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Response
The book of Jeremiah is of great importance in the history of Israel and the redemptive narrative of Scripture. It is considered a Major Prophet in the Old Testament due to its length, or one of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. The prophet Jeremiah wrote the book of Jeremiah as follows: “The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:”, (Jeremiah 1:1).
The opening line of the book of Jeremiah establishes the authorship: “These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin” (Jeremiah 1:1, NLT). Some of Jeremiah’s prophecies were dictated to his secretary, Baruch son of Neriah: “Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and while Jeremiah dictated all the words the Lord had spoken to him, Baruch wrote them on the scroll” (Jeremiah 36:4; cf: verses 17-18). The author’s use of the first person in several sections (for example, Jeremiah 1:4-19), further supports the traditional attribution.
The prophet Jeremiah began prophesying at a young age, his initial reluctance being overcome by God’s reassurance (Jeremiah 1:5-8). Written during the final years of Judah before the Babylonian exile, the book served as a final effort to admonish the Israelites to repent. However, instead of heeding God’s prophet, the residents of Judah persecuted Jeremiah. He was beaten and put in stocks “Then Pashur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that…”.
Were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.” , (Jeremiah 20:2); he was mocked “O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.” , (Jeremiah 20:7); the scroll he wrote was burned “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); people clamored for his death “Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.” , (Jeremiah 26:11); and he was thrown into a cistern and left to die (Jeremiah 38:1-13).
Through Jeremiah, the author of the book, God teaches us more about Himself, His expectations, and His judgment. Jeremiah also foreshadows Jesus in many ways. Not only did Jeremiah’s sufferings and endurance presage the demeanor of Christ, but his prophecies pointed to the relationship God would initiate through Christ and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Jeremiah, the son of a priest from Anathoth, a small town in Judah, likely held a priestly role himself. Called by God to prophesy to Judah of their coming fall to Babylon, he faced persecution, people’s hard-heartedness, and conflicts with false prophets and corrupt priests who spread misleading.
Despite facing numerous obstacles and proclaiming messages of peace, Jeremiah’s communication was characterized by emotional depth, which led to him being known as “the weeping prophet.”
