God asked Jeremiah to tell His people this message: (Just as God directs parents to guide their children.)
» Even though you have done wrong (sinned), I am still calling you to come back to me
(mercy).
» The wrong you do dishonors and corrupts not only yourself, but everyone around you
(family, friends, church body, community, nation).
» You think that I am guiding and protecting you, and that I won’t get angry with you.
You think that what you are doing is only a “little” sin, and that I will overlook it while
you continue to sin. (DECEIVED)
» I thought you would return to me (your place of protection), but you haven’t.
» You watched others leave the Lord’s protection to choose sin and you didn’t even
care. You thought it didn’t matter. You even followed their example of faithlessness.
» Your sin has defiled the land (my original plan for you).
» You only pretend to be sorry.
God offers hope:
» Please come home to me again, for I am merciful.
» I won’t be angry with you forever.
» Acknowledge your guilt.
» Admit that you rebelled against the Lord and sinned.
» Confess that you refused to follow me.
» I will bring you back from captivity (return you to the place of protection that I
originally planned for you).
» I will give you leaders after my own heart (Godly leaders: Pastors, parents, spouses,
etc.) who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.
» Be content in the Lord.
» There is nothing I want more than to give you the best I have for you.
» I looked forward to hearing you call me “Father,” but you have betrayed me...left me.
» You have wandered far from my ways. Please come back to me and I will heal your
wayward heart.
» Only in the Lord will you find salvation.
» Everything you learned about me in childhood from your ancestors (parents, etc.) was
squandered on a delusion.
» Disobedience results in shame and dishonor.
» If you will come back to me and leave your life of sin and begin to live good, honest
lives and uphold justice, then you will be a blessing to everyone around you. They will
be able to see me in your life and praise my name.
» Plow up the hard ground of your heart.
» Don’t try to grow among thorns.
» Cleanse your heart before the Lord, or my anger will burn because of your sin.
» I will bring terrible destruction your way.
» Mourn and weep with a broken heart for the anger of the Lord is upon you.
Jeremiah pleads to God for the people: (Just as parents plead for their children)
» They have been deceived Lord. They thought they were under the promise of
your protection and peace. Now you are telling them that destruction is on the way,
coming from the people that surround them. (People they thought were harmless.)
Jeremiah pleads to the people: (Just as parents plead to their children)
» Cleanse your heart so that you may be saved from destruction. How long will you
harbor evil thoughts?
God responds to the people:
» You have rebelled against me.
» Your own actions/decisions have brought this destruction upon you.
» Your punishment is a bitter dose of your own medicine. It has pierced you to the heart.
Jeremiah weeps: (Just as parents weep for their children)
» My heart writhes in pain, because I hear the enemies coming to destroy you. (I know
that God promises to do what He says He will do.)
» Destruction is all around you. (No escape)
God helps Jeremiah understand why He must act:
» They are foolish.
» They don’t know me.
» They are like senseless children who don’t understand.
» They are clever at doing wrong but have no talent for doing right.
» I will ruin the land (my originally intended place of protection –now an imperfect plan)
but not destroy it completely (mercy).
» I have made up my mind and will not change it.
» My people can’t hide from their punishment, and they can’t disguise what is in their
hearts by trying to appear right on the outside. They will be found and destroyed.
» I hear the cries of anguish from my people as they plead for help during their
punishment. (I haven’t left them all alone.)
Next
Jeremiah 1-2
Jeremiah 3-4
Jeremiah 5
Jeremiah 6
Jeremiah 7
Jeremiah 8
Jeremiah 9
Jeremiah 10-11
Jeremiah 12-13
Jeremiah 14-15
Jeremiah 16-17
Jeremiah 18
