November 11, 2020, The book of Jeremiah, Proverbs continued.

 The Book of Jeremiah

What is the Book about?

• This book gives an account of the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah
• His ministry begins in Babylon 593 (Remember in the book of Isaiah God had already told the people that they would go into captivity to Babylon.
• When we look at Isaiah he is a man living among men that do have justice. There is no righteousness. God begins to deal with things and Isaiah does a lot of future telling. Because of the people actions we know they are going into captivity but.....there is great hope because God will not destroy them he will only teach them.
• As we dive into Jeremiah his minstry is during this captivity. If we keep that in mind as we read the bible we can think about things as God wants us to. We do not have to condemn ourselves but the bible is for everyday life but we want to keep the right perspective so we don't want to put our own interpretations into it.

Who is Jeremiah?

• His personal life had great struggles
• The meaning of his name is unknown
• It has been suggested that his name means "the Lord exalts" or the "the Lord establishes" As you read the book let's try to pin point the overall theme. Then let us see if the suggestions could be true. As we read Isaiah there is a focus on helping, delivering, aiding mankind and we know his named means 'the Lord is my salvation"
• God also told Isaiah he would be a sign unto the people; it is not far fetch to think that Jeremiah is a sign unto the people. Basically His life, his struggles are for our learning. 
• He was a member of a priestly household.
• The Lord commanded that Jeremiah would not marry and raise children because the divine judgement would sweep away that generation. 

Things to ponder:

HE IS CALLED THE PROPHET OF DOOM

Why, Why, Why?

Why is he called the weeping prophet?

• He attracted only to a few friends
• his closest friend was his secretary
• A man of few words
• He was instructed by God to avoid ambitions but he was to be content with his lot
• As we read the book scholars believe that he self criticize himself as well as analyzed himself (we want to avoid doing this as we read this book) after we read this book as an individual what do you walk away with? How does it strengthen your faith? What have you learned about God? What have you learned about God's character instead of tearing yourself down build yourself up even if you read something that pertains to you look at what God does! Apply that to your shortcomings but beating yourself up will never change you. 
• He was timid by nature but he had God's assurance that he would be STRONG

TIME LINE

• He prophesied through the reign  of Josiah and it continued throughout the reigns of Jehoahaz 609
• A time of stress and storms

The smaller parts of Asia was often pawns in the power players hands (powerful nations) Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia

WHAT IS THE THE THEOLOGICAL THEMES AND MESSAGE

• He was conscious of his calling; he knew God called him
• He points out and alludes to the people (Judgement) but he also points to repentance
• He warns the people to submit to babylon and do not rebel because it was God's will for them to submit to this ungodly nation
• God is concern with their accountability to him as individuals

1. GOD IS IN CONTROL

WORKS CITED

NIV STUDY BIBLE

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

THINGS TO NOTE

• his calling
• the false prophets declarations
• Jeremiah's declarations

This reading is apart of the Old testament. My goal and focus is to focus on God. We should not read this as judgement for today because we are under a different covenant. 

His teachings and prophecy came from God and Jesus teaches the same things but in the New Testament Jesus gives us his spirit and in the old testament it was rules that was hard for them to keep.

THEY DID NOT HAVE HELP!

They did not have a personal relationship with God! They had a prophet to speak to them; today Jesus Christ is our voice and no man has to go to God for us. God speaks to us through the Son and the son has given us his love and word. 

Read in peace!

Rejoice in Jesus!

    THINGS TO NOTE

COMMON THEMES IN THE OLD TESTMENT

THE CONSISTENT FAUILURE OF THE PEOPLE.

GOD IS ALWAYS DISPLEASE WITH THEM (THEY ARE ALWAYS DRIFTING AWAY)

NEW TESTAMENT

IS ALL ABOUT THE SON

HE TEACHES US 

HE LOVES US

GOD IS PLEASED WITH HIS SON

WHEN HAVE THE SON WE HAVE THE FATHER

WE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD!

WE ALWAYS FALL SHORT 

BUT IN CHRIST WE CAN ACHIEVE THE THINGS GOD WANTS US TO ACHIEVE. 

Why is the person God uses important: 

I would suggest the person represents the time. During this time it was a time of weeping for Israel. Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet. When we go through hard times we are sad, and weeping. His life reflects the times they were in. Another thing I see is, Jeremiah is told told not to get married and not to be ambitious. It was a time when the enemy was in control. So it was a time of sorrow. Who has friends in sorrow. Most of the time in pain and sadness we lose our friends. The false prophets always go against what God wants. It was not that they were saying evil this time..... but they were proclaiming peace was coming but in reality God had told them during this time there will be no peace. 

Thankfully 

It was just a season.

I bet people dislike Jeremiah for what he said as well as what he represented. A time of weeping. 

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. 

 A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. 

 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. 

 Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. 

 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.  

A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.  Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. 

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.  Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. 

 The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 

 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. 

 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign. Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.  The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit. 

 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.  A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.  To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread. 

 The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.  Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.  Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.  The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper. 

 Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.  Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.  When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.