Jeremiah: Week 3 (Good Morning Girls Resources)
π Welcome back to Week 3 in the Book of Jeremiah!
We are almost to the half way point! GREAT JOB! π Don’t give up in the middle! Keep on going! π
Our daily discussions out on Facebook continue to be such a wonderful source of encouragement! Thank you to everyone who is showing up there daily and sharing. If you havenβt joined us yet β I hope you will join us this week. It is such a blessing!
Here are the links to the last 2 weekβs posts on the blog, in case you missed any of them:
Week 1 Intro and Resources for Jeremiah
Week 2 Resources for Jeremiah
Will You Choose the World or the Word? β ( Jeremiah 2:13)
There Are Traps Everywhere – How to Stay on Track (Jeremiah 17:9)
If you are new here β jump in with our reading this week and catch up on the weekends. All are welcome to join anytime β there are no enrollments or sign-ups!
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This Weekβs Bible Reading Plan:
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This weekβs Reflection & Discussion Questions
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Week 3
Jeremiah 19 & 20
God instructed Jeremiah to take a flask of pottery, and along with the civic and religious leaders go to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. Standing at this historic site of pagan idolatry and ritual sacrifices, Jeremiah declared the words God gave him to speak. Words that would result in his persecution, but would also trigger the irreversible judgement of God upon the nation
Pashhur, the lead priest, angered by Jeremiahβs prophecy as he smashed the clay flask, had Jeremiah beaten and put into stocks for a day. But Jeremiah would not be hindered. He turned to Pashhur and prophesied his captivity and demise and the demise of his family and friends.
Publicly, Jeremiah boldly proclaimed the word of the Lord, but privately he felt the tremendous burden of delivering such devastating prophecies. His role of prophet not only didnβt make him popular, it made him a public mockery.
After a moment of worship, Jeremiah once again fell into a depression, thinking that his struggle would cease had he not been born. Yet, in Jeremiah 1:5, we see that God called him from before his birth.
Like Jeremiah, God called you from before your birth (Psalm 139:16) He sees you. He knows you, even the very deepest and most hidden parts of you, and he loves you deeply. He accepts you (Ephesians 1:4-6) and his thoughts and plans for you are good and filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
Have you ever felt mocked, rejected, misunderstood or not seen? If you are experiencing pain and sorrow today, meditate on these verses and let the Lord fill you with his love, hope, and healing. Also, reach out to a trusted sister in Christ and let the Lord surround you with the strength and protection of a spiritual family.
Jeremiah 21 & 22
Nebuchadnezzar had already taken some of the people of Judah captive as well as treasures from Jerusalem. Now he was about to come and destroy what was left of the once great and holy city.
King Zedekiah sent the priest to Jeremiah asking if the Lord was going to do a great miracle to spare his people from utter destruction. But the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah that not only would God not spare his people, but he would also fight against them himself. Those left in Judah would not only have to fight against the Babylonian army, but against God Almighty.
In Jeremiah 22, even though the nation of Judah was on the cusp of being completely defeated by Babylon, God was still extending His opportunity for restoration and grace. He sent a message to the king that if he would turn and begin ruling in righteousness and justice, the throne of David would continue.
After all the ways the kings of Judah had rejected God and defiled His temple with idolatry and perversion; after all the ways they had abused the poor, needy, orphans, and widows, God was still holding out His offer for repentance and restoration. Sadly, Godβs final offer was rejected, and King Jehoiachin was taken captive. He was the last king of Judah, and the throne of David would be void of a king until Jesusβ birth.
Godβs mercy and grace are eternal; but when we refuse to heed his voice and follow his ways, we build a barrier between us and God, which leaves us vulnerable to defeat. Defeat is never Godβs plan, but when we choose to step out of his will and walk according to our own sinful desires, he will allow the plans of the enemy to prevail, not as punishment but so that in our despair we turn back to him in repentance.
