Doing My Part - Jeremiah 32:1-44 - February 26, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Doing My Part – February 26, 2006

This is the last lesson in our series “Serving on Purpose.”

Our background scripture is Jeremiah 32:1-44.

Our focus scripture is Jeremiah 32:1-9, 27-30, 37-41.

There are times when we serve GOD we do not see the result of our efforts. There are times GOD asks us to do something that goes against human logic.

This is why our relationship to GOD is so important. When HE tells us something or asks us to do something, what we do next reveals what we believe about GOD. Do we really trust HIM and do what HE asks us to do? If we do not trust GOD in a certain area of our life, it reveals to us a part of our relationship which needs to be strengthened. If we are willing GOD will help strengthen that area in our life. We will have ups and downs in our life as we serve GOD.

We can see from Jeremiah’s life that his relationship with GOD had its’ ups and downs. GOD called Jeremiah to be a prophet and to speak HIS message. Even when we are called and know that we are called our walk can be very difficult. During our walk GOD uses the difficulties to build our character, so we will serve HIM more fully.

Let’s review some of the history during this time in Jeremiah’s life.

The prophet Jeremiah was prophesying that Jerusalem, the temple and Judah would be destroyed. The Israelites would be exiled to Babylon but they would return to Judah someday and rebuild that area, including the city and the temple.

The Babylonians are the force GOD would use to bring destruction upon Judah. The Babylonians rose to power when they defeated the Assyrians in 612 B.C. They defeated the Egyptians at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C. For the next two (2) years the king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, shifted his campaign to the Palestinian coast. The king of Judah, Jehoiakim, resisted King Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim died within a few months after being made king and his brother, Jehoiachin was made king. King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in 598 B.C. and King Jehoiachin surrendered in 597 B.C. and became the vassal king of Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar deported many of the Judeans, including Jehoiachin, to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah to rule Judah. Then King Zedekiah revolted against King Nebuchadnezzar in 589 B.C. The Babylonian forces conquered Jerusalem in 587 B.C. It is during this period of 588/587 B.C. that our lesson takes place.

King Zedekiah had Jeremiah placed in the guard’s courtyard in the palace because of Jeremiah’s prophesy. He had Jeremiah arrested but not thrown into the dungeon. The king believed Jeremiah’s message from GOD would demoralize the people and they would not resist the attack on the city.

Our scripture reveals that while Jeremiah was under arrest, his cousin comes to the guard’s courtyard, to make Jeremiah a deal on a piece of land in his home town of Anathoth. Anathoth is about three (3) miles from Jerusalem.

Let’s read Jeremiah 32:1-5 for background:

1 [This is]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah[1] Jr 27:1–11; 2 Kg 24:17–20; 2 Ch 36:10–12 king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.[2] Jr 29:1 2 At that time, the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the guard’s courtyard in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: “Why are you prophesying, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I am about to hand this city over to Babylon’s king, and he will capture it. 4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the Chaldeans; indeed, he will certainly be handed over to Babylon’s king. They will speak face to face[3] Lit His mouth will speak with his mouth and meet eye to eye.[4] Jr 34:3 5 He will take Zedekiah to Babylon where he will stay until I attend to him’—[this is]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord’s declaration. ‘You will fight the Chaldeans, but you will not succeed’?”[5] Jr 21:3–7; 27:22; 34:2–3

This tells us about the situation between Jeremiah and King Zedekiah. Jeremiah had not minced any words with the king but told him exactly what GOD had said.

Let’s continue with Jeremiah 32:6-9:

6 Jeremiah replied, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 ‘Watch! Hanamel (HAN-uh-mehl), the son of your uncle Shallum (SHAL-uhm), is coming to you to say: Buy my field in Anathoth (AN-uh-thawth)[6] Jr 1:1; 11:21,23; 1 Kg 2:26 for yourself, for you own the right of redemption[7] Lv 25:24–52; Ru 4:1–7 to buy it.’ 8 “Then my cousin Hanamel [came]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. to the guard’s courtyard as the Lord had said and urged me, ‘Please buy my field in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for you own the right of inheritance and redemption. Buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord. 9 So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out to him the money—17 • shekels[8] About 7 ounces of silver.

So GOD gave a message to Jeremiah. GOD can confirm to us in many ways that HE is still actively involved in our lives. GOD gave the message to Jeremiah and then confirmed that message when Hanamel came, through the enemy lines, to the palace to see Jeremiah.

