The Book of Jeremiah captures the turbulent times of Judah’s rebellion against God and impending judgment through the prophet’s warnings. In Jeremiah 28 to 36, we find critical themes that reveal the conflict between truth and deception, the consequences of disobedience, and most importantly, the glimmer of hope through God’s promises of restoration.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into these chapters in the King James Version (KJV), examining Jeremiah’s confrontations with false prophets, the foretelling of Babylonian captivity, and the overarching message of God’s desire for His people to return to Him.
Jeremiah 28: The False Prophet Hananiah
“Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.” (Jeremiah 28:15, KJV)
Jeremiah 28 recounts a confrontation between Jeremiah and Hananiah, a false prophet who offers a message of false hope. Hananiah proclaims that the Babylonian yoke will be broken within two years and that the exiled king Jeconiah will return to Jerusalem. In a public display, Hananiah breaks the wooden yoke that Jeremiah has been wearing as a symbol of Judah’s submission to Babylon.
Jeremiah, however, delivers God’s true message: that the Babylonian captivity will not end in two years but will last for seventy years. God declares that Hananiah’s prophecy is a lie, and in judgment, Hananiah dies shortly after. This chapter highlights the dangerous allure of false optimism in contrast to the difficult truth.
Key Themes:
False prophecy: Hananiah’s misleading message provides a stark contrast to the true word of God.
Divine judgment on false prophets: Hananiah’s death serves as a warning against claiming to speak for God without His authority.
Reflection: Jeremiah 28 reminds us to be wary of those who offer false hope or an easier path when it contradicts God’s clear instructions. True prophecy and guidance are not always comforting but are rooted in God’s ultimate plan for our good.
Jeremiah 29: A Letter to the Exiles in Babylon
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV)
In Jeremiah 29, Jeremiah sends a letter to the exiles in Babylon, instructing them to settle in the land, build homes, plant gardens, and seek the peace of the city where they now live. This message contrasts sharply with the false prophets who promise a swift return to Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s letter encourages the exiles to accept their situation and live productively, as their captivity will last for seventy years.
This chapter contains one of the most famous verses in Scripture, Jeremiah 29:11, where God reassures His people that He has plans for their welfare and peace, not for disaster. He promises to bring them back to their homeland after the appointed time.
Key Themes:
Long-term exile: The people are instructed to settle into their new lives in Babylon rather than expecting a quick return.
God’s plans for peace and hope: Despite the difficult circumstances, God promises future restoration and prosperity for His people.
Reflection: Jeremiah 29 offers comfort in times of hardship, reminding us that God’s plans are ultimately for our good, even if we don’t see immediate relief. It calls us to trust in God’s timing and remain faithful, knowing that He is working behind the scenes for our future restoration.
Jeremiah 30: The Promise of Restoration
“For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” (Jeremiah 30:3, KJV)
Jeremiah 30 marks the beginning of what is often referred to as the Book of Consolation (Jeremiah 30-33), where God’s promise of future restoration takes center stage. Despite the dark prophecies of destruction and exile, this chapter reveals God’s intention to restore His people to their land.
God acknowledges the suffering and despair the people are experiencing but promises that He will heal their wounds and bring them back from captivity. This chapter also hints at the coming Messianic kingdom, where God’s people will live in peace under righteous leadership.
Key Themes:
Restoration from captivity: God promises to bring His people back to their land after the period of judgment.
Hope and healing: Though the people suffer now, God assures them of future peace and restoration.
Reflection: Jeremiah 30 reminds us that God’s judgment is never the final word. Even in the midst of our darkest moments, God is preparing a way for our healing and restoration. His desire is not to leave us in despair but to bring us back into a place of peace and abundance.
Jeremiah 31: The New Covenant
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” (Jeremiah 31:31, KJV)
Jeremiah 31 is one of the most significant chapters in the book, as it contains the promise of the New Covenant. Unlike the covenant made with their ancestors when they were brought out of Egypt, which the people broke, the New Covenant will be written on their hearts. This covenant represents a deep, personal relationship between God and His people, where His law will no longer be external but internalized.
God promises that all people will know Him—from the least to the greatest—and that He will forgive their iniquity and remember their sins no more. This chapter is not only a promise to the exiles but a prophetic foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ, who would establish this New Covenant through His sacrifice.
Key Themes:
The New Covenant: A new relationship between God and His people, marked by internal transformation and personal knowledge of God.
Forgiveness of sins: Under this New Covenant, God promises complete forgiveness and restoration.
Reflection: Jeremiah 31 offers one of the most profound promises in Scripture—the New Covenant through Christ. This covenant is built on grace, transforming our hearts and minds so that we can live in intimate relationship with God. It reminds us that through Christ, we have been forgiven and restored.
Jeremiah 32: Jeremiah Buys a Field
“For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.” (Jeremiah 32:15, KJV)
Jeremiah 32 is a fascinating chapter where, in the middle of the Babylonian siege, God instructs Jeremiah to buy a field. This seems absurd, as Jerusalem is about to be destroyed and the land overtaken by Babylon. However, God uses this act as a symbol of His promise that fields, homes, and vineyards will once again be bought and sold in the land after the exile.
Jeremiah’s act of purchasing the field while in prison and during the siege is a testament to his faith in God’s promise of restoration. It illustrates that even when all seems lost, God’s word stands firm, and there is hope for the future.
