JEREMIAH: GOD S MOUTHPIECE

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1 SESSION 1 Unit 1 Jeremiah/Lamentations Session Outcome To develop the courage to speak for God in the face of personal limitations and external opposition. Customize: is the password to access expanded teaching helps at SundayTeacher. com. Discover: See Illustrated Bible Life for an insightful look into the historical context of Jeremiah s ministry and verse-byverse commentary on the Scripture passage June 3 THE WORD JEREMIAH 1:1-19 KEY VERSE JEREMIAH: GOD S MOUTHPIECE God calls all believers to speak for Him in the various circumstances of life. The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. 4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. 6 Alas, Sovereign Lord, I said, I do not know how to speak; I am too young. 7 But the Lord said to me, Do not say, I am too young. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant. 11 The word of the Lord came to me: What do you see, Jeremiah? I see the branch of an almond tree, I replied. 12 The Lord said to me, You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled. 13 The word of the Lord came to me again: What do you see? I see a pot that is boiling, I answered. It is tilting toward us from the north. 14 The Lord said to me, From the north disaster will be poured out 4 Unit 1: Jeremiah/Lamentations

2 Last Week: 7 We focused on a Samaritan woman who had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. This Week: We will see how we must have courage to speak for God regardless of our limitations or adverse outside influences. Notes: Session 1 on all who live in the land. 15 I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms, declares the Lord. Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah. 16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made. 17 Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord. ENGAGE THE WORD eople, places, and events are important, and all Pcan be interesting. We love stories, including the real adventures of real people. A very real Judean, Jeremiah lived more adventures than he wanted, more than we scarcely can imagine. They began with God s calling him to the office of prophet. JEREMIAH S ASSIGNMENT Jeremiah 1:1-10 Responsible reading focuses verse 5 on Jeremiah. God knew, set apart, and specifically appointed Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations. This verse does not teach micro-managed creation, one person/entity at a time; it does not teach predestined and irresistible salvation; it is not a modern-day life verse. It is God s call upon (one may argue) the most important Old Testament prophet, after Moses and Isaiah. We may hear Jeremiah s response as an excuse, an attempt to opt out of God s difficult calling and tasks. In most cultures, though, down to the present, listening to the voices of the young and less-experienced has been the exception, rather than the rule. Jeremiah only may have been shocked that God would call someone who obviously would not be heeded. June 3,

3 8 June 3, 2018 Watch: Dr. Tim Green introduces this quarter s unit on Jeremiah and Lamentations. To access, go to SundayTeacher.com. Listen: The tumultuous events of Jeremiah s world is the focus of this week s Illustrated Bible Life podcast on SundayTeacher.com. Notes: Did You Know? The Old Testament prophets addressed the past, the present, sometimes even the future, but prophecy is not identified by time. The only essential evaluation of the true prophet is that she/he proclaims God s message(s) faithfully and accurately! Jeremiah s father was a priest; he would become a priest. His education began at age 20, with graduation at 30. Before entering fully into his priestly duties, Jeremiah was too young by his Judean cultural norms. God had a different idea. As God had chosen the younger son Isaac, the younger son Jacob, the younger son Moses (who also confessed his inability to speak), the youngest son David, and many others, so God now chose Jeremiah. God, who knows the heart, does not always choose obvious candidates for important tasks. However, whom God chooses, God also empowers. God s purposes for Jeremiah s prophetic ministry follow six infinitive verbs: to uproot and [to] tear down, [and] to destroy and [to] overthrow, to build and to plant. (The bracketed words are in the Hebrew text.) When God acts to allow destruction (the first four), God follows with restoration of those who will receive it (the final two). JEREMIAH S THEME Jeremiah 1:11-16 The almond is called shaqed (shah-kade; waking), because it is among the first of the nut and fruit trees to blossom and leaf out in the spring. The tree personified as eager to wake up and watch is a fitting metaphor for God s faithfulness to keep the commitments God appointed Jeremiah to announce to Judah and the nations. The second image, a boiling pot tipping from the north (v 13), reflects regional geography. Assyria and Babylon lay northeast and east of Jerusalem, respectively, but impassable desert blocked invasions directly from the east. Everyone knew Asian enemies invaded Judah from the north, through Syria and/ or Phoenicia (Lebanon). Jeremiah s problem, as God forewarned him here, was that Judah would refuse to believe his warnings of God s intent to use Babylon to judge her for her apostasy, even with besieging 6 Unit 1: Jeremiah/Lamentations