Remember Anathoth is Jeremiah’s home town and is walking distance to Jerusalem. There is a law called the right of redemption found in Leviticus 25:23-28. This law requires that any land of Israel, because it is sacred and part of the promised land given to Abraham and parceled out by Joshua to each of the twelve (12) tribes, if sold, had to be sold to the nearest kinsman. The nearest kinsman had the responsibility to purchase the land if it appeared that the family might loose the land.

We do not know if Hanamel had an eye for business and was taking advantage of his cousin or not. The situation is that the Babylonians are about to defeat the city and if that happens Anathoth would be a ghost town.

It was an opportunity for Jeremiah to show that he believed the message of THE LORD, that the city would one day be rebuilt.

Hanamel’s arrival to the courtyard is Jeremiah’s confirmation that GOD is still very active in his life. What a joy this must have been to Jeremiah. Jeremiah responded by buying the land from Hanamel and having the folks in the courtyard to witness the transaction.

If you read Jeremiah 32:10-26 you will see this is another opportunity for Jeremiah to give a message from THE LORD to the people. This message is a message of hope, reminding the people how GOD led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and even though Jerusalem will be destroyed it will one day be restored. In verse 17 Jeremiah made the statement that nothing is too hard for THE LORD. Verse 26 is a lead-in for our scripture, “Then the word of THE LORD came to Jeremiah.”

Let’s read Jeremiah 32:27-30:

27 “Look, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me? 28 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am about to hand this city over to the Chaldeans, to Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar, and he will capture it. 29 The Chaldeans who are going to fight against this city will come, set this city on fire, and burn it along with the houses where incense has been burned to • Baal on their rooftops and where drink offerings have been poured out to other gods to provoke Me to anger.[22] Jr 11:17; 32:32; 44:3,8 30 From their youth, the Israelites and Judeans have done nothing but what is evil in My sight! They have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands”—[this is]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord’s declaration—

GOD told Jeremiah that HE is THE LORD of ALL FLESH. This is an interesting statement because the Jews believed GOD belonged to them. GOD made it clear HE is THE LORD of ALL people. This includes these rogues who are going to conquer your city. GOD tells Jeremiah in essence, “When you look all around you might wonder how all of this will turn out, but keep in mind, I AM in control.”

GOD asks Jeremiah “Is anything too hard for ME?” Here is what is going to happen unless the people repent. I think GOD is still offering the hope to the people. If they would change their minds even now and repent, GOD would change the course of events.

GOD offers this same hope to each of us. HE warns us and urges us to change our ways. If we do not, then we will suffer the consequences.

In verse 29, we see the word Chaldeans used. The Chaldeans were a group of people in southeastern Mesopotamia who eventually acquired dominion over Babylon. Therefore the names Chaldeans and Babylonians are used interchangeably.

GOD makes it clear that the reason HE is bringing this destruction is that the Israelites have been worshiping other gods and sacrificing their children. GOD had never even thought about anyone ever sacrificing children.

GOD has given the Israelites fair warning to change but they have ignored HIS plea. Verse 30 uses the words “From their youth” refers to the Israelites’ early existence as a nation. In fact they have even made idols with their own hands and have even brought them into HIS temple.

So enough is enough!

Let’s read Jeremiah 32:37-41:

37 I am about to gather them from all the lands where I have banished them in My wrath, rage, and great fury, and I will return them to this place and make them live in safety.[27] Dt 12:10; Ezk 28:26; 34:25,28 38 They will be My people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart[28] Ezk 11:19 and one way so that for their good and for [the good of]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. their descendants after them, they will • fear Me always. 40 “I will make with them an everlasting covenant:[29] Jr 50:5; Gn 17:7,13,19; Isa 55:3 I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of Me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from Me. 41 I will rejoice over them to do what is good to them, and I will plant them faithfully in this land with all My mind and heart.

In conclusion GOD reassures Jeremiah that HE will gather all of the descendants of the dispersed from all corners of that region and bring them back to rebuild Judah, Jerusalem and the temple.

As we read these verses we can see the promise of THE MESSIAH. HE will establish an everlasting covenant. It will be a covenant established in our hearts. I will plant them in this land has the connotation of GOD establishing HIS Kingdom which will be fully realized with the second coming of JESUS CHRIST.

The message we have studied in Jeremiah highlights our responsibility as Christians to remain faithful to our FATHER. Listen and respond when GOD gives us HIS message for the world around us. We, as followers of CHRIST, may be the only reason our nation will survive the foes who try to conquer it. There are physical foes and spiritual foes. All will try to conquer and destroy.