Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Jeremiah

Jeremiah by Rembrandt                                                                            

  • The meaning of his name is uncertain.  It may mean, The Lord exalts or the Lord throws down.  The essence of his name may be found in Jeremiah 1:10 See, I  have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull-down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.  
  • His ministry began 626 B.C.  and ended 586  B.C.
  • He was preceded by the Prophet Zephaniah and concurrent with Lehi, Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Daniel, Urijah, and possibly Obediah, and Hulda (Prophetess).
  • He was told that he was called and ordained in pre-earth life (Jeremiah 1:4-5).
  • His best friend was his scribe Baruch who would also publicly deliver/read Jeremiah's prophecies. 
  • Commanded not to marry in this place (Jeremiah 16:1-4)
  • Known as the weeping Prophet (Jeremiah 4:19, 9:1, 10:19-20, 23:9, and Lamentations).
  • Put in stocks (Jeremiah 20:2-3; imprisoned and thrown in a miry pit (Jeremiah 37-38).  He may have spent the entire time of Zedekiah's reign in prison which was eleven years.
  • He was a Priest from the town of Anathoth and of the household of Hilkiah.
  • He struggled with his calling and role in life.  He seemed to be timid.  He wrote six confessions of how he felt: Jeremiah 11:18-23, 12:1-4, 15:10-21, 17:12-18, 18:18-23, 20:7-18.
  • The following are dramatizations that typified his message:
  1. The ruined sash Jeremiah 13:1-12
  2. Smashed clay jar Jeremiah 19:1-12
  3. Yoke and crossbar Jeremiah 27
  4. Large stones in brick pavement before Pharaoh's home
  5. He was not allowed to participate in funeral meals or feasting Jeremiah 16:5-9
  6. The potters clay Jeremiah 18:1-10
  7. The two baskets of figs Jeremiah 24
  8. Told not to marry in this place Jeremiah 16:1-4
Six discourses were given in Jeremiah chapters 2-20:
  • Jeremiah 2:1-3:5
  • Jeremiah 3:6-6:30
  • Jeremiah chapters 7-10
  • Jeremiah chapters 11-13
  • Jeremiah chapters 14-17
  • Jeremiah chapter 18-20
Moroni quoted several verses from Jeremiah to the Prophet Joseph Smith:

Jeremiah 30:18-21; 31:6, 8, 9, 27-28, 31-33

Important covenant imagery is found in Jeremiah 34:8-22 which finds a latter-day reference in D&C 6:2; 11:2; 12:2; and 14:2.

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