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Jeremiah: Lesson 5 More Woes for the

Memory Text: “O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; everyone mocks me.”( 20:7)

Setting The Stage: You’ve heard it said, “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” Each of us have learned some tough lessons in the school of hard knocks that is known as life. Is the Christian life supposed to be easier? Should we expect God to do us some favors once in a while when we find ourselves in a tight spot? How come bad things happen to good people?

Questions about disappointment, difficulty, injustice, and even calamity that come to God’s children aren’t easy to answer. Just dealing with life in general can be challenging enough, but to have to endure certain things that unbelievers don’t have to deal with can sometimes feel overwhelming. Ask Jeremiah. He knows from experience. What could God be trying to teach us? Let’s find out in this week’s lesson

Sunday – Godless Priests & :26-31; 23:14, 15; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Jeremiah 5:26 – It’s hard to imagine that this type of behavior was found among God’s people. “Wicked” – the worst type of men, and even more so for being related to God’s people. They “lie in wait” like one who traps birds in ground nets. “They catch men” – they contrive of doing mischief to good people, even the innocent and unsuspecting. Micah 7:2 speaks of men hunting men with a net. Jezebel ensnared Naboth for his vineyard (see 1 Kings 21:1-13).

Jeremiah 5:27 – “A cage”, or a wicket basket into which captured birds were placed (ref. Rev. 18:2). “Deceit” – just as the cage is full of birds, so are the men’s houses filled with possession gained through deceit and dishonesty. They had become wealthy by deceiving and overreaching. Ps. 73:12 talks about those who are “always at ease” yet “increase in riches.” A reference to gain had through fraud and deceit. Fake college decrees are issued to about 100,000 people every year in the U.S. costing about $1,000 each. This is done in an attempt to beef up one’s resume to gain a competitive edge in the employment market.

Jeremiah 5:28 – “Fat” – the isn’t politically correct. It’s not rude, but it does state the truth. Ps. 73:7 Speaks of those whose eyes “bulge with abundance.” They have more than they need. “Surpass the deeds of the wicked” – Those who act by deceit, with the color of law and justice, do more harm than those who do 2 foolishness outright. “Plead the cause” – They had become hardened through selfishness and calloused by greed to the plights of those in need.

Jeremiah 5:29, 20 – Transgression called for retribution. To God these acts and corresponding apathy were considered appalling. How do we view them?

Jeremiah 5:31 – “Love to have it so” – The prophets prophesied falsely, and the priests “ruled by their means” (KJV), or in other words, they acted in subservience to the prophets. This is illustrated in Jer. 29:24-26 when Shemaiah, a Jewish leader in , hoped that the priest Zephaniah’s influence would prevent Jeremiah from prophesying. The success of the false prophets and priests is due to the fact that their messages catered to the hearts of the people. The people had “itching ears” (2 Tim. 4:3) and loved easy things shared with them. The result of the combined wickedness of the people and leaders made their “end” inevitable (see 2 Thess. 2:10- 12).

Jeremiah 23:14, 15: “And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: They prophesied by and caused My people to err. Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of : they commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.” There is more hope for an open sinner than for a hypocrite

Monday – Jeremiah in the Stocks Jeremiah 20:1-6; Acts 2:27

Jeremiah 20:1-6. Pashur was a deputy leader of the temple, close to the high priest in rank. This accounts for his ability to deal severely with Jeremiah, especially seeing the message of chapter 19 was delivered in the court of the temple designed to speak to those in leadership positions.

“Stocks” – something compelling crooked posture, or an instrument of punishment that put the body in a very uncomfortable and painful position. Apparently Jeremiah spent the night in this humiliating and painful device in a prominent part of Jerusalem. Although released from the stocks after one night it’s likely Jeremiah may have still been a prisoner. He spent much of his time in prison while writing his messages to King (see Jer. 36:5)

What was the message that got Jeremiah into trouble? See Jer. 19:3, 7, 9, 15. Essentially, it was a warning message of impending destruction because of the gross sins of the people. Pashur made a mistake in two areas: he first rejected the message and then punished the messenger. A mistake made by many before and after him. Notice the two very different responses to a similar message given by the disciples of Jesus to the people and the one we always ought to give when rebuked ourselves: 3

Acts 3:54: “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth”

Acts 2: 37, 38: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Jeremiah told Pashur that God was going to start calling him “Magor-Missabib,” meaning, “fear on every side.” The psalmist, when his life was threatened, declared that fear surrounded him (Ps. 31:13). It’s like Jeremiah was familiar with this famous psalm, and so God reminds Jeremiah to trust Him as he declares Pashur’s name change and thus judgment. Ironically Pashur would receive a worse fate than he gave Jeremiah.

Question: How do we reconcile the God of the OT, who appears harsh and vindictive, with the loving, forgiving Jesus in the NT? Jesus said, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” (John 14:9) It’s hard to understand fully what was going on in the days of Jeremiah that warranted judgment because we’re so far removed. One thing we do know is that God worked hard and long with His people. Why is it that He sent prophet after prophet to them? Was it because He didn’t care? Surely not. The times necessitated that God do what He had to do and allow what happened. But God takes no delight in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:32).

