What/who was Jeremiah?

 The popular song says that he was a bullfrog.

What Jeremiah is now famous for being.

It seems that there was also a guy, who looked like this, with the same name.

Born c.650BC Anathoth, died c.570BC Egypt,
Occupation - prophet. 

I suspect that the picture was painted quite a bit later. Quite a bit later.


Like this one.

Note the belly buttons.

Okay, we all know about Adam and Eve, but let's check out Jeremiah.

"According to the narrative of the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet emerged as a significant figure in the kingdom of Judah in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC. Born into a Priestly lineage, Jeremiah reluctantly accepted his call to prophethood, embarking on a tumultuous ministry more than five decades long. His life was marked by opposition, imprisonment, and personal struggles, according to Jeremiah 32 and 37. Central to Jeremiah's message were prophecies of impending divine judgement, forewarning of the nation's idolatry, social injustices, and moral decay. According to the Bible, he prophesied the siege of Jerusalem and Babylonian captivity as consequences for disobedience. Jeremiah's teachings encompassed lamentations, oracles, and symbolic acts, emphasizing the urgency of repentance and the restoration of a covenant relationship with God."

So, how does this all fit in with the 'bulldog' bit?

Jeremiah was a bullfrog,
Was a good friend of mine.
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a-drink his wine,
And he always had some mighty fine wine.

Singin'...
Joy to the world,
All the boys and girls now,
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea,
Joy to you and me.

If I were the king of the world,
Tell you what I'd do.
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war,
Make sweet love to you.

Sing it now...
Joy to the world,
All the boys and girls,
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea,
Joy to you and me.

So, let's assume that Jeremiah the prophet had a bit of a thing about wine. It appears that, when he was pissed, he was hard to understand. Did he preach joy? Remember that he faced personal struggles, like being in prison and sometimes not being understood. He was worried about moral decay and idolatry, but he was also pushing worshiping a certain god. Maybe poor old earlier Jeremiah was too into wine drinking too? Then a little later, in his song, he talks about doing away with cars and bars and war. The question is, by 'bars', does he mean prison bars or bars serving wine? It appears that he's also into bonking - 'make sweet love to you'.

Anyway, these days he seems to be a guy who is often quoted - Jeremiah 22:37, Jeremiah 15:63, Jeremiah this:and that.

Let's have a look at some of the things he is quoted for saying.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

"Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it and find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16)

So, quote No.1 sounds that he has been talking directly with this guy called LORD. This LORD cares so much about us, but Hell is not mentioned.

In quote No.2 he is telling us that what is in our hearts is bad. A bit of a generalization?

In the final quote he is telling us that the 'ancient paths' contain the right answers. I wonder if he still believes this, all these years later?

Personally, I think he did better as a singing, wine drinking bullfrog.

I'll leave you there for this afternoon.

Hey, don't do really cruel things but also trust your heart. 

What is a sin and what isn't?

Morals are about what gives the best deal to most people.

You don't need to suck up to some 'divine' creator.

Ciao tutti.