Jeremiah-The People's Choice

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 43

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy- On the way to Egypt

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

The evil Ishmael had take us as prisoners and we were marching toward Egypt. Johanan and his army heard what had happened and rushed to save us. Once Ishmael left, the people requested I ask God what He wanted them to do.

God told me to tell the people they needed to go back to Judah. And although they would be under the power of Babylon there, He would keep them safe.

Johanan, the man who saved us, was willing to do whatever the people wanted. The men discussed my words among themselves. I could hear their thoughts about going to Egypt. They wouldn't have to be under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. They could have their own gardens and live in peace.

The problem was, God said they should stay in Judah and take care of the land until the other prisoners returned from Babylon in seventy years.

Several men shouted at me. "You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say we must not go to Egypt and settle there. Baruch, your scribe is causing you to say these things against us. You both want us to serve the Babylonians."

Photo Courtesy

When will they ever learn? These Jews have a chance to live in their own homes. They can farm all the land and reap the crops. They had everything they needed and more. I don't understand why they would choose Egypt over their homeland.

But they did.

Johanan and his officials did what the people asked. He led us to Egypt. We enter the country in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes

The men and women made homes in Tahpanhes. They didn't care at all that they were not obeying God.

One day, God gave me another message for the people. "While the people are watching you, take some large stones and bury them in clay in the brick pavement at the 

Photo Courtesy

entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes. Say to the Jews, "The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says 'I will send for Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon to come and attack. He will set his royal canopy over these stones. He will attack Egypt. He will set fire to the Egyptian temples. He will come and destroy the land then leave without having any injuries.

"As for the Jews living in Tahpanhes, who have left Jerusalem without anyone to take care of the city and are busy offering sacrifices to the Egyptian gods, you will be punished and Judah will be destroyed. You have chosen to not listen to my warnings. Now the punishment will come. The men and women from Judah who went to live in Egypt will not escape or survive to return to the land of Judah. Only a few fugitives will escape to return to Jerusalem and care for the land."

My heart broke. It broke not so much because of the punishment, but because the people still did not care. No one said they were sorry.

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Where did the people ask Johanan to take them?
2.  Did this please God? Why?
3.  Where was Jeremiah?
4.  What did the people do in the new place?
5.  What new message did God tell Jeremiah to give the people?

Jeremiah- Tired and Proud of the People's Request

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 40, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Egypt

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

I am tired. And so are all the people walking as prisoners with me. 

The evil Ishmael and his army took us all as captives. He first killed the kind governor who was in charge over us and thousands of others. Then, because he was afraid Nebuchadnezzar's army would capture him and kill him for what he did, he escaped and took us as prisoners with him.

Guess where he wanted to take us. He wanted to take us to Egypt of all places!

God sent Johanan and his army to come rescue us. He had to chase us all the way to the great pool in Gibeon before he caught up. We all cheered when we saw him and ran to Johanan's side. 

Ismael, though, turned and ran away before Johanan captured him. Hah!

Johanan removed all our chains and said he would help us to return home. After we rested, the people came to me and said, "Jeremiah, please hear our request and pray to the Lord your God for us. You can see we were once many and now are only a few. Please pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do."

Their request touched my heart, and I'm sure it touched God's as well. I said, "I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested. I will tell you everything the Lord says and won't keep any part of His message back from you."

The people said, "We want to act as the Lord says. May He judge us if we don't. No matter what the Lord says, we will obey Him, so that it will go well with us. We will obey the Lord our God."

So I prayed to the Lord as the people asked. Here is what the Lord said, "If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down. I will make sure you can stay in your homes. Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon. I know he scares you, but I am with you and will save you. I will deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion by causing him to have compassion on you and will restore you to your land."

"If you disobey me and choose to live in Egypt, then you will be overtaken. Famine and the sword will overtake you in Egypt and there you will die.

And now I will wait to see what the people will decide.

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Why was Jeremiah and the people traveling with him tired?
2.  Why did Ishmael want to go to Egypt?
3.  Who saved the people?
4.  What did the people ask Jeremiah to do?
5.  What instruction did God give?

