Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
11:16 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’
“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.” (NLT)
“A little while” turns out to be seventy years, a lifetime for some.
God is our sanctuary, our refuge, our safe place. We have a safe place in God.
11:16 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’
“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.” (NLT)
“A little while” turns out to be seventy years, a lifetime for some.
God is our sanctuary, our refuge, our safe place. We have a safe place in God.
12:15-16 “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Each nation was uniquely related to its patron deity. If a nation was defeated in battle or decimated by famine and disease, this meant its god was weak and incapable of protecting and caring for its people. To prevent such a misconception, the Lord would send a remnant of Jews among the nations to witness that they were in exile only because of their own iniquity, not because of the Lord’s failure."
The people would witness to their own failure to follow God. Even in disaster, hardship, and suffering God is able to get his message across.
12:15-16 “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Each nation was uniquely related to its patron deity. If a nation was defeated in battle or decimated by famine and disease, this meant its god was weak and incapable of protecting and caring for its people. To prevent such a misconception, the Lord would send a remnant of Jews among the nations to witness that they were in exile only because of their own iniquity, not because of the Lord’s failure."
The people would witness to their own failure to follow God. Even in disaster, hardship, and suffering God is able to get his message across.
13:22-23 “Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.”
God notices when the righteous are disheartened for no reason (no grief). And he responses. God is with us whatever we go through, even unnecessary discouragement from others.
13:22-23 “Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.”
God notices when the righteous are disheartened for no reason (no grief). And he responses. God is with us whatever we go through, even unnecessary discouragement from others.
14:9 “And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.”
(From Constable’s Commentary) "Such a statement is only intelligible when we remember that ancient habits of thought [frequently] overlooked secondary causes, and attributed events directly to the action of God."
God, in his Sovereignty, allows these false prophets to speak however they would face the consequences of their idolatry. God allows false prophets to speak even today so we need to be discerning.
14:9 “And if the prophet is enticed to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.”
(From Constable’s Commentary) "Such a statement is only intelligible when we remember that ancient habits of thought [frequently] overlooked secondary causes, and attributed events directly to the action of God."
God, in his Sovereignty, allows these false prophets to speak however they would face the consequences of their idolatry. God allows false prophets to speak even today so we need to be discerning.
15:3 “Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?”
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Israel’s purpose was to bless the nations with fruitfulness; she was to be a source of blessing to the world (Genesis 12:1-3). If she failed to do that, she was of very little value.”
God is looking for fruitfulness, not busyness, not meaningless activity. Fruitfulness comes from being not doing. It come from what we intrinsically are, not what we do.
15:3 “Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on?”
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Israel’s purpose was to bless the nations with fruitfulness; she was to be a source of blessing to the world (Genesis 12:1-3). If she failed to do that, she was of very little value.”
God is looking for fruitfulness, not busyness, not meaningless activity. Fruitfulness comes from being not doing. It come from what we intrinsically are, not what we do.