Jeremiah (jr-E) WATCHTOWER TITLE PAGE/PUBLISHERS’ PAGE God’s Word for Us Through Jeremiah © 2010 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania PUBLISHERS Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. February 2016 Printing This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References. Photo Credits: ▪ Pages 54-55: Jucal seal and Gedaliah seal: Gabi Laron/Institute of Archaeology/Hebrew University © Eilat Mazar God’s Word for Us Through Jeremiah English (jr-E) Contents Page Chapter 4 1 “I Have Put My Words in Your Mouth” 14 2 Serving in “the Final Part of the Days” 32 3 “You Must Say to Them This Word” 43 4 Guard Against a Treacherous Heart 54 5 What Friends Will You Choose? 67 6 “Obey, Please, the Voice of Jehovah” 81 7 “I Will Saturate the Tired Soul” 92 8 Will You “Keep Living,” as Did Jeremiah? 103 9 Avoid “Seeking Great Things for Yourself” 114 10 Are You Daily Asking, “Where Is Jehovah?” 128 11 “Shepherds in Agreement With My Heart” 140 12 “Was Not That a Case of Knowing Me?” 154 13 “Jehovah Has Done What He Had in Mind” 168 14 You Can Benefit From the New Covenant 182 15 “I Cannot Keep Silent” CHAPTER ONE “I Have Put My Words in Your Mouth” 1, 2. Why do you have confidence in what you read in the Bible? “THERE exists a friend sticking closer than a brother.” ( Prov. 18:24) Have you experienced the truth of those inspired words? You can trust what a real friend says. When he tells you something good or explains what he will do, you believe it. If he points out something needing adjustment, you likely accept it and act accordingly. He has proved over time that he has your interests at heart, even when offering you counsel. He wants you to succeed, and you want the same for him so that your friendship will last. 2 In many respects, you find such friends in the men whom God used to write the books of the Bible. What you hear from them, you can believe. You are sure that what they say is for your good. The ancient Israelites should have felt that way about the “men [who] spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.” ( 2 Pet. 1:20, 21) The one whom God used to write the largest prophetic book was Jeremiah, who also wrote Lamentations and two other Bible books. 3, 4. How do some people view the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations, but why is that a misconception? Illustrate. 3 You may have noted, though, that some Bible readers tend to view Jeremiah’s writings as ‘not for them.’ They may imagine that the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations offer only dire warnings and grim predictions. * But is that a realistic view of Jeremiah and Lamentations? 4 Granted, what Jeremiah wrote presents frank assessments, yet you know that at times a friend also does that. Even Jesus spoke out when his friends, the apostles, displayed wrong attitudes; he plainly corrected them. ( Mark 9:33-37) Nonetheless, Jesus’ main message was positive, showing the way to gain God’s approval and future happiness. ( Matt. 5:3-10, 43-45) It is similar with Jeremiah’s writings, which are part of “all Scripture” that is beneficial for “setting things straight.” ( 2 Tim. 3:16) Jeremiah did clearly state God’s view of those who claimed to serve Jehovah but who deserved to reap the consequences of their bad ways. Still, the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations contain a message of hope and show how our future can be blessed. Jeremiah included prophecies about how God’s dealings would develop, and today we are directly involved in the fulfillment. Furthermore, you will find in those two books statements that are positive and encouraging.—Read Jeremiah 31:13, 33; 33:10, 11; Lamentations 3:22, 23. 5. How can we benefit from Jeremiah’s writings? 5 Both our present happiness among God’s people and our prospects for the future are linked to things that Jeremiah wrote. Our unified brotherhood is an example. His writings will help us to strengthen that brotherhood and to apply the apostle Paul’s counsel: “Brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peaceably; and the God of love and of peace will be with you.” ( 2 Cor. 13:11) Jeremiah’s writings also relate directly to the message we preach. While we tell others about the last days and warn of the approaching end of this system, our message is still positive, offering a basis for hope. Moreover, what Jeremiah wrote is very useful in practical ways. Our situation finds many parallels in his life and in his message. To appreciate that, consider the background and assignment of this exemplary prophet to whom God said: “Here I have put my words in your mouth.”— Jer. 1:9. 