Jeremiah was writing during the period of trouble with the Babylonians. His writing reflects the politics, disappointments, fears, and hopes of his era.
Here are the most important quotations from the scroll of Jeremiah for understanding the history, themes, and message.
· Jeremiah 33:7-18: YHWH promises, "I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise, and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it. . . . For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before, says Yhwh. . . . In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. . . . David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices."
· Jer 31.10-14: 10. “Hear the word of YHWH, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’ 11. For YHWH will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. 12. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of YHWH—the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow/cry no more. 13. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. 14. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,” declares YHWH."
· Jer 31.38-40: "38. The days are coming,” declares YHWH, “when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39. The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 40. The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to YHWH. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”
o The writer did not know that Jerusalem would be destroyed multiple times in the coming centuries.
· Jer 30. 2-21: 2. “This is what YHWH, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3. The days are coming,’ declares YHWH, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says YHWH.” 4. These are the words YHWH spoke concerning Israel and Judah: ... 7. How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it. 8. “‘In that day,’ declares YHWH of armies, ‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. 9. Instead, they will serve YHWH their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10. “‘So do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel,’ declares YHWH. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. 11. I am with you and will save you,’ declares YHWH. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. ... 14. ... I have struck you as an enemy would and punished you as would the cruel, because your guilt is so great and your sins so many. ... 17. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares YHWH, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’ 18. “This is what YHWH says: “‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. 19. From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. 20. Their children will be as in days of old, and their community will be established before me; I will punish all who oppress them. 21. Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares YHWH.
· Jer 23.3-8: 3. “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares YHWH. 5“The days are coming,” declares YHWH, “when I will raise up to David a righteous branch, a king who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: YHWH Our Righteousness (YHWH-Tsedeq). 7. “So then, the days are coming,” declares YHWH, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as YHWH lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ 8. but they will say, ‘As surely as YHWH lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”