Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets

Volume I: A Kingdom Divided

Lesson 27 Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet
the Second Book of the Kings 23:31—24:20
the Book of Jeremiah 1:4–10
the Book of Jeremiah 2:1–2
the Book of Jeremiah 3:1
the Book of Jeremiah 3:6–10
the Book of Jeremiah 7:1–4
the Book of Jeremiah 7:16
the Book of Jeremiah 14:13–19
the Book of Jeremiah 19:1–11a
the Book of Jeremiah 19:14–15
the Book of Jeremiah 20:7–13
the Book of Jeremiah 22:24–30

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for Thus Says the LORD—Volume I
cross references in Thus Says the LORD—Volume I
next lesson: The Fall of Jerusalem

This material coordinates with Lesson 27 on pages 164–171 in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.

“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, and I showed myself their Master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”—the Book of Jeremiah 31:31–34

welcome to Volume I of our in-depth study of the biblical prophets
We invite you to check out the sample first lesson and video from Volume I of this Turning to God’s Word two-part Catholic Bible study. Our online pages link to the free related lesson videos, a glossary, and cross references in the biblical text, and include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided contains 28 lessons and has been granted an imprimatur. It may be purchased from our website shop. The companion 23-lesson Volume II: Restoration & Redemption also is available for purchase. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.

open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

let’s review—the Second Book of the Kings 23:1–30, the Book of Habakkuk 1:1–3, the Book of Habakkuk 2:1–4, the Book of Habakkuk 2:18–20, and the Book of Habakkuk 3:16–19a
In Lesson 26 Josiah Institutes Reforms, the northern kingdom has been conquered by Assyria and the people deported to other locations. In the southern kingdom, however, finding of the book of the law in the Temple at Jerusalem motivates Josiah to assume religious responsibility for the spiritual life of the people. He undertakes major religious reforms, including reinstating observance of the Passover and eliminating anything that would compete with the worship of the LORD. The biblical text describes Josiah in glowing terms, but he dies in battle with the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo. After Josiah’s death, the people of Judah anoint his son Jehoahaz as their king. Habakkuk prophesies in Judah, warning the people there of difficulties to come as a result of their continued sins against the LORD. 

map notes—Egypt’s continuing role
Josiah’s reign was a high point for the Judah, but after he dies his son Jehoahaz continues to quarrel with Egypt. Instead of killing him, Pharaoh Neco takes him into captivity, an act that both recalls the time God’s people spent enslaved in Egypt and one anticipating that the people are about to enter into a new captivity—only this time it not in Egypt. It’s noteworthy that after Jehoahaz is hauled away, Neco installs the next king of Judah. Although Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim by the Egyptian pharaoh) also is a son of Josiah, he’s not the one who was designated by birth order to become king. Judah’s kings aren’t intended to be appointed by foreign rulers. Pharaoh Neco’s control over Judah indicates that the surviving southern kingdom has little autonomy and no longer is able to play a significant role in international politics. Click on the map (right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 169 in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided. 

non serviam (01:19:31)
In this video, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps looks at the behavior of the kings of Judah after Josiah. The Latin phrase non serviam, which means “I will not serve, characterizes their behavior.” Because of Satan’s unwillingness to serve the LORD, the phrase non serviam often is used in describing the reason behind his expulsion from heaven. The last batch of kings to rule Judah not only are unwilling to serve the LORD, they operate under the false idea that they need serve no interests other than their own, a type of thinking that humanity can fall into all too easily. Serving God is a choice open to all men and women, but it’s a mistake to think that in choosing not to serve the LORD it’s possible for us to be our own masters. If we aren’t serving God, we’re at the mercy of our own selfishness—which automatically aligns us with forces of evil. Learn more about sin and its consequences in Lesson 3 The Fall of Adam & Eve in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis.


The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the ranges for the sets of questions in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided. You can follow along with the video as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 27, “Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet,” on pages 164–171 in the study book.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about Egypt’s role in Judah’s affairs?
The Second Book of the Kings 23:31–35 describes the inevitable outcome for those who decide against  loving and serving the LORD.

