Bell's Commentary on the Bible

Brian Bell

Jeremiah 22

Verses 1–30

  1. Intro, Chapter 22:
    1. 4 Kings of Judah are addressed “a sad parade of kings”.
      1. He begins w/Zedekiah (the last king), then taking the preceding kings in the order the reigned.
      2. 3 were Josiah’s boys, 1 his grandson(Jehoiachin).
  2. ZEDEKIAH (1-9)
    1. ​​​​​​​He reminded him that though he sat on David’s throne, he sure didn’t rule like him!
    2. Vs.5 - “This house” – not only his own house, but the house(dynasty) of David would have no king until Messiah would come.
    3. Note the “if you will” & “if you won’t” in vss. 4,5.
    4. Vs.8 – Ever walk a ghost town? They’ll say, “This is God’s city!
      1. If He’ll do this to his own town…Wow!
  3. JEHOAHAZ/Shallum (10-12)
    1. ​​​​​​​He reigned for 3 months.
  4. JEHOIAKIM (13-19)
    1. ​​​​​​​He reigned for 11 yrs.
    2. Vs.15 - Dad was a believer, but he sure didn’t follow his example.
    3. He was a vassal king of Neb. – he later rebelled so he sent him to Egypt, & set up his son(Jehoiachin) in his place.
    4. Vs.17 – His sins were Covetousness, murder, oppression, & violence.
    5. Vs.19 – Instead of a normal state funeral, he’d be buried in disgrace.
  5. CONIAH/Jeconiah/Jehoiachin (20-30)
    1. ​​​​​​​He reigned for 3 months.
    2. Vs.21 – “I spoke to you…” – If only it could have been said about him - Ps.119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I keep thy word.”
    3. Vs.24 – If the king were the very signet ring on Gods right hand, he’d casually take it off & hand it to the Babylonians.
      1. The signet ring was valuable because it was used to prove authority, identify possessions, & “sign” official documents.
    4. Vs.30 – He had children(at least 7), but none would take the throne.
      1. If Jesus came through Joseph’s line, this prediction would be false!
        1. See Mt.1:11
        2. Christ’s dynastic rt. to the throne came, through his foster father Joseph, from Jecohniah,
        3. The phys. Descent of Jesus from David came through Mary, whose genealogy came through Nathan not Solomon.
  6. GODS JUSTICE!
    1. ​​​​​​​Some see Gods wrath as almost a blemish on His Divine Character.
    2. He is not ashamed to make it known “Vengeance & Fury” belong to Him!
      1. Read Deut.32:39-41
    3. Q: Are there more scriptures referring to Gods Wrath, anger, & fury, or on His Love & Tenderness? (wrath)
    4. In the Hebrew there is one word used for both Just(justice) & Righteousness. (Zedek) {ie. melchi-zedeck}
      1. Abraham interceding for Sod/Gom said, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?” (His justice is doing right!)
    5. Because He is Holy – He hates all sin – Because He hates all sin – His anger burns against the sinner.
      1. Read Ps.7:11 (za’am – to foam at the mouth)
    6. The best day of the sinner, is still a day when the curse of God rests upon him.
      1. He goes about his business as if God doesn’t exist, he indulges in lusts, & God is angry with him.
      2. He may have a self-satisfying day…but never a “safe day”.
    7. The next 3 verses (14-16) give 3 illustrations of God’s moral government.
      1. [vs.14] Sin is a Process! (like a birth)
        1. Illustration – “pregnant woman”.
        2. Whatever is conceived is eventually brought forth!
        3. Satan is the Father of sin - & Self is the mother of it – Boy, what children they bring forth!!!
      2. [vs.15] Sins Plan! (like a bait)
        1. Illustration – “a Pit”.
        2. This is speaking of sin deliberately planned, cold-blooded, calculated, premeditated.
        3. You’ll eventually get caught in your own plot!
        4. God never fails to take a man in his own snares!
      3. [vs.16] Sins Punishment! (like a boomerang)
        1. Illustration – “A Boomerang”
        2. The evention of the boomerang was that if you missed your prey it would come back to you.
        3. You can throw your wickedness at someone but a higher power will bring it rt. back at you!
    8. Should not our message still be “flee from the wrath to come?” (Mt.3:7)
      1. Balance – to unrepentant sinners. {grace to the repentant}
    9. Faithfulness demands that we speak as plainly about hell as about heaven!
    10. Some seek to put God’s Justice & Mercy together by seeing “a nice judge compelled by the law, sentencing a man to death w/tears & apologies.”
      1. “This is to think in a manner wholly unworthy of Him!” (St. Anselm/Arch. Cantebury)
      2. God is never at cross-purposes w/Himself!
      3. The problem is fixed in Redemption. Mercy doesn’t become effective until Justice has done its work(Jesus).