Jeremiah

Theme 1: (1-11): The Lord desires us to trust in him and to follow his guidance. We need to honor and worship him and repent of our sins. Jeremiah was told by God that he had called him before he was born to be a prophet to the nations (1:5) and that he would equip him , making him like a fortified city. He was told that he would prevail against all the priests and kings who tried to oppose him. ( 1:17-19). Jeremiah was told that the people of Judah had abadoned the covenant and was seeking after other gods having forgotten her first love.(2:1-12). Jeremiah told the people that they must not seek out other things to replace the Lord. ( 3:1-5). Repetance is critical and we must confess our sins and turn back to the Lord. ( 4:1-6). We need to change our attitude and not lust after more but be content with what the Lord has provided. ( 5:7-8). Going through the ritual of worship is not enough for our sins will be remembered by the Lord. ( 6:11-20). The Lord stated that he would withold judgement from the nation of Judah if they repented. ( 7:1-7). The things that we trust in other than God will not be able to help in our time of trouble. (8:1-3). Our refusal to acknowledge the Lord brings us judgement and destruction. ( 9:1-11). In response to the Lord's goodness and sovereignty we need to repent and seek to be guided and corrected by him. ( 10:23-24). The Lord urged his people to remember the covenant he made with them when he delivered them from slavery in Egypt and to repent of their sins and trust in him. (11:1-9).

Theme 2:(12-21):The Lord is almighty and sovereign over all. We need to submit to his commands and honor him. Disloyalty to the Lord results in judgement and leads to destruction. (12:7-13). Our disobedience and disloyalty to the Lord result in good things from him becoming spoiled. ( 13:1-11). In his sovereignty he chose who would proclaim his message and judged false prophets who prophesied messages of prosperity in his name. (14:13-16). The Lord stated that those who chose to obey him and sacrificed their children to Molech would be judged (15:1-4), but those who sought after him would be restored and saved from harm( 15:19-20). The judgement of the Lord is meant to cause people to see his power and make them repent of their sins and turn to the Lord. ( 16:21). Those who honour the Lord and keep his Sabbath will be blessed. (17:19-27). We need to submit to the Lord's authority and allow him to shape us into the people he desires us to be. (18:1-12). Jeremiah gathered the people outside the city of Jerusalem in the Hinon Valley and smashed a pot stating that if they continued to disobey the Lord the nation would be smashed like a pot. (19:1-13). The Lord punishes those in authority as an example for others to repent and turn to him and change their ways. ( 20:1-6). The Lord always gives us a choice to submit to him , for those who surrendered and submitted to the Bablyonians were spared. ( 21:8-10).

Theme 3:(22-31):The Lord plans to restore the broken relationship we have with him.We must turn to him and change our ways. The nations of Judah and Israel's disobedience to the Lord and forgetting his covenant resulted in judgement and this was to be a sign to the nations that disobedience to the Lord would be judged. (22:8-10). The Lord desires to bring people back to himself and thus he planned to send Christ to reedem them.(23:1-18). The Lord used the difficulty of being in exile to draw the people closer to himself ( 24). The Lord is faithful to care out his promise of restoration as he promised to restore them after an exile of 70 years. Thus he is faithful to his covenant. ( 25: 12-13, Deuteronomy 28:64-68). From the story of Jeremiah being spared from the angry mob who sought his life, I am reminded that the Lord is with us in difficult times. (26) The Lord in his mercy warned the people through Jeremiah to submit to the Bablyonians and thus avoid his judgement and wrath. ( 27). From the story of the false prophet Hanniah dying for his false prophecies I am reminded that the Lord is to be respected and revered , we cannot try and take his place. ( 28). The Lord allowed the people who were taken into exile in the intial conquest to flourish and thus showed them that if they were faithful to the covenant they would be blessed. ( 29). The Lord judged his people with the desire to restore the relationship he had with them. (30:1-12). The Lord promised to bless those who followed him and to strengthen the relationship he had with those who trusted in him. ( 31:33-34).

Theme 4: (32-42):The Lord is to be followed and his message is to be proclaimed at all times and in every situation even the difficult ones. The Lord is the one who will restore the relationship he has with us and guide us. ( 32:36-39). The Lord has a plan to change our situation and this plan involves change our attitude and pledging to follow him. ( 33:10-11). The Lord rebuked King Zedekiah and the nation of Judah for their resfusal to follow him . ( 34: 12-16). The Lord is pleased when like the Recabites we carefuly obey what has been commanded us by him. ( 35:18-19). From the story of King Jehoiakim burning the scroll of prophecy , I am reminded that the word of the Lord is not to be treated lightly. ( 36). From the story of Jeremiah being thrown into the well as punishment I am reminded that we will face stuggles when we follow the Lord. ( 37). The story of Jeremiah being released from prison reminds me that the Lord watches over those who follow him. ( 38). The Lord sends King Nebucadnezer to take some of the people into exile as judgment for disobedience but spared the life of an Ethiopian official in the court who obeyed him. (39). From Jeremiah being treated well by the offical of King Nebucadnezer I am reminded that the Lord is with those who trust in him. ( 40). I am reminded from the story of the inital conquest that trusting in the Lord is vital. ( 41-42).

Theme 5: (43-52): The Lord is sovereign and must be submitted to. He will carry out his promises and fulfill his prophetic judgements. Trusting in the Lord is important as the Lord promised to judge those who relied on the Eyptians rather than himself. (43-44). The Lord promised to spared Barauch , the scribe of Jeremiah as he was faithful to serve him. ( 45). From the prophetic judgement of the nations of the middle eastern world , I am reminded that the Lord is just as he judges all peoples who do not follow his commands. ( 46-51). From the story of the conquest of Jerusalem and the utter destruction of the Temple , I am reminded that the Lord in his sovereignty guides the events of the world. ( 52).