Jeremiah 2

 

Working Document for DBS

Title: Our Choice: A Living God or a Broken World

Opening Thoughts: As God's children we often act like the children of Israel who would walk away from the living God and choose to follow dead idols.  Our allegiance to God brings continual life.  Why trade that for a broken world?

v  What comes to your mind with the word, anniversary?

o   Ephesians 5:31-32 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

 

Text: Jeremiah 2:1-7

Israel Forsakes God

2 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

“This is what the Lord says:

“‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
    how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the wilderness,
    through a land not sown.
3 Israel was holy to the Lord,
    the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty,
    and disaster overtook them,’”
declares the Lord.

⁴ Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob,
    all you clans of Israel.

⁵ This is what the Lord says:

“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
    that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
    and became worthless themselves.
6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
    who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
    through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
    a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
7 I brought you into a fertile land
    to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
    and made my inheritance detestable.
8 The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
    the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
    following worthless idols.

⁹ “Therefore I bring charges against you again,”
declares the Lord.
    “And I will bring charges against your children’s children.
10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look,
    send to Kedar^[a] and observe closely;
    see if there has ever been anything like this:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
    (Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
    for worthless idols.
12 Be appalled at this, you heavens,
    and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
    the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
    broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

 

Summarize the main theme/story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.

·          Review and retell the story.

Reflections for applications:

v  Heard the Good News

o   Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

v  Confessed My Faith

o   Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

v  Repent of My Sins

o   Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

v  Baptized

o   1 Peter 3:21 ...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

v  Be Faithful

o   Revelation 2:10b Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

And yet, there are times I considered trying another way…

v  Jeremiah 2:1-2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13,

v  Isaiah 43:1-3 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

v  Isaiah 43:24b-25 But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. 25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

 

Why would one even consider trading allegiance to God for the pursuit of other gods.

Proverbs 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

 

Digging Questions:

·         How is your faith?

·         What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?

·         What is God calling us to do?

Take Away Challenges

·         What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?

·         Whom do you know who needs to hear this?

·         What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?

Hashtags #Power #Love #Purpose

Sunday sermon link    https://youtu.be/4WtQc1EOBD0

Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources:              Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes

Comments about some details:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%202&version=NIV