A very prominent key word of Jeremiah is “return,” appearing forty-seven times in the book See Chart 84 for other key words and suggested key verses VII APPLICATIONS The sixth-century B.C book of Jeremiah is important for the twentieth-century world because the similarities between Jeremiah’s day and today could hardly be stronger As in Jeremiah’s day, this is a time of deep sin; apostasy and hypocrisy abound; the balance of power among nations totters precariously, and alliances change with apparent recklessness from decade to decade; God’s heralds are in a lonely minority; and the rumblings of doomsday, like an approaching avalanche, get louder by the minute Very evident in Jeremiah’s message is the fact that the destinies of peoples and nations are not ful lled outside the hand of God During these last days of the Church on earth, the Christian will nd in this ancient book a timely message and many answers to questions about God’s ways in the world today and tomorrow After you have nished your survey of the book, write a list of present-day applications VIII FURTHER STUDY Use outside sources for help in these two suggested projects: Make biographical studies of these kings whose reigns involved the ministry of Jeremiah: Josiah, Jehoahaz (Shallum), Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin (Jeconiah or Coniah), and Zedekiah.5 (Read ‘Kings 22-25; Chron 34-36.) Study the chronological structure of the book of Jeremiah.6 IX SELECTED READING GENERAL INTRODUCTION Cawley, F “Jeremiah.” In The New Bible Commentary Freeman, Hobart E An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets, pp 237-50 Jensen, Irving L Jeremiah and Lamentations Everyman’s Bible Commentary, pp 5-15; 117-25 Payne, J Barton Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy, pp 320-47 Schultz, Samuel J The Old Testament Speaks, pp 322-43 Young, Edward J Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 223-33 COMMENTARIES Ball, C J., and Bennett, W H The Book of Jeremiah Graybill, John F “Jeremiah.” In The Wycliffe Bible Commentary Hyatt, J Philip Jeremiah, Prophet of Courage and Hope Jensen, Irving L Jeremiah and Lamentations Everyman’s Bible Commentary ... nished your survey of the book, write a list of present-day applications VIII FURTHER STUDY Use outside sources for help in these two suggested projects: Make biographical studies of these kings... Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy, pp 320-47 Schultz, Samuel J The Old Testament Speaks, pp 322-43 Young, Edward J Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 223-33 COMMENTARIES Ball, C J., and Bennett, W H The. .. lled outside the hand of God During these last days of the Church on earth, the Christian will nd in this ancient book a timely message and many answers to questions about God’s ways in the world