Growing up, our family had two favorite traditions on Friday nights: homemade tacos and movies. It was a celebratory way to signal the end of a work/school week with two things that we could all get behind, although agreeing on taco ingredients was far easier than agreeing on a film choice. One night, we chose How Green Was My Valley, based on the 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn.
We had absolutely zero context going into it. Spoiler alert: after spending two hours immersed in heartbreaking conflict, death, and thwarted love set in a grueling coal-mining village, we breathed a sigh of relief and pronounced it “the most depressing thing we’d ever seen.” The movie later became an inside joke in our family. Being more of the Singin’ in the Rain type, any time one of us would suggest another film showing, we’d shout from across the room, “As long as it’s not How Green Was My Valley, right?”
Whether or not our unprofessional critique was a fair and accurate depiction of the story, this is what much of the book of Jeremiah feels like. It’s a rough read. The fall of Jerusalem is the last account in our Lenten study before entering into Holy Week, and in it an army sieges the city, and people are slaughtered right and left. However, though destruction, exile, and death are emphasized themes, the book ends with Judah’s King Jehoiachin getting released from prison and re-established in the presence of the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 52:31–33). Whew! Yes! At last! After such a heartbreaking saga, we end with gestures of kindness and mercy. But is it enough?
Maybe it’s a bit of a leap, but we could say that Jeremiah’s conclusion foreshadows our knowledge this side of the cross that just when things look darkest, hope is on the move. God did not abandon His plan for redemption. Although Nebuzaradan burned the Lord’s temple (Jeremiah 52:13), Jeremiah and the people of Judah, Israel, and Babylon are just a few key players on a long timeline of history. Remember that God came as Jesus and allowed the temple of His own body to be destroyed so it could be raised and restored for our salvation (John 2:19–21).
Going into today’s reading with this knowledge frames the story in hope. Friends, as we finish Jeremiah’s story, let’s choose to find the incomparable hope nestled among the pages of its conclusion. Because, really, it’s only a temporary conclusion. Mercy is not forgotten. Jesus Christ came, and He is coming again.
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45 thoughts on "The Fall of Jerusalem"
Amen… when things looked there darkest, Hope is on the move :)
What a journey we have been on! Suddenly exile has a whole new meaning. And yet , God so clearly told them that if they would submit to the enemy (doing what was uncomfortable and seemed abnormal) they would be spared the worst. How timely!
I’m glad we get to end the story with even a tiny shred of hope.
Jeremiah was a hard study for me in light of world events today. My eyes have been opened to God’s grace and mercy through hard times and I’m now even more grateful for His never-ending love. Stay safe my sisters.
Amen…powerful, we are so blessed
Kat will pray for you. Thanks for sharing your heart.
I cried at this. Gosh- this book during this time has been a lot for my soul. And there is a part of me that selfishly wants to read something happy and uplifting. But the glimpse of mercy at the end is a beautiful foreshadowing of what is to come in holy week. I am thankful for this community and that SRT encouraged us to go through this book. Like this crisis we are walking through and in the end we live in the hope that God is good and that we will endure.
Blessings Family!
Daniella Moore
Alexxa, how exciting! So happy to hear your great news! Praying for you all of course!
Hi, SRT ladies! I am so thankful to be a part of this amazing community, and to read the Word with you all. I would like to ask for prayer for my husband and I! We just found out we’re expecting and we are VERY excited, but also very anxious.. we miscarried our first back in December and that was very hard on us. I’m just asking for prayers of peace and health for all three of us! I thank you ladies for your daily words and thoughts. I have learned so much from you all! You all are in my thoughts ❤️ and I thank you in advance for the prayers!
Praying for His peace that passes all understanding
Praying for you!
I love that God is in the business of rebuilding, whether it be his temple, our lives or himself. I’m so glad we serve a God who keeps us on our toes.
Cyndi, thank you for sharing about your journey with eating during this season! I relate so much. I just finished a book, Tasting Grace by Melissa d’Arabian, that was such a blessing to me on this topic. It’s written with so much authenticity and vulnerability, and reminds us that although our relationship with food is a complex one, food is ultimately a gift from God and an invitation to a deeper relationship with Him and others. If you have the time to give it a read, I pray it blesses you!
Meredith, I read that book also and really enjoyed it. I especially loved how she emphasized that food is to be shared. Breaking bread with others is something that is precious. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Mari V, I totally understand what you are saying concerning your mom. Mine is the same way, stuck in the traditions of Mexico. She is a Christian as well. At times she can be very trying but I’m trying really hard to extend grace.
Thank you Claudia! And trust me I fall short all the time. Yesterday my sister who lives in Florida called to check on me and I was able to vent. All my siblings and I were born here in California.
I agree that the scripture readings were hard to get through at times. So long and so much destruction again and again. Some days it felt like a chore to read it. But the devotions tied into the readings helped me find the hope in Jeremiah that we need right now with current circumstances. God loves his people and he keeps coming back for us, despite our wandering from him. And he can bring new life from destruction, in Jeremiah’s day, in Jesus’ day, and in our current day, praise God!
