Part 2 - Stone the Prophets - Jeremiah Hearing a voice of redemption to grow our faith, hope and love when we can’t see a future Study by: Jacqui Thomas Sermons can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel GATHERING / WORSHIP / PRAYER Take a few minutes to catch up with each other and build community. If you have new people present give time to getting to know each other. You may want to listen to Do It Again Prayer focus: take a moment to ask God to help you hear from Him about a situation or person that you are praying for, that God has plans for a good future and a hope. FOCUS Weaved through the writings of the old prophets are both tragic warnings of judgement and yet frequent announcements of hope; with a repeated call to return to God. Jesus summarised the role of the prophets as well as the response of Israel in Matthew 23:37 saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” These are complex, deep, multilayered and heartfelt writings. They were speaking a message from God in a specific time of history whilst also proclaiming a prophecy of future hope and redemption; which was ultimately pointing to Jesus. SETTING THE SCENE The scene of this Scripture is one that many of us can relate to. Despite the incredible instances of deliverance, signs and wonders, and God’s very presence as a pillar of cloud and fire, the Israelites quickly forgot and began worshipping false gods and stopped walking in God’s ways. It’s like that today – loved ones can be brought up in a loving church family, but let following God slip, and soon we can’t see that they are connected to God at all. However, rather than cause us to be disheartened, this passage brings us great hope. Jeremiah, who had been imprisoned because King Zedekiah, was given a strange direction from the Lord. Jeremiah was imprisoned because Zedekiah was not happy about his prophecies that Jerusalem would be defeated by the Babylonians, who were at that point laying siege to the city. And Zedekiah’s own future in Chaldea didn’t look too bright either! Despite the prophecies of the city’s destruction and captivity, God instructed Jeremiah to buy a field from a relative, Hanamel, who was coming to the prison to pressure him to buy it. (Was there ever a more insensitive prison-visitor?) God told Jeremiah to make sure he had lots of witnesses and to store the deeds (paperwork) in a vessel that would keep them safe for the future. A symbol of hope in a time of great fear. This doesn’t seem like a good business decision – especially Anathoth was at this point already occupied by the Babylonians and therefore completely worthless. Until you read the second part of God’s plans and redemptive work – that these lands would one day become the restored lands of God’s chosen people – that God’s promises of redemption would come to pass. OPENING GOD’s WORD Warm Up Question: Have you ever had a time (or heard about someone else going through one) where the situation was just doomed to fail, but miraculously it didn’t? If you feel comfortable doing so, share about it with your group. Read: Jeremiah 32 This is quite a long chapter so let’s break it up a bit. Read verses 1 – 15. So, as we know Jeremiah is in prison and instructed to buy a worthless piece of land from a desperate relative. What do you guess Jeremiah would have been thinking at this point? Have you ever felt God prompt you to do something so odd that you wondered if you had heard him right? What happened when you followed through with it? And Jeremiah did do as he was told (v. 9). However, Jeremiah seems to be as human as the rest of us – he then asked God what it, and the symbol of storing it up meant. Read on in verses 16 – 25. What do you notice about Jeremiah’s prayer and what does it say about how we can approach our Heavenly Father, especially when there is a situation that seems unresolvable or hopeless? Finally read from v.26 to the end of the chapter. Jeremiah’s openness and obedience was rewarded by a clear explanation and hope for the future. In this passage there are some beautiful statements of hope for the future (v.27b, v.37-40, etc.) Which verses speak especially to you or your situation? What is a symbol (a verse or song or promise) that you can hold on to, so you know that God has a hope for the future? LIVING OUT GOD’s WORD How will knowing that nothing is too hard for God change how you will pray about hopeless situations in your life? How can you use this to help others who are going through hard times? PRAYER Break into pairs or small groups and pray about situations and people that have come up in this study. Agree to continue to pray for one another during the week. Contacts If you would like more information or further help please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au