A Study in Jeremiah-Week 11

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 11 (

Jeremiah Chapters 51-52

Chapter 51

This is a continuation of the prophecy against Babylon begun in the fiftieth chapter.

You can compare Jeremiah 50 and 51 with Isaiah 13, 14 and 47.

Jeremiah’s prophecies can be found in Daniel 5.

The record of the fall of Babylon is a picture of the overthrow of the antichrist’s kingdom.

Chapter 52

Many scholars believe that Jeremiah 52 was written by someone other than Jeremiah (Probably Ezra) as a historical supplement to the Prophecies.

This is about the destruction of Jerusalem.

You can see more about this in II Kings 24 & 25; II Chronicles 36 and Jeremiah 29.

Review of Jeremiah

The Lord's call to make Jeremiah His prophet summarized the message of the man of God: "See, I have set you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:10)

It was primarily a message of doom, but it included hope.

Jeremiah was the prophet of DOOM.

He called Judah to repent (3:1; 7:4-7), but they refused (6:16-17; 20:1-2; 32:2-5; 37:11-21; 38:1-13; 43:1-7).

Thus, Jeremiah foretold their destruction (5:9-10,14-18,29; 6:22-26; 7:16,32-34; 14:15-16; 25:8-10).

Israel was to be so destroyed as a nation that they could never be made whole again (19:10-11).

But Jeremiah was also the messenger of HOPE. He preached that Israel should place their trust in the Lord (9:23-24).

A faithful remnant would be restored (23:3; 31:7-9).

Ezra's record of the fulfillment of the restoration promise means this prophecy has been fulfilled.

Jeremiah also prophesied salvation in Christ (23:5-6; 33:15-16).

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Amazing Grace-Wintley Phipps

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 10

Jeremiah Chapters 46-50

The Prophecies, Forty-sixth through Fifty-second Chapters, Refer to Foreign Peoples.

Chapter 46: Jeremiah begins with Egypt, the country to which he had been removed.

The forty-sixth chapter contains two prophecies concerning Egypt: 1) the defeat of Pharaoh-necho at Carchemish by Nebuchadnezzar, and 2) the long subsequent conquest of Egypt by the same king.

Jeremiah also speaks of the preservation of the Jews

Chapter 47: Prophecy against the Philistines.

Who are the Philistines?

They occupied the southern coast of Canaan and were considered Israel’s most dangerous enemies.

Who can forget Samson tearing down the Philistine temple with his bare hands? Or the
ultimate long-odds battle: young David versus the Philistine Goliath.

Chapter 48: Prophecy against Moab.

Moab is the historical name for a mountainous strip of land in Jordan.

The Moabites had taken part with the Chaldeans in war against Judea.

Five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar attacked and defeated the Moabites.

Chapter 49: Predictions as to Ammon, Idumea, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam.

As to Ammon, Jeremiah predicts that their day of judgement is coming.

In verse 12 we learn that what we do as a nation affects the rest of the world…indeed, what any nation does affects the rest of the world, even the “innocent” ones.

A nation that turns from the Lord hurts not only itself, but other nations as well.

As the poet, John Donne, said in “Meditation XVII,” “no man is an island.

Chapter 50: Jeremiah’s predictions of Babylon's coming downfall and Israel's redemption.

There are many repetitions of the coming destruction of Babylon.

Remember: repetition in the Bible is tied to importance.

Babylon is representative of the sin nature of man, which is dealt with in the resurrection of Christ.

It is Israel’s rejection of Messiah that continues to bring them war and disorder.

That is true of every living, breathing human being.

There is redemption for the remnant Israel that turns to Messiah in the future.

There is redemption for ANYBODY who turns to Messiah…right now!

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-He Is Jehovah-Kenneth Copeland

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 9

Jeremiah Chapters 41-45

Here are the major events of each chapter:

Chapter 41
a. Ishmael Murders Gedaliah and Others.
b. Ishmael then Flees to the Ammonites.
c. Johanan Pursues Ishmael, Recovers the Captives, and Decides to Flee to Egypt for Fear of the Chaldeans.

