(a) Why did Jeremiah proclaim God's punishment on Judah? (b) Mention any two things which Jeremiah would have condemned in present-day Nigeria.

Answer Details

(a) Why Jeremiah proclaimed God's punishment on Judah

Jeremiah warned Judah of coming judgment because the nation had persistently sinned against God and refused to repent. The main reasons were:

• Idolatry: Judah had forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters, and turned to worship other gods and idols, even offering their children to Baal and burning incense to false gods.
• Covenant-breaking and disobedience: They broke God's covenant and refused to walk in His laws despite repeated warnings.
• Injustice and oppression: They oppressed the poor, the widow, the orphan and the stranger, and shed innocent blood.
• Corrupt worship and hypocrisy: They trusted in the temple as a charm while living wickedly, saying "the temple of the Lord" yet stealing, murdering, committing adultery and swearing falsely.
• False prophets and corrupt leaders: Prophets prophesied lies and priests ruled by their own authority, misleading the people.
• Refusal to repent: They ignored God's repeated calls through the prophets to turn from evil.

Because of these sins, Jeremiah announced that God would bring a foe from the north (Babylon) to destroy the land, and the people would go into captivity.

(b) Two things Jeremiah would condemn in present-day Nigeria

1. Corruption, bribery and injustice: Cheating, embezzlement of public funds, oppression of the poor and perversion of justice by those in authority.
2. Idolatry and hypocritical religion: Empty religiosity combined with immoral living, fraud (such as ritual money and cultism), and trusting in outward worship while ignoring true obedience to God.