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.
6:16 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
God offers rest for their souls and they refused. God offers intangible blessings but they would rather chase after material gain.
6:16 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
God offers rest for their souls and they refused. God offers intangible blessings but they would rather chase after material gain.
7:5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,
It seems Josiah's reforms only changed their outward behaviour – it was all a pretence. They were still oppressing the poor and worshipping idols (v. 6).
7:5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,
It seems Josiah's reforms only changed their outward behaviour – it was all a pretence. They were still oppressing the poor and worshipping idols (v. 6).
8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?
Yes, there was a balm in Gilead and yes, there was a physician there – Jesus. But there was no healing for the wound of God's people because it was self-inflicted. They had of their own free will deserted God by worshipping other idols and not they were far from God and from his healing.
8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?
Yes, there was a balm in Gilead and yes, there was a physician there – Jesus. But there was no healing for the wound of God's people because it was self-inflicted. They had of their own free will deserted God by worshipping other idols and not they were far from God and from his healing.
9:25-26 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh — Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”
Even in Jeremiah's time he was talking about a circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29). Other nations, besides Israel circumcised male babies.
9:25-26 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh — Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”
Even in Jeremiah's time he was talking about a circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:29). Other nations, besides Israel circumcised male babies.
10:6-7 No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power… there is no one like you.
The God of Israel was not like the gods of other nations which were made with their own hands. Therefore they were carried (v. 5) and had to be hammered in place (v. 4) to stop them falling over!
Why did people worship such obvious frauds of power when God offers a relationship of grace, love and compassion?
10:6-7 No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power… there is no one like you.
The God of Israel was not like the gods of other nations which were made with their own hands. Therefore they were carried (v. 5) and had to be hammered in place (v. 4) to stop them falling over!
Why did people worship such obvious frauds of power when God offers a relationship of grace, love and compassion?