KCSE Questions and Answers on Prophet Jeremiah

Revision Questions on Prophet Jeremiah

Discuss how God showed concern for Israel through prophet Jeremiah

• During the call of Jeremiah, God told them although he would destroy Israel, he would restore them as his people again.
• Jeremiah reminded the people of what God had done for them in the past and of his continued love for them.
• Jeremiah told the people that God would punish them because of their disobedience but will forgive them/accept them if they repented and back to him.
• Jeremiah told the people that the punishment would be a corrective measure/disciplinary measure through which they are supposed to learn and return to Yahweh.
• He warned them against idol worship/and advised them to return to the true worship or Yahweh.
• Reminded the people of the covenant which they had made with Yahweh, (and even his messengers to remind them of the covenant).
• Prophesied about the coming of the Messiah from the house of David (who would rule Israel with righteousness and justice).
• Jeremiah wrote a letter to the first exiles to Babylon, giving them hope / encouragement / he told them that the exile would come to an end / that they would return to Judah / that God would restore them as his people again
• Jeremiah prophesied about the a new covenant that God would make with Israel (in which individuals would be responsible for their action and in which there would be forgiveness of sins)
• Jeremiah bought a piece of land to symbolize restoration

Discuss the circumstances which led to the exile of the Israelites in Babylon (16marks)

1.  Towards the end of the seventh century B.C the Babylonians had become the most powerful nation in the middle East through conquest
2.  The Israelites had forsaken the covenant way of life with the neighbours/ the leaders of the people were corrupt/ there was social injustice/ lack of moral responsibility/ accountability
3.  The Israelites had broken the covenant relationship with God by forsaking the religion of their forefathers/ by worshipping idols/ practicing syncretism
4.  Intermarriages with non- Israelites brought in foreign influence which made the Israelites run away from Yahweh to other gods
5.  The Israelites also persecuted the prophets of Yahweh( Jeremiah) when they challenged them about their way of life/ hypocrisy in order to silence them.
6.  The Israelites failure to take  the opportunity given to them by the prophets to repent.
7.  Israel had experienced a succession of weak rulers who did nothing to return the people to the covenant way of life.
8.  In 605 B.C Nebuchadnezzar/ Babylonians defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish leaving no obstacle to prevent the Babylonians from marching north.
9.  The Babylonian army captured Judah/ the cities/ forced kind Jehonakim to accept Babylonian control ( became Nebuchadnezzar’s vassal).
10.  After three years of Babylonian rule, King Hehoiakim tried to overthrow the Babylonian rule (but he died suddenly) He was succeeded by his son Jehorachin)
11.  The Babylonians armies forced the new king/ Jehoiachin to surrender in 597 B.C leading to deportation to Babylon as exiles
12.  The Babylonians installed Zedekiah as their vassal in Judah and surrounded the city of Jerusalem.
13.  In 587 B.C the Babylonians broke into the city/ completely destroyed the city/ temple of Jerusalem/ most of the people  who survived the destruction were deported as exiles to Babylon                    

(8 x 2 = 16 marks)

With reference to the teachings of Jeremiah describe how the Israelites were encouraged to live in hope during Babylonian exile (10 marks)

1. Jeremiah taught that the Israelites would be restored
2. When they came back from exile, they would prosper
3. They would have fair/just rules
4. They would live in peace
5. God would increase their number by them having many children/encouraged to marry/get children.
6. They would worship Him alone/They would be His people / He would be their God.
7. They would live forever in the land God would give them
8. God would give them a king from David’s lineage who would rule wisely.
9. The exile suffering would not last forever/god had good plans for them/exiles is God’s plan.
10. People would cry to God/he would answer their prayers
11. The Law will be written in their hearts
12. They will know God individually
13. Their sins will be forgiven
14. Individuals will be responsible for their own sins
15. Jeremiah encouraged them to build houses/plants gardens so as to prosper.
16. Jeremiah’s purchase of land spelt for the future              

(5x2=10marks)

With reference to Jeremiah chapter 1:4- 19, state Jeremiah’s five responses to God’s call ( 5 marks)

1. He was hesitant/immature due to age (young)
2. He was not ready
3. Did not know how to speak
4. He had dialogue with God/talked to God
5. He saw two visions that changed his attitude towards God’s mission for Him
6. He accepted to be sent.                   