Key Truths: No one can prosper who hardens his heart against God.

The removal of a prudent and peaceable ruler, and the succession of another who is rash and ambitious, affects the welfare of many.

Only those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways are happy and steady.

Chapter 42
a. The Jews and Johanan Inquire of God, through Jeremiah, as to Going to Egypt, Promising Obedience to His Will.
b. Their Safety on Condition of Staying in Judea, and Their Destruction in the Event of Going to Egypt, Are Foretold.
c. Their Hypocrisy in Asking for Counsel Which They Meant Not to Follow, if Contrary to Their Own Determination, Is Reproved.

Key Truths: God is ever ready to return in mercy to those who are afflicted; and he never rejects any who rely on his promises.

We don’t know what is best for ourselves; and what we are most fond of, and have our hearts most set upon, often proves hurtful, and sometimes fatal.

Chapter 43
a. The Jews Carry Jeremiah and Baruch into Egypt.
b. Jeremiah Foretells the Conquest of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, and the Fate of the Fugitives.

Key Truths: God can find his people wherever they are.

Chapter 44
a. Jeremiah Reproves the Jews for Their Idolatry in Egypt.
b. Jeremiah Denounces God's Judgments on Them and Egypt Alike.

Key Truths: To mingle idolatry and superstition with Divine worship, and to reject the mediation of Christ, dooms one to an eternity separated from Him.

Having a part in God’s mercy is always united with repentance and obedience.

Chapter 45
a. Jeremiah Comforts Baruch.
b. After the completion of the prophecies and histories pertaining to the Jewish people and kings, Jeremiah adds one referring to an individual, Baruch.
c. Baruch seems to have been regularly employed by Jeremiah to commit his prophecies to writing

Key Truths: Young beginners in Christianity may be discouraged with small difficulties, which they first begin servicing God.

Serving God, whether in the “professional” ministry or as a lay person, is never easy. It requires the leadership of the Holy Spirit and perseverance beyond measure.

SENT TO ME IN AN EMAIL

APHORISM: A SHORT, POINTED SENTENCE THAT EXPRESSES A WISE OR CLEVER OBSERVATION OR A GENERAL TRUTH.

1. The nicest thing about the future is . . . that it always starts tomorrow.

2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.

3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.

4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.

5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.

6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

7. Business conventions are important. . .because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.

8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?

9. Scratch a cat . . . and you will have a permanent job.

10. No one has more driving ambition than the teenage boy who wants to buy a car.

11. There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.

12. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 a.m. - like, it could be the right number.

13. No one ever says "It's only a game" when their team is winning.

14. I've reached the age where 'happy hour' is a nap.

15. Be careful about reading the fine print. . . . there's no way you're going to like it.

16. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.

17. Do you realize that, in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos?
(And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!)

18. Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Cadillac than in a Yugo.

19. After 60, if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you're probably dead.

20. Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind . . . . and the ones that mind don't matter.

21. Life isn't tied with a bow . . . . . . . . but it's still a gift.

SUNDAY SONGS OF PRAISE-Soon and Veery soon-Jessy Dixon & Andre Crouch

Beloved gospel singer, songwriter and musician, Jessy Dixon, died Monday in his Chicago home.

During the lifetime of a career that spanned upwards of five decades, Dixon wrote more than 200 songs. Author of gospel classics such as ‘I Love To Praise His Name’ and ‘, ‘He’s The Best Thing…To Happen to Me’, Dixon was perhaps most known for his 1993 hit ‘I Am Redeemed’ a song that impacted audiences worldwide, and held a top-ten position on the gospel charts for over five years.

Dixon began studying music at the age of five, and his original aspiration was to become a classical pianist. However, during a 1997 interview with the associated press, Dixon revealed that since early childhood, he knew he wanted to use his gifts and talents in the church. Dixon was catapulted into a broader gospel scene after being discovered by gospel music legend, James Cleveland, but remained dedicated to his desire of sharing that gospel he heard about as a youth.

