Jeremiah 32 FSI - HEAR, O EARTH

> [!title|noicon] **Jeremiah 32 Notes** > [[Jeremiah 31 FSI|<Prev]]   \[[Jeremiah 33 FSI|Next>\]] > [[Jeremiah 32|Verse list view]] > [Jeremiah 32:1](Jeremiah%2032.md#^1) note > > Remember Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon is ruling during this time, and he is a figure or a picture of Satan as he rules over Jerusalem. It is the 10th year of Zedekiah, and we know from other passages that it was in his 11th year that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (in 587 BC). So this passage was written in 588 BC, just one year away from that terrible event as we'll see in verse 2. It was great tribulation upon them. ^jer32-1 > [Jeremiah 32:2](Jeremiah%2032.md#^2) note > > So we see that at this time the army of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon *besieged Jerusalem*. They were already about to destroy them. And as Jeremiah declared the Word of God to Judah and Jerusalem as God's spokesman, he was not appreciated at all as we see here that he was shut up in the court of the prison by Zedekiah. ^jer32-2 > [Jeremiah 32:3](Jeremiah%2032.md#^3), [4](Jeremiah%2032.md#^4), [5](Jeremiah%2032.md#^5) note > > Although Zedekiah had shut up Jeremiah in the court of the prison, he had certainly been listening to what Jeremiah was declaring, as we see here. Zedekiah himself repeats what he had heard from Jeremiah. He understood from Jeremiah that he is going to be led by King Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon and will not prosper. And when we get to [Jeremiah 52:4-11](Jeremiah%2052.md), we read where this all came to pass. So Zedekiah clearly understood what Jeremiah had prophesied in the Name of the LORD. > Now, in [Luke 12:47](Luke%2012.md#^47) we read the principle where the servant who knows his Lord's will but does not prepare himself nor do according to His will shall be beaten with many stripes. Then in [James 2:10](James%202.md#^10) we read that whosoever keeps the whole law, yet offends in just one point, is guilty of all. So even if we commit just one tiny little sin, we are guilty of the whole Law of God. And the Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death ([Ro 6:23a](Romans%206.md#^23)). That was already established from the Garden of Eden where in the day they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would surely die. Putting these together, what God is teaching us is that the more we know of the will of God, the more accountable we are to the Law of God and subject to the wrath of God if we have not become saved. And this is grievously serious. And while this applies to the entire human race, it certainly points to the situation that King Zedekiah is now in. > > Sadly, what we also learn from this is that it doesn't matter whether someone *believes* the Truth or not. That is no excuse for them. Did Zedekiah believe what he had heard from Jeremiah? Of course he did not. He didn't believe that Judah, Jerusalem and the temple would actually be destroyed and that He would be led into captivity, even though things were so far along that the army of Nebuchadnezzar had already begun to besiege Jerusalem. ^jer32-3-5 > [Jeremiah 32:6](Jeremiah%2032.md#^6), [7](Jeremiah%2032.md#^7) note > > What a peculiar thing to do. Jerusalem and Judah are about to be destroyed and it wasn't God's plan for them to return for another 48 years afterwards. And yet, here God is instructing Jeremiah to buy a field in Anathoth, the home area where Jeremiah was born and raised, from his relative, Hanameel, son of Shallum, in order to redeem it. And it was Jeremiah's right to redeem it, meaning that he was qualified under God's strict conditions for purchasing land in those days because the land was to remain in the family if it had to be sold for any reason ([Lev 25:23](Leviticus%2025.md#^23), [24](Leviticus%2025.md#^24)). And this points spiritually to the fact that the promised land shall only be possessed by the true believers in the new heavens and new earth. They alone shall inherit the land by right of redemption in Christ as the family of God, as sons of God. But yet, here in the historical setting, the land is actually about to be owned by King Nebuchadnezzar as he comes in to destroy them. So it's as if they are never ever going to own this land again. But God is nevertheless instructing Jeremiah to buy this field as he sits in the prison of King Zedekiah. > > Now, the name *Hanameel* means *God is merciful*. And he was the son of *Shallum*, which, as we saw in [Jeremiah 22:11](Jeremiah%2022.md#^11), means *Peace* (from the word Shalom, and from which also comes the name Solomon). ^jer32-6-7 > [Jeremiah 32:8](Jeremiah%2032.md#^8) note > > So, lo and behold, Hanameel comes knocking at the door of the prison, so to speak, to speak with Jeremiah, asking Jeremiah to buy his field in Anathoth. > > Again, this situation was very strange. It was so out of character for