The Strand Study Bible

JEREMIAH 24:2

JEREMIAH 25:7

1181

of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. 3 Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. 4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. The promise to bring Israel back to Jerusalem (Fulfilled - Ezra 1:1-3 -536 BC) 6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, 1 and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. P 7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: 1 for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. P The promise of Judah/Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon (Fulfilled - II Ki 25 - 586 BC) 8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, 2 So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: P 9 2 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. P

10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers. P READ NEXT - Jeremiah 29-31 Jeremiah 25 God’s people reject Jeremiah’s ministry (Fulfilled - II Ki 25 - 586 BC) 1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; 2 The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 3 3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. 4 And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 4 They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: 6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. 7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. (Note - This portion of Jeremiah’s prophecy took place in the 4th year of King Jehoiakim’s reign) Date Written - 605 BC/AM 3395

1. Fulfilled - Ezra 1:1-3

(Israel returns under Cyrus) 2. Fulfilled - II Ki 25 (Fall of Judah) 3. that is, “from 627- 605 BC” - Jere 1:2 4. that is, “the prophets” – II Ki 17:13

24:5 The good figs were those Jews who were taken captive and punished, and although they enjoyed very little of life for years, eventually they would accept their correction, as God would restore them (vs 5-7). God considers those who take correction as both humble ( Lev 26 :41- 43 ) and wise (Prov 9:8-12). NOTE – God uses two means of correction to bring about godly results in the lives of His people ( II Chro 33:10 -13). Thus, it all comes down to who can take correction and who cannot. That alone determines what basket we belong in. 24:8 The evil figs were those Jews who were left behind to enjoy another day in sin; and although they enjoyed their freedom for awhile, eventually it all came to an end (vs 8-10). It does for all who reject correction (Prov 15:10). 25:3 Jeremiah had preached, and was ignored ( but ye have not hearkened ), for 23 years. He would continue to preach for another 20 years after this; years in which he would be ridiculed, persecuted, beaten, and nearly killed. NOTE – Whenever we feel like quitting because people fail to respond to God’s message, we need to remember what Jeremiah did and how he stayed faithful to his calling for 43 years (Jere 20:7-9). 25:7 God is not to blame for our hurts… we are ( to your own hurt ). We hurt ourselves due to our choices.