Who Was Jeremiah - The "Weeping Prophet"? - Bible Study Tools

The book of Jeremiah offers many valuable lessons. However, two of the most important lessons are those of repentance and God’s faithfulness.

Judah was sent into captivity, the Promised Land stripped from them, and it was entirely their own fault. They were warned, over and over and over, but they did not repent. God did not deal with them with any unusual harshness; in fact, the fact that he gave the wicked people such a long time to repent shows His love. “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” God says in Jeremiah 31:3. He sent dozens of messengers proclaiming repentance, but these messengers were killed, abused, and mocked.

God gave opportunity after opportunity for repentance. Our God is a God of forgiveness. But when we refuse this forgiveness, a just God can only allow wickedness to continue for so long.

So what happens when we don’t repent? What happens when we mess up badly, like Judah, and end up in a terrible situation that is entirely of our own causing?

It turns out that God doesn’t abandon us then, either.

In one of the most famous passages in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, God addresses the captive Jews. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

And thus, He continues:

“‘In that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them’” (Jeremiah 30:8).

“I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful” (Jeremiah 31:4).

“‘I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant 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 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’” (Jeremiah 33:6-9).

No matter how low we have fallen, we have not fallen from the love of God, and we are not beyond the reach of His plans.

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