Jeremiah 22 FSI - HEAR, O EARTH

> [!title|noicon] **Jeremiah 22 Notes** > [[Jeremiah 21 FSI|<Prev]]   \[[Jeremiah 23 FSI|Next>\]] > [[Jeremiah 22|Verse list view]] > Intro to Jeremiah 22 note > > In this chapter there is a shift to the beginning of the tribulation period as represented by the end of King Josiah's reign. Historically, this time period officially began in 609 BC when the last good king, Josiah, was killed in battle and his son, Shallum (also called Jehoahaz), began to reign ([v11](Jeremiah%2022.md#^11)). So this is the setting for this chapter, and it's parallel to the beginning of the tribulation period. And this message is thus to the local congregations during that time in our day, which is now in the past. ^jer22-intro > [Jeremiah 22:1](Jeremiah%2022.md#^1), [2](Jeremiah%2022.md#^2) note > > (Read the [Introductory note to Jeremiah 22↗](Jeremiah%2022%20FSI.md#^jer22-intro) to get the chapter context before proceeding here.) > > At this time, Josiah has just died in battle. He was one of the finest kings that ever reigned over Judah. He put down all of the high places, restored the temple and so on. He was an enormously wonderful, spiritual king. But then, right at the very height of his power, right when it appeared there was a real turning back to the Lord in the nation of Judah, Josiah was killed in battle at the age of 39 and Shallum, his son, became king. And now God comes to this king Shallum, his servants, and all that enter in through the gates, with this message. > > As before, the palace of the king and the servants and those entering in by the gates all represent the visible kingdom of God to whom this message is coming. God is speaking therefore to those who believe they are citizens of the kingdom of God, and God is speaking to them as if they are truly citizens of the kingdom of God. ^jer22-1-2 > [Jeremiah 22:3](Jeremiah%2022.md#^3) note > > At first read, we might say, "Of course, God is commanding them to obey His Word, and that's what we should be doing at all times." But these phrases in verse 3 are dealing with the situation that had begun to prevail in the churches and congregations at the beginning of the final tribulation period as we will see. And remember, God has already been pronouncing His judgments against Judah and Jerusalem, against the churches and congregations, up to Jeremiah 22, declaring that they would be destroyed by Babylon and that God Himself would fight against them. > > "Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness" -- To execute judgment and righteousness is to *do* the Word of God, to obey God. > > "...and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor" -- We just saw this phrase in the last chapter, in [Jeremiah 21:12](Jeremiah%2021.md#^12). And what God was commanding them to do was to declare that, in order for them to live, they were to *surrender* to the king of Babylon (as we saw in [Jer 21:8](Jeremiah%2021.md#^8), [9](Jeremiah%2021.md#^9), [10](Jeremiah%2021.md#^10)). That was the choice that God had given them -- if they stayed in Judah and Jerusalem to fight against the king of Babylon, God would destroy them by king Nebuchadnezzar. But if they left and surrendered themselves to the king of Babylon then their lives would be spared. > > In today's terms, that indeed would mean that the leaders, pastors and elders should have warned their congregations to leave in order to spare them from God's judgment -- which also would mean that the congregations would cease to exist. They would have to completely disassociate themselves with being a New Testament congregation. That would truly be the ideal situation because there would be no one left to destroy within the local congregations as Satan comes directly against them. They are to flee to the mountains. As strange as this might sound, had everyone in Judah and Jerusalem fallen out to King Nebuchadnezzar as commanded by God, then all of their lives would have been spared. And this is the same type of situation. > > "...and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow" -- In [Deuteronomy 24:17](Deuteronomy%2024.md#^17), [18](Deuteronomy%2024.md#^18), [19](Deuteronomy%2024.md#^19), [20](Deuteronomy%2024.md#^20), [21](Deuteronomy%2024.md#^21), [22](Deuteronomy%2024.md#^22) God gave laws concerning the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. These represent those who were as destitute as could be, they were the downtrodden and impoverished in need of special care. And this points to those who are in dire need of salvation, and who do become saved, spiritually speaking. They are the poor and downcast who hunger and thirst because there who are need of nourishment ([Mt 5:3](Matthew%205.md#^3), [6](Matthew%205.md#^6)). They are like the beggar, Lazarus, who had no one to care for him, who would have eaten the crumbs from the rich man's table and had dogs licking his sores -- and yet, he had eternal life. > > So God is commanding them in this context, again, that the leaders are to instruct them to leave the churches, to surrender themselves out in order to avoid being destroyed by Satan (typified by King Nebuchadnezzar coming against Judah and Jerusalem) as he comes full force into the churches. > > "...neither shed innocent blood in this place." -- Of course, we're only ever innocent if we're completely covered by Christ's righteousness, if all of our sins have been paid for so that our guilt has been taken by Christ. And these who are innocent are the same as those who are the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, so this phrase is simply giving another reference to those who are saved. > > So this is what the local congregations should have done right at the beginning of the tribulation period once the church age had come to an end. ^jer22-3 > [Jeremiah 22:4](Jeremiah%2022.md#^4) note > > Study in progress 9.2025. > > ^jer22-4 Tags: #Old_Testament #Jeremiah #Gods_judgment_on_His_people #FSI