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.
11:18 Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing.
God lets us know what we need to know, when we need to know it.
11:18 Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing.
God lets us know what we need to know, when we need to know it.
12:5 If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
God challenges Jeremiah that if he is struggling with the current situation, how is he going to cope when things get worse and the invasion/exile happens? Nevertheless God promises to show compassion (v. 15).
12:5 If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
God challenges Jeremiah that if he is struggling with the current situation, how is he going to cope when things get worse and the invasion/exile happens? Nevertheless God promises to show compassion (v. 15).
13:23 Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
(From Constable's Commentary) "Here is a classic example of loss of freedom of the will through persistent sinning. Sin becomes natural. Jeremiah is speaking of the force of habit, not denying freedom of choice."
We need God to break the habit of sin in our lives.
13:23 Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
(From Constable's Commentary) "Here is a classic example of loss of freedom of the will through persistent sinning. Sin becomes natural. Jeremiah is speaking of the force of habit, not denying freedom of choice."
We need God to break the habit of sin in our lives.
14:8-9 You who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night? Why are you like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? You are among us, Lord, and we bear your name; do not forsake us
Despite Jeremiah's pleas the exile, the devastation still happened. We live in a broken world, bad stuff happens.
14:8-9 You who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night? Why are you like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? You are among us, Lord, and we bear your name; do not forsake us
Despite Jeremiah's pleas the exile, the devastation still happened. We live in a broken world, bad stuff happens.
15:18-19 Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails. Therefore this is what the Lord says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them."
Jeremiah wasn't afraid to accuse God of being a deceptive brook – a spring that is a promise of water but fails to produce. The Lord tells him to repent of his self-pitying attitude which he seems to do in 17:7-8 but he isn't offended at being called deceptive.
15:18-19 Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails. Therefore this is what the Lord says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them."
Jeremiah wasn't afraid to accuse God of being a deceptive brook – a spring that is a promise of water but fails to produce. The Lord tells him to repent of his self-pitying attitude which he seems to do in 17:7-8 but he isn't offended at being called deceptive.