Learning from Jeremiah (The
Heart-tuned Approach)
Does God
confuse you at times? Is it sometimes
difficult to see how God is working in a situation? Every day as we read the newspaper or turn on
the TV, we are confronted with what seems to be an endless parade of pointless
tragedies. How do you pray when nothing
makes sense?
Read
Jeremiah 32. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+32
Q1: What was
happening to the country of Judah at the time Jeremiah prayed in verses 17-25?
Q2: In the
midst of this national tragedy, Jeremiah was facing personal difficulties. How would you have responded in a similar
situation?
Q3: What
impresses you about Jeremiah’s prayer in verses 17-25?
Q4: Did Jeremiah
ask God to do anything specific?
Jeremiah 32
ReplyDeleteWhat was happening to the counrtry of Judah at the time Jeremiah prayed in verses 17-25?
The king of Babylon was taking over Jeruselem and had Jeremiah confined to with a guard.
In the midst of this national tragedy, Jeremiah was facing personal difficulties. How would you have responded in a similar situation?
My initial thoughts would probably be focused on the reality of the situation. Thinking about the loss of freedom for the people, my family, my loss of freedom, the changes to Jeruselem.
What impresses you about Jeremiah's prayer in verses 17-25?
This prayer is very similar to Nehemiahs prayers. Jeremiah recognized God's greatness, power, mercy and signs. Jeremiah also mentioned how the people of the city turned their backs on God and didn't follow the law.
I like how Jeremiah reminded us of the miracles and escape from Egypt, the fact that God is still almighty, and also reminded us of the blessings that God bestowed upon His people and the land.
Did Jeremiah ask God to do anything Specific?
No, Jeremiah didn't ask God for anything. He praised God, telling Him how great He is and reminded Him of the great deeds and blessings bestowed upon His people and then reminded God how he bought the land that he was told to buy.
Is prayer more than asking? What do you consider to be essential components of prayer?
Prayer is communion with God. Sharing with Him my deepest thoughts, concerns, hopes and desires in hopes that my desires with align with His the closer I become to him and the more I learn about His character. One of the essential components is praise. Placing God above all else and praising Him for who He is and what He has done. Remembering those things and remembering He is God.
Another essential component is asking for forgiveness and recognizing my sins; those things, thoughts, actions that get in the way of my relationship with God and then turn away from them.
How did God respond to Jeremiah's prayer? Does that surprise you?
God said the city will be handed over to the Babylonians and they will burn it down. The people will be scattered and will return again someday with a dedicated heart towards Him and they will prosper in the land.
"Prayer is communion with God. Sharing with Him my deepest thoughts, concerns, hopes and desires in hopes that my desires with align with His the closer I become to him and the more I learn about His character. One of the essential components is praise."
DeleteVery good point of view/definition. Well said.
oh, and you can't be a slacker... You answered next week's questions too. LOL. I'll post them right now so we can put our answers in.
Deleteposted the new questions at: http://approachinggodfellowship.blogspot.com/2014/06/week-8-pg-24.html
DeleteQ: What was happening to the country of Judah at the time Jeremiah prayed in verses 17-25?
ReplyDeleteA: One of multiple sieges from the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar as he already led captives from Jerusalem and now the king of Judah soon to be captured by him also. His prayer was during a time of war where in his country had no chance of survival as God was handing them over to their enemies a result of their own disobedience to God. Thankful for the hope and unexpected outcome.
Q: In the midst of this national tragedy, Jeremiah was facing personal difficulties. How would you have responded in a similar situation?
A: This question seems posted of a hypothetical situation but I don’t think of it so hypothetical. There are multiple ways it is already true both metaphorical and literally. Metaphorically this personal difficulty exists for me as I consider the many who are spiritually captive to the enemy and struggle in the bondage of sin living in opposition to their design. Physically it would seem it is easy for an American to forget that we have believers all over the world who are not only held physically captive as a result of their dedication to following Jesus, but are also tortured even unto death for that faith. Many of them (as with those in Judah) are aware that their capture is eminent. Others still are already captured and though we pray daily it would seem the only expectation they have to look forward to is the day those evil forces take the believer’s physical life thus freeing them to enter eternity with our King. For those in the physical, I pray and support where and how I can. For those in the metaphorical, I am daily a soldier on that battlefield attempting to shine light into darkness and reaching out my hands to those who want out. It is heart breaking to know the majority surrounding you are on a one way road that is wide and leads to their destruction. Admittedly, I don’t do anywhere near enough (a result I’m sure of the human condition that is my own comfort, lack of courage, and even at times pride). Pray for me as I pray for them.
Q: What impresses you about Jeremiah’s prayer in verses 17-25?
ReplyDeleteA: Adam Clarke said: “I prayed unto the Lord - And what a prayer! What weight of matter, sublimity of expression, profound veneration, just conception, Divine unction, powerful pleading, and strength of faith! Historical, without flatness; condensed, without obscurity; confessing the greatest of crimes against the most righteous of Beings, without despairing of his mercy, or presuming on his goodness: a confession that, in fact, acknowledges that God's justice should smite and destroy, had not his infinite goodness said, I will pardon and spare.”
I love this. What an accurate portrayal in words of the two seemingly at odds but equally present characteristics of God that most often are confused and said to conflict; His wrath/justice and his mercy/grace. That is what impresses me about the prayer. It is an open confession that admits the just deserves of wrath but pleads for the unmerited grace like the prodigal son returning to His Father completely aware he has no rights and yet throwing himself on the mercy of his Father he finds not only does his Father not want him to be in slavery but He embraces him and throws a great feast at his return.
How often it is that we chose a more difficult existence from our own obstinacy and then upon return to our King we approach as though He chose that path for us. Our King doesn’t desire our failures. He doesn’t want to drive us into the wilderness. He doesn’t desire that any should perish. When we repent and draw near to the Lord, may we be confident of this; that He who loved us then loves us still; that His wrath is justly deserved but His grace will cover it completely; that His mercies are new every day; that what He has said shall pass will in fact come to pass.
Q: Did Jeremiah ask God to do anything specific?
A: Technically, no. He merely quotes what the Lord has already said and is recounting the conversation in which the Lord already said He would drive out those disobedient and allow them to come into captivity but that He would also restore them one day. Jeremiah doesn’t technically or directly rather ask of the Lord here. He simply restates what the Lord has said He would do.
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