Bible Studies

Jeremiah Title: A Prophet in the times of Disaster By Henry Jaegers

by Henry Jaegers
04/21/20
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Jeremiah

 Title: A Prophet in the times of Disaster

By Henry Jaegers

The book of Jeremiah was written 100 years after Isaiah's prophecy after the time that Israel went into Assyrian captivity. The northern kingdom of Israel was taken into captivity before the arrival of Jeremiah. There is a similarity to Isaiah’s message in that the captivity that God is prophesying in Jeremiah pertained to the Babylonian captivity.

One cannot but feel the pain in the heart of God as declared by Jeremiah. Jeremiah loved Jerusalem and he was very young when God commissions him to go and preach to this nation. It was not easy for such a young person to preach this warning to a nation who eventually rejected his message and face that captivity while the prophet was still around to see it happen.

When I wrote my book on Jeremiah, I focused on the subject of what it means to be called to preach. My reason for doing so was to reveal that this call is not something that I would choose had I known the reality of such a call. That theme is very prominent throughout the book.

Both the prophet Ezekiel and the prophet Daniel were greatly influenced by the life and the preaching of Jeremiah and this ministry of Jeremiah to them serves as a foundation for their particular messages.

Some who were not familiar with Jeremiah as a person, criticize him because he wept a lot over the people to whom he preached. That is not a measure of weakness; that is a real measure of strength and concern. Those who criticize Jeremiah for weeping, do not understand the heart of God over the condition of those who reject him. It would be commendable if all of us could have a heart like Jeremiah.

A simple outline is presented:

SECTION ONE:  The Prophet- His call Chapter 1

SECTION TWO: The People- God’s Beloved Chapter 2-6

SECTION THREE: The Problem-Wrong Choices Chapter 7- 8

SECTION FOUR: The Pressure Of being Faithful Chapter 9-16

SECTION FIVE:  The Prognosis- A Heart Problem Chapter 17-19

SECTION SIX: The Plan: God’s solution Chapter 20-21

SECTION SEVEN: The Progress- The Activity Chapter 22-28

SECTION EIGHT: The Promise A Bright Future Chapter 29-33

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SECTION NINE:  The Fall of Jerusalem Chapter 34-52

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In chapter 1, concerning the call of Jeremiah: from this chapter discuss his call, what his purpose was and the promise of protection that God provided.

2. From verse 1, notice that Jeremiah was a son of a priest who lived in Anathoth, a city provided for priest by Joshua. Do you think his being a preacher's kid should have any bearing upon his call?

2. In chapter 2, discuss how God sees Israel's departure. Pick out a key verse that stands out for the contents of this chapter.

3. In chapter 4:19-31, read carefully and discuss the love and passion of Jeremiah (and God) toward the destruction of these people.

4. In chapter 5:1, 2 what problem is Jeremiah describing?

5. In chapter 5:31 describe the underlying cause of Israel's problem? How does this verse describe the problem that Jeremiah is facing? How important are the spiritual leaders in the church and how serious a matter is there called?

6. In chapter 12, Jeremiah is offering a complaint. Read the complaint and God's answer to it in verse 5? Discuss what the words in verse 5mean and how they apply when facing the trial of our faith?

7. In Jeremiah chapter 17, the problem with the heart is discussed. In verses1-9, discuss the seriousness that this heart condition produces.

8. In Jeremiah 29:1- 11, what promise in preparation has God given for those who are about to face Babylonian captivity? Can you see the application for those who may face a transition in their life that has been forced upon them? Discuss the wisdom of these instructions and the reason that they bring hope to those who are downcast.

9 in chapters 30-33, what hope is given for the children of Israel for their future? Read chapter 30:1-3, and reflect upon God's promise for Israel's future.

10. In Jeremiah chapter 45, there is a message that is of great importance when it comes to motives in serving God. What message is given to Baruch we must keep in mind when it comes to proclaiming the word of God?