Thanks to all y’all for helping me through this study. Your comments were informative, uplifting and showed me where to find hope. You are in my prayers.
Bailey Gillespie wrote “…just when things look darkest, hope is on the move.” I believe this is what we all needed to hear right now. I think I will be writing these words on an index card and posting them where I can read them frequently. God’s hope is something I sometimes forget about. The hope that a vaccine and medications to combat this terrible virus will be found soon. The hope that my loved ones, friends and SRT sisters won’t be effected by this virus. And the hope that after all of this we, all the nations can remain at peace and remember how we fought a common foe. “Mercy is not forgotten.”
Love this❤️❤️❤️
Jeremiah was hard to get through but we made it. Each day I look forward to the comments from sisters that I’ve never met and I look forward to studying with you again. Many times your comments helped me understand the reading a little better. Blessings to you all and stay in.
Undeserved mercy! That’s our God! I need to extend more mercy and grace to my loved ones here as we are confined more to home. Especially to my elderly mother who in many ways is still stuck in the traditions of Mexico. I am thankful though that as I write this I can hear her doing her own devotions. If one thing, one legacy that she will leave behind is her dedication and love for Jesus.
I totally get where people are coming from in saying that Jeremiah is a challenging read. It’s hard to look at the sin in the world and in my own heart and see how we are utterly enslaved to it. Sin truly only brings about darkness, death, and destruction. It’s almost harder to look at the justice and judgment of God and to say “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)” But at the same time, I think this study has perfectly prepared us to move into Holy Week. When I know the reality of my condition, it makes God’s grace and mercy through Jesus’ death and resurrection that much more amazing!
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:3-4).
It has been a difficult, but appropriate read. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11. It brings back to realization that there will always be difficult times (some personal and some world wide), but God has a plan and I am thankful that I am a part of His plan.
I was impressed by the numbers. Moses came out of Egypt with around a million people. Here there were less than 5,000 left. Even if there were 10 times that many people scattered,etc. There are so few left in comparison.
Blessed Beth, Amen I agree. Family have a safe and enjoyable weekend. If any are having service on line I pray we all will overwhelm heaven with praise and joyful hearts.
Good morning I must agree while the book of Jeremiah was hard to read, I enjoyed getting up every day to see what would happen next. understanding the relationship God has with Israel kept me reflecting on the relationship God has with the church and my own personal relationship. It brought so much hope and joy every time the summers Jeremih to let his people know but I will take you back I love you I want to protect you those words were so encouraging especially the one today’s time
What a way to end this study. I felt so connected knowing that I wasn’t alone in my feelings of “this is hard to read and understand”. But what hope comes out of all this destruction! Hope that is coming again even in our darkest times right now. He is on the move!!!
Jeremiah 33:3 (not 13) I couldn’t find where I could edit.
I am so glad this one finally said “It’s a rough read.” It was like waking up every morning and watching a blood, gut and gore war story. I wanted to do a Bible study with my mom (we’re 5 states apart) for Lent. I love SRT, I’ve done several studies here. I stuck with this the whole 40 days because 1) I had never read thru the entire book of Jeremiah before 2) I was committed to it for Lent. I’ll research things more carefully next time *grin*.
The comments have been an important part of this study for me. I came away with a lot of positives. All about the God we serve. Regardless of what’s going on around us HE is still on the throne and His promises are the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jeremiah 32:17, Malachi 3:6, Jeremiah 29:12 Jeremiah 33:13
Dee Wilcox put into words my own conclusion.
God is the strength of my heart, FOREVER. Psalm 73:26
God is amazing. My husband had the TV on to a show about various animals. I saw a hummingbird the size of a bee. I saw some specific kind of iguana that got 5 feet long. It is laid back almost all the time (except at mating season), and is it ugly. It had different kind of scales all over its body and this flappy thing under its chin. It didn’t have any teeth which, I felt kind of glad about, just in case I ever ran into one. :) The were other animals also (turtle, snake, bats, etc.) Each and every animal created by our God. Different looks, different purposes, all for His honor and glory.
Some people have read Jeremiah and found hope in the fact that our God is Who He says He will be. No. Matter. What. Others have been pulled down by the struggles, and yet recognize that, all-scripture is God breathed and important…so you continued to read (trusting God to show up) while supplementing with other scripture (more of His Word…what could be better then that?). Most of us, have been a little bit of both. Each and every one of us, created by our God. Different looks, different purposes, all for His honor and glory.
I keep thinking about the fact that while we read about this…Jeremiah lived it, and remained obedient to whatever God called him to do (Am I remembering he went around with dirty underwear on his head for a while? We thought that was gross, yet look how much more he went through.). People lived. People died. God used it then. God uses it today.
