Lifespan

Jeremiah lived at the time of the turn of the sixth century B.C.

Ministry

Jeremiah’s ministry lasted in Judah for 40 years, from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah  in 627 B.C. until 586 B.C.

Preparation and Calling

Jeremiah was ordained in his premortal existence to become a prophet (Jeremiah 1:4-5).

Interaction with God

Jeremiah’s principle recorded interactions with Deity seem to come in the form of his prophecies. The book does contain several instances in which Jeremiah bares his soul as he questions the effectiveness of his work, however, that may have a parallel to the laments of Nephi, the son of one of Jeremiah’s contemporaries (Jeremiah 11-12; 15; 17; 18; 20; 2 Nephi 4).

Social Situation

The people were in a severe downward moral slide, and Jeremiah rose up to combat the trend from his role as prophet-relentless in his warnings against the idolatry and immorality that was rampant in Judah (Jeremiah 3:1-5; 7:8-10).

Key Teachings

From Jeremiah we have a witness of man’s premortal existence, the gathering of Israel one and two at a time, and a prophecy of the Lord’s missionaries going out into the world as fishers and hunters of men.

Jeremiah’s ministry paralleled that of other local prophets, such as Lehi. Some of Jeremiah’s prophecies were contained in the brass plates, and he is quoted in the nearly contemporary but nonbiblical records of 1 Nephi and again later in the book of Helaman.

Prophecies of Christ

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jer. 23:5).

Living with the Prophet

Have you ever done something right and found that others made fun of you-or worse-because of your good actions? The Prophet Jeremiah understood what it felt like to be rejected for standing up for God and His message. He was beaten, thrown in jail, and even left in a well to die-all for delivering what he felt was God’s message to His people. Resolve today that you will be willing to stand as a witness for God in all places, despite the consequences.

Sources

Learning Bible

Holy Bible, book of Jeremiah

Oxford Companion to the Bible, s.v. “Jeremiah, the Book of”

Encyclopedia of Religion, s.v. “Jeremiah”