For the past 16 years, Jessy Dixon had been a cherished fixture on the Bill Gaither Gospel Hour television series, and concert tours. His unbridled enthusiasm for sharing the gospel, and the boundless energy he brought to the stage made him an instant favorite to all who knew and loved him, both in the United States and in Europe. "Nowhere else in the world will you find such a delightful, pure, and honest performance, ingeniously combining brilliant vocalizing, and high energy excitement as when you listen to Jessy Dixon. When your feet begin to tap with the beat, the desire to get up and dance becomes overwhelming, and maybe a tear comes to your eyes; that is when Jessy Dixon's performance has reached its pinnacle," (International Herald Tribune).

Over the course of his career in gospel music, Dixon received several Dove award nominations for his work, seven Grammy nominations, garnered five gold albums, and was a 2008 Christian Music Hall of Fame inductee.
In addition to his accomplishments in the realm of gospel, Dixon also enjoyed success in other genres of music. Dixon was well known for his collaboration and friendship with Paul Simon, with whom he toured for eight years, and was contributor on several of Simon’s albums.

Aside from his work with Paul Simon, Dixon also wrote numerous songs for such artists as Cher, Natalie Cole, Amy Grant, and Diana Ross. In addition to singing and songwriting, Dixon played keyboard with Earth, Wind, and Fire, and guitarist Phillip Upchurch, as well as piano for gospel legend, Mahalia Jackson.

Despite international recognition and acclaim, Dixon stated the greatest joy of his life was to 'bask in the love of the one whom this gospel music is all about.”

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 8

Jeremiah Chapters 36-40

Here are the major events of each chapter:

36:1-32
a. Baruch writes for Jeremiah, then reads Jeremiah's prophecies publicly.
b. They are collected in a volume (on a scroll).
c. The scroll is burned by Jehoiakim, and written again by Baruch at Jeremiah's dictation.

Significant lessons: Reading the Word is crucial, but can get you in trouble, even today. People have tried to destroy the Word throughout history, but the Word of the Lord has survived.

37:1-21 (Chapters 37-44 are the so-called historical sections.)
a. The Chaldeans raise the siege to go and meet Pharaoh-hophra.
b. Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah to pray to God on behalf of the Jews.
c. Jeremiah tries to escape to his native place, but is arrested.
d. Zedekiah helps soften the rigor of Jeremiah’s imprisonment

Significant lessons: Being a prisoner for the Lord is honorable. In Ephesians 3:1, Paul proclaims himself a prisoner OF Christ Jesus FOR the gentiles.

38:1-28
a. Jeremiah predicts the capture of Jerusalem.
b. He is cast into a dungeon.
c. Jeremiah is transferred to the prison court when Ebed-melech intervenes
d. He has a secret interview with Zedekiah.

Significant lessons: God demands total surrender. If we are not willing to surrender to Him, we need to examine our relationship to Him in Christ (Romans 6:13 and Luke 18:28).

39:1-18
a. Jerusalem is taken.
b. Zedekiah's fate.
c. Jeremiah is cared for.
d. Ebed-melech is given assurance.

Significant lessons: With God there is always the way of escape…not from the day-to-day trials, but from their devastating spiritual effects.

40:1-16
a. Jeremiah is set free at Ramah.
b. He goes to Gedaliah, to whom the remnant of Jews returned.
c. Johanan warns Gedaliah of Ishmael's conspiracy in vain.

Jeremiah was set free from his physical chains. But there are chains more distressing than physical chains. They are the chains of sin. The only way to be free from those chains is by trusting in, and only in, the shed blood of Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection (Romans 10:9).

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Panis Angelicus-Cesar Frank

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 7

Jeremiah Chapters 30-35

Chapters 30 and 31 are a song of restoration.

Israel would be delivered from the final tribulation at the end of the age.

In Verse 22 we have a prophesy that Messiah would be born of a virgin. This is fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-20.

