Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Concerning all the people of Judah"
Text: Jeremiah 25:1
AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL NOTE
The ministry of Jeremiah the prophet may be traced historically. The following text gives us a glimpse of the time when the prophet ministered in Judah.
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon).
“The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah,
in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah
(which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),
which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:
‘From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon,
king of Judah, even to this day,
this is the twenty-third year in which the word of the LORD has come to me;
and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking,
but you have not listened.'”
Jeremiah 25:1-3
1. The historical setting
a) In the 4th year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah.
b) Also, the 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
2. The Ministry of Jeremiah the prophet
a) Jeremiah’s ministry began long before Jehoiakim ascended the throne.
b) This was noted in Jeremiah 1:1.
c) His ministry was chiefly to the people of Judah.
3. Recalling 23 years of Ministry.
a) From the 13th year of Josiah,
b) To the present day, the 23rd year of ministry.
4. The Content of what Jeremiah preached
a) It was the word of the LORD.
i) It was given to Jeremiah.
ii) The prophet then proclaimed it to Judah.
b) How Jeremiah ministered:
i) Rising early in the morning.
ii) Jeremiah would preach the word of the LORD.
5. The sad reality
a) The people had not listened to the Lord’s word for 23 years.
b) The Judgement of the LORD proclaimed.
i) No one can dispute God’s patience.
ii) The Lord had been most longsuffering!