CHAPTER SEVEN

Jeremiah’s Teachings on Suffering and Hope

JEREMIAH’S SUFFERING AND LAMEMTATIONS
(Read Jeremiah 11:18-23, 12:1-6, 15:10-21, 17:14-18, 18:18-23, 20:1-6, 26, 37, 38)
Jeremiah’s message on judgment and punishment was not well received by the leaders in
Jerusalem and the people of Judah. As a result Jeremiah faced stiff opposition and suffered at
their hands.
Explain the suffering and Lamentation of Prophet Jeremiah
i.Plot against his life by his enemies.
ii.He was isolated because he was told by God not to marry or attend any feasts or homes
where people were mourning.
iii. He was rejected by relatives at Anathoth.
iv.Mocked by people he preached to because his message was not being fulfilled.
v.He was tortured, beaten by Pashur the priest.
vi.Was arrested and tried for preaching punishment.
vii.Was imprisoned / locked up in dungeon.
viii.Was thrown into a cistern / dry well to starve.
ix.Lamented why the wicked continued to prosper and the dishonest succeed.

The Relevance of Jeremiah’s Suffering and lamentations to Christians

Lessons Christians learn
i. Christian leaders should know that some of their messages will not always be
accepted by all people.
ii. Christian’s leaders must be ready and willing to proclaim the word of God at all cost.
iii. Church leaders are likely to face opposition while carrying out God’s work.
iv. Christians must be aware of false prophets in their midst whose main goal is to
mislead them.
v. Christian’s should draw their strength from God, especially in the face of serious
temptations.
vi. Christians should always tell the truth about God’s will regardless of the
consequences
vii. Christian’s should love their enemies, pray for those who hate them and persecute
them. They should leave vengeance to God.
viii. Christians should remain faithful and firm to the word of God.
THE SYMBOLIC ACTS RELATED TO HOPE AND RESTORATION
Due to the stubbornness of the people of Judah to listen to God’s call to repentance, God
ultimately punished them by sending them into Babylonian exile
However, God still loved His people and was still faithful to His promises. The period of
suffering in exile was meant to be a period of reflection, transformation and readiness to turn
to Yahweh. God was ready to receive them back if they repented their sins.
God used prophet Jeremiah to give the exiles hope and to prepare them for future restoration.
He intended to bring them to their homeland. Jeremiah used the following symbolic acts;
(i)The vision of the two baskets of figs (Jeremiah 24:1-10)
Jeremiah saw a vision of two baskets of figs outside the temple. One basket had bad fruits
that could not be eaten while the other had good figs. The good figs represented the first
group who submitted to the deportation to exile. This group of people would be restored and
would be called people of God. The bad figs represented King Zedekiah and all those who
remained in Judah or those escaped to Egypt. This group of people would have no future of
being restored to God. They would be ridiculed whenever they went and God would make
sure they are all destroyed.
(ii) The Wooden Ox Yoke (Jeremiah 27, 28)
This symbolized the perseverance of the Jews in exile. After a period in exile, God would
break the Babylonian yoke and restore people back to the land
(iii) The letter to the exiles (Jeremiah 29)
Jeremiah wrote the letter to encourage the exiles. They were to settle down and build houses
and live in peace because they would return to Israel.
(iv) The buying of land
God instructed Jeremiah to buy land from his cousin in Anathoth. He carried out the
transaction before witnesses and gave the title deed to Baruch the scribe for safe keeping.
This showed restoration of the Israelites to their homeland and they would reclaim their land.
Ways in which church leaders communicate God’s message to people today
i. Use of print/give out Bibles
ii. Holding public meetings/crusades
iii. Through singing songs of praise
iv. Through conducting pastoral care
v. Through carrying out spiritual healing
vi. Conducting door to door evangelism visits
vii. Providing material support to the needy
viii. Through leading exemplary lives
Content of Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles
i. To build houses and settle down
ii. Plant garden and eat their produce
iii. To marry and have children and increase in number
iv. To live in peace in the Babylonian cities and pray for the welfare of their masters
v. Not to listen to false prophets who told them lies about the safety of the city of
Jerusalem and their quick return home.
vi. God would restore them back to their land only after 70 years of judgment are over.
vii. The exiles were to trust in God and not give up
Significance of the symbolic act of buying land by prophet Jeremiah
i. It showed the people of Judah still had a future despite the coming crisis and Judah
will regain freedom after conquest.
ii. It was an assurance that the people would be restored back to their homeland and
reclaim their land
iii. It was a demonstration that the people would resume their normal lives
iv. Divine judgment was not an end to itself
v. Restoration was to take place at God’s own time.
vi. The people had to wait patiently for their return from exile
vii. It showed that God was faithful to His promise of restoration back to their ancestral
land
viii. It made them feel secure.

THE NEW COVENANT

(Read Jeremiah 23:5-6, 23:30-33)
Jeremiah prophesied about a new covenant in order to give hope to the people of Judah who
would be punished through exile.
In this prophecy about the New Covenant, Jeremiah planted seeds of hope, which began to
take root during the long years of exile and came to the fulfillment at the last supper when
Jesus declared “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood”
(Luke 22:20)
Characteristics of the new covenant foretold by Prophet Jeremiah
i.The laws would be written in the hearts of men and women.
ii.Individuals would know God personally
iii.The covenant would be everlasting/would not be broken again.
iv.There will be individual responsibility/suffering for ones sins.
v.God would forgive their sins and remember them no more.
vi.The covenant would be established after God punishes Israel.
vii.The covenant will be initiated by God.
viii.The covenant will establish a new Israel/ a new people of God.
ix. God will use the remnants to establish a new covenant.
What lessons do Christians learn from prophet Jeremiah to teaching on the New
Covenant?
i.They should internalize the law of God/laws of God are in their hearts
ii.They should have personal relationship with God/know God personally
iii.There is individual responsibility/punishment when one sins
iv.There is forgiveness of sins if one repents
v.Christians have an everlasting relationship with God
vi.Those who repent have a new beginning
vii.There is need to have faith in God
viii.They should obey the law of God
ix.They learn the New Covenant is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ
RELATING THE TEACHINGS AND PROPHESIES OF JEREMIAH TO THE NEW
TESTAMENT AND CHRISTIAN LIFE TODAY

Moral values that a Christian can acquire from the life of Prophet Jeremiah
i.Obedience
ii.Loyalty
iii.Perseverance/endurance/tolerance
iv.Patience
v.Self-control
vi.Courage/bravery
vii.Honesty/faithfulness/truthfulness
viii.Respect
ix.Holiness/righteousness/purity
x.Hope
xi.Humility
xii.Justice/fairness

Relevance of Prophet Jeremiah’s suffering to Christians today

i. Christian’s should remain faithful to the call of God irrespective of challenges that
they are facing
ii. They must be willing to proclaim the word of God always
iii. They should depend on God/be prayerful
iv. Christians should expect opposition while serving God
v. Christians should forgive their offenders
vi. Christians should be aware of false prophets in their midst.
vii. They should endure during their suffering