“God’s Plan”
DISCUSSION As strange as it might have seemed, the LORD has used a pagan nation to teach the children of Israel what happened when they turn aside to idols. However, don’t think that God is going to allow Babylon off the hook for their own sins. In Jeremiah 50, God begins the pronouncement of…
“We Must All Face The Judgment”
DISCUSSION As Jeremiah begins to close out his book, God is using him to pronounce judgment upon all the nations that have practiced wickedness. The words of Jeremiah that were specifically assigned for the Egyptians were “the swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape” (Jeremiah 46.6). As I read these, I can’t help but be reminded of the judgment that this world will have when Christ returns. In the New Testament…
“Hate is a Strong Word”
DISCUSSION As a child I can remember being scolded by my parents and grandparents that I should not say the word “hate”. “You should not “hate” anyone or anything because that is just not nice to say”, they would tell me. Well I’m not one to rebuke my parents, but even God is said to “hate” some things (Proverbs 6.16-23). Now I completely understand where my parents and grandparents…
Habakkuk
DISCUSSION The short book of Habakkuk is a recording of Habakkuk’s complaints to God and God’s response. Habakkuk is looking around at the evil people of the world (specifically Assyria and Babylon) and seeing them rise to power. He notes that the law has become paralyzed and the wicked outweigh the righteous (1.4). God’s response reminds us “his ways are not our ways” when he says, “I…
“Too Late For HIM…Not Us”
DISCUSSION Warning after warning, after warning; and he still did not listen! As I continue to read through the book of Jeremiah, I keep asking myself “Why…why did Zedekiah not listen to the words of God through the mouth of Jeremiah?” God gave him ample time to humble himself with the assurance that if he did, he and his family would survive, yet because of arrogance and unbelief he did not listen. …
“The Word Remains…”
DISCUSSION Have you ever read a passage of Scripture that you wish wasn’t there? Maybe it was something that when you read it, you were so upset about it being there that you wish you could just rip out that page so you would never have to read it again. We have all heard of people who have torn out pages of their Bible, thinking if it wasn’t in…
“The Steadfast Love of God”
DISCUSSION Even though the nation has been wicked and left the ways of the LORD and are facing the punishment of a seventy-year captivity, God continues to love them. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden and were punished, God still loved them. When the children of Israel decided to not trust Him when they were afraid to go into Canaan and God punished them to wander in the wilderness…
“A New Covenant”
DISCUSSION The LORD declares to Jeremiah not only the things that are shortly to come to pass with the nation of Israel and Judah, but He also points him into the blessings of the future with a new covenant. This new covenant will not be like the old one that God gave to His people as they came out of Egypt, because they have already broken that covenant. This…
“His Yoke is Easy…”
DISCUSSION In Jeremiah 27, the LORD has Jeremiah use an object lesson for the nation of Judah and their neighbors. He has Jeremiah build a yoke and place it upon his neck as he prophesies. The lesson is this: any nation who does not accept the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon, the LORD will punish. Yet, if they do accept the yoke, then he will bless them while they are under…
“Good Fig or Bad Fig”
DISCUSSION In Jeremiah 24, God sends a vision to the prophet of two baskets of figs that were placed before the Temple. One basket was full of good figs, yet the other basket was full of bad figs that could not be eaten. The meaning of the vision was directed towards those exiled from Judah that would be sent to Babylon. The good figs are compared to those that go away into exile;…
“Speak Up!”
DISCUSSION Throughout his ministry, Jeremiah had to endure intense persecution because of his stand for God’s word to him (15:15). Jeremiah knew that his life was in danger and yet he chose to serve God. He never wavered from telling his people of their wrongs with little fear for his own life. Jeremiah loved his people and Jerusalem. Today, we have similar opportunities…
“Modern Idolatry”
DISCUSSION Jeremiah lived in a world of cultures based on idolatry (Jeremiah10: 3-10). His own nation, Judah, was given over to idols during the reign of Manasseh and Amon, probably the period when Jeremiah was a boy. In fact, Jeremiah says that Judah had as many gods as it did cities (2:28). Also, each society around Judah worshipped many false gods. Looking back on these religions from today’s perspective, we have a…