Summary:
- 1 – previous generation rejected God’s word → Israel judged // now; nations who punished Israel will themselves be punished
- 2 – Judah will return in overabundance from nations
- 3-4 – God atones Israel, starting with High Priest → temple fully restored by God’s Spirit, starting with governor and high priest
- 5 – Israel’s sins are judged and left in Babylon
- 6 – God judges nations → God’s house built by exiles with king-priest
- 7-8 – people to God: “Should we still fast/weep?” // God to people: “You were never as sincere and repentant as you think you were. But I will still show kindness to you, and your fasting months will now be feasting.”
- 9-10 – Nations holding Israel will be judged; Israel will be restored; a King/Messiah will emerge
- 11 – Prophecy: false shepherds have emerged while God, The True Shepherd, still reigns…God will raise up another false shepherd
- 12 – Judah and Jerusalem will experience Gods power, grace, protection strongly. They will also be touched to mourn for previous disrespect they showed God.
- 13 – Judah will be cleansed of sin–idols, false prophets, false shepherds–and a remnant refined.
- 14 – Future, thorough purging of Judah, followed by thorough purging of the surrounding nations.
For Brian to obey:
- Don’t be hasty to judge another’s situation. Seek God for how to honor Him, instead.