Our whole week's reading lies in the book of Jeremiah, chapters 7 to 30, inclusive. The reader will notice that the chapters are not in chronological order after chapter 20 until one reaches chapter 46. For instance, chapter 21 has to do with the reign of Zedekiah, while chapter 25 is a prophecy that was given in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. It has been suggested that the manuscripts of the different prophecies of Jeremiah, when gathered together by Ezra, and others of the Great Synagogue, were not placed in chronological order. Consequently, the book itself is in the order that it is now. This does not militate in any way against the book, its inspiration, or what it tells us. If the reader wishes to read from chapter 20 on in chronological order, or at least approximately so, we give the following: After chapter 20 read 22, 23, 25, 26, 35, 36, 45, 24, 29, 30, 31, 27, 28, 21, 34, 37, 32, 33, 38, 39:15-18; 39:1-14. Following this, chapters 40-44, 46. From that they are in order to the close.
The reader will be strongly impressed, if he reads thoughtfully, with the constant sadness and depression which must have borne down the prophet as he gave his awful messages to backslidden Israel. And yet, in all these messages there was opportunity for Israel to repent. If they had heeded the voice of the prophet, had surrendered themselves to the King of Babylon, had been willing in a submissive spirit to meet God's judgments which were visited upon them, Jerusalem would have stood, and the awful calamities would not then have come upon her. But religion had become with Israel a mere form, and mingled with the worship of God were the grossest forms of idolatry. Jeremiah was accused of treason to the State, was said to be in league with the Babylonians, false prophets innumerable rose up, flattering the ear of the kings and speaking peace. But Jeremiah, who lived as in the presence of God, gave God's message. It is indeed a wonderful story of a nation and a man.
