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I. Jeremiah's Life

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:4-8, ESV)

1. Family Background: Jeremiah was born in the land of Benjamin into a priestly family in Anathoth. His father was Hilkiah. Around 627 BC (the thirteenth year of King Josiah of Judah), he was called, at which time he was very young (claiming himself a young man). Although he was initially afraid due to his perceived inadequacy, God promised to give him the word and appoint him as a "prophet to the nations."'" 2. His Ministry: Jeremiah's ministry spanned approximately 40 years, serving under five kings during the final years of Judah (Joseph, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah).

3. Core Message: He openly condemned the people's idolatry, moral decay, and the greed of their leaders. He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon and advised the king and people to surrender to save their lives.

4. Persecution: His prophecies contradicted the prevailing political opinion (pro-Egypt), and he was considered a traitor. He was threatened by his fellow countrymen, publicly humiliated, flogged, and repeatedly imprisoned in dungeons or in the courtyards of the guards.

5. Personal Sacrifice: God commanded Jeremiah to remain unmarried throughout his life as a symbol of impending judgment, representing the end of family joy in the land.

6. Later Years and Fate: In 586 BC, the Babylonian army conquered Jerusalem, and Jeremiah's prophecy was fully fulfilled. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon released him and gave him the choice to go to Babylon or remain in Jerusalem. Jeremiah chose to stay and serve the remnant.

7. Forced Exile: Later, the remnant of Judah rebelled against Babylon. Although Jeremiah warned against fleeing, he was forcibly taken to Egypt. It is said that he died in Egypt. Regarding the exact cause of his death, one account claims he was stoned to death by a mob while preaching to the Jews in Egypt.

II. Jeremiah May Be from Eli's Family

1. Key Location: Anathoth
The Book of Jeremiah begins by introducing him as " one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin" (Jeremiah 1:1). This is a very important clue.

2. The History of Exile of Eli's Family
During the time of King Solomon, the high priest Abiathar (a descendant of Eli) was dismissed by Solomon for supporting Adonijah's usurpation of the throne. The Bible records:

"And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your estate...'" (1 Kings 2:26) This exile ended the Eli family's position as high priests in Jerusalem, fulfilling God's judgment on the Eli family.

3. Connecting Clues

Location Match: Anathoth was the settlement of Eli's descendants (Abiathar's family) after their exile.

Priestly Identity: Jeremiah came from a priestly family in Anathoth.

Jeremiah's prophecies repeatedly mention the desolation of Shiloh (Eli's former ministry), warning Jerusalem (Jeremiah 7:12-14). This shows his strong resonance with and understanding of the historical tragedy of the Eli family.

III. Jeremiah is called the Weeping Prophet

Jeremiah is called "The Weeping Prophet" not because of weakness, but because he bore unimaginable suffering. His tears contained love for his country, despair over the unrepentant nature of his people, and his profound personal loneliness.

1. The True Emotion Revealed in His Tears (Scriptural Basis)
Jeremiah openly expressed his inner sorrow in scripture, most famously in his desire to weep all night for his people:

Oh that my head were waters,
and my eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night
for the slain of the daughter of my people! (Jeremiah 9:1, ESV)

2. Jesus Also Wept for Jerusalem

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. (Luke 19:41-42, ESV) This passage depicts the immense sorrow Jesus felt as he looked down upon Jerusalem from the foot of the Mount of Olives. The reasons for Jesus' weeping:

⑴ Foreseeing Future Destruction: Jesus prophesied the devastating calamity that would befall the city. He mentioned that the enemy would build earthen ramparts to besiege the holy city, leaving "not a single stone on a stone." This was fully realized in history when the Roman army captured Jerusalem in 70 AD.

(2) Sorrow for the people's stubbornness: Like Jeremiah, Jesus saw that the people and religious leaders rejected the Savior (King of Peace) sent by God, missing their chance to be "favored."

(3) Lament for the loss of peace: The name Jerusalem means "foundation of peace," but Jesus lamented that they did not know what truly brought peace, instead choosing the path to destruction.

IV. Jeremiah is called the prophet of the nations

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’(Jeremiah 31:10, ESV) The coastlands far away mentioned here likely refer to Taiwan!
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