Series:   Jeremiah / Lamentations for Beginners
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Israel's Unfaithfulness and God'S Judgment

By: Mike Mazzalongo     Posted: July, 2025
In this lesson we explore the familiar theme of Israel's unfaithfulness witnessed by their gross idolatry, God's sure judgment and call for repentance as well as His abundant mercy available for those who repent.
Sources

Primary Biblical Sources (NASB 1995)

1. Accusations Against Judah: Idolatry and Spiritual Adultery

  • Spiritual unfaithfulness as broken cisterns – Jeremiah 2:13
  • Judah's rebellion compared to a prostitute – Jeremiah 2:20
  • Call to repentance – Jeremiah 3:12-14
  • Judah's false sense of security – Jeremiah 3:19-25

2. The Call to Repentance and the Warning of Impending Judgment

  • Call to genuine repentance – Jeremiah 4:1-4
  • Vision of Babylonian invasion – Jeremiah 4:5-31
  • Corrupt leadership and failure to listen – Jeremiah 5:1-31
  • The coming wrath of God – Jeremiah 6:1-30

3. The Role of False Prophets and Leaders

  • False assurance of peace – Jeremiah 6:13-14
  • Corrupt religious leadership – Jeremiah 5:30-31, 6:13-15

4. Comparison of Jeremiah's Preaching with Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel

  • Isaiah's call to Judah and prophecy of the Messiah – Isaiah 7:14, 53
  • Jeremiah's warnings of exile and the New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-34
  • Ezekiel's dramatic visions and call to repentance – Ezekiel 37, 40-48
  • Daniel's prophecies concerning world empires – Daniel 2, 7, 9

Historical and Theological Sources

5. Merrill, Eugene H., Mark F. Rooker, and Michael A. Grisanti. The World and the Word: An Introduction to the Old Testament. B&H Academic, 2011.

  • Historical and cultural background on Judah's political alliances and spiritual decline.

6. Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

  • Cultural insights into Judah's idolatry, false prophets, and historical context of Babylon's rise.

7. Thompson, J.A. The Book of Jeremiah (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament). Eerdmans, 1980.

  • Detailed exposition on Jeremiah's message of judgment and his comparison to other prophets.

8. Smith, Gary V. Interpreting the Prophetic Books: An Exegetical Handbook. Kregel Academic, 2014.

  • Interpretation of prophetic genres, warnings, and the balance of judgment and hope.

9. Longman III, Tremper. Jeremiah, Lamentations (The New International Biblical Commentary). Hendrickson, 2008.

  • Exegetical study of God's covenant lawsuit against Judah and their rejection of prophetic warnings.

10. Harrison, R.K. Introduction to the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1979.

  • Contextual analysis of prophetic ministry in Israel and Judah and how Jeremiah fits within the prophetic tradition.

Additional Study Aids and Word Studies

1. Botterweck, G. Johannes, and Helmer Ringgren, eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Eerdmans, 1974.

  • Word studies on "shuv" (repentance), "qesher" (conspiracy), and "shaqer" (falsehood), related to Jeremiah's warnings about false prophets.

2. Richards, Lawrence O. The Teacher's Commentary. Cook Communications, 2002.

  • Provides practical application and modern parallels to Judah's rejection of God's Word.
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