Day 228 (Jeremiah 32-34) - Year 7

Episode Overview

Podcast: The Bible Recap
Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Episode: Day 228 (Jeremiah 32–34) – Year 7
Date: August 16, 2025

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble unpacks Jeremiah chapters 32–34, focusing on Jeremiah’s imprisonment, his bold act of faith in purchasing land, God’s promises of restoration and righteousness, the broken covenant regarding slavery, and the deeper meaning of God’s righteousness as a gift. Cobble weaves historical context, practical application, theological insight, and encouragement into this engaging recap.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jeremiah’s Situation in Prison (00:02)

Context: Jeremiah is imprisoned by King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, because of his prophecies that the king dislikes.
Observation: Cobble finds the king’s logic irrational:

“Imprisoning the prophet doesn't stop the prophecy from coming true. It's not like Jeremiah was saying he was going to personally overthrow Jerusalem anyway.” (00:11)

Jeremiah Buys a Field – An Act of Faith (01:07)

Event: While in prison, Jeremiah’s cousin offers to sell him land, fulfilling a divine prediction.
Significance: Despite being in captivity and Jerusalem under siege, Jeremiah buys the land, symbolizing trust in God’s promise of future restoration.
Notable Moment:

“Imagine buying real estate while you're in cell block A.” (01:21) “This wasn't a financial investment. This was an act of faith.” (01:54)
Reflection: Being wealthy is not Jeremiah’s issue with the rich—his condemnation is about oppressive practices, not wealth itself.

Jeremiah’s Honest Doubts and God’s Assurance (02:10)

Jeremiah’s Humanity:

“But even Jeremiah is still human because immediately after this, he's like God, I know nothing is too hard for you…But I'm struggling with this field purchase.” (02:22)
Lesson: God encourages bringing doubts and fears to Him.
God’s Response:

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (02:48)
Application: We need ongoing reminders of God’s truth, just as Israel and Judah did.
On Spiritual Amnesia:

“One of the big problems with Israel and Judah is that they didn't do that. They were like, yeah, yeah, we know. Now pass the chisel. So I can finish whittling this idol.” (03:13)

God’s Promises of Restoration and Covenant (04:00)

Promise of Restoration: God assures Jeremiah of Jerusalem’s future reversal: the people will return, and a righteous king and priesthood will be established.
Deeper Theology:

“He's not just sovereign over wars and lands, he's sovereign over hearts. He says, I will put the fear of me in their hearts, the good fear…the kind of thing that draws us to Him. He grants that to us.” (04:18)
Everlasting Covenant:

“God’s family are his people forever because he's established an everlasting covenant with us.” (04:41)

The Joyful God Who Initiates Conversation (05:04)

Notable Image: God is eager to communicate with Jeremiah, initiating dialogue even before Jeremiah asks.
Quote:

“I love that God wants to talk to his people and invites us to talk to him and seems pretty excited about it.” (05:15)
Promise of a Future King: The prophecy points to Jesus as the future “righteous king,” fulfilling deeper messianic promises.

The “Priesthood of All Believers” (06:04)

Explanation: Cobble clarifies the New Testament doctrine that all believers are priests, referencing 1 Peter 2:5, 9.
Quote:

“You are a priest if you're a child of God…you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house…” (06:24)
Resource Link: She offers further reading via linked articles in the show notes.

The Broken Slave Covenant (06:50)

Historical Context: God commanded that Israelites could only be held as indentured servants for seven years, then must be freed—a law Judah ignored.
Event: Under siege, King Zedekiah commands slave emancipation, possibly for pragmatic reasons.
Breach of Covenant: As soon as the siege eases, the people enslave them again—directly contradicting their vow to God.
God’s Reaction:

“He says this makes a mockery of his character. He's the God who set them free. And since they don't get it at all, he promises them judgment.” (07:52)

“God Shot” – The Lord is Our Righteousness (08:07)

Scripture Highlight: Jeremiah 33:14-16

“I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. And this is the name by which it will be called. The Lord is our righteousness.” (08:11)
Reflection: Many see righteousness as something they offer God, but Cobble reframes it:

“Righteousness isn't something we present to God. It it's something he presents to us. God says righteousness is his promise to us. What? I can't get over it, and I don't want to. He's our righteousness. He's granted to us for free, and he's where the joy is.” (08:42)

Notable Quotes

On Prophetic Imprisonment:

"Imprisoning the prophet doesn't stop the prophecy from coming true." (00:11)
On Faith in Action:

"This wasn't a financial investment. This was an act of faith." (01:54)
On Righteousness:

"Righteousness isn't something we present to God. It is something he presents to us." (08:42)
On Spiritual Conversation:

“I love that God wants to talk to his people and invites us to talk to him and seems pretty excited about it.” (05:15)
On God's Sovereignty and Covenant:

"He's not just sovereign over wars and lands, he's sovereign over hearts." (04:18)
On Injustice and God’s Character:

"He says this makes a mockery of his character. He's the God who set them free." (07:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:02 – Opening context, Jeremiah’s imprisonment
01:07 – Jeremiah buys a field
02:22 – Jeremiah voices doubts to God
02:48 – God’s assurance: “Is anything too hard for me?”
04:00 – God’s restoration promises and new heart
05:04 – God initiates communication with Jeremiah
06:04 – “Priesthood of all believers” explained
06:50 – Judah’s broken covenant regarding slavery
08:07 – The “God shot” on righteousness as God’s gift

Tone & Final Thoughts

Tara-Leigh Cobble’s tone is warm, insightful, and occasionally playful ("cell block A", "pass the chisel"). She balances historical context with personal application, making complex prophetic literature accessible and meaningful. By centering on God’s faithfulness, mercy, and the gift of righteousness, she encourages listeners to trust God’s promises and to see Him as “where the joy is.”

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