always up to something. I also tried to send my foreign exchange from Indianapolis but decided against this. Indianapolis has one of the most hospitable Airports in the USA. Their library system also is like France in terms of the lack of censorship. I had problems because I sit in the quiet section most times and all the people who the criminals are using usually sit in the section where you can talk. When I go to the library it is for serious work or research. I want no noise around me. Since I was being constantly harassed in the main Library I decided to use some of the other libraries. I remember something that took place at Glendale Library. I suppose it is the Indian and Chinese who had to come up with such a diabolic scheme. I was there on the computer and they got a supposedly insane person to imitate my actions while they were writing their evaluation. I wondered how people can be so deprived mentally. From that day I treaded very carefully and just decided to leave Indianapolis. I left in November and took the Greyhound Lines to Milwaukee, Wisconsin via Chicago. We will stop here with the Introduction and pick up in January 2021. REFLECTIONS I have had so many blog topics stolen in my notebooks, Bibles and pieces of paper that I have taken the decision not to write them down anymore. I will just flow with the Holy Spirit and give the well a chance to work. As I was reflecting I was reminded that I had promised myself to do some major work in the book of Jeremiah because in all my years in the church that is one of the books which I have not heard any major teaching on. Since it is a full Gospel it is time I educated myself both spiritually and physically on this matter. So for as long as it takes we will all be in the book of Jeremiah. CRITICAL DEFINITIONS Book - a major division of a treatise or literary work Eggstatication, the books of the Bible Jeremiah From the Hebrew name יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirmiyahu) meaning "YAHWEH will exalt", from the roots רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt" and יָה (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Lamentations (supposedly). He lived to see the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in the 6th century BC. Life The animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual. (how long you live for) Lessons An amount of teaching given at one time, a period of learning or teaching Plans An intention or decision about what one is going to do Purposes The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH It has been such a long time I have not spoken to you. I am motivated by the meaning of the word Jeremiah - ‘God will exalt’ just to decree and declare something to your Spirit. I declare that this is our season for God to raise us up. For I know the plans that I have for you as a people says God, plans to give us hope and a future. Father, we declare that we will co-operate with your plan. Father, we will allow ourselves to be processed so that we can come forth as pure gold. I declare that nothing I have made is inferior, says God. I declare that I have a plan and a purpose for everyone. Oh that felt good. It was one of the things that I enjoyed doing when I was a member of the Church. In the Jaycees we called it commendations. People would go through great lengths to make their commendations very flowery. However, when I came to Canada I noticed that people went to great lengths to keep the microphone out of my hands. I wonder no more now that I am a little bit wiser. I now have the blog so I will use it as a platform the same way I used the mike to amplify my voice. THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH The structure of the book of Jeremiah has been a conundrum for scholars through the centuries. Then I discovered an article written by S. Jonathan Murphy in Bibliotheca Sacra (July-September, 2009, pp. 306-18). After surveying the problems involved in trying to understand the structure of Jeremiah, Murphy has provided us with a well reasoned proposal. Murphy suggests that Jeremiah is a “carefully compiled anthology of the prophet’s sermons and of incidents in his life” (p. 314). According to Murphy, the individual units of Jeremiah were originally addressed to the people to whom Jeremiah ministered at different stages throughout his ministry. The final form of the work, compiled after Jehoiachin’s release in 561 B.C., was a message to the exiles in Babylon providing encouragement and hope through promises of restoration. Since the judgments which Jeremiah announced had been fulfilled, the exiles in Babylon could be confident that the restoration would also come about. Murphy believes that Jeremiah has been carefully constructed to a recurring theological message of judgment and hope for God’s exiled people (p. 315). Because they have broken the Mosaic Covenant, they experienced judgment (Lev. 26, Deut. 28). But because of God’s unconditional promise to Abraham (Gen. 12 verses 2-3), God would deliver His people from exile and rebuild them as a nation. So Jeremiah repeatedly presents Yahweh’s judgment and promised hope, destruction and restoration, and cursing and blessing. The entry and exit points of the anthology, according to Murphy, are chapters 1 and 52. These chapters serve as “bookends” to hold the work together as an anthology. Chapter one verse 10 sets forth the agenda of the book. Here we see “in seed form” the themes of judgment and restoration which make up the rest of the book. The final chapter (52) highlights these same themes by recounting two incidents. Chapter 52 tells of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, emphasizing the theme of judgment. But the book concludes with a message of hope. Jehoiachin is released from prison, anticipating