When Ye Shall Search for Me

I. LAYING THE FOUNDATION (Jeremiah 1-28)

A. The Divided Kingdom

1. Their unity
a. Under Saul
b. Under David
c. Under Solomon
2. Their division
a. Because of Solomon’s disobedience (1 Kings 11:26-40)
b. Occurred during the reign of Rehoboam ~ 940 BC (1 Kings 12:1-24)
c. Divided into two parts
1.) 10 tribes – Northern kingdom (Israel) went with Jeroboam
2.) 2 tribes – Southern kingdom (Judah) remained with Rehoboam
3. Their spirituality
a. The northern kingdom was the first to rebel (1 Kings 12:26-33).
b. The southern kingdom soon followed.
4. Their respective captivities
a. The northern kingdom was the first into captivity (Assyrians) ~ 721 BC
b. The southern kingdom followed (Babylonian)
1.) First stage ~ 606 BC under king Jehoiakim (grandson of Josiah)
2.) Second stage ~ 597 BC under king Jehoiachin (son of Jehoiakim)
3.) Third stage ~ 586 BC under king Zedekiah (son of Jehoiachin)

B. Jeremiah’s Call and Confidence (Jeremiah 1)

1. Ministered during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah (Jeremiah 1:3)
2. His ministry extended just over 40 years
3. His ministry was to preach undesirable truth to undesirable people (Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17-19).

C. Judah’s Condition (Jeremiah 2)

1. Kind, loving, and holy in her youth (Jeremiah 2:1-3)
2. Swiftly departing from the Lord (Jeremiah 2:4-13)

D. God’s Mercy (Jeremiah 3)

1. His willingness to receive Judah in spite of her harlotry (Jeremiah 3:1-5)
2. His anger is temporary (Jeremiah 3:12).
3. He is willing to heal her backslidings (Jeremiah 3:20-22).

E. Judah’s Rejection of God’s Mercy (Jeremiah 4-10)

1. The rarity of righteousness (Jeremiah 5:1)
2. The refusal to believe God (Jeremiah 5:12-13)
3. The rebellious behaviour (Jeremiah 5:23-29)
4. The refusal to be ashamed (Jeremiah 6:13-17)
5. The refusal to walk in God’s commandments (Jeremiah 9:13-14)

F. Judgment Promised (Jeremiah 15)

1. Regardless of righteous men (Jeremiah 15:1)
2. The options listed (Jeremiah 15:2)

G. Facilitators of Disobedience (Jeremiah 23; Jeremiah 28)

1. Prophets speaking from their own hearts (Jeremiah 23:16-32)
2. Prophets speaking lies (Jeremiah 28:1-17)

II. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:1-4)

A. The Recipients of the Letter (Jeremiah 29:1)

1. From Jeremiah in Jerusalem to those carried away to Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1)
2. Those carried away captives (Jeremiah 29:4)

B. The Timing of the Letter (Jeremiah 29:2)

1. Jeconiah has been carried away (Jeremiah 29:2)
2. Zedekiah is king (Jeremiah 29:3)

III. THE PRACTICAL ADMONITIONS OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

A. Concerning Homes (Jeremiah 29:5)

B. Concerning Relationships (Jeremiah 29:6)

C. Concerning Peace (Jeremiah 29:7)

IV. THE WARNINGS OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:8-9)

A. Deceptive Prophets (Jeremiah 29:8)

B. Deceptive Motives (Jeremiah 29:9)

V. THE SPIRITUAL ADMONITION OF JEREMIAH’S LETTER (Jeremiah 29:10-14)

A. The Timing of Return (Jeremiah 29:10)

1. After 70 years be accomplished
2. I will visit you
3. To cause you to return

B. The Faithfulness of God (Jeremiah 29:11)

1. I know the thoughts that I think toward you
2. Thoughts of peace, and not of evil
3. To give you an expected end

C. The Provocation of Seeking (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

1. The events of provocation – “then” (Jeremiah 29:12)
2. The results of provocation (Jeremiah 29:12-14)
a. Ye shall call upon me (Jeremiah 29:12)
b. Ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you (Jeremiah 29:12)
c. Ye shall seek me, and find me (Jeremiah 29:13)
d. I will be found of you (Jeremiah 29:14)
3. The extent of provocation – “with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)