(5marks)

Give five problems prophet Jeremiah encountered before the Babylonian Exile (5marks)

1. He was arrested
2. He faced death threats from the people.
3. The scroll was burnt by King Jehoiakin.
4. He was thrown into a eastern/stared/well
5. He had difficulties in convincing the people that his message was true/from Yahweh/faced opposition.
6. He was beaten.
7. He was insulted/referred/to as a traitor/mocked/ ridiculed
8. He was barred from going to the temple.
9. He was put in prison/ butted cell/ dungeon/detained   

(5 x1=5marks

Describe the problems faced by the Israelites during the Babylonian exile. (8marks)

1. They lacked adequate food/famine
2. Adapting to a new environment
3. Following/keeping the Babylonian laws
4. They suffered from various diseases and ailments
5. Some of them were executed
6. They suffered from various diseases and ailments
7. Some of them were executed
8. They were turned into refugees in Egypt; Moab, Edom, Ammon, etc
9. They were not united
10. There religious loyalty to God was undermine
11. They were not united
12. Their religious loyalty to God was undermined
13. They lacked places for worship/religious festivals
14. They were influenced into idolatry
15. There were false prophets.

(8x1=8marks)

Identify the evils that prophet Jeremiah condemned (12marks)

1. He condemned prostitution
2. He condemned tribalism
3. Corrupt and murder
4. Robbery  and murder
5. Exploitation of the poor
6. In justice denied to the  poor
7. Selling of goods  unfit for human consumption to the poor
8. Selling into slavery those who could not pay their debts
9. ▪    The oppression of the poor and the weak
10. ▪    Taking of bribes mostly in courts
11. ▪    Cheating in business by use of false scale

Explain Jeremiah’s teaching on the ‘New Covenant” (10marks)

1. The laws will be written in people’s hearts and not on stone tablets.
2. The new covenant will be between an individual and  God / personal  salvation/relationship.
3. There will be individual responsibility /punishment for those who sin.
4. The new covenant will be everlasting.
5. The new covenant will be universal.
6. There will be forgiveness of sins/they will not be remembered
7. There will be no mediators between God and the individual.
8. The new covenant would be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ.   

(5 x 2=10marks)

Identify the symbolic acts used by prophet Jeremiah to demonstrate God’s judgment and punishment to the Israelites.

1. Buying a new linen waistcloth and buying in a cleft of the rock Jer 13L 1 – 11
2. Jeremiah was not to marry. Jer 16: 1- 18
3. The reworking of the vessels by the potter. Jer 18: 1 – 17
4. The breaking of the earthen flask before the elders. Jer 19: 1 – 15
5. He was shown two  baskets  or figs  one with good figs and another with  bad figs. Jer 24: 1 -10

What lessons do Christians learn from prophet Jeremiah to teaching on the new covenant?

1. Wearing  of the yoke Jer 27: 1 – 15 ( 4 x 1 = 4 marks)
2. They should internalize the Law of God/ laws of God are in their hearts
3. They should have  personal relationship with God/ know God personally
4. There is individual responsibility/ punishment  when one sins
5. There is forgiveness of sins  if one repents/ reconciliation
6. Christian have an everlasting relationship with God
7. Those who repent their sins have a new beginning
8. The need to have faith in God
9. They should  obey  practice the law  of God
10. They learn that the new covenant is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ

(6marks)

Explain the significance of the symbolic act of buying land by prophet  Jeremiah (8marks)

1. It showed the people of Judah still had a future despite the coming crisis/Judah will regain freedom after conquest.
2. It was an assurance that the people would be restored back to their homeland/reclaim their land.
3. It demonstrated that the people would resume their normal lives/construct homes/cultivate land/own property.
4. Divine judgment was not an end in itself.
5. Restoration was to take place at God’s own time/God was to determine when the people would be restored back.(Time).
6. The people had to wait patiently for their return from exile.
7. It showed that God was loving/faithful/was to keep his promise of restoration/bring them back to their ancestral land.
8. It made them feel secure/they were not to lack anything.

