THE STORY OF JEREMIAH

Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, a priest of Anathoth. His name means "raised up or appointed by Jehovah." He was called to be a prophet when he was young in the thirteenth year of Josiah around 628 B.C. Jeremiah was scared when God first called him, for he was just a boy and had little experience, but God urged him to trust in himself and God (Jeremiah 1). He left his native place and went to Jerusalem where he assisted Josiah in his work. Josiah eventually died in a hopeless attempt to ward of an enemy in battle. Jeremiah was greatly persecuted under the kingship of Jehoiakim; he was even imprisoned under the rule of Jehoiakim. He remained in Jerusalem until Nebuchadnezzar besieged the city. Jeremiah tried to turn around the sinful ways of the people of Jerusalem, but they would remain with their pagan gods unless they got a covenant with no requirements FOR THEM. Jeremiah was put into prison again after announcing that God wouldn't preform miracles for this selfish society and the Chaldeans would come and take the city of Jerusalem. He remained in prison until the city of Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans in 588 B.C. The Chaldeans released him and he resided in Mizpah with Gedaliah, who was governor of Judea at the time. Johanan succeeded Gedaliah and brought Jeremiah down into Egypt where he spent the remainder of his life seeking to turn people toward the Lord. Towards the end of his life, Jeremiah saw the sacred city, Jerusalem, surrounded by Babylonians. He saw the destruction of the city and began living in exile in the land of Egypt. He was often very lonely because of the fact that God asked him no to take a wife. Every once in a while a disciple would sit with him and he could share his thoughts. Nothing is certain of Jeremiah's death but many people believe that he died in Babylon with the army of Nebuchadnezzar.