A Case Study of Jeremiah and the Babylonian Captivity

Overview

The definition of a prophet as a foreteller of the future is inadequate based on the Israelites background. It is their role to foretell the future. An analysis of the history of prophecies in the Old Testament reveals that 2% were messianic prophecies, 5% were prophecies to the new covenant church, and 1% was on events that have not happened as of today (Chisholm, 2002). Consequently, it reveals that the rest of the percentage of the foretold prophecies was on the events that were fulfilled in the Old Testament times. Other than foretelling, the prophet's different role was to speak for God to the people (Clements, 1996). It, therefore, stood within their job description to be the enforcers of the covenant that God had made with the Israelites. The Universal message portrayed by the prophets on the enforcement of the agreement was, "You are mine! Walk with me, and I will bless you. Walk away from me, and I will call you back to myself through loving discipline" (Romans 9:11). The prophets, therefore, served as covenantal enforcers between the Israelites and Yahweh by interceding for the people, suffering, encouraging, giving direction, guidance, admonition and correction to the People.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Sinai Covenant

The Sinai Covenant was the central agreement between the Israelites and Yahweh that established Yahweh as the king and the Israelites and the vassal of the Lord. It is a form of as Suzerainty Covenant that involves a stronger party (Suzerain) and a weaker party (Vassal). There had been several covenants between the God and the Israelites' Fore-fathers (Clements, 1996). The Israelites were in captivity in Egypt, and the only form of relationship they were accustomed to was that of a master and a slave. There was, therefore, need to prevent them from the adoption of the same culture within their new promised land (Harner, 1966). Yahweh required a society made of a free nation with high moral standards, lived in peace and one that acted with fairness.

Moses was the mediator between the Israelites and Yahweh. God gave the instructions of the covenant, and everyone had a role to play in the agreement. Yahweh's part of the deal was to make the Israelites His people, make them a kingdom of priests, bless them and make them a holy nation (NIV Exodus 19:6). On the other hand, God provided the Israelites with the Ten Commandments and additional instructions on their conduct regarding the relationship set up by the covenant. The instructions were not all presented at Mt. Sinai. The agreement to obey the voice of the lord also meant taking heed of instructions given later on, long after Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17). The covenant was sealed with burnt sacrifices where half of the blood from the animals sacrificed sprinkled onto the people. The sign for the Sinai covenant was the Sabbath where they would observe it weekly and keep it holy (Van Seters, 2013). It was the role of the prophets to enforce the covenant that God had made with the Israelites. The enforcement job of the prophets involved interceding for the people, suffering, encouraging the people, giving direction, guidance, admonition and correction.

Jeremiah's Role in Enforcing the Sinai Covenant in Response to the Babylonian Exile

The Call of Jeremiah

Yahweh recognizes that he chose Jeremiah before he was born and set him apart from the work of prophecy. He was priest's son, born in Anathoth. He was called to prophesy at the time when Israel tossed itself into a battle with three superpowers: Assyria, Egypt and Babylon. He worked through the administrations of King, Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. Jeremiah was a dubious candidate for the role. He complained about not being able to speak but the Lord touched his mouth, and he was able to talk. Jeremiah also complained about being too young, but Yahweh assured to be with him all the way and rescue him so that he wouldn't be afraid.

During the call of Jeremiah, Yahweh gives him the power to uproot, tear down destroy, overthrow, build and to plant (Jeremiah 1:9). The six functions provide light on the role Jeremiah was to play in the fulfilment of the Sinai covenant. Jeremiah mission was to use God's word to dislocate people by plucking, break down the cultures adopted by the Israelites and later build a new community by the planting of hope. Yahweh could not just bring punishment without explaining why Jeremiah's job was to reveal the reasons to the people.

Warning on Forsaking the Covenant (Jeremiah 11: 1-23)

Jeremiah's primary role was extending the notice to the people of Israel regarding the Covenant that Yahweh had made with them. The covenant was binding and required that each party played their roles according to the rules provided. Yahweh further issues a warning to the false prophets who went around giving false messages even when they had not attended any of His counsel. The signals in Jeremiah's message further came to the Kings of the land who were leading people astray and introduced injustices to the people. Yahweh through Jeremiah warned the Israelites of an imminent disaster that they would not escape if they broke the covenant.

Israel Breaking the Covenant

The Israelites through the years had broken the Sinai covenant, and Jeremiah was sent forth to reveal their offence against Jehovah. The Israelites had taken to worshipping Baal and other Idols against the law of Yahweh. They brought foreign Idols into the temple and sacrificed to them, and it angered Jehovah. The Israelites had forgotten about God's good deeds towards them and started seeking help from alliances with human compatriots (Mendenhall, 1955). They had returned to their way of life before the revealing of the Sinai covenant. After God had given them the Promised Land, the people made the land impure with idolatry, adultery, corruption and greed. The leaders of Israel had rebelled against the Lord, and it brought disgrace to the covenant that Yahweh had made with them. Moreover, they stood accused of exploiting the poor among them, murder and swearing.