4 Discover: 9 Jeremiah prophesied to the people of ancient Judah during the most tumultuous time in their history. The people of Judah had great hope for the future, but this hope soon turned to despair as the nation spiraled down to destruction. This week s Illustrated Bible Life article, The Times of Jeremiah, sheds light on these dark years of Israel s history. Notes: Think About It The God who thrust Jeremiah into the center of His divine purpose still calls some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but all His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-12). JEREMIAH S SURETY Session 1 armies at Jerusalem s gates (v. 15; cf. 34:1-16). Jeremiah s indictments of Judah were to center on Judah s forsaking [God] and worshiping what their hands have made (v. 16). Other prophets, such as Amos and Micah, focused more on injustices of the ruling classes; Isaiah dealt with both. Ultimately, these are inseparable: apostasy always results in injustice; injustice always is a sign of unfaithfulness. Jeremiah 1:17-19 God ended Jeremiah s call with a pep talk which can serve as a model for the genre: First, say and do what I tell you (v. 17). God s tasks are to be done in God s ways. Second, Do not be terrified (v. 17). Throughout the Bible, God and God s agents often say, Do not be afraid. This verb is more vivid, and even stronger. Third, My protection will be better than you need (v. 18). An iron pillar could not be broken, nor a bronze wall breached, with the siege machinery available in Jeremiah s day. Fourth, assaults will come, but the outcome is certain, for I am with you and will rescue you (v. 19). Declares the Lord simply adds emphasis to the already iron-clad guarantee. What firmer assurances could Jeremiah have received? We may not be called in the same way, but Scripture is clear throughout that whom God calls, God also equips, accompanies, and protects. REFLECT Think about the ways you can speak the Word of God into the life of someone this week. JOSEPH COLESON is professor of Old Testament at Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO. June 3,

5 10 June 3, 2018 Discussion Guide Connect to My Experience Begin your session by explaining to your group that you want them to begin thinking about spokespeople. As you say the name of a particular company (with a well-known commercial spokesperson), group members are encouraged to attempt to be the first to say aloud the name of that particular company s spokesperson. We ve all seen unique commercials with interesting spokespersons that were employed to help advertise a product. M What s the strangest or most unique spokesperson you ve ever seen? M If you were to enlist someone to deliver a message on God s behalf, what do you think would be God s qualifications for being His spokesperson? (Examples might include faithful, obedient, lives a holy life, loving, honest.) Transition: Today we re going to be examining the invitation given by God to a young man named Jeremiah to serve as God s spokesperson to his world. Connect to the Word 1:1-3, and then discuss, Israel s being taken into exile by their captors is a direct result of their unwillingness to heed God s Word (spoken through Jeremiah) and trust Him. Jeremiah is often referred to as the weeping prophet because God s call to His people to repent and turn from their disobedience fell on deaf ears. M Has anyone here, like Jeremiah, had to deliver hard-to-swallow news to someone? If so, what was that experience like? Jeremiah lived in a time of much unbelief and rebellion towards God. Yet, God hand-picked him to be His spokesperson to the people. 1:4-10, then discuss the following, Perhaps some of you have heard verse 5 quoted in discussions about abortion; but for today s study, we will consider what God was saying specifically to Jeremiah. He was the one God was recruiting to serve as His spokesperson to the people living in such a difficult time. M If you were Jeremiah, how might these words (v.5) be a source of encouragement to you? M What do you notice about Jeremiah s response (v.6) to God s invitation to serve as His prophet to the nations? M Have you ever felt unqualified or ill-prepared for a task you ve been asked to do? What did you learn from that experience? M What, in your own words, is God s response (see vv.7-8) to Jeremiah s concerns about being unqualified for the job? M What does God do to assure Jeremiah that he will be supplied with the necessary resources to accomplish the call (see vv.9-10)? 1:11-16, then discuss, M What two images does God show Jeremiah to remind him of the importance of his prophetic role in delivering this message from God? (almond tree branch, boiling pot) The almond tree is among the first of the nut and fruit trees to blossom and leaf out in the spring. This image was used by God to communicate His faithfulness to wake up and watch. The image of the boiling pot being poured out from the north is meant to call to light

6 Insight Jeremiah opens a window to his soul and invites us to look in. As we witness his struggle with God s call, we can learn something about the way God reveals His will to us today. the local geography of the day. With impassible desert directly to the east of Jerusalem, it was often from the north that an enemy attack would come. Still, amidst this clear image of destruction coming at the hands of the Babylonians, the Israelites refused to heed Jeremiah s call to repentance. 11 1:17-19, then discuss, Often people give motivational speeches at critical moments in life. (For example, a trainer to his/her boxer just before a big fight, or a coach to his/her team just before kickoff.) However, this speech is unique. Jeremiah s message was a life-changing message from God. M If you were in Jeremiah s shoes, what would you be thinking upon hearing these instructions from God himself? Connect to My Life and the World Our world isn t that much different from Jeremiah s day. Our culture is overflowing with radical disregard for God. We ignore Him, or twist His words to fit our own agendas. God is still calling out to willing spokespeople who will share His message with the world. M Have you ever considered yourself to be a prophet, sent from God, to deliver His message? Why or why not? M How does it make you feel to know that God entrusts His message to you? M What are circumstances where we might feel confused, afraid, and/or unwilling to serve as God s prophet in situations that clearly require hearing from God? You ve heard the expression that sometimes actions speak louder than words. Being a faithful prophet of God has always been about so much more than just talking for God. Whenever we refuse to allow the noise of sin to drown out the redeeming message of Christ s love, we serve as a prophetic voice of God. Although it is often easier to just keep silent and look the other way, still the voice of our Savior calls us to speak up for the sake of love. M As we consider Jesus command that we go make disciples, in what ways might God be calling us to be His spokesperson to the world where we live? Close in prayer, asking God to give your group the courage to serve as His spokespeople to a people captive by sin. Sessions 1-7 are written by Kevin Hancock Kevin pastors the New Community Church of the Nazarene and lives in Collinsville, Illinois with his wife and two sons.