The Prophecies of Jeremiah

By Richard Patterson, Th.M., Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia

Like the other Old Testament prophets, Jeremiah was set apart by God and called to proclaim His messages: 1.4-19. Much of his prophecy consists of sermonic discourses designed to inform, instruct, exhort or even confront the people of Jerusalem and Judah: 1.11-19; as to their faithfulness in stewarding the high standards of God, their Redeemer, for example 2.1 – 3.5.

Many of the predictive portions of Jeremiah relate to the situation of the late seventh and early sixth centuries Before Christ. God tells Jeremiah to pronounce imminent judgment on His people: 3.6 – 24.10. Matters relative not only to Judah and Jerusalem, but also to the surrounding nations are dealt with in 25.16-29 and 46.1 – 51.64.

God also delivers messages through Jeremiah, furnishing details of the distant future. Here the prophetic pronouncements take on a universal dimension. Jeremiah 25.30-38 contains a dramatic scene rich with similes in which God is portrayed as a prosecuting attorney. Jeremiah’s message is one of God’s climactic judgments against an unbelieving world and its leadership. He tells of the great day of the Lord’s anger against sin, a time when the Divine Warrior will come with devastating force to destroy the wickedness of the entire world.

One of the grandest sections of the book, a collection of Kingdom oracles: chapters 30 – 33; deals with end-time events ¾ mainly oracles of judgment and the sure hope of God’s salvation. In that awful day of the Lord, God’s people will be delivered out of great trouble, be restored to their land and experience the abundant blessings of the Lord: 30.1 – 31.28.

God will also establish a new covenant with His people: 31.31-37, 32.37-44 and 33.14-22; which will bring to full realization the promises made in the earlier Abrahamic and Davidic covenants: 33.23-26. Not only will God’s people find forgiveness and cleansing from their sins: 31.34 and 33.8; but also all believers everywhere will know God: 31.34. Moreover, because God’s moral law is written in their hearts: 31.33; believers will experience the full life which comes with complete faithfulness to God.

In that regard, Jeremiah speaks of a faithful remnant who God will lead back to the land of promise: 23.3, 31.7-11 and 33.7-8. There they will rejoice over God’s goodness and enjoy the peace and fulfillment of life only He can give: 31.12-14, 32.37-44 and 33.9-14. In place of the false shepherds of Jeremiah’s day, God will install faithful men who will serve as undershepherds to His flock: 23.3-4 and 31.10.

Jeremiah also speaks of a coming Redeemer, an Heir of the line of David, through Whom these promises will be realized: 30.21-22. Unlike the unfaithful shepherds of Jeremiah’s day, this righteous Branch will rule wisely, always doing what is just and right: 23.5 and 33.15. So just and fair will this One and the character of His reign be, He will be called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: 23.6. So intimate will be the relation between that One and the people of Jerusalem, the people will reflect His character and Jerusalem itself will be known by His Name: 33.16.

These prophecies find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ, in Whom the New Covenant is established: Matthew 26.27-28; and through Whom the hope of a believing mankind will be realized: Revelation 11.15. Jeremiah’s prophecies challenge all persons to live responsibly in the certain knowledge God will come in judgment to put away wickedness and bring in everlasting righteousness.