Jeremiah-When Greed Avalanches

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 40, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy- Mizpah-home of Gedaliah

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah to be governor over Jerusalem.

Gedaliah was a kind man who worked for King Nebuchadnezzar. 

There were those who wanted our land returned to the Jews and Jewish rule. God said this punishment would happen. He also told the people to live under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. 

During the seventh months of Gedaliah's rule, the men and women who still lived in Judah had a good life. They harvested summer fruits and had nice homes.

One day, though, Ishmael, who was of royal blood and an officer of the king, brought with him ten men to visit Gedaliah in Mizpah.

Gedaliah welcomed them warmly and invited them to sit down to a meal. Ishmael accepted the invitation. They all sat at the table and were served the best food.

While they were eating and talking, Ishmael signaled his ten men. They all stood, drew their swords and attacked Gedaliah, all the Jews, and the Babylonian soldiers sitting at the table.

The next morning no one had heard what had happened to Gedaliah. They didn't have phones or computers. Everyone who was alive to report the news had been killed. 

Ishmael and his ten friends walked away from Gedaliah's home. On the road, they met eight men who had completed a vow and were on their way to offer a grain and incense to God at the house of the Lord.

Ishmael walked toward them weeping (he was faking), and said, "Come to Gedaliah's house. The eighty men followed Ishmael to Gedaliah's house. Once inside, Ishmael killed all but ten of them who promised to give him food. 

Ishmael took prisoner every person left in Mizpah, including the king's daughters whom Gedaliah protected, and marched them to the Ammonites.

Who will God send to stop this evil man?

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Everyone lived in peace in Judah until...?
2.  Why did Ishmael come?
3.  How did Gedaliah treat Ishmael?
4.  What happened at the meal?
5.  What did Ishmael do to the eighty men?
6.  What did Ishmael do to the rest of the people living in Mizpah?

Jeremiah-An Assassination Plan Built on Greed

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 40, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Delicious grapes

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah to be governor over Jerusalem.

Gedaliah was a kind man. He sent messages to the Jews who fled to caves, fields, and nearby countries telling them they could and should come home. They would be able to harvest the crops and live in peace.

The people did return. They harvested a great deal of wine and summer fruit. Everyone seemed happy and content.

Gedaliah reassured the soldiers who had been left behind, "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon and it will go well with you. I myself will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us. You may harvest the wine, summer fruit, and oil and put them in your storage jars. Live in the towns you have taken over. You will see. All will be well."

Johanan, one of the officers said, "Gedaliah, did you know that Baalis, king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah to take your life?"

Gedaliah shook his head. "This isn't so. We are living in peace here and have harvested plenty of food. No. I don't believe Ishmael will."

Johanan leaned close to Gedaliah and whispered. "I care about you. You are doing a good job. Let me go and kill Ishmael and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who have returned to be scattered again, and the few men and women left from Judah to die? Please. I'll stop him!"

Gedaliah shook his head again. "Look, Johanan. I know you mean well. But don't do such a thing. What you are saying about Ishmael is simply not true."

For several months the people lived in peace, just as Gedaliah said.

Until...

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Who did King Nebuchadnezzar appoint to govern Judah?
2.  Was he a good governor?
3.  Who did Johanan say wanted to kill the new governor?
4. The governor didn't believe Johanan. The people had everything. What did the governor say to Johanan?
5.  So the people lived in peace under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar and his governor. Do you think Johanan was wrong?

Jeremiah-No One is Near To Comfort Me

By Mary Vee
Lamentations

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

Most of the people are gone. 

I've never heard this eerie silence in the streets before. 

I warned the people that God would punish them as He said, but they were persuaded by the false prophets who told them nothing would really happen. The false prophet's lies convinced the people they didn't need to do as God commanded.

And now they are gone. 

Marching in chains. Prisoners of the Babylonian army. Soon to be slaves to the people of Babylon. 

Photo Courtesy

My eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me. No one is here to restore my spirit. The men and women who once lived here are destitute because the enemy has won.

Not one of the countries that surrounds us has offered to help. Instead they all think the people of Judah are evil and deserve this punishment.

