At first glance, the book of Jeremiah is a tough read. It’s long, prophetic, and largely sorrowful. In fact, A. W. Streane opens his work on the book this way: “It is difficult to conceive any situation more painful than that of a great man, condemned to watch the lingering agony of an exhausted country, to tend it during the alternate fits of stupefaction and raving which precede its dissolution, and to see the symptoms of vitality disappear one by one, till nothing is left but coldness, darkness, and corruption.”
Yikes. Jeremiah’s ministry was hard, thankless, (apparently) fruitless, and exhausting. Yet, this prophet has much to teach the people of God throughout all generations, calling for repentance and holiness and adding to the growing anticipation of the coming Messiah and a New Covenant.
To help us traverse this potentially overwhelming text we’ve recruited the help of Dr. Lissa Wray Beal. Dr. Wray Beal is professor of Old Testament at Providence University College and Theological Seminary where she teaches the Hebrew Bible as a witness to God’s character, and as preparatory for Christ. She has written a number of articles and books including a work-in-progress commentary on the book of Jeremiah.
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Dr. Wray Beal is professor of Old Testament at Providence University College and Theological Seminary where she teaches the Hebrew Bible as a witness to God’s character, and as preparatory for Christ. She has written a number of articles and books including a work-in-progress commentary on the book of Jeremiah.
Josiah has served the Oakridge Bible Chapel family as one of its elders and one of its pastoral staff members since September 2018, before which he ministered as an associate pastor to a local congregation in the Canadian prairies. Josiah's desire is to be used by God to help equip the church for ministry, both while gathered (edification) and while scattered (evangelization). He is married to Patricia, and together they have five children—Jonah, Henry, Nathaniel, Josephine, and Benjamin.
