Take your Bible if you will and open it to the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah is considered to be a sublime figure among Canon of Scripture. As an unparalleled figure, he is “one of the foremost OT prophets.”

A man known to us as the “weeping prophet.”

He is the most autobiographical of all the prophets, yet one of the most misunderstood of the great OT prophets.

Sadly, he is the least read and least understood of all the OT books. With 52 rich chapters, it is the longest book in the Bible.

He was born in the Levitical town of Anathoth in 646 B.C. The town situated about three miles northeast of Jerusalem and located at the very edge of the wilderness in the territory of Benjamin.

He was named “the LORD exalts” which served to him as encouragement for his life is unlike any other in Scripture.

His was not a happy life (outwardly). There was constant sadness in his life. In fact his expression of sorrow are classic. He writes in Jer 9:1 –

1 Oh that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!

That is why many deem his life as “one long martyrdom.” Hosea and Jeremiah are both called “the martyr prophets” because of the sorrow of their lives.

His life was an open book. In it you see his brave actions, his tenderheartedness, and his deep and emotional struggles before God.

He was a son of a priest, Hilkah (cf 2 Kings 22:8) – perhaps the very priest who found the book of the law that was in the Temple that the young Josiah was reformed by.

Thought a son of a priest, Jeremiah never seemed to exercise a priestly ministry.

Jeremiah was most likely a man of means for he had the funds to purchase a field (cf. 32:6-15).

He never married, for the Lord did not permit it so (cf. 16:2 – “You shall not take a wife for yourself no have sons or daughters in this place.”).

His closest friend was Baruch, son of Neriah, who was a faithful secretary and scribe.

Jeremiah lived a relatively short life – died at the age of 60 most likely in a foreign land, Egypt. It is so strange to think that Jeremiah, who counseled throughout his ministry against confidence in Egypt, should end his earthly days in Egypt against his will.

Though no one paid attention to this prophet in his day, Jeremiah has been accorded great recognition after death.

You cannot afford to miss out on this man’s life. It tells a story, not so much from rags to riches, but of reluctance to faithfulness.

There are 3 ASPECTS OF HIS LIFE that you must know about Jeremiah, that aim to convict and challenge your life.