What can be observed worth noting about a book as large as that of Jeremiah in the brief space of the paragraphs on this page?  After all, Jeremiah is not the most accessible book in the Bible.  For not only does it deal with the ancient history of the people of Judah whose circumstances are remote to us but it also includes a lengthy section concerning ten other nations or peoples, some of which are exceedingly obscure.  It is certainly profitable to delve into the many individual lessons the various passages of the prophecy teach.  But taken as a whole, Jeremiah teaches a number of macro-lessons as well.  Among them are the following.

            God’s Word is true and accurate.   Jeremiah’s prophecies teach us that we can and must believe the Bible because it is altogether true and absolutely accurate.  Commentators throughout history have observed that the sacred books of other religions contain few prophetic utterances.  Their human authors and the cunning spirit of Satan behind them realize that unfulfilled prophecies would give the lie to the entire text; therefore, they venture few predictive pronouncements.  Not so, Jeremiah.  It overflows with predictions that can be shown in retrospect to have been fulfilled; their number, complexity, and specificity explode any possibility of their being the result of mere coincidence or any other natural cause.  God predicted; God brought to pass.  For example:  Jeremiah predicted that Jerusalem would be besieged by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who would capture King Zedekiah and take a remnant of Judah to Babylon; after seventy years in captivity, they would be restored to their land.  Secular history confirms the accuracy of these predictions.  And we are encouraged to trust the absolute truth of God’s Word.

            God is holy and judges sin.  The judgments and woes pronounced by Jeremiah and recorded in his book leave no doubt as to the character of God.  In view of this prophecy, we might well say “woe” to all those modern religious leaders who preach a god of love who winks at sin.  Jeremiah knows of no such God.  Jeremiah pronounces woe upon woe on nations surrounding Judah including Egypt, Philistia, Moab, and Edom.  Though Babylon is ascendant at the time of the prophecy, God promises that they are a tool that He will use to chasten His own people but that they will not escape His ultimate judgment for their own ungodliness.  They will be overrun by the Medes.  And so it happens.  But God’s judgment does not fall on the heathen alone; He predicts that His chosen nation will be punished.   Because of their sin, many will fall before the sword—not just soldiers but also noncombatant elderly people, women, and children.  Thousands of those who survive will be uprooted from their homes, separated from their families, transported to a heathen nation, and made to work as servants to their captors who speak an unintelligible language and practice heathen customs.  Jeremiah’s prophecy makes clear that God is free to manifest redeeming grace to whom He will, but He will not brook sin in saints or sinners.

            God is longsuffering and merciful.  The length of Jeremiah’s prophecies, both in terms of the volume of the book and the extent of his ministry (45 years or so), bespeaks the great longsuffering and mercy of God.  We need only remember the prophet Jonah’s message to Nineveh to recognize that prophecies of impending judgment may be intended to avert judgment if the hearers will repent Jonah had one simple message for Nineveh:  “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”  But Nineveh’s king believed God’s word from Jonah and called on his citizens to repent, and God withheld judgment on that city for a century and a half.  Though no mercy may be explicitly promised, it is clear that judgment forestalled is mercy extended.  On occasion, God makes clear that there is no averting of promised judgment.  Many times, however, the space between the pronouncement of judgment and its fulfillment is intended to be an opportunity to repent.  The Lord explains in the Revelation concerning the church in Thyatira, “I gave her time to repent” (2:21).  And we come away from the prophecy of Jeremiah with a profound appreciation for the longsuffering and mercy of God toward an inveterately rebellious people.  May we learn the lessons this book teaches us.