They will enjoy the blessing of the NEW COVENANT (verse 31). This is fulfilled in Matthew 26:28.

This is a definite prediction that the Mosaic Covenant would be superseded by another.

Chapter 32 Jeremiah, Imprisoned for His Prophecy against Jerusalem, Buys a Patrimonial Property (His Relative Hanameel's), IN Order to Certify to the Jews Their Future Return from Babylon.

A year before Jerusalem fell, God commanded Jeremiah to purchase the field of Hanameel, his uncle’s son.

Here is a good example of the Kinsman Redeemer and a sign that the captives would return and cultivate the land.

(32:17) “…there is nothing too hard for thee.”

Chapter 33 Prophecy of the Restoration from Babylon, and of Messiah as King and Priest.

Verses 14 & 15 tell us that Messiah will be a descendant of David. This fulfilled in Luke 3:23-31

Jeremiah continued the theme of Israel’s restoration through the prophecy of the “BRANCH.”

Here we have a message of salvation and praise.

Chapter 34 Captivity of Zedekiah and the People Foretold for Their Disobedience and Deceitfulness.

The people had promised to free the Hebrew slaves, but did not keep their
Promise, so they, too, would become captives.

Chapter 35 Prophecy in the Reign of Jehoiakim, when the Chaldeans, in
Conjunction with the Syrians and Moabites, Invaded Judea

Here a rebuke was given to Israel through the example of the Rechabites, descendants of Moses’ brother-in-law.

Israel failed again to obey God.

The fact that prophecies are fulfilled is more than an academic exercise. It is evidence that God can be trusted in all that He says.

God has told us that all have sinned and come short of His glory. He has also said that if we will trust in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection, we will be saved.

You could trust God to fulfil His prophesies, and you can trust God to provide you with salvation through, and only through, Christ, Jesus, Messiah.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-The Power of Your Love-Rebecca St. James

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 6

Jeremiah Chapters 26-29

Chapter 26 Jeremiah in Danger for his life.

People don’t like getting a “word from the Lord.” They’d rather figure everything out for themselves and have God just leave them alone.

When Jesus made His claims to be God, the religious leaders wanted Him dead, too.

Chapter 27 God tells Jeremiah that people from many countries will become Nebuchadnezzar’s servants.

Jeremiah put on a yoke, like those worn by oxen, and went about the city saying, “Thus shall Babylon put on the necks of this people.”

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus speaks of His yoke. He invites us to take it on and learn of Him.

Chapter 28 Subjugation through Babylon

The false prophet, Hananiah, broke Jeremiah’s yoke and predicted that God would not do what He said He would do.

God promised Hananiah a yoke of iron that could not be broken.

Its not a good idea to be a false prophet “for God.”

God always keeps His word, and Hananiah died in the seventh month of the same year.

Sometimes, religious leaders get so full of themselves that they lose sight of the One whom they are supposed to elevate: Jesus.

That is what happened to the Pharisees. They were so full of their own “religious importance,” that they lost sight of the God they were supposed to be serving and substituted “logic and good sense” in their religious lives.

The church stands in danger of doing the very same thing, especially when she leaves the Word of God and starts following her own devices.

Chapter 29 Jeremiah is Comforting the Captives in Babylon

In a letter to the captives in Babylon, He prophesied the return to their homeland after seventy years.

There is always hope, always an opportunity to turn back to God.

Our country has decided to move away from the God of our founders and to remove Him from any and all “public” forums.

But it is not too late.

WE can be a part of bringing America back to the One who will bless and sustain her.

But we must each be involved in the turn-around.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Awesome God-Rich Mullins

CLICK HERE

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 5

(After a week's hiatus for special doings at the church, our overview now continues)

Jeremiah Chapters 21-25

Chapter 21: Zedekiah Consults Jeremiah. What Is to Be the Event of the War?  God's Answer.

Zedekiah—a prince having some reverence for sacred things, for which reason he sends an honorable embassy to Jeremiah; but not having moral courage to obey his better impulses.