?  While Christians understand Paul’s warning in his Letter to the Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death,” it’s not equally well understood that sinners begin receiving the paycheck right away. The death-dealing consequences of sin aren’t limited to sometime in the future. Consider ways in which sin has had a negative impact on your life.
?  How does the natural human desire to try to remain in control open men and women to the dangers of sin?
?  What evidence can an individual point to showing that he or she has surrendered their life to God?
?  In what areas of life might Christians still be attempting to control?
?  Consider the ways in which salvation is linked to submission to the will of God.

in Babylon, out Egypt—it’s all part of God’s plan
Egypt has been holding sway on the international stage, but now the Second Book of the Kings 23:36—24:7 describes a power shift. Babylon decides to get involved in affairs of the region, and their interest extends to Judah. Although Jehoiakim becomes king at behest of the Egyptian Pharaoh, he retains his limited position by paying tribute to whatever nation is in power—first Egypt and then Babylon. When he balks at serving Babylon, his days are numbered. Judah has become insignificant on the world stage. God isn’t interested in international politics. It makes no difference whether Egypt or Babylon is top dog—what concerns the LORD is whether his people love him and are following his commandments.  

who’s taken to Babylon in the first exile?
The Second Book of the Kings 24:8–20 describes the first wave of the Babylonian Exile, which occurred in 597 B.C. Jehoiachin, king of Judah, surrenders to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. (Jehoiachin is called Coniah or Jeconiah in the Book of Jeremiah.) Not all of the people of Judah are deported at that time, only those with useful skills or those who could cause an uprising if they were allowed to remain. This first wave of exile cripples for generations any chance of the nation being restored. What remains of Judah is left under the rule of Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle. The many similar names in the First and Second Books of the Kings can be difficult to keep straight, but all of the proper nouns in the biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided are in our online glossary.

Jeremiah gets an early start
The prophet’s call is recorded in the Book of Jeremiah 1:4–10, and it indicates that Jeremiah is young when he’s commissioned to speak for the LORD. He has no credentials other than those given to him by God. Jeremiah’s calling as a prophet was determined before his birth, and his influence stretches over the lifetimes of the last five kings of Judah. God’s ongoing message is delivered with one voice during a prolonged period of change. Because Jeremiah witnesses the reign of Josiah, he’s able to speak to the times and to understand the extreme changes that the people are experiencing. Jeremiah doesn’t only issue warnings that forecast the fall of Judah, he also foretells what the people are going to need to do in order to make it through their exile and return to serving the LORD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about the relevance of Jeremiah’s prophecies today?
The Book of Jeremiah 2:1–2, 3:1, and 3:6–10 contain disturbing prophecies related to Judah’s inability to learn from the faithlessness of the northern kingdom of Israel. In the Book of Jeremiah 7:1–4, the prophet warns that the people aren’t to rely for protection on the fact that they’ve constructed a building as a dwelling for the LORD. Furthermore, in the Book of Jeremiah 7:16, God specifically instructs the prophet not to attempt to intercede for the people.

?  What fate can Judah expect as a result of the people’s inability to learn from the faithlessness of the northern kingdom?
?  What does God hope to achieve?
?  The problems of Israel and Judah can be traced to the people consciously choosing to separate themselves from God. What are some ways that present-day Christians choose to separate from God’s love?
?  What can individuals expect as a consequence of cutting themselves off from God?
?  What provision does the Church offer that allows each believer to restore and renew his or her relationship with God?
?  Consider why the LORD isn’t moved to protect the people of Judah merely because the Temple is located in Jerusalem.
?  What material things might tempt present-day Christians to think that God’s protection is ensured?
?  Salvation means safety, which is only guaranteed once we enter heaven. What sort of behavior is necessary in order to attain such safety?

what shapes false prophecies?
In the Book of Jeremiah 14:13–19, the prophet warns against believing false messages that suggest all is well. While it’s easy to see malice and ill intent in such positive prophecies, it’s also possible that those delivering the messages simply can’t see clearly. The people have severed their relationship with God so thoroughly that it’s no longer possible for them to recognize when they’re in a dangerous spiritual situation. The prophets foretelling that all is good may mean well. It can be human nature to turn away from negative messages that we don’t want to hear. We nevertheless bear responsibility for doing what we know is right in order to retain a close relationship with God.

an unwelcome sign
Unambiguous gloom and doom is the message of the Book of Jeremiah 19:14–15, preceded by the sign of broken pottery indicating God is done waiting around for the descendants of Jacob to repent. Exile is inevitable, and that’s not a message the people want to hear in terms of their national identity as people of God living in the city of God. Humanity sets up constructs that are as fragile as pottery, and in many cases what we value is of no importance to the LORD. Going to Mass every Sunday doesn’t replace having a relationship with God based on lives dedicated to wholehearted service to the LORD.

