Journal Through the Bible: Week 77 Friday

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Jeremiah chapter 52

The closing chapter of Jeremiah is a synopsis of the reign of Zedekiah and the fall of Jerusalem. It is almost a verbatim translation of II Kings 24:18-25:30. To see my notes on those passages see here and here. Chapters 24 and 25 served as bookends surrounding the study of the book of Habakkuk. It is also a variation of some of Jeremiah's previous writings, including some of the first verses of Jeremiah chapter 39.

Note: I will not look back on those journal notes until I am done writing this post because I will give this chapter my undivided attention and let the Holy Spirit use it alone to answer the four questions I seek to answer each day when making notations in my Bible Journal.

Does God issue any commands?

• God did not speak except to say through Jeremiah that the purpose for the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem was because the commands that had been made with the nation at the time of their covenant with God in the early years of being a nation were being broken. (See verse 3.)

Does God make any promises?

• None are listed in this chapter, however, we know from other portions of scripture, including other places in Jeremiah, that the 4,600 persons who were exiles were told to live normal lives in Babylon, to have children, and then at the end of 70 years a remnant would be allowed to return. None of that is said here, except the tally of the 4,600 that were taken captive during the three sieges of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem, whom we know to be the parents of the remnant that later returns.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jehoiachin,(also known as Jeconiah, Coniah) the king that was later taken from prison and given a portion from the Babylonian king's storehouse, was an ancestor of Joseph, the step-father of Jesus Christ. It was through Jehoiachin that Joseph had a direct line to the throne of David. It was alos Jehoiachin that God had cursed saying that none of his direct line would reign on David's throne, thus Jesus had an earthly claim as a son of David (which He also had as a blood-line through His mother, Mary) but was not subject to the curse.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• When a covenant with God is broken there is a time of exile. Because Adam broke a covenant with God we are all exiled. But one day while we were in bondage and imprisoned by sin God lifted our heads, sat us upon a throne, and continually feeds us from His table. One day we, the remnant that have accepted the pardon offered to us through the blood of Jesus Christ will return to the covenant land that God originally planned for us. The time allotted to the exiles in Babylon was 70 years. We do not know how long our time in exile will last. It could end at any time!