Jeremiah 50-51; 30-31
Jeff Smith: http://www.biblestudyguide.org/ebooks-bibleclass/textual-au-jeffsmith.htm
We come now to the verge of Judah’s fall to the Babylonians. Chapters 50-51 and 30-31 do not occur during the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, but are related to it. Zedekiah is king during the final days of Judah’s kingdom, and God has some final words for Judah before He brings her down. Not surprisingly, His last words are not condemning, but promising; not fatal, but redemptive.
Zedekiah makes an official visit to Babylon during the fourth year of his reign (51:59-60). He takes along with him Seraiah, the brother of Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe. Seraiah was to read the scroll given him by Jeremiah, upon which contained the prophecies God had revealed concerning Babylon. After reading the scroll, Seraiah was to cast it into the Euphrates, signifying the Chaldeans’ fate (51:63-64).
Rays of hope are intermingled with Jeremiah’s prophecies of God’s judgment. In chapters 30-31, Jeremiah reveals God’s plans for restoring His people. Not only did this have physical implications (the return to Jerusalem under the Persians), but it also foretold of the coming of the kingdom of God.
Jeremiah’s words in 31:31-34 are used by the Hebrews writer, speaking of the new covenant God has with His people today (Heb. 8:8-12). This was, of course, accomplished through Jesus Christ.
What is prophesied in 50:1-3? What is the
connection of this prophecy to the one we saw in 25:12, 15-26?
Review the last part of question #10 on page 27.
How does what is prophesied here differ with the activity surrounding that
question? What does this teach us about God’s rule?
Who were Bel and Marduk? What happened to them?
What did this signify?
What will happen to Israel when Babylon falls?
What do you think is the meaning of 50:4-5? To what does Zion refer in 50:5?
Why do you think Israel and Judah are said to be
“weeping” in 50:4? What could this refer to?
How are God’s people described in 50:6? What has
happened to them? What have they forgotten?
What was the attitude of Israel’s enemies?
(50:7) If it was God’s will that His people be punished, why is He now punishing
the nation He used against Judah? (50:7, 11, 29)
What are God’s people encouraged to do in 50:8a?
What should be their attitude? (50:8b)
Who are the “lions” that have driven God’s
people away? (50:17) What is God able to do? (50:19)
How would the judgment of Babylon be like Sodom
& Gomorrah? (50:40) What does this suggest?
Who is God going to use to judge Babylon?
(51:11)
What two things is the almighty power of God
compared to in 51:15-19 & 51:20-23?
How is Babylon described in 51:25-26?
What is promised to God’s people? (30:1-3) When
Israel returned, who would be her king? (30:9)
What was the cause of Israel’s injury?
(30:12-17) What was the only way she could be cured?
What things are prophesied in 30:18-22? What
does this point to?
To what does God refer in 31:1 that has been
missing and has been the cause of Jeremiah’s prophecies?
What would the people of Jeremiah’s day
understand 31:15-17 to mean? What other fulfillment of this prophecy do we
know? Where is it found?
What did the people mean by the proverb in
31:29? How did God view this? What can welearn from this today? (cp. Rom. 3:23)
What does 31:31-34 refer to, and where is it
recorded in the New Testament? How does this section of Jeremiah refer to us
today?