Tuesday – A Fire in His Bones Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 39:3; Luke 24:32

Jeremiah 20:7, 8. The passage is best understood as Jeremiah expressing his feelings in strong language in reaction to his night in stocks. “Induced me” – Jeremiah’s complaint was that God was successful in persuading him to this difficult assignment. Have you ever gotten upset with yourself because you felt tricked into something? Of course, God hadn’t tricked him into anything. That’s the way Jeremiah was feeling. In his depressed state he seems to have considered his work a failure, a failure made more bitter by the haunting fear that God wouldn’t fulfill His promises (Jer. 1:8-10; 15:20, 21).

Here we see that prophets were human like the rest of us. They wrestled with the same fears and concerns just like everyone else. Being a prophet doesn’t make that person a super-Christian overnight. They have to work out their own salvation with “fear and trembling” like everyone. This doesn’t make them any less called of God though. Like the rest of us, the prophet has to learn how to apply the promises of God to him or herself.

Jeremiah 1:8: “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.” 4

Jeremiah 15:20, 21: “’And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible.’”

Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” What do these promises mean to you? How do we make them our own?

Jeremiah 20:9. His sense of frustration and failure led Jeremiah to feel that his only recourse was to refrain from carrying out his commission. But the word of God burned in his heart that he could not refrain. God was not forcing him to continue to be His mouthpiece. Jeremiah couldn’t help share God’s word just like the psalmist before him, and like the disciples on their way to Emmaus (Ps. 39:3; Luke 24:32). Here is one clue to making the promises of God our own. They read, contemplated, and studied the word of God.

Jeremiah 20:11-13. Jeremiah hadn’t given way to complete surrender. His trust in God was still firm. Here we find another clue to making God’s promises our own – declaring our faith and praising God, even in song. We have to faith it until we feel it.

Wednesday – Cursed be the Day Jeremiah 20:14-18

Jeremiah 20:14-18. What does this passage tell us about Jeremiah’s state of mind? The rest of the passage portrays Jeremiah in deep despair that reminds us of Job whose body was covered in boils (Job 3:1-6). “Making him very glad” – The thought of his father’s delight added to the pain of the prophet’s sorrow (see Jer. 15:10). “Why” – Ever the question of the perplexed, grieving, and sorrowful. The chapter ends with a crescendo of highly emotional language. The prophet regrets the day he was born.

Several things we can take away from these verses: 1. The truth told about the prophet provides evidence for the inspiration of the Bible. In history books men are often portrayed in the best possible light. In the Bible the facts of man’s weaknesses and failures are revealed. 2. Even though Jeremiah, a man of God, had been told ahead of time that his ministry would not be easy, and although he had been given the assurance that God was going to be with him, whatever he knew was trumped by his emotions and the darkness of the hour. When it happens to us we can know that we aren’t the only one who has experienced this. 3. It helps us better understand the words found in The Desire of Ages, p. 753: “The Saviour could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not 5

present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice.” 4. Someone once said, “In adversity we usually want God to do a removing job when He wants to do an improving job. To realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the storm.” God allows trials to come to His children so they can know they can trust the Lord with their lives.

Question: If there were one piece of advice you could give to help a person who is going through their “dark hour” what would it be? “There has no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but god is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13). Also remember, in all your afflictions “He is afflicted.” (Isa. 63:9)

Thursday – Plans Against the Prophet :1-10, 18-23

Jeremiah 18:1-10. What important principles of prophetic interpretation can we find here? Verses 8-10 highlights the moral purpose of prophecy. They also speak to the conditional nature of non-apocalyptic prophecy setting forth to God's people the alternatives of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience. This is different from apocalyptic prophecy which emphasizes the sovereignty of God and His control over history (Daniel 2, 7, 8, 11, etc.).

Jeremiah 18:18-23. The pointed messages of the prophet aroused the hostility of his enemies, which broke out in open hostility as they sought to take Jeremiah’s life.

“The law shall not perish” – The people believed the popular priests and prophets had given them enough instruction in the law and that they could trust what they said despite Jeremiah’s warnings. The people were self-deceived as they sought to accept a message they wanted to hear instead of truth. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Prov. 14:12) How can we prevent that from happening to us?

“Let a cry be heard” – When the people rejected God’s offer of mercy, there was nothing left to do but allow the Babylonians take Jerusalem. Assyrian sculptures reveal the terrible fate of those who were taken as prisoners of war.

“Forgive not” – Similar to the imprecatory psalms (a spoken curse) like Ps. 35, 52, 69, 83, 109. They, like Jeremiah, denounce the enemies of God and bring down curses upon their heads. The tone of Jeremiah seems contrary to the spirit and teachings of Christ who said love your enemies and bless them.

Question: How do we understand Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 18:18-23?

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Varying expositor’s have offered some ideas that have varying value to help us understand what is being said: 1) predictive rather than imperative; statements of warning rather than desire. 2) The concreteness of Hebrew thought and expression tends to associate sin and sinner. 3) In Jeremiah’s day men expressed themselves in the strongest terms and with vigorous imagery. Bible writers shared their thoughts in human language and in a style familiar with men.

Appeal: Jeremiah suffered strong resistance and persecution from the religious leaders of . It was so strong that he repeatedly became discouraged, even to the point of cursing his own life. However, the message continued to burn in his bones and the only way to relieve the burning was to continue to preach the word. We each are living the great controversy. How will you play out your part this week?