How does Jeremiah 29:17 connect with God's warnings in Deuteronomy 28? The Scene in Jeremiah 29 • Jeremiah writes to the exiles in Babylon, relaying the LORD’s verdict on the unrepentant back in Jerusalem. • “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I will make them like rotten figs, so disgusting they cannot be eaten. I will pursue them with the sword, famine, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth…’ ” (Jeremiah 29:17–18). Deuteronomy 28—The Covenant Framework • Deuteronomy 28 lays out two clear paths: – vv.1-14 — blessings for obedience. – vv.15-68 — curses for disobedience. • Key curses that mirror Jeremiah’s prophecy: – Plague: “The LORD will make the plague cling to you…” (v.21). – Famine/drought: “The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust…” (v.24). – Sword/defeat: “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies…” (v.25). – Scattering among nations: “The LORD will scatter you among all peoples…” (v.64). Direct Parallels • Sword → Deuteronomy 28:25; Jeremiah 29:17. • Famine → Deuteronomy 28:24, 48; Jeremiah 29:17. • Plague → Deuteronomy 28:21, 59-61; Jeremiah 29:17. • Exile and worldwide horror → Deuteronomy 28:37, 64-67; Jeremiah 29:18. Rotten Figs—A Visual of Covenant Curse • Good figs once symbolized the obedient remnant (Jeremiah 24:5-7). • Rotten figs picture the covenant-breakers now experiencing Deuteronomy 28 curses—unfit for use, headed for destruction. Why the Connection Matters • Jeremiah is not announcing a new penalty; he is invoking the predetermined consequences Moses recorded centuries earlier. • The exile proves God keeps His word to the letter—both promises and warnings (cf. Joshua 23:14-16). God’s Faithfulness—Warning and Hope • The same chapter (Jeremiah 29:10-14) promises restoration after the seventy years—echoing the return glimpsed in Deuteronomy 30:1-6. • The literal fulfillment of curses assures the literal fulfillment of future blessings. Takeaways for Today • God’s covenant words stand unchanged; disobedience still reaps devastation (Galatians 6:7-8). • His judgments are just, but His mercy waits for repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14). • Trust Scripture’s accuracy: history testifies that every word—warning or promise—comes true (Matthew 24:35). |
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