Introduction: What have we learned from our study of Jeremiah? This
is the last lesson in this series, and like every experience in life,
we need to contemplate what we can learn from it. Let’s dive into our
study of the Bible and solidify in our minds what we have learned!
- Lessons About God
- Read Jeremiah 5:22. Many people say that God will not
execute judgment against humans. Does that seem to be
correct based on what you have studied in Jeremiah? - Notice the very interesting way God describes the
reasons we should fear Him. Does He talk about
killing people? Does He speak about executing
judgment?(No.) - What does a discussion about the limits of the
ocean have to do with fearing God? Of all the
reasons God could give, why choose this one?
(God essentially says “I set boundaries in
life. There are universal laws which are
created by Me. Even the most powerful forces
cannot overcome My boundaries.” God’s point is
that mere humans should defer to His
boundaries.) - Read Jeremiah 5:23-25. What other reasons does God give
for fearing Him? (He withholds blessings from “stubborn
and rebellious hearts.”) - What boundaries did Judah cross in Jeremiah’s time? (They
relied on idols and Egypt. They worshiped things they had
made and depended on other people rather than God.) - What blessings did Judah lose? (They lost their freedom,
they lost their property, they lost their nation and they
lost their temple. Many of them lost their lives and the
lives of those they loved.) - Read Jeremiah 31:3-4. What other characteristic of God
becomes clear from our study of Jeremiah? (God keeps
pursuing His people. They insult Him, reject Him and
ignore Him, but He continues to warn them of impending
destruction. After the destruction takes place, God
promises that He will build them up again. This is
astonishing! Why not give up on these people and choose
another people? It shows God’s longsuffering and loving
nature when it comes to us.) - Lessons About Us
- Read Jeremiah 2:13. How does God summarize the problems
with His people? (They have forsaken God and depended on
themselves.) - Are these really two sins, or are they only one? (If
we look at forsaking God, then it would seem to
automatically follow that you depend on yourself.
But, it becomes more clear they are two sins when you
understand that you can claim you follow God while
depending on your own works.) - God uses water, “living water,” as an illustration.
What do you think is most important about this
illustration? (Water allows us to live. We literally
let our life leak out when we depend upon ourselves.) - Read Jeremiah 7:1-4. What is a barrier to reformation?
(The people think that they are intrinsically good because
they have God’s temple in their city.) - What would be the modern equivalent of that?
- Read Jeremiah 7:5-7. What is the problem with their
relationships with others? (They are harming others.) - Let’s give this a hard look. Many say that the
government should force the rich to support the poor.
Christians often debate to what extent they should
personally help the poor. What is God calling for
here? (Don’t harm the poor. This is not a call to
give money to the poor, this is a call to quit taking
from the poor.) - Have you ever contemplated the way most of the Ten
Commandments are written which deal with our
relationships with others? Read Exodus 20:13-17. Are
these “negative” rights? - Some people dislike the fact that the Ten
Commandments keep telling us “no.” But, how
does this look if you put yourself in the shoes
of your “neighbor?” (Your neighbor can enjoy a
life where he need not worry about you killing
him, stealing his spouse, stealing his
possessions, falsely charging him with a crime,
or thinking about how you can deprive him of
his things.) - How does your life stack up if the most basic
obedience requirement of God is NOT doing any
harm to others? - Re-read Jeremiah 7:6. Notice how God commands the people
to relate to Him. Is this also a negative right? (It does
have a “no.” Don’t follow other gods.) - What does God add about not following other gods?
(Following other gods will harm us.) - Do you see the consistency here? If we look at God’s
rules in the sense of all of us being “neighbors,”
God’s consistent goal is to avoid doing harm.
Worshiping other gods harms us. Having neighbors who
violate the Ten Commandments harms us. God wants us
to live free from harm and the fear of harm.) - I don’t want readers to think their obligation to
others ends with doing no harm. We don’t have time
here to discuss God’s positive requirements, but I
think we need to start with refraining from doing
harm to others. - Let’s stand back and look at the big picture for God’s
people. Jeremiah is consistently warning them about some
serious harm coming their way. If God’s most basic rule is
“do no harm,” then why was God sending harm their way?
(Read Jeremiah 7:9-10. God’s people were seriously harming
others, and God tells them that they will not be safe if
they continue.) - Have you ever noticed that the bad things that happen
to you in life are very much like the bad things you
have done to others? - Lessons on the Cure
- Read Jeremiah 29:13-14. If you feel guilty based on what
we just discussed, what is the solution? (God says that if
we decide to seek Him, He is easy to find!) - What kind of search should we make? (“With all of our
heart.”) - Read Jeremiah 9:23-24. What kind of attitude
transformation should we seek? (That we boast about God,
not about our self.) - Notice the intersection with idol worship. God says
don’t boast about wisdom, strength, or money. Could
these be idols? - If you answered, “yes,” what is the difference
between an idol and an asset? What is the
difference between an idol and a tool? (God
encourages us to acquire wisdom, and He blesses
us with physical strength and money. God never
blessed the people of Jeremiah’s time with
idols. The important question is who (or what)
do you worship? Who (or what) do you credit
with your success? I think this is what God is
talking about when He says “boast that you
understand and know Me.”) - Read Jeremiah 9:25-26. What is a “circumcised heart?”
(Genesis 17 teaches us that circumcision was a sign
between Abraham and his descendants of a special
relationship between them and the great God of heaven. A
circumcised heart, a circumcised attitude, reflects in
daily life that special bond with our great and loving
Father in heaven.) - Read Jeremiah 23:3-4. If you are reading this, likely you
are a “shepherd” or a potential shepherd. We discussed
earlier negative rights. What is the positive goal for a
shepherd? (To teach people to trust God so that they will
“no longer be afraid, terrified, nor will any be
missing.”) - Friend, would you like to live a life without fear or
terror? Would you like those who you know and love to live
forever in heaven with you? That is God’s offer to all of
us. Depend on Him, trust Him, obey Him and He will have a
special relationship with you! - Next week we begin a new series entitled “Rebellion and
Redemption.”
