Jeremiah

The 'Weeping' Prophet:

Jeremiah

A unique time in Israel's history Jeremiah ministered as a prophet through a critically important period of Israel's history the collapse of the period of the kings and the exile of the Judeans to Babylon. A unique prophetic message Jeremiah was instructed to preach unconditional surrender to the enemy and that resistance was not God's will and would be punished!

Jeremiah

A unique response from the people Jeremiah's message was almost uniformly rejected and he was persecuted, imprisoned and ridiculed by family, fellow prophets, the king and military leaders, and by the people at large. A unique insight into the heart of a prophet Jeremiah struggles with his call, the message, the response and his relationship with God. These are recorded especially in 6 laments yet he remains courageous and faithful.

Jeremiah

A unique message of hope beyond disaster Jeremiah speaks consistently of God bringing something new out of this impending disaster after the time is fulfilled. There will be a renewed people. The will be a renewed covenant between God and his people. There will be a 'Righteous Branch' of David's line coming to rule in justice and righteousness

Historical Background
Judah Hezekiah Manassah Exile to Assyria Amon Josiah 609 BC Jehoiakim Jehoiachin 586 BC Exile to Babylon Egypt Jehoahaz Zedekiah 720 BC Isaiah Israel Hoshea

Jeremiah

The Book of Jeremiah

Largest of the Books of the Prophets Usually the prophet himself remains a little hidden behind the message Jeremiah's life however is intricately involved with his message Much comes from the second scroll entrusted to Baruch his scribe Editorial comments added later The Jeremiah Collection: Prophecies are not in chronological or subject order

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Go down to the potters house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potters house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Jeremiah 18:1-10

Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said, Can I not do with you, house of Israel, as this potter does? declares the LORD. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
Jeremiah 18:1-10

Lessons from the Potter

God is at work in the big changes in our world as well as the small changes in our lives. Nothing is outside his ultimate authority. We cannot fully understand and appreciate the purpose of God behind all events but must trust his goodness and justice. This does not mean that "everything God intends is set in stone" God is actually open to our response (personally and collectively).

Lessons from the Potter

God reveals his by his word and his Spirit, the way he wants us to live and sometimes specific areas in which he calls for obedience. He sometimes reveals his intention to bless or discipline. He watches and waits for our response and engages with us on the basis of this. Our response is not the defining factor but part of what determines the future.

Are we reading the times, watching, looking for the activity of God in our world? Are we listening for the instruction of God, personally, corporately, nationally? Can we discern the voice of truth from the many voices of opinion? Do we bring our confusion, disappointment, the apparent inconsistencies and our struggles back to God? Do we still have courage to obey and then to listen for the next step?