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.
16:12 But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors. See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts instead of obeying me.
God wasn't just punishing Judah for Manasseh's sin (Jeremiah 15:4). Rather Manasseh had started a degree of unprecedented idolatry and the people had continued with it.
16:12 But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors. See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts instead of obeying me.
God wasn't just punishing Judah for Manasseh's sin (Jeremiah 15:4). Rather Manasseh had started a degree of unprecedented idolatry and the people had continued with it.
17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Fortunately God can understand our heart and reveal to us those beliefs which need correction. This verse follows immediately after the blessings of trusting God. Perhaps the reason we don't trust God is because our hearts are deceitful are trick us into thinking God can't be trusted.
17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Fortunately God can understand our heart and reveal to us those beliefs which need correction. This verse follows immediately after the blessings of trusting God. Perhaps the reason we don't trust God is because our hearts are deceitful are trick us into thinking God can't be trusted.
18:12 But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’”
They couldn't see the point of changing their ways. They didn't realize that God was being patient. They thought he was lenient so they didn't expect their circumstances to change. They didn't expect God to send them into exile. They were so wrong.
18:12 But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’”
They couldn't see the point of changing their ways. They didn't realize that God was being patient. They thought he was lenient so they didn't expect their circumstances to change. They didn't expect God to send them into exile. They were so wrong.
19:4 For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned incense in it to gods that neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.
This generation was worse than previous generations because they filled this place with 'the blood of the innocent' (v. 5).
(From Constable's Commentary) "Earlier the Lord implied that He would reshape the nation if the people repented, as a potter reshapes a vessel under construction on the wheel (Jeremiah 18:1-2). But now Judah was a hardened vessel incapable of changing. All the Lord could do with it now was break it."
"If there is nothing so workable as a clay pot in the making, there is nothing so unalterable as the finished article." [Note: Kidner, p78.]
We need to stay flexible in the potter's hand.
19:4 For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned incense in it to gods that neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.
This generation was worse than previous generations because they filled this place with 'the blood of the innocent' (v. 5).
(From Constable's Commentary) "Earlier the Lord implied that He would reshape the nation if the people repented, as a potter reshapes a vessel under construction on the wheel (Jeremiah 18:1-2). But now Judah was a hardened vessel incapable of changing. All the Lord could do with it now was break it."
"If there is nothing so workable as a clay pot in the making, there is nothing so unalterable as the finished article." [Note: Kidner, p78.]
We need to stay flexible in the potter's hand.
20:7 You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
20:18 Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?
This is the second time Jeremiah accuses God of being deceitful (15:18). This second accusation occurs after he spent a night in the stocks (v. 2-3).
What does God expect of us when we are persecuted? To keep on going. He doesn't rebuke us for our honest expression of our feelings or for getting tired but he does expect us to keep going.
20:7 You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
20:18 Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?
This is the second time Jeremiah accuses God of being deceitful (15:18). This second accusation occurs after he spent a night in the stocks (v. 2-3).
What does God expect of us when we are persecuted? To keep on going. He doesn't rebuke us for our honest expression of our feelings or for getting tired but he does expect us to keep going.