π It’s Time to Begin! (Resources for Jeremiah Week 1)
π Cue the Confetti! π
Itβs time to begin the Book of Jeremiah!!!
I am so excited to begin our study of Jeremiah with you! If you do not have theΒ optionalΒ JournalΒ yet β itβs availableΒ on AmazonΒ but it will take a few days to ship β so if you want it right now β you can buy the printable/digital version at half price Β β> here and get it right away!
Overview of Jeremiah ~
The Book of Jeremiah is the longest book in the Bible in which we read God repeatedly calling the land of Judah back to repentance, offering them hope and restoration if theyβd only turn to him, all the while knowing they would continue in their stubbornness and sin.
Even still, God promised to restore them. The deep and endless mercy and grace of God are portrayed so beautifully, even in the weeping of Jeremiah.
The Book of Jeremiah is a collection of prophesies and laments over the land of Judah as Judah descends into destruction. Jeremiah’s ministry began during the reign of King Josiah and continued during the rule of Johahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah; at which time Babylon invaded and destroyed Jerusalem. Jeremiah wasnβt the only prophet during that time. Zephaniah began his ministry just before Jeremiah, while Nahum, Habakkuk, Ezekiel were also prophets, and perhaps Obadiah.
While the actual meaning of Jeremiahβs name is not certain, it is thought to mean Yahweh exalts or Yahweh throws. Jeremiah witnessed the final days of Judah, the Babylonian invasion and destruction of the temple and city, and the children of Israel being carried away into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, we read warnings of repentance to the land of Judah, prophesies against foreign nations, and the historical account of the fall of Jerusalem and captivity of Godβs people.
The Purpose:
Jeremiah is a collection of prophesies and laments by Jeremiah concerning the state of Judah and the coming judgement of God by way of Babylonian captivity and the destruction of Jerusalem.
The Author: Jeremiah
Time Period: 530-586 B.C.
Key Verse: Jeremiah 29:11
βFor I know the plans I have for you,β declares the Lord, βplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.β
The Outline:
Warning of Judgement
1. The Call of Jeremiah (1)
2. Godβs Message About Judah (2-4)
- God States His Case (2:1-37)
- The People Show No Shame (3:1-5)
- God Calls His People to Repentance (3:6-4:18)
- Jeremiah Laments for His People (4:19-31)
3. The Reason for the Judgement on Judah (5)
4. Judgement Will Come from the North (6)
5. Judahβs Evil Ways (7)
6. Disaster is Coming and A Lament for Judah (8-10)
7. God Warns of Judgement (11-12)
8. The Symbols of a Linen Sash and Wine Bottles (13)
9. Destruction is Coming (14-15)
10. God Instructs Jeremiah and Promises Restoration (16)
11. Judahβs Sinful Ways (17)
12. The Potter (18-19)
13. Jeremiah is Persecuted (20-21)
14. Godβs Message to the King (22)
15. Godβs Message to the Shepherds and Prophets (23)
16. Two Baskets of Figs (24)
17. Seventy Years of Devastation (25)
The Coming Judgement and a Future Hope
18. Jeremiahβs Life is Spared (26)
19. The Bonds and Yokes (27-28)
20. Message of Hope and Restoration (29-33)
21. Warning to Zedekiah (34)
22. The Obedient Rechabites (35)
23. King Jehoiakim Destroys the Scroll (36)
24. Jeremiah Imprisoned Once Again (37-38)
25. The Fall of Jerusalem and Flight to Egypt (39-45)
26. Prophesies Against the Nations Surrounding Judah (46-51)
27. A Review of the Fall of Jerusalem (52)
For an even more in-depth Introduction to this weekβs reading, watch this video. It is a great explanation of Jeremiah!
NOW LETβS GET STARTED!
This Weekβs Bible Reading Plan:
(Facebook Leaders: You can use this as your Facebook Header this week. Just right click and βsave asβ or screen shot it.)
This weekβs Reflection & Discussion Questions
(Leaders: Copy and paste these into your groups. If you do not have a group, use these for a personal time of reflection.)
Jeremiah 1
The book of Jeremiah opens with God calling Jeremiah. God assures Jeremiah that he is the one who formed him; he knew him and set him apart before he was ever born to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah responds, βAh, Lord God! Behold I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.β Much like Moses, Jeremiah felt incapable of fulfilling such a call, but God gave Jeremiah assurance.
Not only did God call Jeremiah, but he also gave him everything he needed to fulfill that call. He cautions Jeremiah, βDo not say, βI am only a youthβ¦do not be afraid of them.β
God would give him the words he needed to speak.
Consider, before God ever formed you, he knew you and set you apart for a special purpose that only you can fulfill. But not only that, he has already equipped you and has given you everything you need to do it. You do not need to be afraid or allow your feelings of inadequacy to hold you back. He will be with you every step of the way. Step out and allow him to use you in this special way – fulfill the purpose for which he created you!
Have you felt like the Lord was leading you to do something for which you felt incapable and inadequate? Have you allowed those feelings of inadequacy to stop you from stepping out and doing the thing you felt God has led you to do?
Jeremiah 2
Here we read Jeremiahβs first prophecy to the nation of Judah. God addresses the sin of the nation, reminding them of his deliverance from Egypt and how he led them into the Promised Land. Yet nearly immediately they began to defile the land. Their prophets did not prophesy Godβs words, but instead prophesied by Baal. The fear of God was no longer in them.
He goes on to mention how their idols were innumerable and their shame and immorality great. Instead of seeking God, the spring of true living waters, they dug out their own cisterns. These cisterns were broken cisterns that would hold no water at all. There was nothing to quench their soul-thirst, not even old, stagnant water.
