1. Call of the Prophet (ch. 1)
- Jeremiah’s Call and Commission (1:1-19): God calls Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations, emphasizing that He knew Jeremiah before his birth and appointed him to speak to Judah. Despite Jeremiah’s initial reluctance due to his youth, God reassures him and grants him the strength to deliver His message.
2. Warnings and Exhortations to Judah (chs. 2–35)
Earliest Discourses (chs. 2–6)
- Israel’s Unfaithfulness (2:1-37): Jeremiah speaks of Israel’s unfaithfulness, likening the nation to an adulterous wife who has abandoned God for idols.
- Judah’s Corruption and Sin (3:1–4:4): Judah is called to repent and return to God, but they persist in their sin and idolatry.
- The Imminent Judgment (4:5-31): A warning of the coming destruction due to Judah’s unrepentance, with vivid imagery of disaster and mourning.
- Calls to Repent and the Call of the Prophet (5:1–6:30): Jeremiah denounces Judah for their sinful ways and calls for repentance, outlining the consequences of their actions and the impending destruction.
Temple Message (chs. 7–10)
- The Temple Sermon (7:1-15): Jeremiah denounces Judah’s false security in the Temple, warning them that it will be destroyed if they do not repent.
- Idolatry and the Lord’s Judgment (7:16–10:25): Judah’s idolatry and rejection of God’s ways are condemned. The Lord calls for true repentance and a return to righteousness.
Covenant and Conspiracy (chs. 11–13)
- The Broken Covenant (11:1-17): Jeremiah speaks against the people’s failure to keep the covenant with God, and the consequences they will face.
- The Symbol of the Linen Belt (13:1-11): God uses the imagery of a ruined belt to symbolize Judah’s disgrace and impending judgment.
- The Ruin of Judah’s Pride (13:12-27): Judah’s pride and their disobedience to God’s law will lead to their downfall.
Messages concerning the Drought (chs. 14–15)
- The Drought and its Consequences (14:1-22): A prophecy concerning the drought in Judah, symbolizing the spiritual famine due to Judah’s sin.
- Judah’s Rejection of God (15:1-9): God laments the people’s rejection, declaring judgment upon them but promising restoration.
3. Disaster and Comfort (16:1—17:18)
- Jeremiah’s Personal Sufferings (16:1-13): God forbids Jeremiah from marrying or having children, and foretells the desolation that will come to Judah.
- Jeremiah’s Lament (16:14-21): A lament for the coming judgment and a call to return to God.
- Lessons of the Heart (17:1-18): A call for repentance, emphasizing that those who trust in the Lord will be blessed, while those who turn to sin will face destruction.
Command to Keep the Sabbath Holy (17:19–27)
- Observance of the Sabbath: The command to keep the Sabbath holy is reinforced as a sign of Judah’s faithfulness to God. Disobedience will lead to disaster.
4. Lessons from the Potter (chs. 18–20)
- The Potter and the Clay (18:1-12): God’s sovereignty is emphasized through the image of the potter who can shape and reshape the clay. Judah can still repent and change their course.
- Jeremiah’s Imprisonment and Lament (20:1-18): Jeremiah faces persecution from the people, and he laments his calling due to the pain it brings. Despite his suffering, he reaffirms his trust in God.
5. Condemnation of Kings, Prophets, and People (chs. 21–24)
- Judgment on King Zedekiah (21:1-14): King Zedekiah is warned of the inevitable fall of Jerusalem and the defeat by Babylon.
- Condemnation of False Prophets (23:9-40): False prophets are denounced for misleading the people, and a promise is given that a righteous king (the Messiah) will one day come.
6. Foretelling the Babylonian Exile (chs. 25–29)
- Seventy Years of Exile (25:1-14): A prophecy that Judah will face 70 years of exile in Babylon, after which they will be restored.
- The Fall of the Nations (25:15-38): God’s judgment on the nations that will be used to bring about Judah’s exile, including Babylon.
- Letter to the Exiles in Babylon (29:1-32): Jeremiah sends a letter to those already exiled, telling them to settle down in Babylon and live peacefully, as their exile will last for a long time.
7. Promises of Restoration (chs. 30–33)
- The Restoration of Israel and Judah (30:1-24): A message of hope for the future restoration of the people after their punishment.
- The New Covenant (31:31-34): God promises a new covenant, one that will be written on their hearts, restoring Israel and Judah to Himself.
- The Future of Jerusalem (33:1-26): The city will be restored, and David’s throne will be re-established in righteousness.
8. Historical Appendix (chs. 34–35)
- Zedekiah’s Rebellion and the Fall of Jerusalem (34:1-22): The end of the kingdom of Judah is foretold. Zedekiah’s disobedience leads to the fall of Jerusalem.
- The Rechabites’ Example (35:1-19): A brief historical account of the Rechabites, who faithfully obeyed their ancestor’s commands, contrasting their obedience with Judah’s rebellion.
9. Sufferings and Persecutions of the Prophet (chs. 36–38)
- Burning Jeremiah’s Scroll (36:1-32): King Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah’s scroll in defiance of God’s message, and a new scroll is written with the same words.
- Jeremiah’s Imprisonment (chs. 37-38): Jeremiah is thrown into prison for his prophecies, but he continues to speak truth, and he is later rescued.
10. The Fall of Jerusalem and Its Aftermath (chs. 39–45)
- The Fall of Jerusalem (39:1-18): The city of Jerusalem falls to Babylon, and the people are exiled.
- The Reign of Gedaliah (40:1-16): Gedaliah is made governor of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem but is later assassinated.
- Migration to Egypt (41:16-43:13): After Gedaliah’s death, the remnant of Judah flees to Egypt, and Jeremiah prophesies against them.
- Prophecy against the People in Egypt (44:1-30): A final warning is given to those who have fled to Egypt, urging them to repent.
11. Judgment against the Nations (chs. 46–51)
- Judgment on Egypt (46:1-28): A prophecy against Egypt for its alliance with Judah and the eventual defeat by Babylon.
- Judgment on Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, and other nations (46:1-49:39): A series of prophecies against the surrounding nations.
- Judgment on Babylon (50:1-51:64): Prophecies against Babylon, which will eventually fall, and the people will be exiled.
12. Historical Appendix: The Fall of Jerusalem and Final Words (ch. 52)
- The Fall of Jerusalem and the End of the Kingdom: The final chapter of Jeremiah recounts the fall of Jerusalem and the captivity of the people, summarizing the tragic end of the nation’s defiance against God.