Jeremiah session 8: chapters 22-25

Bullets:

• Chapter 22 - concerning Zedekiah (last king of Judah). Compare 2 Kings 23-25 (Josiah--Judah's last faithful king; Jehoahaz--a.k.a. Shallum [22:11]; Jehoiakim; Jehoiachin--a.k.a. Coniah [22:24]; and finally Zedekiah and Judah's fall). Rule of thumb: all of Israel's divided-kingdom (922-722 B.C.) kings were bad; Josiah was Judah's last of the few good kings.
• 22:20 - penalty for Judah's pride, infidelity, and idolatry (lemming principle).
• Chapter 23 - 1st curses the unfaithful shepherd-kings; 2nd prophesies of the return of the faithful and of the Messiah's coming (vv. 5-6) and His name (YHWH Tsidkenu, The LORD Our Righteousness). This lesson is usually read at Christmas.
• 23:22-32 - awful prophets, falsely prophesying. They weren't turning the people from sin, but rather towards it. God is close at hand (v. 23; compare Psalm 139:7-8).
• Chapter 24 - good and evil are absolute; no middle ground.
• Chapter 25 - ironically, Nebuchadnezzar has become God's servant.
• 25:15-38 - God's wrath, more awful than anything. (But thanks be to God! Through Jesus Christ, we are granted reprieve.) Verse 30 - God's terrifying roar. Don't be on the wrong side of God.