GRIEF

  THE SORROW OF THE WITNESS  Jeremiah is moved by God to speak warnings of the coming wrath of God.  The religious leaders of Israel gave false prophesies of peace and comfort, so his dire predictions are not well received by them.  The forbid him to speak, but God’s words burn in him and he

DESTRUCTION

  NEVER BEFORE  The prophets have issued warnings to Israel before, and God performed the evil he had promised against them.  But there was always a future for Jerusalem, and a promise of hope.  Jeremiah leaves us with little hope this time.  The destruction of Jerusalem he describes is so complete that it had not

FREE WILL

  REMEMBERED LESSONS  Warnings to ancient Israel were ignored at great cost.  These remain for all to review in our own time.  God has been faithful to punish the guilty and reward the faithful through the ages.  The passage of time may let these lessons fade in our memory, but the word of God never

LEARNING CURVE

  FORGOTTEN LESSONS  While the Lord gives Jeremiah hope, he does not withdraw the warnings to his rebellious people.  The warnings are repetitious, and over time the people must think that these prophesies will never come to pass.  Some have turned to idols, high places of worship, and working on the Sabbath.  While God continues