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!

  1. Lessons About God


    1. 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?


      1. 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.)


        1. 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.)


    2. Read Jeremiah 5:23-25. What other reasons does God give
      for fearing Him? (He withholds blessings from “stubborn
      and rebellious hearts.”)


    3. 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.)


    4. 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.)


    5. 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.)


  2. Lessons About Us


    1. Read Jeremiah 2:13. How does God summarize the problems
      with His people? (They have forsaken God and depended on
      themselves.)


      1. 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.)


      2. 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.)


    2. 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.)


      1. What would be the modern equivalent of that?


    3. Read Jeremiah 7:5-7. What is the problem with their
      relationships with others? (They are harming others.)


      1. 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.)


      2. 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?


        1. 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.)


        2. How does your life stack up if the most basic
          obedience requirement of God is NOT doing any
          harm to others?


    4. 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.)


      1. What does God add about not following other gods?
        (Following other gods will harm us.)


      2. 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.)


      3. 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.


    5. 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.)


      1. 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?


  3. Lessons on the Cure


    1. 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!)


      1. What kind of search should we make? (“With all of our
        heart.”)


    2. Read Jeremiah 9:23-24. What kind of attitude
      transformation should we seek? (That we boast about God,
      not about our self.)


      1. Notice the intersection with idol worship. God says
        don’t boast about wisdom, strength, or money. Could
        these be idols?


        1. 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.”)


    3. 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.)


    4. 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.”)


    5. 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!


  4. Next week we begin a new series entitled “Rebellion and
    Redemption.”