Promises, Warnings, and Faithful Obedience: Lessons from God’s Covenant

Be God's Glory
4 days ago
10 min read

Welcome to Day 234 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 33–35 unfolds with three powerful lessons about God’s faithfulness and the responses of His people. In chapter 33, God reassures His people of His covenant promises, declaring that restoration and renewal will come, and the everlasting covenant with David will not be broken. Chapter 34 highlights Judah’s unfaithfulness when the people initially obey God by releasing their Hebrew slaves but quickly turn back and break His command, showing the consequences of disobedience. In contrast, chapter 35 reveals the faithfulness of the Rechabites, who honor the command of their ancestor by refusing to drink wine, providing a living example of obedience in contrast to Judah’s rebellion. Together, these chapters reveal God’s steadfast promises, the seriousness of disobedience, and the blessing of faithful obedience to His Word.

Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah 33 is filled with hope and reassurance as God speaks to His prophet while Jerusalem is still under threat. God reminds Jeremiah that He is the Creator who can be called upon, and He will answer with great and unsearchable things (Jeremiah 33:3). Though judgment and devastation were coming, God promises healing, restoration, and prosperity to His people. Most importantly, He reaffirms His covenant with David, promising that a righteous Branch will rise up—a prophecy pointing to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The imagery of God’s covenant being as unbreakable as day and night underscores His faithfulness. This chapter encourages believers to cling to God’s promises, knowing His word is unshakable even in seasons of despair.

Jeremiah 34

In Jeremiah 34, God confronts King Zedekiah and the people of Judah for their broken promises. Initially, the people obeyed God by freeing their Hebrew slaves as commanded in the Law, a symbolic act of renewal and covenant faithfulness. However, they quickly reneged on their word, enslaving the freed people again, directly violating God’s command. This act of disobedience angered God, and He declared judgment: the Babylonians would overtake the city, and Zedekiah himself would be handed over. The chapter illustrates how God takes covenant promises and obedience seriously, and how breaking His word brings consequences. It shows the danger of shallow repentance and the seriousness of treating God’s commands lightly.

Jeremiah 35

Jeremiah 35 contrasts sharply with Judah’s unfaithfulness by presenting the obedience of the Rechabites. God commands Jeremiah to offer them wine, but they refuse, remaining faithful to their ancestor Jonadab’s instruction never to drink wine or settle permanently in the land. Their steadfast obedience is used as a rebuke to Judah, who continually disobeys God despite His repeated warnings and instructions. God honors the Rechabites by promising that their lineage will continue to stand before Him because of their faithfulness. This chapter teaches that obedience, even to a human command, is valued, while disobedience to God is condemned. It highlights the blessing of faithful living and challenges God’s people to walk in integrity and obedience to His word.

Origin & Meaning of the Name:

The name Jeremiah comes from the Hebrew Yirmĕyāhû or Yirmĕyāh, meaning “Yahweh will exalt,” “Yahweh appoints,” or “The Lord establishes.” This meaning reflects Jeremiah’s prophetic calling, as God appointed him before his birth to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). The name itself is a prophetic statement of God’s sovereignty and purpose in raising up His messengers.

Purpose of the Book:

The Book of Jeremiah serves as both a record of God’s judgment and His invitation to repentance. Written during a time of national decline in Judah (late 7th to early 6th century B.C.), its purpose is to:

Warn Judah of the coming Babylonian invasion as a consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness.
Call the people to repentance, offering them the hope of restoration if they return to God.
Explain the fall of Jerusalem and the exile as part of God’s sovereign plan.
Provide hope for the future, pointing toward a new covenant where God’s law would be written on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:31–34).

It is both a book of judgment and a book of hope—showing God’s justice in punishing sin and His mercy in promising restoration.

Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:

The prophet Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, is credited as the author of the book, with assistance from his scribe Baruch son of Neriah.

Biblical evidence for Jeremiah as the author includes:

Jeremiah 1:1–2 – Clearly identifies Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, as the prophet who received the words of the Lord.
Jeremiah 36:1–4 – God commands Jeremiah to dictate His words to Baruch, who writes them down on a scroll.
Jeremiah 36:32 – After King Jehoiakim burns the first scroll, Jeremiah dictates the same words again to Baruch, along with additional messages.
2 Chronicles 35:25 – Mentions Jeremiah writing laments for King Josiah.
Daniel 9:2 – Refers to “the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet” as authoritative Scripture, confirming early recognition of his writings.

External historical sources also support Jeremiah’s authorship:

The Babylonian Talmud (Baba Bathra 14b–15a) lists Jeremiah as the author of his prophetic book, the Book of Kings, and Lamentations.
Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 10, Chapter 5) records Jeremiah as the prophet who warned of Jerusalem’s fall and wrote about it.
Ancient Septuagint manuscripts (Greek translation of the Old Testament, 3rd–2nd century B.C.) attribute the prophecies to Jeremiah, though in slightly different order than the Hebrew text.

