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.
21:8-9 Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives'.
The king of Judah has a cheek asking Jeremiah to bring a word from the Lord (v. 1-2) in the hope of deliverance when their behaviour has been so appalling. They wanted to worship the Lord as well as keep their idols. Yet even in this the Lord allows them to escape with their lives if they shallow their pride and surrender.
21:8-9 Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives'.
The king of Judah has a cheek asking Jeremiah to bring a word from the Lord (v. 1-2) in the hope of deliverance when their behaviour has been so appalling. They wanted to worship the Lord as well as keep their idols. Yet even in this the Lord allows them to escape with their lives if they shallow their pride and surrender.
22:8-9 People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’ And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.
(From Constable's Commentary) "Ancient near Easteners understood the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, and they would associate them with Jerusalem's fate."
Israel's neighbours seem to understand covenants better than Israel!
Israel was supposed to be an example/light to the nations but had become a bad example instead.
22:8-9 People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’ And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.
(From Constable's Commentary) "Ancient near Easteners understood the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, and they would associate them with Jerusalem's fate."
Israel's neighbours seem to understand covenants better than Israel!
Israel was supposed to be an example/light to the nations but had become a bad example instead.
23:7 "So then, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt.'"
God is re-writing Israel's history – no longer referring back to the Exodus from Egypt but rather they will refer back to the Exodus from Babylon. Yet perhaps they didn't take this to heart as Stephen (Acts 7) only refers to the Exodus from Egypt.
God is in the business of re-writing our personal histories.
23:7 "So then, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt.'"
God is re-writing Israel's history – no longer referring back to the Exodus from Egypt but rather they will refer back to the Exodus from Babylon. Yet perhaps they didn't take this to heart as Stephen (Acts 7) only refers to the Exodus from Egypt.
God is in the business of re-writing our personal histories.
24:6-7 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
God calls these people the 'good figs' (v. 8). God sent his 'good figs' into exile and the 'bad figs' are the leaders who will experience destruction. God separates his people into good and bad figs and allows his good figs the refining trial of going into exile.
Humanly speaking we would expect the 'good fig' to be left in the land and the 'bad figs' to be exiled. God's ways are not our ways.
24:6-7 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
God calls these people the 'good figs' (v. 8). God sent his 'good figs' into exile and the 'bad figs' are the leaders who will experience destruction. God separates his people into good and bad figs and allows his good figs the refining trial of going into exile.
Humanly speaking we would expect the 'good fig' to be left in the land and the 'bad figs' to be exiled. God's ways are not our ways.
25:3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the LORD has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
Jeremiah preached for 23 years and the people did not listen. Our success is not dependent on other people's response.
25:3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the LORD has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
Jeremiah preached for 23 years and the people did not listen. Our success is not dependent on other people's response.