Sabbath: Lessons From Jeremiah
Read for This Week’s Study: Jer. 2:13, Jer. 6:20, Jer. 7:1-10, Matt. 9:12, Deut. 6:5, Jer. 10:1-15, Jer. 23:1-8.
Memory Text: ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth’
(Jeremiah 23:5, NKJV).
Image © Lars Justinen Goosalt.com
We’re now at the end of our study of Jeremiah. It’s been an adventure; a lot of drama, emotion, and energy has been expended in the saga of our prophet.
Like all the prophets, Jeremiah didn’t write in a vacuum: his was a message from the Lord and for people at a specific time and place, and under specific circumstances.
And yet, however radically different his circumstances were from ours or from those of the many other generations who have read Jeremiah, crucial principles expressed there are the same for God’s people in every generation.
Such as faithfulness to God and obedience to His commandments. Such as true religion, a religion of the heart, as opposed to empty and dead rituals that can leave people in a false state of complacency. Such as the people’s willingness to listen to correction, even when it cuts across what they want to hear. Such as true revival and reformation. Such as trusting in the Lord and His promises instead of the arm of flesh. Such as . . .
The list goes on. This week, let’s take a look at some of the many lessons we can learn from this revelation of God’s love for His people even amid many thunderous warnings to them about where their actions will lead.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 26.
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Hey brethren! let me share my retention from and comments on this lesson; our emotions and passions should not control us but Jesus our master; we should be careful with our actions as their outcomes are universal;when we stick to our sins ,we contradict our baptism -we backslide as Israelites went back to Egypt. My reactions: I am not mine but Jesus's twofold property . He is to rule over me .my answer to the person in the last question of Further studies is "this world is not my citizenship ,it's yours. you're well-off in it! I will be it in mine-the wonderful heaven !"
A convinced Adventist in Rwanda. THANKS
Among the lessons learned from the book of Jeremiah and especially relevant to the present day church is the content and tone of the message necessary. The last period of the church before Christ’s return is described as lukewarm, blind and a people who makes the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Redeemer, Christ the Mediator nauseous (Revelation 3:14-17).
Who then will be an advocate for these freelance believers? (1 John 2:1) There is none else, and so in their condition there is no hope, except there be a change (1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 3:18). Jeremiah’s task was to appeal to God’s people who were blind and stiff-necked and comfortable (Jeremiah 5:20-21). The ancient prophet was given a modern message for then and now.
Desperate situations call for a strong message and sharp tone (Hebrews 4:12). Hence the use of caustic and expressive language to describe the actions of the people, such as may cause the innocent to cringe (Jeremiah 2:20-25).
This was intended to arouse from slumber those who were verily dreaming and thought the mirage of riches and prosperity to be real. Jolting language was attended by shock and awe measures (Jeremiah 8:15); for grace does not approach quietly in an emergency.
Still there are those today who seem to advocate silent witness, external peace, common joy, soft and smooth messages and consider this wise (Jeremiah 6:13-15). Such disposition only reflects a lack of consciousness, a virtual sleep.
Both the watchmen and the watched are in need of a shaking. The act of shaking does come by the straight testimony. It wakes up the repentant and shakes out the rest. The rebellious soon find themselves on the side of the adversary and among the fiercest foes of the faithful.
With eye-salve the faithful look beyond the season of trouble and the fate of the fallen and see an overcoming group standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1).
I understand what you are saying Hugh. There is indeed a time to give a message that is quite sharp and incisive. There are times when jolts are needed to awaken the intended audience. On the other hand, I have seen folk using those techniques to deliver messages when such strategies are not called for. It is no use using a particular technique if it is not going to work.
Wisdom is needed in any communication situation, not only in the choice of content but in the style and tone of delivery. Even in bring up my own children, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, I recognize those occasions where the message was lost in the cloud of the method. We have been an important role to play in spreading the Gospel and we need to listen to the Holy Spirit, not just about what we say, but how we say it.