Key People:

Jeremiah – The “weeping prophet,” called by God to warn Judah of coming judgment and to urge repentance.
Baruch son of Neriah – Jeremiah’s faithful scribe who recorded and preserved his messages.
King Josiah – The last godly king of Judah, under whom Jeremiah began his ministry.
King Jehoiakim – Rejected Jeremiah’s warnings and burned his prophetic scroll.
King Zedekiah – The last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile; vacillated between listening to Jeremiah and fearing his officials.
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem and carried the people into exile.
Ebed-Melek – An Ethiopian court official who rescued Jeremiah from a cistern.
False prophets like Hananiah – Opposed Jeremiah’s message, promising peace when judgment was coming.

Conclusion

The Book of Jeremiah ends with the tragic reality of Jerusalem’s destruction and Judah’s exile to Babylon (chapters 39–52), fulfilling the very warnings Jeremiah proclaimed for decades. Yet, it is not a message of despair—it also points forward to God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. The prophecies of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) and future restoration reveal God’s ultimate plan to redeem His people. Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that God’s word is unchanging, His justice is certain, and His mercy is always available to those who return to Him with a sincere heart. Even in judgment, God is working for the good of His people and the fulfillment of His redemptive purposes.

What is God's Name in these Chapters?

In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.

Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.

"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.

Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:

REVIEW GOD'S NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

Jeremiah 33

God’s character in Jeremiah 33 is revealed as faithful, merciful, and restorative. Despite the devastation of Jerusalem, He promises healing, forgiveness, and renewal. He assures His people that His covenant with David is unbreakable, just like the order of day and night, showing that His word cannot fail. God is presented as the source of hope in despair, promising restoration when all seems lost.

In this chapter, God identifies Himself as Yahweh, the covenant-keeping LORD, and Yahweh Tsidkenu (“The LORD our Righteousness,” Jeremiah 33:16). This name points to the coming Messiah who will bring true righteousness to His people. The lesson God teaches in Jeremiah 33 is that His promises are eternal, and no matter how hopeless circumstances appear, His covenant love and faithfulness will prevail.

Jeremiah 34

In Jeremiah 34, God’s character is revealed as just and holy. He is the One who demands obedience and truthfulness from His people. God’s anger is stirred when Judah makes a covenant to free their Hebrew slaves but then breaks it by enslaving them again. This reveals His intolerance for hypocrisy and the seriousness of treating His covenant lightly.

No specific Hebrew names of God beyond Yahweh are emphasized in this chapter, but His role as covenant LORD is central. The lesson God teaches is that obedience must be genuine and lasting, not temporary or based on convenience. He warns that breaking promises and disregarding His commands brings judgment, reminding us that God values integrity and faithfulness in His people.

Jeremiah 35

Jeremiah 35 highlights God’s character as a teacher who uses contrasts to reveal truth. He lifts up the faithfulness of the Rechabites, who obey their ancestor’s command, as an example of the kind of obedience He desires from Judah. This shows God’s delight in steadfastness and His desire for His people to follow His word wholeheartedly. He also honors faithfulness, blessing the Rechabites with the promise that their lineage will continue.

In this chapter, no specific Hebrew names of God beyond Yahweh are mentioned. However, His covenantal nature is displayed in the way He contrasts Judah’s disobedience with the Rechabites’ faithfulness. The lesson God teaches is that consistent obedience is precious in His sight and brings blessing, while repeated disobedience leads to rejection. He calls His people to live with integrity, valuing His word above all else.

Christ in Every Book of the Bible

Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.

The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!

Questions:

Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.

Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?

How does Jeremiah 33 reveal God’s character as faithful to His promises even when His people are in despair?
In what way does the name Yahweh Tsidkenu (“The LORD our Righteousness”) highlight God’s role in bringing redemption?
How do we see God’s justice and holiness displayed in His response to Judah’s broken covenant in Jeremiah 34?
What does God’s contrast between the obedience of the Rechabites and the disobedience of Judah in Jeremiah 35 reveal about His expectations?
How does God’s assurance that His covenant is as unbreakable as day and night (Jeremiah 33:20–21) reflect His nature?
In what ways does God show Himself to be a rewarder of faithfulness in His blessing over the Rechabites?
How does the consistency of God’s character in judgment and restoration bring comfort to believers today?

Questions About Themes:

What is the significance of God reaffirming His covenant with David in Jeremiah 33?
How does the theme of restoration in Jeremiah 33 point forward to the hope found in Christ?
What does the breaking of the covenant to release the slaves in Jeremiah 34 teach about the theme of obedience versus hypocrisy?
How does Jeremiah 34 highlight the consequences of shallow repentance?
In Jeremiah 35, what theme is illustrated through the obedience of the Rechabites?
How do these three chapters collectively contrast covenant faithfulness with covenant unfaithfulness?
What theme of covenant continuity do we see in God’s dealings with His people despite their failures?

Reflective Application Questions:

Where in your life do you need to cling to God’s promises the way Jeremiah 33 encourages God’s people to do?
How can the truth that God is “The LORD our Righteousness” shape your daily walk with Him?
In what ways are you tempted, like Judah in Jeremiah 34, to make commitments to God but then go back on them?
What steps can you take to ensure your obedience to God is consistent and not just temporary or convenient?
How does the example of the Rechabites challenge you to live with greater integrity and faithfulness to God’s Word?
Where do you need to trust that God’s covenant promises are unbreakable, even if your circumstances feel hopeless?
How can you honor God this week by demonstrating the same kind of steadfast obedience that He honored in the Rechabites?

These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.

Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans