Plots are hatched against Jeremiah

Jer 11:18-19   The men of Anathoth are incensed by Jeremiah's harsh words of judgement from God, and plan to kill him as they feel his prophesies are unpatriotic:

“The LORD showed me that men were making plans against me... I knew they were against me. Before this, I was like a gentle lamb waiting to be slaughtered. I did not know they had made plans against me." (Jeremiah 11:18-19)

Jer 12:1-17   Jeremiah complains to the LORD: "Why are evil people successful? Why do dishonest people have such easy lives?" (Jeremiah 12:1) But God justifies his ways: "If you stumble in a country that is safe, what will you do in the thick thorn-bushes along the Jordan River? (Jeremiah 12:5)

 

River Jordan at Bethabara (Jean Housen)

River Jordan at Bethabara   (Jean Housen)

 

"Here is what I will do to all my wicked neighbours who take the land I gave my people Israel. I will pull them up and throw them out of their land. And I will pull up the people of Judah from among them. But after I pull them up, I will feel sorry for them again. I will bring each person back to his own property and to his own land. I want them to learn their lessons well." (Jeremiah 12:14-16)

Jer 13:1-11   The LORD tells Jeremiah to buy a linen belt, go to Perath, and hide the belt in a crack in the rocks. Many days later, God instructs Jeremiah to go and retrieve the hidden belt, but now it is ruined and good for nothing. God says, "In the same way I will ruin the pride of the people of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem... So they will become like this linen belt - good for nothing." (Jeremiah 13:8-10)

Jer 13:12-14   Jeremiah warns the people of Judah that they're becoming like leather wine bags that are rotten and splitting apart.

Jer 13:15-27   God despairs of persuading his people to mend their ways: "Can a person from Cush (in North Africa) change the colour of his skin? Can a leopard change his spots? In the same way, Jerusalem, you cannot change and do good, because you are accustomed to doing evil." (Jeremiah 13:23)

Jer 14:1-22   The LORD speaks to Jeremiah during a drought: "The important men send their servants to get water. They go to the wells, but they find no water... We know that we suffer because of our sins." (Jeremiah 14:3-7)

Jer 15 1-9   The LORD despairs of Judah:

"I would not feel sorry for the people of Judah even if Moses and Samuel prayed for them. Send them away from me! Tell them to go!" (Jeremiah 15:1) "I will make the people of Judah hated by everyone on earth because of what Manasseh did in Jerusalem. (Manasseh son of Hezekiah was king of the nation of Judah.)" (Jeremiah 15:4)  

Manasseh had succeeded his father Hezekiah as King of Judah in 698BC (see 2 Kings 21:1-18). He ruled for over fifty years, during which time he re-built the ‘high places’ of pagan worship with their altars to Baal and Asherah. He worshipped the stars, killed hundreds of innocent people, sacrificed his own son to the god Moloch, and put an ‘Asherah pole’ in the LORD’s Temple.

 

Jerusalem - Model of the Temple in the Late Second Temple Period (M.t.lifshits)

Model of the Temple in the Late Second Temple Period  (M.t.lifshits)

 

Jer 15:10-21   Jeremiah complains to the LORD a second time: "LORD, you understand. Remember me and take care of me. Punish for me those who are hurting me. Don't destroy me while you remain patient with them." (Jeremiah 15:15)

Jer 16:1-21   God warns of the day of disaster: "Do not go into a house where the people are having a feast to sit down to eat and drink, because... I will soon stop the sounds of joy and gladness... This will happen during your lifetime." (Jeremiah 16:8-9)

Jer 17:1-27   Jeremiah complains a third time: "The people of Judah keep asking me, 'Where is the word from the LORD? Let's see that message come true!' LORD, I didn't run away from being the shepherd you wanted. I didn't want the terrible day to come... Make those who are hurting me be ashamed, but don't bring shame to me." (Jeremiah 17:15-16)

Jer 18:1-17   Jeremiah is given the LORD's message by watching a potter moulding clay: "He was using his hands to make a pot from clay, but something went wrong with it. So he used that clay to make another pot the way he wanted it to be. Then the LORD spoke his word to me: "Family of Israel, can't I do the same thing with you?" (Jeremiah 18:4-6) 

 

Kneading the clay (Soyer Isabelle)

A potter kneading clay into shape  (Soyer Isabelle)

 

Jer 18:18-23   Jeremiah complains a fourth time when the people hatch another plot against him: "Lord, you know all about their plans to kill me. Don't forgive their crimes or erase their sins from your mind. Make them fall from their places; punish them while you are angry." (Jeremiah 18:23)

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