The enemy entered our sanctuary, places the people of Jerusalem were not even allowed to go. They took the treasures intended for God and laughed at the destruction.

And now when Jerusalem sees they have sinned greatly, it is too late. The city has fallen and there is none to comfort them. The roads to Zion mourn the loss of her people because no one comes to celebrate the feasts. The gateways are empty. The city is in bitter anguish.

All the splendor of Jerusalem is gone because of the sins of the people. Joy is gone from our hearts. Our dancing has turned to mourning.

Woe to us, for we have sinned.

I cannot see from all my weeping. I am tormented within. My heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed.

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The false prophets misled the people. They listened.

The enemy makes fun of us and cheers.


Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

I will say to myself, in all this trouble, I will wait for the Lord.

Though he brings punishment, he will show compassion. So great is his unfailing love.

O Lord, you took up my case. You redeemed my life from the false prophets.

Sadly, though, the people are gone.


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1.  What did Jeremiah warn the people
2.  What did the false prophets say?
3.  Who did the people believe?
4.  Where did the people go and why?
5.  Why did Jeremiah weep?

Jeremiah-In the Middle of All the Trouble, God Spoke to Me

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 39, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

So much has happened, I'm not surprised I couldn't sleep last night. 

The Babylonian soldiers took most of the people living in Jerusalem to be slaves and marched them to Babylon. 

I am still in the prison in the courtyard of the guard. All around me buildings are being ruined and people dragged away. And in the middle of all the trouble, God spoke to me.

God said to me, "Go find Ebed-Melech the Cushite."

Ebed-Melech was the man who saved me from the cistern. Do you remember when the false prophets talked King Zedekiah into punishing me for saying God's messages? They lowered me into a deep, dark cistern. The muck came up to my waste. I couldn't move. Ebed-Melech found out what happened to me. He ran--and he was a fast runner--to the king and talked Zedekiah into allowing my rescue. He said, "You can't do this to a prophet of God."

Because he saved my life, God had this message for him, "Ebed-Melech, I am about to fulfill my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day. You will not be handed over to those who you scare you. I will save you. You will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life. This is because you trust in Me."

Ebed-Melech was grateful. 

With chains binding me, I had walked with the other captives from Jerusalem and Judah as far as Ramah. The soldiers were taking us to Babylon to be slaves. I didn't sleep very well that night. Neither did any of the others. We had no way to escape.

The sun rose the next morning. My mouth had a dry nasty taste. The soldiers woke the others and told us to stand and continue the march. One man, the commander of the imperial guard came to me and said, "the Lord your God has brought this disaster for your city."

I nodded. He spoke the truth, just as God told me.

"The Lord has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him."

I nodded again and was amazed that he spoke the same words I had been saying. All the prisoners around me heard him.

"Today, Jeremiah, I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you. But if you do not want to go, then don't. Look out in front of you, at the whole country. Go wherever you please."

I looked and thought for a moment.

"Go back to Gedaliah," he said. "He is governor of the city. Go and live among the people, or go anywhere else you please."

The commander gave me food and a present. "Go. Live in peace."

So I did. I carried the food and the present he gave and walked away from those who were still in chains and heading for Babylon. I kept walking until I reached Gedaliah and told him what the commander had said. 

From there I went home. I slept in my own bed and lived with the people who were left behind in the land. God has blessed me and I look forward to this rest.


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1.  Who attacked Jerusalem?
2.  What reward did God give Ebed-Melech for saving Jeremiah from the cistern?
3.  Why was Jeremiah in chains?
4.  What did did the commander of the imperial army give Jeremiah?
5.  Where did he let Jeremiah go?

Jeremiah-The Day Jerusalem Fell

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 39, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

If only King Zedekiah had listened to me. He asked me to his chambers one last time and said, "I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Babylonians. If I surrender, the Babylonian army may turn me over to those Jews and they will mistreat me."

I said, "No they won't. If you obey what God says, those things will not happen to you."

But he didn't. 

On the fourth month and the ninth day, famine had become so severe in the city of Jerusalem that no one had even a crumb of food. 

No one could go out to the farmland to harvest any crops because the Babylonia army guarded the city.