duped—you could look it up in our archives
The frequently quoted Book of Jeremiah 20:7—”O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived…” can be translated as “O LORD, you duped me, and I let myself be duped.” The Hebrew word פָּתָה (pathah) has a range of meanings including enticement, persuasion, and deception, as well as allure or flattery. While the idea of deception creates an intriguing dynamic in terms of understanding God’s relationship with Jeremiah, it also seems inconsistent with the remainder of the passage. Learn more about the meaning of the word “duped” by reading Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.

Judah is about to undergo a severe identity crisis
The prophet Jeremiah, in the Book of Jeremiah 22:24–30, criticizes the kingship in Judah and foretells what appears to be the end of the Davidic dynasty. Jeremiah’s prophecies point to the surprising fulfillment of the prophecy in the seventh chapter in the Second Book of Samuel, in which the LORD promises an eternal kingship in the line of David. The people of Judah are about to lose access to both their king and their claim to the Promised Land, but all isn’t what it appears to be. The kingship as they have known it isn’t the kingship that God has in mind, and the promise of the land hasn’t yet been fulfilled. What’s needed is a proper king to lead the people in correct worship of the LORD. Before that can happen, the people must repent and return to loving and serving God. The Exile isn’t a punishment but an opportunity. The second volume in this Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study, Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption, examines salvation history following the Babylonian Exile.

what’s happening when & where
Click on the timeline for Lesson 27 to expand it. It also appears on page 170 in the study book. (Jehoiachin is referred to as Coniah or Jeconiah in the Book of Jeremiah.)

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic Bible study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however, including the following passages from this lesson: the Second Book of the Kings 23:31—24:20, the Book of Jeremiah 3:1, the Book of Jeremiah 7:1–4, the Book of Jeremiah 7:16, the Book of Jeremiah 14:13–19, the Book of Jeremiah 19:1–11a, the Book of Jeremiah 19:14–15, and the Book of Jeremiah 22:24–30.

the Book of Jeremiah 1:5—paragraph 2270
the Book of Jeremiah 1:6—paragraph 2584
the Book of Jeremiah 2:1–37—paragraph 762
the Book of Jeremiah 3:4–19—paragraph 370
the Book of Jeremiah 20:7–18—paragraph 2584

ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.

to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following links are to readings from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, open one of the links and click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV readings provide an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical texts. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the Second Book of the Kings 23:31—24:20 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 1:4–10 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 2:1–2  (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 3:1 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 3:6–10 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 7:1–4 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 7:16 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 14:13–19 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 19:1–11a (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 19:14–15 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 20:7–13 (NIV)
the Book of Jeremiah 22:24–30 (NIV)

round black doveclose with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers, you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following prayer based on this lesson’s biblical texts.

O God, you sent the prophet Jeremiah
to warn your people not to be complacent
about their relationship with the LORD.
Grant us the grace to support our outward religious practices
with sincere love reflected in how we treat others.
We ask this in the name of Christ the King,
who through his Passion, death, and Resurrection
taught humanity what it means to love. Amen.

Lesson 28 The Fall of Jerusalem—the Second Book of the Kings 25:1–30, the Book of Jeremiah 23:1–8, the Book of Jeremiah 26:1–24, the Book of Jeremiah 29:10–13, the Book of Jeremiah 31:31–34, the Book of Jeremiah 36:1–6a, the Book of Jeremiah 36:14–16;, the Book of Jeremiah 36:21–24, and the Book of Jeremiah 36:27–31
Lesson 26 Josiah Institutes Reforms—the Second Book of the Kings 23:1–30, the Book of Habakkuk 1:1–3, the Book of Habakkuk 2:1–4, the Book of Habakkuk 2:18–20, and the Book of Habakkuk 3:16–19a

you also may like our free Lenten study of Jesus’ Passion (digital only)
Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Click on the book’s cover to view the introduction. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on the website during Lent.

start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets— Volume I: A Kingdom Divided. Information about beginning this or one of our other Turning to God’s Word Bible studies can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I always are available to answer your Bible-study questions or concerns. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Scripture on the online study pages for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided links to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE). The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. A handful of significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.