Yahweh Keeping His Part of the Covenant

Yahweh, on the other hand, had performed his role as per the covenant. He led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness and protected them from the hunger, drought and enemies that they faced in the desert. He then delivered them to the Promised Land that was rich with fruit and produces. Israel was able to fight their enemies and take over the land with the help of Yahweh. He communicated to them through prophets as it was a way to keep the Israelites in check. When they wronged, he punished them and made their prophets suffer. Yahweh had done everything expected of Him according to the Sinai covenant. The disobedience of Israel would, therefore, warrant punishment from Him.

Consequences of Breaking the Covenant

Yahweh reveals through Jeremiah that He would chasten the Israelites because of their disobedience to the Sinai Covenant. He would bring evil to the land of the Israelite in the form of death, the sword, famine and captivity. The Lord would bring the city down through the Chaldeans who would burn the town to the ground and take the people and the King captive. There were two generations of exile that would exist in Israel. Nebuchadnezzar took captives from Judah and Israel during the time of King Jehoiakim and King Jehoiachin. He took the best and brightest young men of the Royal court in the first exile. The second exile Nebuchadnezzar took the craftsmen and the smiths. After the two exiles, there came the destruction of the land of the Israelites by the Babylonians. The Babylonians then set up the governorship in Israel and left. The remnants that fled to Egypt were destroyed when Babylon conquered Egypt. Those that remained in Israel flourished.

Message of Hope

After the people of Israel have been punished and scattered, Yahweh would then bring them back to their land. Even with their enemies being stronger than them, He would deliver them and watch over them as His flock. Jehovah will then build a mighty nation out of them. He would give them a new king that would ensure peace and Godliness in their ways. The prophecy of the new King was fulfilled through the coming of Yeshua, who was the Israelites, heavenly High Priest (Rofe, 1988). Through Him, the Israelites were set free from their bondage and given peace.

How Jeremiah Plays the Role of Enforcing the Sinai Covenant

Jeremiah was called with the mission of declaring the wrath of God against the people of Israel. He was the carrier of the message of doom against the nation of Israel. He reprimanded the people for their outlawed way of life (Bright, 1965). The Israelites had gone back to their ways before the Sinai Covenant. He reminded them of the agreement they had made with Yahweh and how they sealed it with blood. Yahweh had kept his side of the bargain and had taken care of the Israelites, blessed them, delivered them to the promised land and made them His people (Jeremiah 2:1-19). It was, therefore, the role of the Israelites to keep the end of their bargain by obeying the law of the Covenant.

As the Vassal in the Covenant, it was the role of The Israelites to worship and Give reverence to God. They were also to follow the laws summarized by the Ten Commandments given to Moses and sealed by Yahweh. By defying the rules, the covenant stipulated that they had to get punished (Mendenhall, 1955). Jeremiah was, therefore, the messenger to deliver a warning of the impending punishment to the Israelites. Israel would be the stroke of war, famine, death and destruction (Jeremiah 7:9-11). Jeremiah also brought the message of warning to the King who led the Israelites into the road of unrighteousness. Prophets who spread false words about the Lord were also to be r punished. As a prophet, in addition to foretelling the incoming trouble, he was supposed to lead the Israelites into seeking the face of the Lord and repentance (Rofe, 1988). Those that took heed to his message were redeemed. The punishment was a way of reinforcing the covenant and making the Israelites go back to Jehovah.

After the punishment of the Israelites, Jeremiah foretold of a time that would bring hope back to the Israelite nation. In as much as they were the sinners and had taken into their ways, God still viewed them as his people and therefore would bring them back to his promises according to the original covenant. The future will see Him regroup and rebuild them to form a mighty nation and bless them abundantly. He then promised them a new King and setting up of a new covenant.

Innovations to the Sinai Covenant in the New Testament

Why Sinai Covenant Failed

The Old Sinai Covenant consisted of rules written in stone tablets. It had given everyone their duties according to the covenant. The central ideology of the Sinai covenant was giving blessings for obeying the law and curses for disobedience. The terms were terse, and it based its principles on the values of justice, truth and goodwill. In the initial days of the covenant, Israel was all prosperity and blessing because they had obeyed the law (Hillers, 1969). However, at the time of Jeremiah's prophecy, it was the time for the curses. The motivation for obedience in the Old Testament was fear. Ina as much as there was motivation, the human will, emotions and mind were unwilling to follow (Romans 7:7-25). The human brain and will are more reliant on self-interest than the will of the Lord. The law is therefore ineffective in changing behavior (Uffenheimer, 1999). The code did not correct the heart but instead condemned it. There was the need for charact...