JEREMIAH &

LAMENTATIONS
Literature of the Prophets II, Tennessee Bible College
Prepared by Donny Weimar

BACKGROUND

While Psalms has the most chapters, the book of Jeremiah has the most words in the Bible. Jeremiah
follows Isaiah by 60 years. Jeremiah has been nicknamed “the weeping prophet” (Jeremiah 9:1). The son
of Hilkiah a priest, he proclaimed God’s message to Judah from 626-586 BCE. Israel had fallen about 721
BCE to the Assyrians.

Consider how many times the following words are mentioned in Jeremiah.

● Backslide - 15 times
● Forsaken - 24 times
● Captivity - 50 times
● The word of the LORD 150 times

God commands Jeremiah not to marry. He said to suffer in chapter 20 and was assaulted and
threatened with death.in chapter 26.

All of the world powers are against Judah: Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians.

BASIC OUTLINE
CHAPTER 1: Call and commission of Jeremiah
CHAPTER 2-33: A message to Judah
CHAPTER 34-39: Destruction of Judah and Jerusalem
CHAPTER 40-45: Aftermath of Destruction
CHAPTER 46-51: Message to surrounding local nations in Palestine
CHAPTER 50-51: Babylon is addressed
CHAPTER 52: Historical Appendix

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LAMENTATIONS OUTLINE

586 BCE Jerusalem is destroyed by Babylonians

CHAPTER 1 The city speaks

CHAPTER 2 God Speaks (Judgment and wrath)

CHAPTER 3 The prophet speaks (with tears and heartache)

CHAPTER 4 The possessions speak (Figurative or metaphorical)

CHAPTER 5 The Captives speak (Hungry and needy they cry out to God)

IMPORTANT TO MEMORIZE

Lamentations 3:22-25 (KJV) (22) It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his
compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (24) The LORD is my
portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (25) The LORD is good unto them that wait for him,
to the soul that seeketh him.

 WRITE A LESSON OF YOUR CHOICE TAKEN FROM LAMENTATIONS

 WRITE A LESSON ON THINGS THAT MAKE GOD SAD.

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER FROM JEREMIAH

 Why is Jeremiah considered the weeping prophet?

 Explain why the Jews were doomed.
 Write a lesson on Jeremiah’s commission.
 Write about the following passages.

1. Jeremiah 1:10 compare with Acts 20:27

2. Jeremiah 2:13 compare with Mark 12:30
3. Jeremiah 3:25 They should have covered their shame but didn’t
4. Jeremiah 5:30-31 The prophets and priests go astray and the people would have it so.
Compare 1 Peter 4:11.
5. Jeremiah 6:13-16 From the least to the greatest, the people were running for unjust
gain. Compare Luke 12:15.
6. Jeremiah 6:15 People committed abomination and weren’t ashamed

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 7. Jeremiah 9:23-24 and 10:23 are important to memorize this central message
8. Jeremiah 23:5-6 Prophecy of Jesus the Christ. Compare Hebrews 12:28 and Matthew
16:16.
9. Jeremiah 23:29 My word is a fire
10. Jeremiah 36 Jehoiachin thought he could destroy God’s people but could not. Compare
1 Peter 1:23ff