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.
1:3 After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
Israel was supposed to find rest in the Promised Land. There is no rest for her elsewhere.
Likewise there is no rest for us outside of God.
1:3 After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.
Israel was supposed to find rest in the Promised Land. There is no rest for her elsewhere.
Likewise there is no rest for us outside of God.
2:1 How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
A similar thought is expressed in Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
Pride comes before a fall. Israel thought they were entitled because they were God's chosen people. Their pride caused their fall. Likewise in Isaiah 14:13-15 we see the cause of the fall was pride.
2:1 How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
A similar thought is expressed in Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
Pride comes before a fall. Israel thought they were entitled because they were God's chosen people. Their pride caused their fall. Likewise in Isaiah 14:13-15 we see the cause of the fall was pride.
3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
(Dyer in Constable's Commentary)
1. Affliction should be endured with hope in God's salvation, that is ultimate restoration
2. Affliction is only temporary is tempered by God's compassion
3. God does not delight in affliction
4. If affliction comes because of injustice, God sees and does not approve
5. Affliction is always in relationship to God's Sovereignty
6. Affliction came because of Judah's sin
7. Affliction should accomplish the greater good of turning God's people back to himself
Affliction serves the purposes of God.
3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
(Dyer in Constable's Commentary)
1. Affliction should be endured with hope in God's salvation, that is ultimate restoration
2. Affliction is only temporary is tempered by God's compassion
3. God does not delight in affliction
4. If affliction comes because of injustice, God sees and does not approve
5. Affliction is always in relationship to God's Sovereignty
6. Affliction came because of Judah's sin
7. Affliction should accomplish the greater good of turning God's people back to himself
Affliction serves the purposes of God.
4:20 The LORD’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.
The Judahites considered Zedekiah the Lord's anointed. They deceived themselves into thinking they were safe and he would continue to rule over them even though he did not keep the covenant. There was no basis for their hope. They had lulled themselves into a false sense of security.
4:20 The LORD’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.
The Judahites considered Zedekiah the Lord's anointed. They deceived themselves into thinking they were safe and he would continue to rule over them even though he did not keep the covenant. There was no basis for their hope. They had lulled themselves into a false sense of security.
5:21-22 Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
Despite everything that has happened Jeremiah still has hope that God will restore and renew. He does consider the possibility that God might utterly rejected them but still his prayer is for restoration.
Let's be like Jeremiah and never give up on God!
5:21-22 Restore us to yourself, LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.
Despite everything that has happened Jeremiah still has hope that God will restore and renew. He does consider the possibility that God might utterly rejected them but still his prayer is for restoration.
Let's be like Jeremiah and never give up on God!