Nebuchadnezzar – The “chief of gods; the god of fire.

In verse 8. Jeremiah urges complete surrender to God’s will, instead of opposing their invaders.

God always requires complete surrender.

Verse 12 speaks of administering justice.

You do not want God to dispense justice to you. If He does, you will spend eternity in Hell. You want His mercy and grace, not justice.

Chapter 22: Exhortation to Repentance; Judgment on Shallum, Jehoiakim, and Coniah.

Verses 1-5 – God gives another list of the indications of His requirement for perfection from His people, something they could not offer.

Verse 24 Even if you were a “signet ring” God would reject you because He requires perfection and you can not meet that standard, even if you think you are perfect.

Failure to meet God’s standard (also called committing sin) results in His condemnation. Freedom from condemnation is found only in Christ; not in self and not in “proper” behavior.

Chapter 23: The Wicked Rulers to Be Superseded by the King. Who Should Reign over the Again United Peoples, Israel and Judah?

Verse 1ff - The “shepherds” are comparable to preachers or religious leaders.

Verses 5-6 – This is a prophesy of Messiah.

Verses 7-40 presents the idea of “prophets” who are really not prophets at all, because their prophesies are based on their own philosophies and lies, instead of on the Word of God.

Chapter 24: The Restoration of the Captives in Babylon and the Destruction of the Refractory Party in Judea and in Egypt, Represented under the Type of a Basket of Good, and One of Bad, Figs.

The baskets of “good” figs represent those who have found favor with God in Christ.

The “bad” figs represent those who have tried to accomplish life in their own power, strength and goodness.

God’s righteousness will prevail.

Chapter 25:  Prophecy of the Seventy Years' Captivity; and after That the Destruction of Babylon, and of All the Nations That Oppressed the Jews.

Verse 5 - Each must separately repent and turn from his own sin. There is no corporate salvation.

Verse 28 – There is to come a cup from which each must drink if he/she is to receive God’s salvation. That cup is Jesus’ blood and His righteousness.

“I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name-Acapella

LEST WE FORGET

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Wonderful, Merciful Savior-Selah

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 05

Jeremiah – Chapters 16-20

Chapter 16

Verses 1-9 The Word of the Lord tells Jeremiah not to marry and have sons and daughters because, in the end, their disaster would be greater than their parents’.

Why?

Verses 10-13 tell us. It’s because their parents wrongdoings were those of action, but the children’s sins were those of the heart . (Verse 12 “…the stubbornness of his evil heart…”

Romans 2:29 requires a circumcision of the heart. I Corinthians 14:25 “…the secrets of his heart will be laid bare.”

Chapter 17

Verse 5 - From the beginning God designed us not to depend on our own strength, intelligence or philosophies, but to depend upon Him for everything.

Verse 9 – Man’s heart is deceitful and without God, the truth is not in him.

Verse 10a – It is God who searches and evaluates the heart of man.

Verses 19-27 The “rules” were simple: Don’t neglect a day of rest – the Sabbath. Verse 23 lets us know that they couldn’t even obey the one “rule.” If they could not obey the one, how were they going to obey them all? Answer: They couldn’t. That’s why we needed Jesus to come and fulfil the Law for us.

In Him, all the requirements of the Law are satisfied…All of them.

Chapter 18

There was a problem with the potter…his clay was marred. God wants His people to be clay in His hands that he may “…mould them and make them after His will…”

In verse 18 the people met to “make plans against Jeremiah,” just as the Pharisees plotted against Jesus. God’s message, although it is a message of unalterable love, is always seen as a threat to people, because they don’t know Him with their hearts.

Chapter 19

The “highlight” of chapter 19 is verses 14 & 15 where Jeremiah refers to those who heard the message but refused to follow God as “stiff-necked” people.

Stephen repeats this accusations in Acts.7:51, “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears. You are just like your fathers…”

What should have been a compliment (You are like your fathers) was, after all, a put-down, as we see their “fathers” had not been receptive to God’s word.

