As you read each passage, pray for God’s help. Ask yourself:
What does God reveal about Himself?
How is your own heart revealed?
How does this passage underline the wonder of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ, and your own need of Christ as Saviour and Lord?
Turn these truths into prayer and praise.
2 October Jer 21:1-14
Although there are many examples in Scripture of people turning from their sins to the Lord and finding deliverance, this chapter reminds us that we cannot take God’s grace for granted. Zedekiah was Judah’s last king. He and his people had refused to listen to the Lord, and now it is too late. Jerusalem will fall to Babylon. The moral basis of God’s judgement is made clear in vv.12-14.
3 October Jer 22:1-12
Jer 22 reviews the unhappy history of Judah’s kings after the godly Josiah. Verses 1-9 highlight the choice open to Judah after Josiah’s death: to continue his reforms and live (vv.2-4) or to reject them and die (vv.5-9). Verses 10-12 contrast Josiah’s worthy reign with that of his son Shallum (also called Jehoahaz) who reigned for only three months and died in exile (see 2Kings 23:31-34).
4 October Jer 22:13-30
The sad parade of wicked kings continues with Jehoiakim (vv.13-23). He exploited his people to boost his own ego (vv.13-14), in stark contrast to his godly father (vv.15-17). God’s judgement on him would be severe (vv.18-23). The chapter closes with his son Jehoiachin (vv.24-30), who was king for only three months before being taken captive to Babylon (2Kings 24:8-17). Yet we will meet him again 37 years later in Jer 52. In the midst of terrible judgement, there is still a glimmer of hope!
5 October Jer 23:1-8
“Shepherds” of God’s people in the Old Testament generally refers to the kings and their officers. Their repeated failings are summed up in vv.1-2. This is what led to the Babylonian exile. But God looks forward to a new beginning for His people. It will be glimpsed when He brings them home from Babylon once more (vv.3-4, 7-8). But the ultimate fulfilment awaits the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ (vv.5-6). His wise rule will enable His people to flourish.
6 October Jer 23:9-24
God’s people have always been plagued by false teachers. Jeremiah identifies some of their characteristics: they abuse power (v.10); live a double life (v.14); downplay judgement (v.17); offer their own opinions instead of God’s word (vv.21-22); and fail to take God seriously (vv.23-24). Their punishment will be heavy indeed (vv.12,15,19-20).
7 October Jer 23:25-40
God utterly detests people claiming to speak His word when they are doing nothing of the sort. Peddling our own ideas in His name is dangerous vanity, exposing those who do it to God’s hostility (vv.30-31) and ultimately to “everlasting shame” (v.40). In contrast with the deluded blabbering of the self-appointed prophets, the revealed word of God is nutritious (“grain”, v.28); purifying (“fire”, v.29); and powerful (“like a hammer”, v.29).
8 October Jer 24:1-10
There is a future for the people of God after all! But unexpectedly, the future lies with those already exiled in Babylon (“the good figs”, vv.5-8). For King Zedekiah and his officials who have rejected God’s word (the bad figs”, vv.8-10) there is only destruction. The future is always with those who humble themselves under God’s word – something we need to remember in our own day.