Jeremiah (Adults)

Lesson 15 - Other Nations and Conclusion

Lesson written by Jeff Smith

Lesson 15 – Jeremiah’s Prophecies Concerning other Nations and Conclusion

Base Text

Jeremiah 46-49

Introduction

The prophecies of Jeremiah concerning other nations are connected to our study from chapter 25, where Jeremiah made the prediction in the first year of Babylon’s domination that all the nations, ending with Babylon herself, would drink the cup of God’s wrath as their punishment before Him. Now, in chs. 46-49, we see that prediction carried out.

In his speeches against these nations, we catch a glimpse of Jeremiah’s view of the political situation, as well as how each stands morally and ethically before the God who judges all nations. Lest we fail to see the message and its application to us today, our nation stands no less before God than the ones mentioned in these chapters. We, too, will suffer the consequences of living immorally. Thus, we hear the admonition of the Son of God in Mt. 5:13-16 to use our influence for the good of the only kingdom that will never be destroyed.

Questions

  1. Who is prophesied against first? (46:2) What does Jeremiah dramatically portray about Egypt in 46:3-4? What does he then prophesy in 46:5-6?



  2. Given what happened in ch. 43, do you think there is any significance to Egypt being prophesied about first?



  3. What were Egypt’s aspirations? (46:7) Despite how her might is described, who would be victorious? (46:10-12)



  4. What do we learn Nebuchadnezzar would do to Egypt? (46:13-26) What promise did God give the Jews in 46:27-28?



  5. Who is prophesied against next? (47:1) What is the power of the enemy of the Philistines likened to in 47:2? How was the state of despair in Philistia described? (47:3b)



  6. What alliance did God destroy in 47:4? What do you think the reference to “baldness” in 47:5 means?



  7. Who is prophesied next in 48:1? Where did they come from? (cf. Gen. 19:37) What judgment did Moab receive and for what reason? (48:7-9)



  8. What is the point of 48:10? What lesson should we learn from this?



  9. Describe Moab’s past and her future based upon 48:11-13. Given that the land of Moab was famous for its vineyards, what is the symbolic message of 48:11-12?



  10. How is Moab’s glory turned to shame in 48:14-25?



  11. What is spoken of in 48:29-30? How is it described? What hope is mentioned for Moab in 48:47? How do you think this was realized?



  12. List the nations that are prophesied against in chapter 49 in order.
    49:1-6
    49:7-22
    49:23-27
    49:28-33
    49:34-39

  13. What two reasons did God give for punishing Ammon? (49:1, 4; see also Judg. 11:13 and Amos 1:13)



  14. Who was Edom? (cf. Gen. 36:1, 8) What had been her attitude toward Israel over the years? (Num. 20:14-21; Amos 1:11)



  15. Explain the figure in 49:9-10 that shows the severity of God’s judgment upon Edom.



  16. What is the reason God will punish Edom? (49:16) How is her desolation described in 49:17-18?



  17. What will happen to Damascus? (49:23-27) Who are Kedar & Hazor, and what will be their fate? (49:28-33)



  18. What was the prophecy against Elam? (49:34-39)



  19. Write down the one thing you have learned the most about our study in Jeremiah's prophecies.