Bible reading & studying Jeremiah chapter 22-24
by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music
In the chapter 22 is the message concerning Jehoahaz (Shallum) and Jehoiakim, the sons of King Josiah, who had been killed, Jehoahz reigned three months before being departed to Egypt by Necho. He never returned to Palestine (2Kings23:29-35)
In 22:13-19 is a denunciation against Jehoiakim, the elder brother and successor of Shallum. He built elaborate royal buildings with forced labor (vv13-14). Jeremiah predicted that the normal form of lament world not be used when Jehoiakim died and that he would not be buried but simply dragged out of the city and dumped on the garbage heap (“the absence of” or was buried” in 2 Kings 24:6 is significant.)
In 22:24-30 these verses describe the fate of Jehoiachin (Coniah in the Heb. Also called Jeconiah), son of Jehoiakim. After a three-month reign, he was taken to Babylon never to return (2Kings24:8-15;25:27-30), in spite of Hananiah’s false prophecy to the contrary (Jer.28:4;cf.52:31-34)
"This is what the Lord says: Do what is just
and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed.
Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not
shed innocent blood in this place. For if you are careful to carry out these
commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this
palace, riding in chariots an don horses, accompanied by their officials and
their people. But if you do not obey these commands, declares the Lord, I swear
by myself that this palace will become a ruin. (vv.3-5) People from many
nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘why has the Lord done such a thing to this
great city?’ And the answer will be
‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have
worshiped and served other gods." (vv. 8-9)
In 22:30 Although Jehoiachim
(Heb.Coniah) had seven sons, none occupied the throne. So as far as a
continuing dynasty was concerned, Jehoiachim was to be considered “childless.”
Although his line of descendants retained the legal throne rights, no physical
descendant would ever prosperously reign on the Davidic throne. The genealogy
of Matthew traces the descent of Jesus through Solomon and Jeconiah (Heb.,
Coniah) (Matt.1:12); this is the genealogy of Jesus’ legal father, Joseph. Luke
traces Jesus’ physical descent back through Mary and Nathan to David,
by-passing Jeconiah’s line and showing accurately the fulfillment of this prophecy
of Jeremiah. If Jesus had been born only in the line of Joseph (and thus of
Jeconiah), He would not have been qualified to reign on the throne of David in
the Millennium.
In the Chapter 23 is the message concerning
Messiah. “Branch”. Lit., shoot, a
messianic title signifying the new life that Messiah will bring. (Isa.4:2) He
will secure righteousness for His people.
“ The day are coming,” declares the Lord, “ when
I will raise up to David a righteous Brach, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the
name by which he will be called: the Lord Our Righteousness. (23:5-6)
In Chapter 24: 1-10 this vision occurred
after Jeconiah and others were taken to Babylon in 597. The good figs
represented those who had been deported and promised their return to Palestine.
The poor gifs depicted those who remained in the land of Palestine or who went
to Egypt and were not promised restoration. Excavations show the remarkable
architectural accomplishments of Nebuchadnezzar, who used the skilled artisans
“This is what
the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘like these good figs, I regard as good the
exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the
Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them
back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant
them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord.
They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me
with all their heart.’ (vv5-7)
"But like the poor
figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten, says the Lord; ‘so will I deal
with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem,
whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. I will make them abhorrent
and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, an
object of ridicule and cursing, wherever I banish them. I will send the sword,
famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to
them and their fathers." (vv8-10)
Bibliography,
No comments:
Post a Comment