03.02.06 626 B.C. Jeremiah Begins His Ministry
By this time the people of Judea and Jerusalem had also fallen into idolatry as had their northern brothers a century earlier. Jeremiah was a young man when he received his commission to be a prophet. He recognized the coming of God’s judgment, and hence, most of his prophecies were written with a sorrowful heart.[1] He scorned the people of Judea for their sins (Jer. 44:23) and idolatry [2] because their sin included the horrific sacrifice of live infants as burnt offerings to pagan gods (Jer. 7:30-34). He gave a prophecy predicting seventy-year captivity as follows:
8 “Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘Because you have not obeyed My words, 9 I am going to send for all the families of the north’ — this is the Lord’s declaration — ‘and send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land, against its residents, and against all these surrounding nations, and I will completely destroy them and make them a desolation, a derision, and ruins forever. 10 I will eliminate the sound of joy and gladness from them—the voice of the groom and the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.
Jeremiah 25:8-11
At the time Jeremiah said these words, Babylon was all but unknown. Certainly it was not a world power, but that was about to change. He also made promises of a great king like David.
5 “The days are coming” — this is the Lord’s declaration —
“when I will raise up a Righteous Branch of David.
He will reign wisely as king
and administer justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell securely.
This is what He will be named:
Yahweh Our Righteousness.
Jeremiah 23:5-6
The fulfillment of some prophecies, such as the seventy years of captivity, was critical because Jeremiah also gave prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. Since he had proven himself to be a true prophet whose words were literally fulfilled, there would be no misunderstanding that his words concerning a Messiah would also be literally fulfilled.[3]
[1]. Introduction to book of Jeremiah, New International Version Study Bible. 1115-16.
[2]. Jer. 16:10-13, 20; 22:9; 32:29; 44:2-3, 8, 17-19, 25.
[3]. For the historical trail of the Davidic Covenant from David to Jesus, see the blue “Mystery Unveiled” boxes in 03.02.01, 03.02.03, 03.02.06, 03.03.01, 04.02.02, and 13.04.05.