Jeremiah was a preacher's kid, the son of a small town priest. He was called to be a prophet while still a teenager and served during the darkest days in Judah's history. He lived through the fulfillment of his prophecies of judgment, destruction and captivity. Because of the content of his message Jeremiah was threatened, jailed, publicly humiliated, imprisoned, put in the stocks, dropped in a pit and forced to flee for his life.
His message is unflinching, but sympathetic. In the midst of devastation, he clings to hope, the character of God and faith in the coming restoration. His writings contain truths that have deeply and profoundly impacted my life.
The book of Lamentations is Jeremiah's epic poem about the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The grief is heart-rending but in the middle we find the powerful verses "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I hope in Him!” (Lamentations 3:23-24)
As you read Jeremiah's writing, here are some things to look for –
What do you learn about Jeremiah's life? Sometimes we forget the prophets were human. Jeremiah himself is a key player in the events that unfold. Keep track of what happens to him and the frank discussions he has with God about his calling. What encouragement does he offer to downhearted, burned out or depressed believers?
What do you learn about the character of God? How does He feel about Judah? (Not to give away the answer, but I love the passages where God longs for Israel to love Him as He loves them.)
Why does judgment fall? Can it be avoided?
One reason Judah caught Babylon's eye was their relative wealth and prosperity. They believed it was a sign of God's favor on them. How did they respond to Jeremiah's message? Is his message relevant to our culture?
Study the object lesson that came with Jeremiah's trip to the potter's house in Chapter 18. What do you learn about our relationship to God? What other object lessons does God give Jeremiah?
Jeremiah 17:5-10 are some of my favorite verses in Scripture, containing truth that changed my life. What verses stand out to you?
Lauren Wiseman says
Well, I think everyone knows Jeremiah 29:11, which that always helps me out. I love Jeremiah. I haven’t studied his book before, but I know it’s got some great stuff.