(4x2=8 marks)

Outline the suffering of prophet Jeremiah during his ministry. (7marks)

1. He was rejected by his own family/relatives.
2. People made false accusations against him.
3. He was threatened with death because of speaking for God.
4. He lived a lonely solitary life/was commanded to neither marry nor attend any social gathering.
5. His message was rejected by the Israelites.
6. He went through spiritual struggle as he saw the evil prosper while the righteous suffered.
7. He was physically assaulted/beaten.
8. The enemies attempted to kill him/He was put in muddy cistern.
9. He was humiliated in public/mocked.
10. He was imprisoned/jailed.
11. He was arrested and put on trial.

 (7x1=7 marks)

Give six reasons why Jeremiah was not willing to accept the call of God to become a prophet. (6 marks)

1. He felt that he was too young/was inexperienced as a prophet.
2. He did not have the message to the people.
3. He lacked confidence/courage
4. He did not know how to speak/not a good speaker.
5. He was afraid of confronting/talking against the kings/elders
6. The task was too difficult overwhelming for him.
7. He was not sure of what could be done to him by the people of the message he was to deliver (response to the message).

Explain four evils condemned by Prophet Jeremiah during the Temple sermon. (8 marks)

1. He condemned the false belief about the temple not being destroyed because it was God’s dwelling place.
2. He condemned the hypocrisy/presence of people who committed different sins and came to the temple to worship Yahweh.
3. He talked about the defiled of the temple by placing idols in it.
4. He condemned the worship of other gods/idolatry which was a rebellion to the Sinai covenant.
5. He condemned the practice of human sacrifice which was against the commandments of God.
6. He condemned oppression of the foreigners/widows/orphans which against the covenant way of   life.
7. He condemned the stubbornness/rebellion of the Israelites against God’s warning

State six ways in which Church leaders communicate God’s message to people in Kenya today.  (6 marks)

1. Use of print/give out bibles e.g. publications conference/retreat.
2. Holding public meetings/crusades/Rallies
3. Through sings songs of praise
4. Through conducting pastoral care/counseling
5. Through carrying spiritual healing/prayer
6. Conducting door to door evangelism visits.
7. Providing material support to the needy.
8. Through leading exemplary lives.
9. Through electronic media

(6 x 1 = 6 marks)

From the call Jeremiah, identify eight qualities of God (Jeremiah).

1.  God is the creator
2.  God knows every person by name/all knowing
3.  God is a planner/chooses/appoints
4.  God is holy
5.  God hates/punishes evil
6.  God is just/judges
7.  He is caring/concerned
8.  God is merciful/forgiving
9.  God is universal
10.  God is a protector/deliverer
11.  He is a powerful/almighty/omnipotent
12.  He is beyond human understanding/transcendent
13.  He is everywhere/omnipresent
14.  He restores
15.  Provider

 (8×1 =8 marks)

Give six characteristics of the New Covenant foreseen by phophet Jeremiah.  (6marks)

1. The laws would be written in the hearts of men and women.
2. Every individual would know God individually
3. It would be an everlasting covenant/would not be broken again.
4. There would be individual responsibility/suffering for ones sins.
5. God would forgive their sins/remember them no more.
6. It would be established after God punishes Israel/with the remnant.
7. It would establish a new Israel/ a new people of God.
8. It would be initiated by God.

(6x1 = 6 marks)

Give six ways in which Christians can assist victims of disasters. (6marks)

1. By donating food/clothing for them/material needs
2. By providing shelter for them.
3. By resettling them in safe areas.
4. Offering guidance and counseling.
5. Through offering health care.
6. By re-uniting them with their families.
7. By providing financial assistance.
8. By taking preventive measures against future disaster/training
9. Through visiting them.
10. Praying for/ with them.
11. Preaching to them

(6 x 1 = 6 marks)