On this same day, while King Zedekiah reigned, the city wall was broken through by Nebuchadnezzar's army. The high officials of the king of Babylon took seats in the Middle Gate to show they were in charge.

King Zedekiah peeked around a corner and saw them sitting there. He turned to the few loyal men he had left and said, "Quick, get me out of here."

They left the city at night by way of the king's garden and through the gate between the two walls. They crept along the road towards Arabah.

I had warned him that he would not be able to escape the king of Babylon. And so it happened, just as God said. Some Babylonian soldiers saw Zedekiah and his officials escaping and ran after them. The soldiers stopped them in the plains of Jericho.

The soldiers tied King Zedekiah's hands and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king of Babylon didn't even wait a moment before giving Zedekiah his sentence. Nebuchadnezzar killed Zedekiah's sons and his officials right before his eyes. Then he made Zedekiah blind, tied him in bronze chains, and took him to Babylon. Zedekiah was thrown into prison where he stayed until he died. 

I wish he had listened to God's message.

The Babylonians broke into the temple and stole the bronze pillars, the movable stands, and the bronze Sea. They also took the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. Then they stole the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, lamp stands, dishes and bowls used for drink offerings, all those made of gold, silver, and bronze.

On the tenth day of the fifth month, the commander of the Babylonian imperial guard set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building burned to the ground. The army then broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

The imperial guard took more captives, but left the very poor--those who owned absolutely nothing. To these people, the guard gave fields and vineyards to care for.

Sadly, 4,600 people from Jerusalem were taken captive to Babylon in all. They became servants to the Babylonians until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 

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1.  What was King Zedekiah afraid of?
2.  What didn't the people have?
3.  What did the Babylonian army do?
4.  What did Zedekiah decide to do?
5.  What happened to King Zedekiah?
6.  Did the people obey God?
7.  How many prisoners were taken to Babylon?

Jeremiah-Sunk in Ooey, Gooey Mud

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 38

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

King Zedekiah gave four of his officials, Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur permission to do whatever they wanted to do to me. These four men were angry--very angry with me. 

These men, like many others in the city, had listened to the false prophets who said the city would not be attack and everyone would be safe in a short time. This wasn't true. God said Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon would attack. The only hope of escape was to surrender.

Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur decided the only way to make me stop telling God's messages was to get rid of me. They took me to Malkijah's cistern. Maklijah was the king's son.

The cistern was in the courtyard of the guard. They tied ropes around me and lowered me down into the deep cistern. My feet didn't touch the bottom, instead they sunk into mud, nasty smelling, thick, ooey, gooey mud. I had no water or food to eat. There was no way for me to escape and I had no idea how long those cruel official would leave me there. 

To make matters worse, they left me alone.

Much later, I found out Ebed-Melech, a man from Egypt serving as an official in the royal palace came to my rescue after hearing what Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur did. 

Ebed-Melech ran to King Zedekiah's chamber and said, "My lord the king, your four officials have acted wickedly to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern where he will starve to death."

King Zedekiah said, "Very well. Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."

Photo Courtesy

Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He gathered some old rags and worn-out clothes from the room. They hurried to the opening of the cistern and lowered the worn-out clothes and rags. He said to me, "Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes."

How very thoughtful. I had a difficult time moving because of the mud, but managed to do as he said. I called up, "Ready."

The men pulled me out of the cistern. The stench soaked into my clothes and skin. Fortunately, Ebed-Melech helped me to wash away the smell. Now that I think about it, he probably couldn't stand the smell either! 


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1.  Why did the four mean officials get mad at Jeremiah?
2.  Who did the four mean officials go to with their complaint?
3.  What did the four mean officials do to Jeremiah?
4.  Who went to the king to save Jeremiah?
5.  How did he save Jeremiah?

Jeremiah-Sometimes TattleTellers Win, Sometimes They Lose

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 38

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem. There aren't many people left living here. Most were taken away as prisoners.

King Zedekiah released me from the dungeon after I reminded him he should not put a messenger of God in such a horrid place. I don't think I could have lived there much longer. It was so very cold, damp, and dark. The air smelled old and I barely had anything to eat or drink. 

