Theme “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with the whole of your heart,” Jer. 29: 13
Introduction
The book of Jeremiah embraces a period beginning with 627 BC, the date of Jeremiah`s calling in the 13th year of the Judean king Josiah (640-609 BC) and was the last godly king before the Babylonian exile in 587 BC (2 Kings 22: 1 – 23: 30). Josiah was guided by men of true prophetic vision who planted in him the desire to reform Judah. At twenty years, he began collecting funds for the repair of the Temple which resulted to the discovery of the book of the Law in 2 Chronicles 34: 8 – 11 and 2 Kings 22: 3 - 13. Josiah`s religious and political reform traces Judah`s royal leadership and presented a background to help us understand our theme and why Yahweh had to tell Judah to seek Him.
Jeremiah`s ministry begun few years before Josiah`s far-reaching reform to purge the Temple. Because Jeremiah was born in Anathoth, as son of Hilkiah the priest and descended from Abiathar, Jeremiah gave a message of warning, judgment including future hope and restoration as one who understands the history of his nation having prophesied during Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah (Jer. 1: 1 - 3, Jer. 21 - 38).
As we know, Judah is a far off in religion and in moral character. Also, Judah did not have political power like their neighbors in any significant way. From records, some Judean kings like Josiah had decided to be faithful to God in the face of demand from their overloads. This explains why Josiah`s death was a tragic loss to Jeremiah (2 Chronicles. 35: 20-25) because Judah returned to the gods of the outside world.
Josiah`s reform suffered defeat after his death. But Josiah`s reform and the book of the law has profound influenced on Jeremiah. Considering Jeremiah 1 - 6, we noticed Jeremiah was cooperating with the reforms of Josiah to improve the moral life of the nation to no avail and his message was met with opposition. Consequently, the reform was insufficient to change the people and the ethical structure of the nation partly because their response to the reform was artificially on the surface and Judah was left to God`s judgement and they fall to the Babylonians.
We sometimes struggled to know and do what was right. Therefore, there’s a sense when Judah seek for God. Seeking God can be in the sense of entering a covenantal relationship with God and be secure. As frequently use, Judah may want to inquire of God in prayer for direction, often by contacting Jeremiah the prophet as instrument of God`s revelation.
Question
In the Book of 2 Kings, Israel and Judah are secure, with the passing of time, both are destroyed, and Nebuchadnezzar incorporated the kingdom of Judah as a province within the Babylonian Empire in 587 BC. What do you think could be responsible?
A. We live in the age of relativism where people assume there’s no universal standard to measuring truth. Discuss any event and action you took despite knowing the will of God because of other competing views.
B. According to Jer. 1:1 and 2 kgs 22: 4 -10, Hilkiah, father of Jeremiah, helped in the reform of Josiah. In view of similar Jewish background, consider 2 Tim.1:3 - 5 and discuss what you think is primary in shaping Jeremiah`s prophetic ministry.
C. In addition to what you have learned above, how does Prov. 22: 6 and 2 Tim. 3: 14 -16 remind you about the next generation - Discuss any significant challenges affecting children and mention ways we can promote children church ministry.
2. Jeremiah is said to be an eyewitness to what happened in the affairs of the nation of Judah having prophecy during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah (Jeremiah 1: 1- 3)
A. In your own word, how would you describe the prophetic task of Jeremiah considering how he tried to resist God`s calling in Jeremiah 1: 4 – 10
B. Read Exo. 3: 7 -15, Judges 6: 11 - 16, 1 kgs 19: 1 - 9, Isa. 6: 1 - 8 about Jeremiah and his predecessors. list and discuss what God sets up as his qualifying lists.
C. The unthinkable had happened, Judah had suffered destruction and the poorest peasants of the land of Judah were permitted to maintain their residence in the land (Jer. 52:16). What do you think has happened and still happening
3. After the death of Josiah in 609 BC, Judah was faced with three options from the political and religious realities of the time. Which option do you think Judah took in their wise decision.
A. To remain exclusively faithful to worshipping Yahweh and keeping with the reform of Josiah
To remain faithful to worshipping Yahweh, as well incorporating the worship of other gods
To give up the worship of Yahweh completely and give themselves to the worship of the gods of the nations.
B. What do you think must have enticed and influenced Judah`s decision that is a consequence to God`s anger and reaction to have removed Judah from Jerusalem and the Temple according to Jer. 39: 4 - 10.
C. In what sense is Zedekiah having any spiritual problem. Explain any significant area of achievement and devotion to God that you try to moderate or incorporate with other things to find easy solution to a situation
