JEREMIAH GOD S MESSENGER

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1 JEREMIAH GOD S MESSENGER Jeremiah 38:1 40:6 Jeremiah the prophet is thrown into a pit then rescued by a friend. Preparing Yourself Teaching Aim It is better to obey God than to try and please other people. Response Aim YTs will choose obedience to God before popularity with their peers. Jeremiah Cf. 37:21 Jeremiah was in the courtyard of the guard, free to speak, but not to go outside. 5. Zedekiah was afraid of his officials and refused to intervene. 6. Many houses in Jerusalem had pear -shaped cisterns about 13m deep, lined with a form of cement, for water storage (picture, IBD, p289). 7. Cushite possibly from Ethiopia or Sudan. Ebed-Melech means King s Servant and may be a title rather than a name. Benjamin Gate the king was probably settling legal matters in an area where people could approach and talk with him. Resources Biographies/articles about people who have suffered in their attempts to bring about change. Bible Time Line available from Distribution price 3 plus p&p. I s your heart set on things that are spiritual and eternal? The things that so preoccupy people around us, such as career advancement and material comforts, begin to lose all their attraction for someone who knows the joy of being counted worthy to share in the sufferings of their Lord. Persecution It is better to obey God than to try to please people. The promised pleasures of sin are only temporary, and have a sting in their tail, whereas the promises of God to his obedient and faithful children are vastly superior. Jesus said, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:10) Jeremiah has a horrible time in these chapters. His vindications are temporary, his reward is not spoken of, his hope is unseen. The thought that what he has is better seems contradicted by events. But with hindsight it is so clear that Jeremiah s wisdom and hope rest in his choice of the eternal over the temporary, the precious over the fake. Even in the pit, how much better was his condition than that of King Zedekiah? A better choice Jeremiah 37:2 frames our lesson so well. The king had a choice. He could listen to God or he could go his own way. The people had a Focus Verse 2 Corinthians 4:18 We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. choice. They could follow Jeremiah s example, which seemed the depressing, hard, unpatriotic way, or they could follow their king s example. In a time that is so tenaciously materialistic, many make the same choices as King Zedekiah and the people of Judah. As in Jeremiah s day, it can seem as though everything is in their favour. Our teens need to be introduced to the idea that there is a better way and there is a better choice. A counter-cultural message There are many other examples in the Bible you can draw from. Paul knew all about persecution. But we do not lose heart, he says, for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2Cor 4:16-18) The description of Moses in Hebrews 11:24-27 is a wonderful expression of this spiritual choice. A few verses later we read that Jesus himself for the joy set before him endured the cross. (Heb 12:2) From the turmoil of Jeremiah s day we can bring some reasons why it is so much better to obey God than to please people; God knows better, God does better, and God gives better. It s a counter-cultural message. It s foolishness to the world. Let s pray that God will reveal these spiritual truths to our teens as we teach. Go Teach 12s-14s Tel:

2 Teaching Young Teens To start Look at examples of people who suffered unpopularity, imprisonment or worse in their attempts to stand up for truth (e.g. Protestant reformers). Doing what is right doesn t necessarily make us popular, as we shall find out today. Alternative: Ask YTs to share what keeps them going when they face exams. One lesson we learn today is that thinking of long-term gain can help us through short-term pain. As God s punishment for their disobedience, the Babylonians invaded Judah. The Babylonians had appointed a king, 37:1 and then halted their siege of Jerusalem in order to defend their own border, 37:5. All the people in Jerusalem thought they were safe except Jeremiah. God knows better Read 38:1-6. Imagine our country was being attacked by an enemy and a prominent person said we should surrender rather than put up a fight. What sort of reaction do you think he might get? Brainstorm ideas. The reaction would be similar to that of Jehucal, Shephatiah, Gedaliah, and Pashhur (38:4).The problem was that people had got into the habit of ignoring what God said. They thought they knew better. (Read 37:2.) Q. Was Jeremiah just expressing his own opinion? (See v2.) No! Jeremiah was speaking with the authority of God himself. Teaching: God knows what he s talking about because he is all-knowing, all-wise and in control of everything that happens in this world. Application: What is your ambition in life? Is it to be comfortable and have a good time with your friends? Look at Jeremiah s experience, (e.g.37:16, 38:6). Does it pay to obey God? God does better Ask YTs to look up 38:7-10,14-16, 19, Q. What do these verses tell us about the character of King Zedekiah? King Zedekiah is a perfect example of a person whose main aim in life is to be popular. He could not make up his mind. He did not really know right from wrong, and ended up doing nasty things to please nasty people. Contrast Zedekiah s character with the attributes of God. Teaching: Unlike men, God is unchanging in his character. He always keeps his promises, and always does what is right, good and fair. Application: If pleasing people is your main goal, you will become weak, unstable and immoral in your behaviour. True strength of character only comes from obedience to God. God gives better Q. If Jeremiah had kept quiet and become Zedekiah s friend, would that have helped him when the Babylonians came? Q. If Zedekiah had obeyed God, how might things have been different? (38:17; 39:5-7) God was true to his word, and because Jeremiah trusted him, he was saved. (1:19; 39:17, 18; 40:1-6). But Jeremiah didn t have his eyes fixed on the rewards of this life, but on his eternal reward in heaven. That s what kept him going when things got tough. (Discuss FV.) Teaching: The rewards from pleasing people are only temporary. The rewards for obeying God are eternal. Application: Make it your ambition to put God first in everything, even if it means giving up a comfortable life. To finish Appearances are deceptive. Sometimes following the crowd and being popular seems like the sensible thing to do. But it is much better to obey God first. God knows better than anyone what is best for you. He does what is better and greatest of all, what he gives is better. Jeremiah learnt all of this. It didn t make him popular. It didn t make his life easy, but it did make him safe with God for ever. Response Activity: Discuss things God says in his word that people ignore today e.g. his commandments, rules about relationships. Lesson Summary People who suffered because they stood for truth OR what keeps you going through exams? God knows better (Jer 38:1-6) King Zedekiah and his people think they know best and ignore God. God does better (38:7-28) Zedekiah tries to please people. It makes him a weak and bad man, who constantly changes his mind. God is unchangeable, just and fair. Only obedience to God will make us strong. God gives better (39:1 40:6) It s a bad choice to aim to please other people the rewards are only temporary. But God s love and salvation last forever. Following God doesn t make Jeremiah popular. But he chooses what is better. And we can too. Was Jeremiah a failure because no one believed his message? Why is living for the moment not as smart as it sounds? How can we avoid being sucked into a materialistic lifestyle? Are people really better off for ignoring God s words? Go Teach 12s-14s Tel:

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5 Truth and Consequences Conduct a mock interview with Jeremiah about his ministry. Write and read aloud a soliloquy (speech in which a character speaks their thoughts when alone) by Jeremiah, when he was at the bottom of the cistern. Complete the Choices worksheet (Below). Afterwards, ask yourself if there is anything you need to change. Look at a selection of teenage magazines. How many examples can you find of adverts/articles that tell you how to impress your friends/peers? Will such behaviour help us to please God? CHOICES! Think about all the choices you made yesterday, from the moment you woke up until the moment you went to bed. These could include things like what to wear, what to do, what to say (or not to say), what to spend your money on. Write down your choices, and tick the column that best describes your reason for it. (BE HONEST!) Afterwards, ask yourself if there is anything about your life that needs to change! Choice Reason Example: To please myself To impress my friends/please other people To please God Decided to have a lie-in. Bought expensive pair of trainers.