In what ways does Jeremiah 22:2 connect to Deuteronomy 17:18-20 about kings? The Royal Summons in Jeremiah 22:2 “‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah who sits on David’s throne—you, your officials, and your people who enter these gates.’” The Foundational Charge in Deuteronomy 17:18-20 “When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, so that his heart will not be lifted up above his brothers and he will not turn aside from the command to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants will reign long in the kingdom.” How Jeremiah 22:2 Echoes Deuteronomy 17:18-20 • Same Audience: – Deuteronomy 17 addresses “the king… seated on his royal throne.” – Jeremiah 22:2 calls out “O king of Judah who sits on David’s throne.” Both passages zero in on the monarch himself. • Centrality of God’s Word: – Deuteronomy 17: “write… read… observe all the words.” – Jeremiah 22:2: “Hear the word of the LORD.” Jeremiah’s plea is the prophetic enforcement of Moses’ earlier command. • Accountability Beyond the Crown: – Deuteronomy 17 warns the king not to exalt “his heart… above his brothers.” – Jeremiah 22:2 summons “your officials, and your people” to listen alongside the king, underscoring shared responsibility. • Purpose of Obedience: – Deuteronomy 17: “that he and his descendants will reign long.” – Jeremiah 22 (vv. 4-5): promises stability for obedience, exile for refusal. Jeremiah applies the covenant blessings / curses spelled out in Deuteronomy (cf. Deuteronomy 28). • Humility Versus Pride: – Deuteronomy 17:20 stresses a humble heart. – Jeremiah 22:13-17 indicts kings whose pride led to oppression. The prophet exposes how they failed the Deuteronomic standard. • Levitical Oversight and Prophetic Oversight: – Deuteronomy 17: the copy is written “in the presence of the Levitical priests.” – Jeremiah 22: Jeremiah, a priest-prophet (Jeremiah 1:1), now stands as God’s inspector, showing that when priests no longer guide the king, God raises a prophet to do it. Additional Scriptures That Tie the Threads Together • 2 Kings 23:1-3 – King Josiah fulfills Deuteronomy 17 by reading the Book of the Law to the people. • Psalm 119:46 – “I will speak of Your testimonies before kings.” • Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8 – Echo the justice Jeremiah demands in 22:3-4, rooted in Torah. Key Takeaways for Modern Readers • God’s Word remains the supreme standard for leadership (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Hearing Scripture without obeying it invites judgment (James 1:22-25). • Genuine authority serves humbly, never exalting itself over those it leads (Mark 10:42-45). |
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