I was placed under the care of a guard in the Royal court. At least there I had the freedom to warn the people. God said, "Tell the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar." 

King Zedekiah, disagreed. All his officials disagreed as well. The false prophets told them they did not need to surrender. Everything would be fine in a short time.

I didn't care. God told me to tell the people his message, so I did. 

One day Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur stopped in the court and stood behind a crowd of people, listening to me speak, "Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, or plague. But whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. You will escape with your life. You will live. This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon who will capture it. This is what the Lord says." 

The officials stomped away, in the direction of King Zedekiah's chamber. "We're going to tell the king what you're saying to the people."

I heard from one of the servants what they did inside the king's palace. They barged into the King's chambers and demanded to speak to him. One said, "Jeremiah should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers, the few who we still have left in the city, as well as all the people. He isn't looking out for the people's good. He is trying to ruin them--ruin the whole city!"

King Zedekiah shrugged and drank from his glass. "Go ahead and do with him as you please. I will not oppose whatever you have in mind."

Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur walked away, thanking the king for his kindness. Once they reached the corridor, they leaped for joy and laughed. "At last, we will be rid of Jeremiah."

No matter what they choose to do to me, God will be in charge.

There is more to this story. Come back next time to see how these men will end up loosing this battle.

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1.  Where was Jeremiah held as prisoner?
2.  What did Jeremiah tell the people?
3.  Who became upset with Jeremiah's words?
4.  Why did this make them mad (the answer is in what they said to the king)
5.  What did King Zedekiah decide after hearing the complaint of these men?
6.  What do you think Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur will do?

Jeremiah-Sprung from the Dungeon

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 37

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem. There aren't many of us.

I've been in a vaulted cell of a dungeon for a long time. A few officials didn't like the messages I told them from God and talked the king into putting me into prison. This has not been the first time, and I have a feeling it won't be the last.

One day, King Zedekiah surprised me by asking his official to bring me to his chambers. The officials let me clean my face and wash up before I went to see him.

The king offered me a chair to sit then asked the guards to leave. We sat alone in the room. He spoke softly to me to make sure no one in the corridor could hear our conversation. 

"Is there any word from the Lord?"

I found his question amazing. Here he allowed the officials to throw me in the dungeon for a long time because they did not like the messages from the Lord and now he is asking me to tell him more?

I answered, "Yes. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon."

I took the opportunity to defend myself and said, "What crime have I committed against you or your officials or the people of Judah? Why have you put me in prison so long. Where are your prophets who prophesied to you? You know, the ones who said the king of Babylon would not attack this land? They were wrong weren't they? Just as God said.

"But now, oh king, please listen to my request. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan or I will die there."

King Zedekiah took a drink and set his glass back down. "All right."

He called for the guards. "Jeremiah is not to be returned to Jonathan's house. He is to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city is gone."

Photo Courtesy

The guard didn't look very pleased about his orders, but he obeyed. I'm still guarded like a prisoner, but at least I'm not locked in a terrible dungeon. 

From this place I saw people who came in and went out of the court. I told every man and woman the message from God. "Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, or plague. But whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life. He will live. This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon who will capture it. This is what the Lord says.


Come back next time see what happened.

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1.  Where was Jeremiah held as prisoner?
2.  Why was he there?
3.  Why did the king call Jeremiah to his chambers?
4.  What did Jeremiah ask for?
5.  Did the king give it to him

Jeremiah-Falsely Accused

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 37

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who remain in Jerusalem.

I was set free from prison not long ago then went about the city and the countryside telling the people messages from God.

King Zedekiah sent a priest and a messenger to me. The message said, "Please pray to the Lord our God for us."

Of course I would.

Let me bring you up to date what is happening here. Pharaoh's army had marched out of Egypt to attack King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army. When the Babylonians heard the news, they stopped attacking Jerusalem and set out to fight the Egyptians.

God gave me a message to reply to King Zedekiah. "Tell the king of Judah, Pharaoh's army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt. Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city. They will capture it and burn it down.

"Don't fool yourselves into thinking the Babylonians will not return. They will! Even if you were to defeat the entire Babylonian army that is attacking you at this moment and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would come out and burn this city down."

