The Great Fall of Jerusalem
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SESSION 12 The Great Fall of Jerusalem Summary and Goal One of the most important events in the Old Testament era was the fall of Jerusalem and the capture of God’s people. Due to the hard-heartedness of the people and their leaders, including the despising of His Word, God displayed His justice and wrath through His punishment of His people. Yet even here, in this display of God’s justice, we see how God preserves a remnant of people who will carry the hope of His promise to make all things new through a Messiah. Main Passages 2 Chronicles 36:11-21 Jeremiah 38:14-18,24-28 Session Outline 1. Spiritual downfall begins with hardened hearts (2 Chron. 36:11-14). 2. Spiritual downfall leads to despising God’s Word (Jer. 38:14-18,24-28). 3. Spiritual downfall brings God’s wrath (2 Chron. 36:15-21). Theological Theme God patiently pursues sinners, but His patience will one day come to an end. Christ Connection God righteously punished His people for their sin, but He remained faithful to them and kept the promise He made to David to preserve a remnant and provide a king. Ultimately, God punished our sin through His Son, Jesus, and made Him our King forever. Missional Application God calls us to listen to His Word and proclaim His patience and righteousness to others while there is still time. Date of My Bible Study: ______________________ 139 © 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser. Session Plan The Great Fall of Jerusalem Session 12 Introduction Introduction Option Open with a detailed account about going home from work (share the Ask groups of 3-4 to writer’s, your own, or ask a volunteer) (leader p. 142; PSG p. 110). discuss their experiences of “going home”: What do they most look forward to about What makes your home truly “home” for you? What arriving at their respective aspects most strongly communicate that your home is homes at the end of a work yours and not anyone else’s? day or trip out of town? After a few moments, reconvene and call for Next, ask group members to imagine the familiarity of home being destroyed. some responses from Then summarize the session (leader pp. 142-143; PSG pp. 110-111). individuals among each group. 1. S piritual downfall begins with hardened hearts (2 Chron. 36:11-14). Using Pack Item 8: Jeremiah’s Life and the leader content, recount the For Further history of Judah leading up to the fall of Jerusalem (leader p. 143). Then Discussion ask a volunteer to read 2 Chronicles 36:11-14. Note that Zedekiah’s actions What are some ways stemmed from his hardened heart (leader p. 143; PSG p. 111). the church may be too indistinct from the surrounding culture? What, in your own words, is hardness of heart? Identify and comment about the warning signs that should alert us to a heart potentially growing hard to God’s will (leader pp. 144-145; PSG pp. 112-113): • Pride Why do you think pride comes along with hardness of heart? • Lack of repentance • Lack of distinction Why is our behavior a checkpoint for hardness of heart? 2. Spiritual downfall leads to despising God’s Word (Jer. 38:14-18,24-28). Read and explain Jeremiah 38:14-18. Say that the truth of God’s Word means we must come to it in humility, trusting God to expose our offensive ways that we might be free of them (leader pp. 145-146; PSG pp. 113-114). 140 Leader Guide What is the most difficult part to you about trusting God to tell you the truth? For Further Discussion When has God confronted you with some uncomfortable How is it more loving and truth through His Word? What was your response, and why? respectful to tell someone a difficult truth rather than Show how the church should live in light of the honesty of God—we should obscure it? be honest with one another in order to challenge self-deception and confront What is the difference between saying something sin (leader pp. 146-147; PSG pp. 114-115). offensive and saying something offensively? Why is honesty one of the measures of love? Emphasize that the Word of God calls us to repentance, but the question is Point 3 Option how will we respond: with humble acceptance or hardness of heart. Then Ask groups of 2-3 to read Jeremiah 38:24-28 for Zedekiah’s choice (leader p. 147; PSG p. 115). revisit Jonah 4:1-3 together and to discuss 3. Spiritual downfall brings God’s wrath the following questions (consider writing them (2 Chron. 36:15-21). on a board or sheet of paper for groups to have; Read 2 Chronicles 36:15-21, detailing the destruction of Jerusalem and the also available on the DVD temple and the deportation. But highlight God’s patience in exercising in The Gospel Project for judgment that people would come to repentance (leader p. 148; PSG p. 116). Adults: Leader Pack): • How do the prophets Jeremiah and Jonah differ How does it motivate us to know that God desires none from one another? to perish? • Under what circumstances might you identify How does it change the way we see the judgment of God? more with Jeremiah or Jonah? Why? After a couple of minutes, Point out how the normal flow of life can lead some to believe judgment for reconvene and allow a brief sin will never come, but the reality is God is showing patience. We must be time to share responses, faithful, like the prophets of the Old Testament, to proclaim that Jesus is but don’t require any. coming again and He will judge the earth (leader p. 149; PSG pp. 116-117). In what ways should believers today be like Jeremiah, Christ Connection: God weeping over the state of our world while delivering God’s righteously punished His message to the people? people for their sin, but He remained faithful to them and kept the promise He In what ways are believers today different than Jeremiah? made to David to preserve a remnant and provide a king. Ultimately, God Conclusion punished our sin through His Son, Jesus, and made Recap the session, emphasizing that God’s patience is not indifference. In Him our King forever. response to this grace, we are to warn unbelievers of the judgment to come ........................................................ that they might be saved, and we are to encourage one another so we aren’t Missional Application: God hardened by sin’s deception (leader p. 149; PSG p. 117). Apply the truths of calls us to listen to His Word and proclaim His this session with “His Mission, Your Mission” (PSG p. 118). patience and righteousness to others while there is Revisit Pack Item 6: My Father’s World and discuss the quote here in light of still time. the judgment and destruction of Jerusalem. Session 12 141 Expanded Session Content The Great Fall of Jerusalem Session 12 Introduction Voices from Do you have a long commute home from work? If so, then you know Church History the routine. You leave the workplace and begin the fight with traffic to go “The prophets had home. At first, you’re thinking about what you left behind—a to-do list to speak against the spirit of their times, that only seemed to grow, responsibilities that will be there in the against popular opinion, morning, boxes to be checked, meetings to be had, and calls to be made. against all the political powers—and to bear the You’re thinking about these things as the miles start to click by on the consequences. [They] odometer, and then, at some point, your focus changes from where you’ve were able to interpret the disasters which befall left to where you’re going. God’s people not as a You’re going home. The road is familiar; you’ve driven it a thousand defeat for God but as the manifestation of God’s times before. One turn, and then another. Finally, you’re in your righteous judgment.” 1 neighborhood. Your street. And then, there out your window is your –Lesslie Newbigin driveway. There’s the crack in the retaining wall you’ve been thinking (1909-1998) about fixing; there’s the yard that always seems to have a few more weeds than it should; there’s the left-out frisbees and scooters that, again, those kids have failed to put away. You smile because you’re home. When you open the door, depending on the season, it’s a blast of either pleasantly cool or warm air. It’s the sight of the same place where you hang up your keys so you won’t forget them (again) tomorrow. And the smell. It’s a smell that reminds you that humans live here, and not just any humans—they’re your humans. This is the smell of your home, and it’s unique to your home. You’re home. And it is glorious. What makes your home truly “home” for you? What aspects most strongly communicate that your home is yours and not anyone else’s? Take everything that just came to mind—that glorious familiarity with your home—and imagine it all being ripped apart. You are forced to leave. Your neighborhood is destroyed, and your home is gone. Home is no more, and everyone is disoriented and confused. This was the situation the remaining people of Israel found themselves in when, at long last, the patience of God ran out.