Are there any areas of your life where you have stepped out of Godβs will and are walking according to your own sinful desires? Do you feel defeated in any are of your life today? Turn to God, ask for his forgiveness, and begin a renewed walk with him today.
Jeremiah 23 & 24
There are those in our day, who call evil good and good evil, to comfort those living in sin. God compares his word to fire, that both purifies and consumes.
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about our works being tried in the fire, and either proven to be wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and precious stones. Either our works will be consumed, or they will be purified.
With what have you been building your foundation? Are you building with lasting materials based on the principles of Godβs word or are you building with your own personal ambitions and worldly philosophies?
These priests and prophets were prophesying what people wanted to hear. They were working for their own benefit. When Godβs word goes forth to test our works, anything done for our own benefit will prove to be of wood, hay, and stubble. Only what has been done to the glory of God and his kingdom will last.
What changes in your life do you need to make to be sure that the work you do for the Lord will come forth as gold rather than be burned up as wood, hay and stubble?
Jeremiah 25 & 26
Jeremiah had been prophesying for 23 years along with other prophets sent by God, and yet the people refused to listen. They continued to do evil. Godβs promise to them was that if they would turn away from their evil deeds and idolatry, they would continue to dwell in the land heβd given them and they would prosper, but they refused to take him seriously.
So, God used Nebuchadnezzar as his servant to destroy the land and take the people captive. Babylon would come in like a βgreat whirlwindβ and conquer Judah, but although Babylon was a rising world power, after 70 years God would retaliate.
When Jeremiah spoke the prophecy, the priests, prophets, and people grabbed him and in anger wanted to sentence him to death. Their anger was that he dared to speak against Jerusalem but failed to understand that the message wasnβt about Jerusalem, but about their sin. Officials went from the kingβs house to the house of the Lord to hear the matter, they intervened, recalling previous times when other prophets had prophesied that God would destroy Jerusalem and Jeremiah was saved.
Jeremiah answered the people by saying, βDo with me as seems right and good to you.β Jeremiah trusted God, even though his future was uncertain. Heβd been faithful to deliver Godβs word and look at where it had taken him β to a possible death sentence. Yet, he stood firm, trusting God no matter the outcome.
When we choose to follow God, sometimes it leads us to unexpected places, even to the valley of the shadow of death.
Are you facing an uncertain situation? Are you finding it hard to trust Godβs plan? Take some extra time today to quiet your heart in Godβs presence. Let him fill you with assurance that he is with you and will not forsake you.
Jeremiah 27 & 28
God spoke to Jeremiah, telling him to make yokes and not only wear one, but to send them to various kings who were forming a coalition to overthrow Nebuchadnezzar. Godβs message to them was that he is Almighty God, and he gives power to those whom he chooses, and if they try to overthrow Nebuchadnezzar it will not go well for them.
The prophet Hananiah stood up before all the people and broke off the yoke Jeremiah had made for himself. He prophesied that in two years God would break off the yoke of the king of Babylon and bring back the king of Judah and all the vessels Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from the temple. This was the prophesy everyone wanted to hear, but it was not a prophesy from God. Jeremiah exposed Hananiah as a false prophet and later that year Hananiah died.
In Jeremiah 27:6, God called Nebuchadnezzar βmy servantβ. Even though Nebuchadnezzar had raided Godβs temple and would later come under Godβs heavy judgement, God still chose to use him to bring about his divine purpose. As you read Scripture, you will find many instances where God used ungodly people and unpleasant circumstances to bring about his perfect plan.
When we look at our world today, we can feel like things are out of control. While they may be out of our control, they are not out of Godβs control. What we cannot see is how God has orchestrated every event to bring about his divine purpose. When we fully trust in God and his sovereignty, we have great peace because we know that there is no situation or moment in time that is ever outside of Godβs control.
Is there a situation in your life right now that feels out of control? How does our reading today reassure you that God is in control, and you can trust him?
This Weekβs Verses of the Day:
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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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Keep walking with the King,
COURTNEY
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