Photo Courtesy

Once the last of the Babylonian army left to attack the Egyptians, just as God said, I left Jerusalem and walked to the land I had purchased. The land was in the territory of Benjamin. When I reached the city gate, though, the captain of the guard arrested me. He yelled at me, "You are deserting to the Babylonians."

I have no idea where he got that idea. "That's not true! I'm not deserting to the Babylonians." 

The guard refused to listen and once again, I was arrested and taken to the officials. This time they beat me and threw me in a prison at Jonathan's house. The prison was a dungeon. King Zedekiah left me there for a long time.

It was cold, smelly, dark, had nasty food, and I didn't like it at all. Sigh.

Come back next time see what happened.

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1.  Where is Jeremiah and where is he?
2.  What army set out to attack the Babylonians?
3.  Why did the Babylonian army stop attacking Jerusalem?
4.  Once the soldiers left, Jeremiah went to ________
5.  What did the captain accuse Jeremiah of?
6.  This was not true. But, the captain wouldn't listen to Jeremiah. Instead he took Jeremiah to __________

Jeremiah-Despite What We Do...God Loves Us

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 31

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

God wants everyone to know He loves them.

Israel and Judah have sinned a lot. A lot! God has given me many messages to give to the people warning them of a terrible punishment that would come. 

They have not stop worshipping idols brought to our city from other nations. They have not given their whole hearts to worship the very God who made them and delivered them from slavery in Egypt. This is what God asks.

The punishment has already started. Many of our people have been taken as captives to the Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Do you think the people who remained behind would have been so troubled about what happened that they would have turned immediately to God and stopped worshipping idols? Sad to say, they have not.

Led by King Zedekiah, our king who has not listened to the messages from God, the people act as if they don't care. Like they don't believe God will punish them, too. But He will.

Sigh. Do I sound a bit frustrated? I am. 

But God continues to love His chosen people. These are His words:

"He who appoints the sun to shine by day,

 Who decrees the moon and starts to shine by night,

 Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar--

 The Lord Almighty is his name.

 Only if these decrees vanish from my sight

 Will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.

 Only if the heavens above can be measured 

 And the foundations of the earth below be searched out

 Will I reject all the descendants of Israel

 Because of all they have done."

You see? Despite what we do, God still loves us and always will. God then said,

"The days are coming when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hanannel to the Corner Gate. The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 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 the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished."

Now, those are good words.

This doesn't mean God says it is okay to sin. No. We are to obey His words. But it does mean, God loves us.
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1.  What does God want us to know?
2.  What did the people continue to do wrong?
3.  What did the group of people left behind in the city continue to do wrong?
4.  What did God say would happen to the city, "The days are coming when..."

Jeremiah-Call to God. He Will Answer You.

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 33

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a messenger sent from God.

I am still under house arrest. That means I'm not in the worst prison, but still under guard. I am in the Royal prison.

Why am I under arrest? Because I tell King Zedekiah and the people warnings from God. They don't like to hear that God will punish them for disobeying Him.

The last message I gave from God is what caused me to be here in the court prison. Don't worry, it won't stop me from telling the king and the people any new messages from God.

This morning God spoke to me and gave another message:

The Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it--the Lord is his name. He says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

This is the message God wanted to tell all the people in this city and the royal palaces of Judah even though their houses have been torn down to be used against the attacking armies from Babylon. "I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness."

After the time of punishment, though, God said, "I will bring health and healing to this city. I will heal my people and will let them enjoy peace and security. 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 done and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me 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 tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I give to you." 

God also said, "You men of Judah say this place is a desolate waste, without men or animals. Yet in these towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither men nor animals, the sounds of joy and gladness will be heard. There will be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. There will be voices of bride and bridegrooms and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord saying:

"'Give thanks to the Lord Almighty for the Lord is good. His love endures forever.'

God also said, "I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before."

God had told me to write all the words He has told me in a book to help the people remember. And I did.

God said, "The days are coming when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave Abraham and Moses."

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1.  Why did King Zedekiah arrest Jeremiah?
2.  What new message did God give Jeremiah to tell the people.
3.  After the time of captivity ends, what does God promise to do?