the future restoration and return of the people of Judah. Murphy offers the following outline of the final form of Jeremiah: I. Introduction: The ministry and message of the prophet 1 II. Recurring declarations of judgment on Judah and Jerusalem 2-25 III. Recurring declarations of restoration for Judah and Jerusalem 26-35 IV. Realization of judgment on Judah and Jerusalem 36-45 V. Declarations of judgment against foreign nations 46-51 VI. Conclusion: The ministry and message of Jeremiah vindicated 52 He summarizes the message of Jeremiah in this way: “The declared and realized judgment of Yahweh on His covenant people Judah and the nations because of sin encourages the exiles to hope, amid their misery, in the fulfillment of His promises of restoration” (p. 317). Murphy has convinced me that the difficulties in understanding the structure of the Book of Jeremiah can be significantly reduced by respecting the text as it stands and not trying to de-construct, edit or rearrange the material of the book. At last the structure of Jeremiah is beginning to make sense to me! I have incorporated Murphy’s outline into my lectures on Jeremiah. Jeremiah 1 Jeremiah was of a priestly line, his father’s name was Hilkiah from Anathoth. He was a Benjaminite which means he was of the lineage of Rachel not Leah, the younger wife of Israel (Jacob). God spoke to him in the reign of Josiah son of Amnon, King of Judah during the thirteenth year of his reign. He was effectively the Prophet during the reign of kings Jehoiakim - son of Josiah; King Zedekiah son of Josiah. Let us look at the qualities of these three kings. King Josiah Josiah (/dʒoʊˈsaɪ.ə/ or /dʒəˈzaɪ.ə/)] or Yoshiyahu was the sixteenth king of Judah (c. 640–609 BCE) who, according to the Hebrew Bible, instituted major religious reforms. Josiah is credited by most biblical scholars with having established or compiled important Hebrew scriptures during the "Deuteronomic reform" which probably occurred during his rule. Josiah became king of the Kingdom of Judah at the age of eight, after the assassination of his father, King Amon. Josiah reigned for thirty-one years, from 641/640 to 610/609 BCE. The Bible describes him as a righteous king, a king who "walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left" (2 Kings 22:2; 2 Chronicles 34:2). He is also one of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew's gospel, one of the two divergent genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament (cf. Matthew 1:10–11). According to the biblical narrative, Josiah was the son of King Amon and Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. His grandfather Manasseh was one of the kings blamed for turning away from the worship of Yahweh. Manasseh adapted the Temple for idolatrous worship. Josiah's great-grandfather was King Hezekiah, a noted reformer also respected by the biblical writers as having "done what was right in the sight of the LORD, as David had done. King Jehoiakim Jehoiakim, also sometimes spelled Jehoikim, was the eighteenth and antepenultimate king of Judah from 609 to 598 BC. He was the second son of king Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15) and Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. His birth name was Eliakim. After Josiah's death, Jehoiakim's younger brother Jehoahaz (also known as Shallum) was proclaimed king, but after three months Pharaoh Necho II deposed him, making Eliakim king in his place. When placed on the throne, his name was changed to "Jehoiakim". Jehoiakim reigned for eleven years, until 598 BC and was succeeded by his son Jeconiah, (also known as Jehoiachin), who reigned for only three months. Jehoiakim was appointed king by Necho II, king of Egypt, in 609 BC, after Necho's return from the battle in Haran, three months after he had killed King Josiah at Megiddo. Necho deposed Jehoiakim's younger brother Jehoahaz after a reign of only three months and took him to Egypt, where he died. Jehoiakim ruled originally as a vassal of the Egyptians, paying a heavy tribute. To raise the money he "taxed the land and exacted the silver and gold from the people of the land according to their assessments." However, after the Egyptians were defeated by the Babylonians at the battle of Carchemish in 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II besieged Jerusalem, and Jehoiakim changed allegiances to avoid the destruction of Jerusalem. He paid tribute from the treasury in Jerusalem, some temple artifacts, and handed over some of the royal family and nobility as hostages. In the Book of Daniel, Daniel is described as being one of these. Rabbinical literature describes Jehoiakim as a godless tyrant who committed atrocious sins and crimes. He is portrayed as living in incestuous relations with his mother, daughter-in-law, and stepmother, and was in the habit of murdering men, whose wives he then violated and whose property he seized. He also had his body tattooed. The prophet Jeremiah criticised the king's policies, insisting on repentance and strict adherence to the law. Another prophet, Uriah ben Shemaiah, proclaimed a similar message and Jehoiakim ordered his execution (Jeremiah 26:20–23). Jehoiakim continued for three years as a vassal to the Babylonians, until the failure of an invasion of Egypt in 601 BC undermined their control of the area. Jehoiakim switched allegiance back to the Egyptians. In late 598 BC, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II invaded Judah and again laid siege to Jerusalem, which lasted three months. Jehoiakim died before the siege ended. The Book of Chronicles recorded that "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ... bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon." Jeremiah prophesied that he died without proper funeral, describing