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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 25, Day 2: Jeremiah 1

SUMMARY OF JEREMIAH 1

Jeremiah preached from the reign of Josiah to the reign of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. The God called Jeremiah before he was born to be a prophet. Jeremiah did not know how to respond to God’s calling on his life. God reassures Jeremiah, telling him to obey and to not be afraid. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

God tells Jeremiah what will happen: that disaster will come from the north on Judah. God will pronounce His judgments on His people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made. God tells Jeremiah to tell the people what He tells him to say. Do not be afraid because God has made him a fortified city to stand against the kings of Judah. They will fight against him, but will not win because God is with him and will rescue him.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 25, Day 2: Jeremiah 1

3a) Jeremiah preached from the reign of Josiah to the reign of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

b) The Israelites were far from God. They worshipped false gods. They practiced child sacrifice. Adultery was everywhere. They did not care to follow the Lord. In fact, they turned away from God. King Josiah was one of the better kings. He sought the Lord and began to purify Israel of idolatry. He wanted his people to return to the Lord.

4a) The God called Jeremiah before he was born to be a prophet.

b) That God has a plan for my life, too.

5a) Jeremiah did not know how to respond to God’s calling on his life. I can totally relate. Many of us are shocked by God’s calling on our lives. And, the calling can change, too.

b) God reassures Jeremiah, telling him to obey and to not be afraid. This must have been comforting.

6) God tells Jeremiah what will happen: that disaster will come from the north on Judah. God will pronounce His judgments on His people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made. God tells Jeremiah to tell the people what He tells him to say. Do not be afraid because God has made him a fortified city to stand against the kings of Judah. They will fight against him, but will not win because God is with him and will rescue him.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 25, Day 2: Jeremiah 1

What beautiful words God speaks to Jeremiah! He will fortify him and give him the strength to do God’s will. God will rescue Him. If only all of us believed God had our back all the time how our lives would be different!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 25, Day 2: Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah was a reluctant prophet who warned Judah for 40 years that they would be swept away to Babylon around the years 627 to 586 B.C.

He is known as the weeping prophet because of his painful journey and this book, Lamentations, which is his despair over Jerusalem’s destruction.

We love the book of Jeremiah because it shows what it means to follow God in spite of everything.

Anathoth was a small village near Jerusalem. Jeremiah was a young man when he was called. Bible scholars believe he was between 17 and 20 years old, so saying he was a youth and could not speak is true. God calls the young and the old alike.

Jeremiah had to see and then speak as a prophet. Anathoth was a center for almond tree growing.

The idea of the boiling pot is God pouring out His judgment on Judah.

He preached before, during, and after Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon.

Fun Fact: The book of Jeremiah is the longest book in the Bible in terms of word count.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 25, Day 2: Genesis 34:1-12

Summary of passage:  Dinah was visiting her friends in town when Shechem, the son of Hamor, saw her and raped her.  He loved her and spoke tenderly to her and asked his father to get her for his wife.

So Shechem’s father came to discuss the situation with Jacob and Jacob and his sons were distressed over what happened.  Hamor asked for Dinah to marry his son along with suggesting they all intermarry and settle amongst them.  Hamor said he’d pay whatever bride price was asked.

Questions:

3)  No.  First, it seems against God’s plan of having him settle in Bethel (Genesis 31:13). He is committing the same sin as Lot–settling near a pagan city with his young kids who are open to influence.

4a)  Yes.  She should have been forbidden to visit the women of the land alone and unprotected.  We must remember this is ancient times where women had no rights and were often treated as animals.   A woman alone could be taken by any man with no consequences.

b)  Lists God’s will of having His people separate from the world and to touch no unclean thing or be yoked to ungodly spouses.  Jacob should have made an effort to stay separate from the pagan Canaanites but he didn’t.

c)  No.  No apology.  Nothing.  But in that culture, Shechem committed no crime.

d)  They seem to treat their women with more respect and they have influence in their lives.  Jacob calls Rachel and Leah to him and asks them BEFORE he flees from Laban and takes away their father’s livestock (Genesis 31).  Abraham drives out Hagar and Ishmael because of Sarah’s wishes, not his own (Genesis 21:10; 16:6).  Rebekah schemed to have Jacob receive the blessing (Genesis 27), which was God’s desires.  God revealed to Rebekah (Genesis 25:23) His will, and not Jacob.

5)  Verses 9-10 is the devil at work.  Hamor is tempting them to intermarry with the Canaanites and adopt their ways and culture and their gods.  Although a ruse for their violent plans, Jacob’s sons suggested they become “one people” (verse 16), something which must have saddened God’s heart greatly.

Conclusions:  This passage, as sad as it is, speaks volumes of ancient culture.  It shows how women were merely objects to be possessed with no rights and how men could slaughter an entire village and get away with it with no repercussions whatsoever. Lawlessness, sinfulness, deceit–all in need of God and an order to life.

Even the whole idea of a bride price where women were bought and sold based on whims (and more likely a desire for power and alliances or what-have-you) which lasted up until modern history (and still happens in some cultures today) is very disheartening and sad.

I know that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob showed a higher respect for women but it was no where near today’s levels or what it should have been.  Just look at Leah and Rachel–a fight that destroyed the family all based on the pressure to bear sons (which was the primary goal of women).  Very sad.

It’s very hard for us to understand what it must have been like 4000 years ago for Dinah or Rachel or Leah or any woman.

It reminds me to be grateful I do live in today’s society where I am able to type these words for all to read.  Where my daughters can do whatever they dream of (as well as me). Where I have the freedom to marry whom I choose and not have kids if I choose. Where I can walk around without fear of what may happen to me.  Where if I am violated, the perpetrator will be punished lawfully.

Where I am a person, made in God’s image, and just as precious as any man.  And not just in God’s eyes.  But in society’s eyes as well.