Chapter 20

When Jeremiah is arrested and placed in stocks, he is not exactly happy, with Pashhur or with God.

For proclaiming the word of the Lord, all he got was trouble. Like Paul, he ended up arrested. But Paul refused to stop proclaiming the gospel

Jeremiah curses the day he was born (much like Job did) in verses 15-18.

How Can We Forgive?

To begin with, we must realize that forgiveness is not a natural human characteristic. Real forgiveness must originate with God, for it is a part of His character.

Then, we must understand the forgiveness offered us by God at the cross of Calvary in the person of Jesus as He died to forgive us.

From what did He forgive us?

He forgave us of all of our sin(s), past, present and future.

So what? What is so special about the forgiveness of sin?

To understand that is to understand why nothing else could pay for our sins, except the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

The tiniest sin is so abhorrent to God that it is worthy of an eternity separated from His presence in a place called “Hell,” a place not designed for us but for Satan and his demons. God won't send us there. We have to step over Christ to get there, but more get there than don't.

That is why James wrote: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10)

The Law might be likened to a drinking glass. It is good. It does what it is supposed to do: it holds liquid.

But if the drinking glass developed just one little hole in it, it would no longer be useful. Even if the “whole” glass was not broken, the one little hole would make it leak and the glass would no longer serve it’s intended purpose.

So it is with the Law.

According to Paul’s letter to the Romans, the purpose of the Law is to reveal to us our sin and our need for a savior.

Sin is pictured in Scripture as any thought or action that is not in the absolute center of God’s will.

That’s pretty severe, for it means that every second of every day we are all guilty of sin.

In and of ourselves, there is no hope, for it is impossible for us to adequately keep the Law.

That is why Christ died for us.

He did for us what we could not do for ourselves: he bore the penalty for our sin.

He provided for us God’s eternal forgiveness!

Now, the Lord’s Prayer (properly called the disciples’ prayer) says, “…and forgive us our trespasses, as (in the same way) we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Luke 11:4 and others).

In Colossians 1: 13 & 14, Paul wrote: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

He set the example of forgiveness for us, and taught that we should forgive others the same way He forgives us: not after we have “fixed” whatever wrong we have done, but just because forgiveness is the emulation of Christ’s forgiveness of us.

Realizing the depth and seriousness of God’s forgiveness toward us is the first step toward learning to forgive others.

When someone has wronged us personally (which is the way we wronged God through our sin), we feel hurt. We often want to strike back, or at best, strike them from our list of friends.

Through the teaching process afforded by God’s Spirit, we can learn how to forgive others.

After realizing how God has forgiven us, the next step is to realize that unforgiveness is really a result of our own, personal feeling of having been “wronged.”

In other words, it is about self.

He/she hurt ME. He/she did such-and-such to ME. He/she said so-and-so about ME.

I become the focus of my own perception.

Once we know that our difficulty with forgiveness is self-directed, we can begin the process of letting go of the real or imagined offense.

Forgiveness is not a wishy-washy “poor me” response. It takes determination and strength to forgive others.

Those attributes can only come from God.

True forgiveness does not even bother to take into account the seriousness of the offense.

It is not about forgetting, for memories are stored in our brain and are not easily overwritten like some computer code.

Forgiveness is about letting go and allowing God to deal with it.

Even if the other person does not change, let it go.

Even if the other person has not asked for forgiveness, let it go.

As God sees the redeemed person who sins through the eyes of Christ and therefore as having not sinned, so we must see the other person through Christ’s eyes and forgive.

It is not easy, for we like to harbor our hurts. We like to hang on.

If hanging on to our hurts did not benefit us in some way, we would not do it.

It makes us feel somehow “superior” to the other person to be able to point to their offense and say, “See! That’s how they are. I’m much better than that.”

But Jesus saw our offense and said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” speaking more to you and me than to the people who hung Him on the cross.

Forgiveness must be directed toward those who have done us personal wrong.

