Bible Stories for Adults

Jeremiah

Jeremiah

Next Week - Judah is Taken Into Captivity (2 Kings 24-25, Ezekiel, Jeremiah 38-44)
Bible Words to Remember:
The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope inn His unfailing love. Psalm 147:11

How faithful of a king was Hezekiah?
2 Kings 18:5-6 = Most faithful of all of Judah's kings

How faithful was Hezekiah's son, Manasseh? = Worse than Amorites
2 Chronicles 33:1-3, 6, 9 = Reversed good of father, sacrificed son, defiled temple
How did God decide to deal with this evil rejection?
2 Kings 21:12-13 = Punish Judah as He had Samaria
Why did God allow Manasseh to reign 55 years? = Removed foreign gods when returned
2 Chronicles 33:11-13 = Repented after being taken captive to Babylon, restored to power

How faithful was Manasseh's son, Amon?
2 Chronicles 33:21-22 = Was as evil as his father had been
Why did Amon reign only 2 years?
2 Chronicles 33:24-25 = Assassinated by officials, Son Josiah took over

Did God finally give up on these faithless Jews and punish them as He had Samaria?
Jeremiah 1:1-3 = Called Jeremiah during Josiah (100 yrs after Isaiah, 600 before Jesus)
Was Josiah any more faithful than his father or grandfather? = Even removed altars in Israel
2 Chronicles 34:2, 8 = Was faithful, Ordered temple repairs, removed places by Solomon
What was found in the temple that showed Judah's faithlessness?
2 Chronicles 34:14, 30, 32 = Book of the Law, Josiah had it read & people pledged to it
Did Josiah's faithfulness lead God to cancel His plans to punish Judah?
2 Chronicles 34:27-28 = No, but He would wait until after Josiah was gone
Did Josiah's pride ever get ahold of him as it had faithful kings who had preceded him?
2 Chronicles 35:20-23 = Forced battle on king of Egypt who God had sent to fight Assyria, killed

How long did Josiah's reforms last?
2 Kings 23:31a, 32 = His son, Jehoahaz, was evil

What had Jeremiah done to be chosen by God to be His prophet?
Jeremiah 1:4-5 = Nothing. God appointed Jeremiah before he was born
Who else recognized their call into God's service from birth?
Galatians 1:15-16 = Paul was set apart from birth to preach Christ to the Gentiles
Who else was chosen before birth and predestined to carry out God's plan?
Ephesians 1:11 = We have been

What was Jeremiah's concern when God called him and how did God respond? = See 1Tim 4:12
Jeremiah 1:6-9 = I'm only a child...I am with you and...put my words in your mouth
What did God show Jeremiah to build confidence? = Almond tree in Hebrew sounds like watching
Jeremiah 1:10-12 = Almond branch -> God will watch to make sure His word is fulfilled

What did God show Jeremiah to explain His plans? = Boiling kettle symbolized war
Jeremiah 1:13-16 = Boiling pot indicating disaster will come from north
How would Jeremiah be able to present this message to the kings & nations?
Jeremiah 1:10 = God set Jeremiah over nations & kingdoms; both doom & restoration
Jeremiah 1:17-19 = God has made Jeremiah strong. I am with you and will rescue you

Where did God send Jeremiah to call the people to return to God?
Jeremiah 7:2-3 = At the gate of the temple
How did God answer Judah's sense of security from wrath since God's temple was there?
Jeremiah 7:4 = Don't trust in these deceptive words

How were the people using the temple?
Jeremiah 7:9-11 = Do evil then come to the temple for protection
Didn't God command sacrifices and worship of His people?
Jeremiah 7:21-23 = Sacrifices & worship mean nothing without obedience

How then could the people return to God's favor?
Jeremiah 7:5, 7 = Change your ways & actions; you can live here forever
How would the people respond to this message?
Jeremiah 7:27-28 = They would not listen to it
What would God do as a result?
Jeremiah 7:20, 33-34 = Bring disaster on Judah & Jerusalem

What did God send Jeremiah to see?
Jeremiah 18:1-4 = Pot became deformed, potter reformed into another pot
What was the message of what Jeremiah saw?
Jeremiah 18:5-6 = God can reform a new Israel from the deformed Israel

Why should Judah repent if God has already decided to destroy it?
Jeremiah 18:7-8 = God will change His plans of wrath if nation repents
But wasn't Judah protected by God's plans and promises for them?
Jeremiah 18:9-10 = God will change His plans of blessing if nation turns evil
Would Judah repent if God warned them of His plans?
Jeremiah 18:11-12, 18 = God sent Jeremiah to warn, but they rejected & attacked him

Where did God send Jeremiah to announce the impending disaster? = See 2Ch 7:31
Jeremiah 19:1-3 = Topheth in Valley on Ben Hinnom, where humans were sacrificed to Baal
NOTE: Potsherd Gate overlooked main dump for broken pottery
What reasons did Jeremiah give for the disaster?
Jeremiah 19:4-5 = They forsook God and worshipped evil & made-up gods

How severe would this disaster be?
Jeremiah 19:6-9 = Slaughtered by enemies, scorned & mocked by others
Why did God have Jeremiah bring a clay pot?
Jeremiah 19:10-11 = Smashed the pot to show how Judah would be smashed

Where did Jeremiah go after speaking at Topheth?
Jeremiah 19:14-15 = Temple court to proclaim disaster on Jerusalem
How did the temple officer react to Jeremiah saying this in the temple?
Jeremiah 20:1-2 = Had him arrested, beaten & put in stocks
How did Jeremiah use this to again speak his message?
Jeremiah 20:3-6 = Prophesied exile to Babylon

How did Jeremiah feel about being ridiculed and rejected?
Jeremiah 20:7-8 = He complained to God
Why didn't Jeremiah just stop prophesying?
Jeremiah 20:9 = He is unable to hold in God's word
In what did Jeremiah take comfort?
Jeremiah 20:11 = The Lord is with me like a mighty warrior

From the lesson of the potter (18), how did God plan to reform Israel?
Jeremiah 31:31-32 = He will make a new covenant with a new Israel
Who is the new Israel, the new children of Abraham?
Galatians 3:7-9 = Those who have faith
How will this new covenant be different?
Jeremiah 31:33-34 = Put law in minds & on hearts, all will know me, I will forgive their sins

What was required to guarantee God's old covenant with Israel?
Hebrews 9:16-18, 20 = Blood
How is God's new covenant with the new Israel guaranteed?
Hebrews 9:14-15, 7:22 = By the shedding of Jesus blood
How are we reminded regularly of this new covenant?
Matthew 26:26-28 = This is my blood of the covenant...

Would vengeance ever be taken against those who destroy Judah?
Jeremiah 23:1-2 = God will punish them for the evil they have done
Would the exiled Jews ever return?
Jeremiah 23:3-4 = God will gather a remnant and bring them back

Would Judah and Israel ever have a righteous king?
Jeremiah 23:5-6 = I will raise up to David a righteous Branch
How important will this restoration be to the new Israel?
Jeremiah 23:7-8 = They will look to God's gathering more than the exodus