We will get through this pandemic. People will live. People will die. Both of those things are determined by our God. We can trust Him. Is it scary and overwhelming? Yes. I’m sure Jeremiah was overwhelmed much of the time, (isn’t he called the weeping prophet?) but he simply obeyed and trusted God. Personally, I get overwhelmed when I look big. I focus only on today, sometimes the next breath, one step at a time. When I start to be afraid I stop, pray and praise. And then try to do the next right thing.
I’m a lot like that iguana…(yes the wiggly thing under his chin-I have some of that), I am pretty laid back, enjoying the moment, except when I need to take a stand. Then I stand and fight if needed. I want to be like Jeremiah also, obedient. For some day this pandemic time will be history. May it be the history of when God’s people were faithfully obedient, and thousands returned to worshiping and glorifying Him.
Praying for you by name sisters. I think I’ve got about 120 SRT names on the my prayer wall and in my book of specific needs. I pray for you by name, He knows both your name and your face, because He is your Creator.
Hmm, are you like that tiny hummingbird, maybe the turtle, bat, or even the iguana? I don’t know but, you were created with gifts, talents, and abilities, unique, different, and beautiful. He loves you. We can trust Him.
Thank you, sweet Angie ❤️
Thank you Angie! ❤️
Love this. Thanks for sharing ❤️
The last two weeks of this study have been a difficult for me – bad news here, bad news in the world. And yet, this book is still a source of hope. It still points to God’s character, His purpose, His plan. It still points to hope. It still points to Jesus.
More than anything else, God wants our hearts. He wants our full attention, dependence and reliance on Him. This global wilderness season, especially just before Easter, is like a great level set. It is our opportunity to seek Him, holding fast to the promise that we will find Him. Our Healer, our Provider, keeper of all our tears.
Perfect! Thanks for sharing this ❤️
Annna–I can’t reply without the app closing so hopefully you see this, but chapter 52 is a kind of recap or epilogue, and Matthew Henry’s commentary says it also sets up the next book, Lamentations. In the SRT study guide it points out that Jeremiah is not chronological but thematical, which can make it a but confusing.
It amazes me to look back from the beginning of this study to now and see what we’re all going through and how this book, Jeremiah, gives us so much hope. God is holy and just and punishes sin, but he is also a merciful, loving God who more than anything wants relationship with us.
Whew. Yes, I’m glad to turn the page from Jeremiah. It’s been a bit of a slog at times with glimmers of hope that seem way too few. I found myself hunting for hope in each day’s text for I knew God would be faithful to place them within. I also must say that Jeremiah is a good lead in to Holy Week. We only fully appreciate Easter Sunday when we have walked through the rough days culminating in the crucifixion. And then silent Saturday. We have read in Jeremiah of the remnant promised and preserved. With Jesus’ death and resurrection we see that all can be preserved into eternity with the acceptance of Jesus, the fulfillment of the promises. The promises were glimmers of hope. Jesus is the shining beacon of hope itself.
I really enjoyed this Bible study. It seemed an odd at the first. I was convicted on my owe sin throughout it. Usually during Lent I try to give up one thing. This year I felt convicted to journal all that I ate. For awhile I have felt rebellious about eating right. Eating I felt had become an idol. After the first week I was off track. Really I didn’t want to get back on track. Reading this Bible study each day brought home how the God’s people would not listen. Time after time they would not listen to God’s words. My son started working out and changing his diet within the last couple of weeks. The Lord has been working on my heart. Opening my heart to say yes to whatever He asked. So this week I have journal for almost a week. You ladies have been such an encouragement through comments. Please pray I will continue. Thank you!
I believe that the first is Jeremiah’s prophecy of what will happen and the last is what happened for real.
Thanks for sharing-it is beautiful & encouraging.
At the start of this study it was a hard read but as the says progressed I become so interested, I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning for my devotion. And all day at various times it would come to mind as would you ladies, you are a part of my life that I am so thankful for, you are prayed for on my AM walks. I am so thankful for all of you, authors and readers.
I smiled when Bailey mentioned her tradition, growing up in Bermuda ours was if it rained on a Sunday night we had breakfast for dinner and as my children grew up we tried to continue it along with a long list on others that I didn’t even know were traditions, but they held us together during difficult times. May this bring a smile to your face as we deal with trying to,keep some normalcy in our lives during our precious Holy Week. May we create new traditions while apart from our loved ones.
Good morning, Annna – my Bible has a a chapter heading for Jer 52 as The Fall of Jerusalem Reviewed, so seems to be a recap. May the Lord protect and keep us safe from the all that’s happening in our world these days. A great, timely study!
Loved this lenten study. It was convicting and transformative. My heart yearns for Easter.
On another note, Jeremiah 52 seems to describe the exact same events as Jeremiah 39. Does anybody know why? I’m a bit confused about the chronology.
I noticed this as well! I’m curious too.
Just remembering this isn’t written chronologically