1. BACKSTORY

In 931 BC, because of King Solomon’s idolatry, the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah (1Ki 11:9-13 w/12:16-20). Shortly thereafter, both kingdoms began their own downward descent into idolatry and apostasy. The result, God sent His prophets.  As God’s mouthpiece, the prophets’ messages were primarily focused on Judah (the place of God’s house and city) – though Israel as well as surrounding nations were often included in their address.  The role of the prophet was two-fold:

1.1. To pronounce His judgment in the form of devastation and occupation by foreign invaders (Assyria, Babylon – even insects!) if the people did not repent and begin practicing righteousness.

1.2.  To proclaim restoration through such judgment.

This (then) was also the role of Jeremiah. Though young in age (1:7), God nonetheless called him to warn the His unfaithful Bride (Judah/Israel)  of the impending doom He was planning against them. It was the Babylonians and within the span of Jeremiah’s fifty plus years of ministry (631-570 BC), he would see God use their armies to not only destroy the holy city and its temple (586 BC), but also exile the majority of Jewish survivors far away in the land of Babylon. This would be the price for their unwillingness to repent and practice righteousness. This however would also be the way that God would cleanse the land and restore the nation. All would be a part of Jeremiah’s message in fulfilling his role (1:10-16). As such, what Jeremiah (as a book) offers is a generous look into God’s  marriage covenant and  sound gospel message,  as well as how God uses the Babylonian judgment to (prophetically)establish His redemptive purposes in Christ and the New Covenant.

2. CHAPTER QUESTIONS (13-19)

2.21. What is the point God is intending to make by His reference  to Moses and Samuel in (15:1)?

2.22. Why does God speak the way He does to Jeremiah in (15:19)? What is its practical application to our own lives today?

2.23. According to (17:9-10), where are we to look in order to accurately assess our relationship w/God? How is this different  from what is currently preached in the Evangelical Church?

2.24. Can we (today) pray the words of Jeremiah in (17:18)? What about (Mat 5:44)?

2.25. God makes it clear in (17:19-27) that one of the reasons He was angry w/the Jews was b/c they did not “keep the Sabbath day holy” (22). Does this law still apply today? If so, how?

2.26. What does (18:8-10) teach us about God’s response to us?

3. SOUND GOSPEL and MARRIAGE COVENANT

Where in each chapter do we find aspects of the gospel (AL,LBS, C/C) or MC?