the people of Judah "shall not lament for him, saying, 'Alas, master!' or 'Alas, his glory!' He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 22:18–19) "and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night" (Jeremiah 36:30). Josephus wrote that Nebuchadnezzar slew Jehoiakim along with high-ranking officers and then commanded Jehoiakim's body "to be thrown before the walls, without any burial. He was succeeded by his son Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin). After three months, Nebuchadnezzar deposed Jeconiah (fearing that he would avenge his father's death by revolting, according to Josephus) and installed Zedekiah, Jehoiakim's younger brother, as king in his place. Jeconiah, his household, and much of Judah's population were exiled to Babylon. King Zedekiah Zedekiah (/ˌzɛdɪˈkaɪə/) also known as Tzidkiyahu originally called Mattanyahu or Mattaniah, was the twentieth and last king of Judah before the destruction of the kingdom by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. Zedekiah had been installed as king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, after a siege of Jerusalem in 597 BC, to succeed his nephew, Jehoiachin, who was overthrown as king after a reign of only three months and ten days. In 599 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II invaded Judah and again laid siege to Jerusalem. In 598 BC, Jehoiakim died during the siege and was succeeded by his son Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin). Jerusalem fell within three months. Jeconiah was deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, who installed Zedekiah, Jeconiah's uncle, in his place. According to the Hebrew Bible, Zedekiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BC at the age of twenty-one. This is in agreement with a Babylonian chronicle, which states, "The seventh year: In the month Kislev the king of Akkad mustered his army and marched to Hattu. He encamped against the city of Judah and on the second day of the month Adar he captured the city (and) seized (its) king. A king of his own choice he appointed in the city (and) taking the vast tribute he brought into Babylon." The kingdom was at that time tributary to Nebuchadnezzar II. Despite the strong remonstrances of Jeremiah, Baruch ben Neriah and his other family and advisors, as well as the example of Jehoiakim, he revolted against Babylon, and entered into an alliance with Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar responded by invading Judah (2 Kings 25:1). Nebuchadnezzar began a siege of Jerusalem in December 589 BC. During this siege, which lasted about thirty months, "every worst woe befell the city, which drank the cup of God's fury to the dregs" (2 Kings 25:3; Lamentations 4:4, 5, 9). At the end of Zedekiah's eleven-year reign, Nebuchadnezzar succeeded in capturing Jerusalem. Zedekiah and his followers attempted to escape, making their way out of the city, but were captured on the plains of Jericho, and were taken to Riblah. There, after seeing his sons put to death, his own eyes were put out, and, being loaded with chains, he was carried captive to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1–7; 2 Chronicles 36:12; Jeremiah 32:4–5; 34:2–3; 39:1–7; 52:4–11; Ezekiel 12:13), where he remained a prisoner until he died. After the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuzaradan was sent to destroy it. The city was plundered and razed to the ground. Solomon's Temple was destroyed. Only a small number of vinedressers and husbandmen were permitted to remain in the land (Jeremiah 52:16) Excerpts from - The Book of Jeremiah Chapter 1 Commission Verse 4 deals with the calling of the prophet Verse 5 - has the famous scripture which we are all familiar with that we are not an accident and God knows us before we were born. Chapter one ends with God telling Jeremiah what would happen to them because of their wayward way. Jeremiah 1:4-5 King James Version 4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Chapter 2 - God’s Case Against Israel Verses 11 - 13 Their change of gods. Thirteen is of note what have you given up the true and living God for? 11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Verses 20 - 23 God waxes poetic using very graphic language! 20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. 21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? 22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. 23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; Verse 28 The number of gods of Judah 28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. CONCLUSION In concluding, the scripture thus far which has manifested itself in the Spirit is I corinthians 16 verse 9 an effective door has been opened but there are many adversaries but who can stop the plan of God let us look at the many objects the devil will throw our way as per Roman 8 verses 35 - 39 only you and I can stop ourselves people. In all things we are more than conquerors. That is why Paul, further said in the book of Ephesians 6 verse 10 Having done all ‘Finally stand’. This reminds me of a song by Dr. Myles Munroe from this scripture, Finally Stand. Well people, we are finally on our way again. We have just began to scratch the surface, thus far we have covered: How the book of Jeremiah is organized We have looked at the reign of the kings under whom Jeremiah prophesied We have looked at some excerpts from the book We will continue our analysis of the first section for January. Until such time! This is Raphleta, Lillene’s baby girl coming to you from Toronto, Canada. À bientôt REFERENCES King Josiah - Wikipedia King Jehoiakim - Wikipedia King Zedekiah - Wikipedia School Prayer in the United States - Wikipedia The Structure of the Book of Jeremiah J. Carl Laney