Introduction

Author: Jeremiah the Prophet 

 

 Jeremiah started his service as a youth from a priestly family 

 God invited him to prophesy but he was worried  

 Israel had already been made captive to Assyria

 

 Jeremiah's prophecies were about "repent so it doesn't happen to you too!" 

 It was revealed to Jeremiah that the Southern Kingdom of Judah would be taken captive by Babylon 

 

 

 Many kings and the people heard his prophecies, but did not take it seriously. 

 Babylonian Captivity

 

 Came in several waves 

 In the time of King Zedekiah, they came and seized Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, plundered the gold and the vessels and anything of value in the Temple; and they took captives 

 Jeremiah witnessed all of those things 

 

 

 Weeping Prophet

 

 Prophesied for 40 years before the captivity, and lamented, so he received the nickname "Weeping Prophet" 

 

 

 After the Captivity, some Judean leaders wanted to flee to Egypt and God forbade it by Jeremiah's voice (Jeremiah 43)

 

 So they took him and forced him to go to Egypt with them 

 There, he preached that they will be punished 

 

 

 Tradition tells us that Jeremiah died in Egypt 

 Date of Authorship: After witnessing the captivity of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple 

 

 Introduction to Lamentations 

 

 The Church arranges for us to read this on the 12th hour of Friday in a mournful tune, because not only did they kill prophets... they killed the Messiah.