Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Jeremiah 31a - Forever Love

Jeremiah continues to write the scroll in which God desribes the wonderful day of redemption.  God reminds the people of when He formed a bond of forever love with them. A bond meant to last from the time they were refugees from Egypt, all the way until the day they come back to their land after a long long exile.  pronounce this message to the nations of the world, let them all see that God's love is forever and real.

Jeremiah 30 - The Book of Return

Jeremiah lifts his eyes and looks to the future, the end of days when God's Justice will reign, and the wicked will be punished.  God asks him to write this down for generations to come.  Jacob and Israel will return to their land, but when they look to me for salvation.  One day, we will understand.

Jeremiah 29b - An Exchange of Letters

The Jews in exile in Babylon recieve Jeremiah's message, but their own prophets encourage them to ignore the prophets instructions.  Twi such prophets are punished with death immediately, but a third remains steadfast in his evil ways.  Shamayah the Nechelamite sneds a defiant letter back to Jerusalem, encouraging the high priest to punish Jeremiah.  However, God stans behind His prophet and punishes Shemayah.  despite all this, the people still follow the false prophets.

Jeremiah 29a - A Letter to the Exiles

Life is not over in exile, build your homes and families, go in the way of God and seek Him.  Work and pray for the safety and success of your host nation.  God has a bright future in store for you, of only you seek Him with a full heart. This was Jeremiah's message, but the people would rather listen to the false prophets.

Jeremiah 28 - Dueling Prophets

A false prophet named Hananiah ben Azzur stands up and challenges Jeremiah and tells the people what they want to hear.  Jeremiah wins the duel, but the people don't seem to get the message. 

Jeremiah 27 - Yokes and Chains

Jeremiah begs the people to be humble and accept their fate.  Their stubbornness and unwillingness to recognize their corruption and change their ways, has led to the inevitable dominion of Babylon. Jeremiah beseeches the people to accept their fate.  If not, the destruction will be much more complete, and all will be lost.

Jeremiah 26 - Mob Rule

God asks Jeremiah to preach his message in the courtyard of the Temple.  The corrupt religious leadership incites the mob to kill Jeremiah for daring to prophecy in the name of God that punishment was coming.  Some righteous officers defend Jeremiah, and they quote other prophets who have delivered the same message in the name of God.  Ultimately, Jeremiah's life was spared, but his message went ignored by the masses.

Jeremiah 25b - The Drunken Sword

The cycle continues, nations respond to violence with violence, and no one learns the lessons that God is trying to teach.  God tells Jeremiah,
"Take this cup of wine, the wine that represents my wrath, and give it to the nations of the world to drink."  Justice will come to all, there is going to be no escape from the anger of God.

Jeremiah 25a - The Cycle of History

"I have been saying these prophecies for 23 years and you still aren't listening!" says Jeremiah.  Since you still won't change your ways, Babylon will come and destroy you and all your friends and allies.  However, the cycle of history will go on. Babylon's cruelty will also be repaid. After 70 years they will get punished too.  Until all the natiuons of the world learn to stop the cycle of violence, God's cycle of punishments will not stop.

Jeremiah 24 - Two Baskets of Figs

God shows Jeremiah two baskets of figs, one basket is full of fresh juicy figs, and the other are shriveled and rotten.  The people of Judah who go into exile in babylon, and return to God with full hearts, will one day come back and reestablish their kingdom in Jerusalem under God.  The one's who still loook to themselves, and to other nations for help and refuse to mend their ways, will end up like the shriveled figs.