There is no generalized forgiveness, such as: “I forgive all of the people who have done anything bad against me.”

In many cases, the person we have not forgiven does not even know we have anything against them.

Forgiveness is personal and specific.

There are benefits to learning to forgive others.

One benefit is the sweet release from emotional pain that accompanies unforgiveness.

Another is the ability to realize the “peace that passes understanding” that God provides those who are His.

There is also the knowledge that we have done what is right in God’s eyes.

Finally, there is the ability to re-direct our focus onto those matters that need our attention without the distraction of holding whatever attitudes we may have against the one who wronged us.

Prayer: Father, teach us to forgive like Jesus forgave us.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-A Heart that Forgives-Kevin Levar

A Study in Jeremiah-Week 04

Jeremiah – Chapters 11-15

In theology, Jeremiah is a “type” of Christ.

What is A "Type?"

A type can be described as: "to mark an impression. A fore-shadow; a prefigure of things to come." A type can be seen as an object, person, symbol or event that is similar but not identical to the anti-type (the fulfillment of the type). So, a comparison between the two will bring out an analogy that will present a clear Biblical truth.

Jeremiah (Chapter 11)
Verses 2-5 - A covenant is a binding contract between two parties. Israel entered the covenant at Mount Sinai and God was calling them to obey that covenant.

COMPARING JEREMIAH WITH CHRIST

Jeremiah 11:19 - "I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, Let us cut him off from the land of the living, that His Name be remembered no more."

Christ
Isaiah 53:8 - "By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people he was stricken."

COMPARING JEREMIAH WITH CHRIST

Jeremiah
Verses 11:19 - "I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."

Christ
Isaiah 53:7 - "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth."

Jeremiah (Chapter 12)

Verses 1-4 - Jeremiah’s question is: “Why do good things happen to bad people?”

Verses 5-17 - God’s answer is: “His people are NOT good.” As Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us: “There is no difference, Jew and Greek, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

COMPARING JEREMIAH WITH CHRIST

Jeremiah (Chapter 13)
Verses 1-11 - God’s people had soiled themselves with sin and became good for nothing.

Christ: Jesus said salt that has lost its flavor is good for nothing, (Matthew 5.13)

COMPARING JEREMIAH WITH CHRIST

Jeremiah 13:17 - "But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride, my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s block will be taken captive."

Christ
Luke 19:41 - "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it."


Jeremiah (Chapter 14)

Because of their sin, Judah would experience drought, famine and the sword.

Sin always has been, is now and forever will be a separator of man from God. Even though God cannot forsake those who are truly saved, sin will surely disturb our fellowship with Him.

How can one serve God and realize His righteousness and claim on one’s life while he/she is practicing sin?

In verse 13, Jeremiah states what the prophets have been saying. God responded by telling Jeremiah that the prophets are liars.

We live in a day of false prophets.

A false prophet is anyone who “brings a message from God” that contradicts, does not conform to or adds to His Word.

We must be able to “…test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1)

I John 4:2 tells us how to test the spirits: see what they do with Christ. If He has preeminence and if they are proclaiming Him as being Messiah (God) in the flesh, their message is valid. If they do not, they are liars (Jehovah’s Witnesses; Mormons; and many 7th Day Adventists, along with Islam and other “religions”).

Jeremiah (Chapter 15)

Verse 1 — The nation is in such a desperate condition of sin that even the prayers of Moses and Samuel would not be heard.

How is OUR nation today?

Verse 16 — Jeremiah finds comfort and joy in the Word of God, though it is hard to swallow.

Verse 19 — God emphasizes the importance of repentance and of telling His message.

He warns, however, that we must respond to people who “turn to you, but you must not turn to them.”

You cannot force salvation on people. You may introduce the subject, but if the Spirit has not prepared their hearts, don’t feel pressured to press the matter…just plant the seed. God will take care of the rest.

Verse 21 – God promises salvation. That salvation comes when He “incarnates” Himself in the form of the babe in the manger, Christ Jesus, our Lord.