The only thing that can satisfy our soul-thirst is an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus said to the woman at the well (John 4), those who drink of the water that he offers will never thirst again. When we drink from the living well β we will be Women Living Well!
It is so easy to be tempted to quench our soul-thirst with the things of this world. Have you ever gone after the wrong things only to discover that it left you more parched than before? In what ways have you been tempted to follow the world rather than the Word?
Jeremiah 3 & 4
God compared his relationship with his people to that of a husband and wife. Judah had committed spiritual adultery against God with her repeated idolatry. He urged her to find a place where she had not committed adultery and found that her backsliding was worse than Israelβs. Judah had the benefit of watching Godβs judgment against Israel, as Assyria came and took the people captive. It should have been a warning to Judah to repent and turn from her ways. Instead, Judah continued in her idolatry and sin.
But God in his great mercy called for his people to repent and turn back to him. If they would just acknowledge their sin of idolatry and disobedience, and return to the Lord, He would renew his covenant with her.
As God called the men of Judah and Jerusalem to full repentance, he urged her to break up the untilled ground of her heart and not plant among thorns. Their hearts had grown hard with their continual idolatry, immorality, and rebellion against him. They had dulled their conscience by repeatedly ignoring the pangs of conviction. Now their hearts were hard and unable to receive the seed of his words.
In Jeremiah 4:4, God told them how to break up the hard places of their hearts; by circumcising their hearts. He wanted them to remove everything from their hearts that was not of him so that his word could bear abundant fruit in their heart.
How is the soil of your heart? Has it been hardened by worldly philosophies? Perhaps the thorns of anxiety, worry, and feeling constantly driven for more have crept in. Is there anything in your life that is coming between you and God? How can you get rid of it today?
Jeremiah 5 & 6
In Jeremiah 5:1, God instructs Jeremiah to go throughout the city of Jerusalem to search for just one man who seeks truth and justice. If he can find such a man, God would pardon the people. It seems he doesnβt find such a man, because Godβs judgement came with the fall of Judah to Babylon.
And so, Jeremiahβs second message is coming to an end as he continues to call Godβs people to repentance and restoration. However, the people refuse to listen. They have closed their ears to the words of the Lord and no longer delight in his word. While they are busy delighting in immorality, idolatry, and other sinful behavior, a powerful nation is preparing to come against Godβs people, destroy their land, and take them captive.
God knows there is no longer hope that his people will return to him. Jeremiah chapter six ends with his solemn statement that he has, in fact, rejected them. Yet, even in this his eternal grace shows through as earlier in the chapter he continues to call out to them. Knowing that they have chosen to no longer listen to his call; knowing that they have no delight in his words, he still urges them to ask for the old paths, for the good way, and to walk in it because it will offer rest for their souls.
Oh friend, that is the rest that he offers to us still today. We are reminded of Jesusβ words in Matthew 11:28-29, where he instructs us to come to him, take his yoke, and learn from him; for when we do, we will find rest for our souls. It is only in accepting the gift of salvation through Jesusβ death on the cross that we will find true rest.
Have you ever gone astray? What brought you back to the Lord? If your heart has felt far from the Lord lately, this is your invitation to return to the βgood way.β Walk in it and find rest for your soul today.
Jeremiah 7 & 8
Jeremiah begins his third message to the land of Judah and repeats Godβs promise to them that if they listen to his voice and keep his commands they would prosper. However, God knew their hearts and he saw that although he spoke, they did not listen. He called out to them, but they did not respond.
God had given his people every opportunity to repent and turn from their ways, but they continued to turn a deaf ear and ignore his voice. Now, judgement had become inevitable; they had pushed Godβs hand too far.
Jeremiah mourned, βThe harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.β
One of the hardest things to watch is a person who is self-destructing when help is ready and waiting for them. This is the sorrow Jeremiah felt as the prophet of God. He knew Godβs promise of restoration and redemption was waiting if only his people would turn from their sin and repent. But they refused to turn and acknowledge their sin.
Have you ever felt like Jeremiah? Perhaps someone you love has rejected God and they are self-destructing. There is still hope for your loved one! Continue to hold out truth to them. Write a prayer for them below that they would return to the Lord.
This Weekβs Verses of the Day:
(Leaders: You can use these images in your groups by using right click and βsave asβ or screen shoting them.)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Hereβs the Printable Bible Bookmark for Jeremiah.
Hereβs another explanation of the SOAK Bible Study Method and Bible Coloring Chart if you need more guidance:
Here is the SOAK method I refer to in the video:
And the Bible Coloring Bookmark:
Click HERE to Print the full page Coloring Chart
or Click HERE for the Bookmark Coloring Chart
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to discuss the dayβs reading assignment.
I commend you for committing to study this book with us! If you want to go deeper in your study, I encourage you to use on-line commentaries and Bible Study tools.
As we study the book of Jeremiah together, we will see that although God had to judge the land of Judah, his plan all along was to come and restore them. His discipline would only last for a season, and then he would restore them to himself.
God disciplines those he loves. His anger is only for a moment, but his love is eternal. God would ultimately restore all mankind to himself by sending his one and only Son Jesus Christ to die in our place, taking the penalty for our sin. There is no greater love!
βοΈ π βοΈ Now, letβs get started!Β Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite drink and open your Bible and SOAK it in! Be sure to leave at least 15-20 minutes for your reading each day.Β
π I canβt wait to see how God reveals himself personally to each of us, as we read the book of Jeremiah together.Β
Have a wonderful week in Godβs Word β Iβll see you back here on the blog this Friday as we go deeper into Godβs Word together! Donβt forget to join me every weekday morning out on Facebook!
Keep walking with the King,
COURTNEY
The Jeremiah Journal is available on Amazon!
If youβd like to purchase a printable-digital copy
(so you have it right away) at half the price
click HERE.