Key Themes:
Act of faith: Jeremiah’s purchase of the field symbolizes his belief in God’s promise of restoration, even in the face of destruction.
Hope in desolation: Despite the dire circumstances, God’s plans for the future involve renewal and rebuilding.
Reflection: Jeremiah 32 challenges us to act in faith even when the future looks bleak. Just as Jeremiah bought the field in the midst of disaster, we too are called to trust in God’s promises, knowing that His plans for restoration are already in motion, even when we can’t yet see the results.
Jeremiah 33: The Promise of Future Blessings
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3, KJV)
In Jeremiah 33, God reaffirms His promises of restoration and future blessings. Despite the destruction Judah is facing, God invites Jeremiah to call upon Him, promising to reveal great and mighty things that go beyond human understanding.
This chapter expands on the restoration promised in chapter 30, emphasizing that the Davidic line will continue and that God’s covenant with His people is unbreakable. The chapter also promises a time when the land will once again be filled with joy, thanksgiving, and prosperity.
Key Themes:
God’s faithfulness: Despite the current destruction, God’s covenant with David and His people remains unbroken.
Promise of future joy: The land that is now desolate will one day be filled with celebration and prosperity.
Reflection: Jeremiah 33 is a powerful reminder that God’s promises are steadfast, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. His faithfulness endures through the darkest of times, and He invites us to call on Him, trusting that He will reveal His greater plans for our future.
Jeremiah 34: Judgment Against King Zedekiah
“But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.” (Jeremiah 34:16, KJV)
Jeremiah 34 focuses on the disobedience of King Zedekiah and the people’s failure to uphold a covenant they had made to release their Hebrew slaves, as commanded in the Law of Moses. Initially, the people had obeyed God’s command to release their slaves, but later they re-enslaved them, breaking their covenant.
God condemns this act of betrayal, warning Zedekiah that he will face Babylon’s wrath, and Jerusalem will be destroyed. Zedekiah will be captured but will die in peace, according to God’s word.
Key Themes:
Breaking of covenants: The people’s act of re-enslaving their fellow Hebrews after setting them free is seen as a violation of their covenant with God.
Judgment on leaders: King Zedekiah’s disobedience brings judgment, as he is warned of his fate at the hands of the Babylonians.
Reflection: Jeremiah 34 serves as a reminder that breaking our commitments to God has consequences. When we enter into a covenant with God, we are called to uphold it, even when it’s difficult. God values integrity and justice, especially in how we treat others.
Jeremiah 35: The Obedience of the Rechabites
“But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever.” (Jeremiah 35:6, KJV)
Jeremiah 35 highlights the obedience of the Rechabites, a nomadic group descended from Jonadab, who had commanded his family to live a life of simplicity, abstaining from wine and not building permanent homes. Jeremiah brings them into the temple and offers them wine, but they refuse, remaining faithful to their forefather’s commands.
God contrasts the faithfulness of the Rechabites with the disobedience of the people of Judah. The Rechabites serve as an example of unwavering loyalty, while Judah has consistently rebelled against God’s commands.
Key Themes:
Obedience and faithfulness: The Rechabites’ commitment to their forefather’s commands serves as a model of obedience.
Contrast with Judah’s disobedience: While the Rechabites remain faithful to human traditions, Judah has failed to obey God’s divine commands.
Reflection: Jeremiah 35 reminds us of the importance of obedience and faithfulness to the commands we are given. The Rechabites’ example challenges us to reflect on our own loyalty to God and His word.
Jeremiah 36: The Burning of the Scroll
“And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.” (Jeremiah 36:23, KJV)
Jeremiah 36 recounts the writing of Jeremiah’s prophecies on a scroll, as instructed by God. Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch, writes down all the words of the Lord and reads them to the people. However, when King Jehoiakim hears the words of the scroll, he cuts it up and throws it into the fire, showing his utter contempt for God’s message.
Despite the king’s act of defiance, God instructs Jeremiah to have the scroll rewritten, with even more severe judgments added. This chapter demonstrates that God’s word cannot be destroyed, even by those who reject it.
Key Themes:
Rejection of God’s word: King Jehoiakim’s burning of the scroll symbolizes his complete disregard for God’s authority.
The indestructibility of God’s word: Despite human attempts to destroy it, God’s word endures and His plans cannot be thwarted.
Reflection: Jeremiah 36 teaches us that God’s word is eternal and cannot be silenced, no matter how much resistance or rejection it faces. It challenges us to respect and honor the message of God, knowing that His will always prevails.
Conclusion: Lessons from Jeremiah 28 to 36
In Jeremiah 28 to 36, we witness a wide range of themes, from the dangers of false prophets and the consequences of disobedience, to the unshakable promises of restoration and the hope of a New Covenant. These chapters offer a powerful reminder that while God’s judgment is real, His desire is always to restore His people if they repent and turn back to Him.
Jeremiah’s unwavering commitment to delivering God’s message, even in the face of intense opposition, serves as a model of faithfulness. His prophecies of hope, particularly the promise of the New Covenant, point to God’s ultimate plan of redemption through Christ. As we reflect on these chapters, we are reminded of the importance of trusting God’s plans, obeying His commands, and holding fast to His promises of restoration.
