Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel plunge back into tunnels of darkness, as did the next section of bike trail. In this quick look at these Major Prophets, let’s see if we can find some connections to other places in Scripture to help us understand what’s in them.
More tunnels
Well it’s a good thing I had such a refreshing moment at the creek because soon we were plunging back into darkness. More tunnels.
Major Prophets – Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel
Following Isaiah comes more of the longer prophetic books, the Major Prophets of Jeremiah, Lamentations (Jeremiah’s lament), and Ezekiel. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel each received messages from God.
As with the bike path which at this point alternated between dark and light, tunnels and trails, these prophetic books have moments that might make sense and others that simply confuse.
Not my favorite
These three books were not my favorite part of Scripture, just like the tunnels were not my favorite part of the ride. But we had to ride through so many tunnels, that after a while I got used to them, even rode through some pretty quickly, much faster than I did through the first tunnel. Riding fast was more enjoyable.
Read fast
Reading fast helped me see things I didn’t when I plodded along wondering how much longer it would take to get through these Major Prophets.
Quick look
So let’s take a quick look at Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel, and see if we can find some connections to other places in Scripture to help us understand what’s in them.
Connect Jeremiah and Lamentations
Right away we can connect two of these books of the Bible together – Jeremiah and Lamentations. These were both written by the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah
Jeremiah preaches doom and gloom to the Israelites before Jerusalem falls to Babylon. This lengthy prophetic book of the Bible may feel like a long dreary, dark tunnel, but we can also find some connecting points in it.
Overlap with 2 Kings
When I started reading Jeremiah, I noticed reference to a number of kings. I glanced back and found the same names in 2 Kings which ended with the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Remember him from 2 Kings?
The fall of Jerusalem is also covered in the last chapter of Jeremiah, chapter 52.
2 Kings 24:18 through 2 Kings 25 overlaps with Jeremiah 52.
That helps us place the timing of Jeremiah’s prophecy. Clear as mud?
For fun, read this passage in 2 Kings:
2 Kings 24:18 – 2 Kings 25
Then flip to the last chapter of Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 52
Bonus points if you compare the two sections and note the subtle differences.
See how some of this starts to make sense in a murky sort of way?
Lamentations
Jeremiah laments the fall of Jerusalem in the Book of Lamentations. This book is short but still just as gloomy.
Another tunnel on the bike ride.
Lamentations like the Psalms, gives us a place to anchor into sorrow.
“I called on your name, Lord,
from the depths of the pit.
You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears
to my cry for relief.’
You came near when I called you,
and you said, ‘Do not fear.’” Lamentations 3:55-57 NIV
Ezekiel
Ready for another tunnel?
Ezekiel preaches from Babylon where he lives among the exiles. His message isn’t any brighter than Jeremiah’s. From Babylon he describes the bad that will befall those who remained in Jerusalem.
Ezekiel does however include a message of hope for those in exile:
“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’” Ezekiel 11:16 NIV
Connection
Once I noticed a connection between these books and 2 Kings, I started flipping back and forth to try to better understand the context of these Major Prophets.
A glimpse of light
On the bike ride these tunnels were still dim and some stirred up reminders of the experience with the first really long dark tunnel. But these were shorter and I could see farther inside them and at least catch a glimpse of light from the other side. Riding through them and not stuck inside them I was able to continue moving forward.
I hope you will be able to do the same with these three books of the Bible – move through and not get stuck in the middle of them.
Recognition
When I recognized the correlation between 2 Kings and the Major Prophets, I found a way to stay grounded and move through them, all because I had read 2 Kings.
See how cool this is?
For a refresher on the creek I mentioned:
A bike and the Bible – Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah – part 11
Want a review of 1 and 2 Kings?