6, 7. Why can we be sure that God was interested in Jeremiah, and into what situation was he born? 6 A husband and wife awaiting the birth of a child think often about their future son (or daughter). What will he be like, and what will he do in life— his interests, career, and accomplishments? Your parents likely thought about those things. It must have been similar with Jeremiah’s parents. However, his case was special. Why? The Creator of the universe was particularly interested in Jeremiah’s life and activities.—Read Jeremiah 1:5. 7 Yes, before Jeremiah was born, God used His foreknowledge. He took special interest in a boy who would be born into a priestly family living north of Jerusalem. That was in the middle of the seventh century B.C.E., not a happy time in Judah because of the bad rulership of King Manasseh. (See page 19.) During much of his 55-year reign, Manasseh did what was bad in Jehovah’s eyes. Thereafter, his son Amon followed a similar course. ( 2 Ki. 21:1-9, 19-26) A dramatic change came about with the next Judean king. Yes, King Josiah searched for Jehovah. By the 18th year of his reign, Josiah had cleansed the land of idolatry. That must have pleased Jeremiah’s parents; it was during Josiah’s reign that God commissioned their son.— 2 Chron. 34:3-8. Why do you have reason to be interested in the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations? GOD CHOOSES A SPOKESMAN 8. What was Jeremiah commissioned to be, and how did he react? 8 We do not know Jeremiah’s age when God told him: “Prophet to the nations I made you.” He might have been close to 25 years old, the age at which a priest could enter the first phase of his service. ( Num. 8:24) In any event, Jeremiah responded: “Alas, O Sovereign Lord Jehovah! Here I actually do not know how to speak, for I am but a boy.” ( Jer. 1:6) He felt reluctant, perhaps thinking he was too young or unqualified for the serious responsibility and the public speaking required of a prophet. 9, 10. Under what circumstances did Jeremiah take up his commission, but why, in time, did his assignment prove to be daunting? 9 Jeremiah was commissioned during the time when King Josiah was eliminating detestable false worship and promoting true worship. However much interaction there was between Jeremiah and Josiah, the climate was clearly favorable for a true prophet. Zephaniah and Nahum also served in Judah early in Josiah’s rule. * Huldah the prophetess did too, but she foretold bad times ahead. And Jeremiah lived to experience them. ( 2 Ki. 22:14) In fact, at times, such friends as Ebed-melech and Baruch had to rescue Jeremiah from certain death or protect him from vengeful enemies. 10 How would you feel if God said that you were specially commissioned as a prophet to deliver a strong message? (Read Jeremiah 1:10.) Consider just one example of what Jeremiah had to declare. In 609 B.C.E., Babylonian forces were moving toward Jerusalem. King Zedekiah sought a favorable message from God through Jeremiah. But that is not what God had for that king.—Read Jeremiah 21:4-7, 10. A HUMAN LIKE US 11. Why might Jeremiah have found it difficult yet reassuring to carry out his assignment? 11 Imagine that we had to deliver scathing denunciations and judgments against wicked kings, corrupt priests, and false prophets. Jeremiah had to do so. But we have God’s backing, and so did Jeremiah. ( Jer. 1:7-9) God showed confidence in young Jeremiah, emboldening him with the words: “I have made you today a fortified city and an iron pillar and copper walls against all the land, toward the kings of Judah, toward her princes, toward her priests and toward the people of the land. And they will be certain to fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for ‘I am with you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘to deliver you.’”— Jer. 1:18, 19. 12. What are some reasons why we can identify with Jeremiah? 12 No one need think of Jeremiah as some incredibly formidable person. He was a human like us. Moreover, it is significant that though Jeremiah lived in another era, he faced situations similar to those we face. We interact with various types of people in our daily life and congregation activities, even as Jeremiah interacted with those around him. This all relates to what we might learn from Jeremiah, who, similar to the prophet Elijah, was “a man with feelings like ours.” ( Jas. 5:17) Consider some examples of what we can learn from Jeremiah. 13, 14. Why may some Christians relate to Jeremiah’s experience with Pashhur, as depicted on page 10? 13 Over the years, have you not had ups and downs? So did Jeremiah. On one occasion Pashhur, a prominent priest, assaulted Jeremiah and had him put in stocks. For hours, he was confined in a wooden frame that may have held his feet, hands, and neck, forcing him into a distorted posture. In addition to the pain, he must have had to endure ridicule heaped on him by opposers. Do you think that you could bear up under malicious ridicule, even physical mistreatment?— Jer. 20:1-4.