what was going on at this time, that this purchase would be made when the city was ready to be destroyed. It was like Jeremiah was going to pay the purchase price to Hanameel so that Hanameel could run away with the money and Jeremiah would be stuck with a worthless deed because that land was going to be owned by Nebuchadnezzar. It could almost look like a scam of some kind. But God had prepared this very carefully. It was His Will for this to go through because through this God is going to illustrate how His purpose will be accomplished with regard to the New Heavens and New Earth for the believers, and Satan, represented by King Nebuchadnezzar here about to destroy Jerusalem, will not win. ^jer32-8 > [Jeremiah 32:9](Jeremiah%2032.md#^9), [10](Jeremiah%2032.md#^10), [11](Jeremiah%2032.md#^11), [12](Jeremiah%2032.md#^12) note > > Why does God give us a number -- 17 shekels of silver? And, even more interesting, as we read through these next several verses we find that God made sure that this purchase was very well known. It was not a private purchase. It was done in such a way that it was absolutely certain that this purchase of the land had been made. There were witnesses, there were sealed and open actions that took place and so on. There was no question of any kind, everyone knew that this purchase had been made. There was no misunderstanding of what had happened. And we see that God underscores this again in verses 13-15. > > But right in the heart of this, God indicates that this land cost Jeremiah 17 shekels of silver. And everyone knew this also. All the witnesses, the fellow prisoners in the court, Hanameel, and all of the evidences indicated what was the purchase price. And as Jeremiah purchased this field for 17 shekels of silver it was an act of *redemption* ([v7](Jeremiah%2032.md#^7)). So this points to the fact that God has a great redemption program *right at the end* that ties around this number 17. And it is a time when King Nebuchadnezzar (a picture of Satan) is in the process of besieging Jerusalem (the churches and congregations) to destroy it. > > We see this number 17 featured also at the end of the book of John, when the disciples caught 153 (17 x 9) fish at the Sea of Tiberius ([Jn 21:11](John%2021.md#^11)). > > ^jer32-9-12 > [Jeremiah 32:13](Jeremiah%2032.md#^13), [14](Jeremiah%2032.md#^14), [15](Jeremiah%2032.md#^15) note > > As we saw in verses 9-12, God is making it *very* clear and open that Jeremiah has purchased this land from Hanameel. Jeremiah is entitled to this land and there's no question about it. And the reason for this is because God is illustrating and guaranteeing that His people will again return to possess the land, even after a period of time, as impossible as the situation looks currently with the army of Nebuchadnezzar besieging Jerusalem. > > All of this redundancy to make sure that everyone knows about this reflects the fact that God has given us many proofs in His Word regarding His redemption plan ([Acts 1:3](Acts%201.md#^3)), particularly as we approach the end and the day of judgment, as the world is brought under spiritual judgment and delusion unto destruction. Nevertheless, there is a simultaneous program of God to save many, a great multitude, out of the great tribulation during this period of time which shall usher in eternity. ^jer32-13-15 > [Jeremiah 32:16-25](Jeremiah%2032.md) note > > Even as Jeremiah extols the LORD for His greatness and faithfulness and recounts His mighty Acts, trusting His Word implicitly, knowing that what God says comes to pass -- he nevertheless prays to the LORD, "But LORD, look where we are! The battering rams are at the gates, the mounts are ready to shoot arrows into the city to destroy it." The implication shines through that, even though Jeremiah has faithfully done all that God has commanded him to do to buy the land in front of many witnesses, the situation is *impossible* (though Jeremiah, of course, knows that all things are possible with God). How can it be that they're going to repossess the land given the dismal situation they are in? > > This is like today. We read the Bible and we know that God is a great God. He is True to every one of His commitments and promises. But as we see the world that has grown *so* wicked, where Satan is ruling in the churches and over the whole world at large, and everything has gone spiritually haywire everywhere we turn, when God says that He is going to save a great multitude in this context we might think that it's simply impossible. But what does God say in His Word? That's what is really important. As we see the world in disarray in its chaotic condition and all of the different teachings, beliefs and sinful behaviors spread all over the place, the Word of God is absolutely trustworthy, it is a Foundation that is immoveable, it cannot be rocked in any way. > > ^jer32-16-25 Tags: #Old_Testament #Jeremiah #Gods_judgment_on_His_people #FSI