Hoping and Thanking

O. T. #1827 "Straying Sheep Come Back"

Nov. 24, 2020

Jeremiah 50-Part 2

In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.  (verse 4)

LET IT GLOW

Our neighbor down the road has a flock of sheep that graze in a meadow. I rarely see them, but the other day, I saw three sheep grazing in their yard the other day. I enjoy watching this unusual sight, for our area has farms of cattle and chickens. Well, one day we were returning home and a ram ran out in from of our truck out of nowhere, returning back to its yard. (It had strayed away from the yard going across the road to graze on grass there.) My husband didn't see it coming, but was able to stop and not hit the sheep. Aren't we like that ram? We often stray from the Lord into sin and eventually run back to Him? Today's lesson refers to a group of people like that straying sheep. Won't you join us and read on about it?

Not only did God warn Judah about His judgment coming upon them, but He also warned other nations and Babylon, the one He used to bring it about. God use the prophet Jeremiah to publish and spread these warnings. The problem these nations and the chosen people of Judah had were idolatry and pride. God Jehovah is the One True Living God. There is no other. He will not allow those sins to continue. He must have first place and be the only One worshiped. The punishment God sent to the Jews was 70 years of captivity in Babylon, a heathen nation. Babylon received punishment, also. Their idols were broken and their empire destroyed as Cyrus of Persia conquered them.

However, there was good news for Israel and Judah, the scattered sheep. Although Assyria and Babylon destroyed their Temple and their land, God was always working His plans. He promised the Jews would return to their Promised Land and rebuild the destroyed Jerusalem. (verses 4-7,17)

What hope is Israel and Judah given in this chapter?

• The people of Israel and Judah will return home together. (verse 4a) In 1Kings 12, we read where Jeroboam built another temple for the northern kingdom to go to worship instead of making the long journey to Jerusalem. Then he put false idols in that temple, thus leading Israel into idolatry. This was the division of Israel into two nations-Israel and Judah.
• They will come weeping and seeking the LORD their God. (verse 4b) Such joy must have been evident on their journey.
• They will ask the way to Jerusalem and start back home again. (verse 5a) Keep in mind this a different generation of Jews. Most of those who went into captivity will have died off by this time.
• The returnees will bind themselves to the LORD with an eternal covenant never forgotten.     (verse 5)

This prediction came true as 3 groups of Jews returned to Jerusalem, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Priest Ezra, and Nehemiah. So keep this in mind as we continue reading what the major and minor prophets prophesyed through the rest of the Old Testament. 

Doesn't this give us hope? When we stray into sin, then repent, Jesus forgives us and returns us to a right relationship with our God. (1 John 1:9) How awesome is our God!

LET IT GROW

There were further instructions for the Jews. In verse 8, the Jews were told to flee and leave the land of the Babylonians-Like male goats at the head of the flock, lead My people home again. 

Folks, do we know people in our circle that have strayed into sin and away from the Lord? We are told to lead them back to Jesus. Are we loving them back to Jesus? Are we sharing what He has been doing in our life? Love covers a multitude of sins. Are we forgiving, also? When they do return, there will tears of joy. Things to think about. Jesus takes us back into His fold, too.

All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

LET IT GO

Thank You Father that You forgive us when we stray away from You.

Bring Your sheep back to You.

Jesus, thank You  for bearing our sins and forgiving us. 

*There seems to be a technical problem  for posting this lesson, so hang in there with us. I am going to get help to straighten out the problem.

 

 

O. T. #1826  "Hoping and Thanking"

Nov. 23, 2020

Jeremiah 50

... even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. (verse 7)

LET IT GLOW

How is the LORD described in verse 7?

1. the habitation [dwelling place; a home, of God (temple)] of justice;
2. the hope (something waited for) of their fathers

God is just in all He does. Jesus, the Expected One, the Savior and the Messiah, was the One in whom the ancestors of Judah long awaited to come to earth as their King and LORD. Jesus was the One in whom the fathers of Judah put their hope.

In whom are we putting our trust? In whom are we waiting for? Jesus said He would return to take His church and believers home to heaven.

Psalm 20:7 says, Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Are we trusting in government, people, things instead of God?

Will we remember to give thanks to our God this Thanksgiving?

Judah had forsaken their God, the only true and living God. They put contempt on the Temple and the tradition of their fathers by not worshiping only Him who was the hope of their ancestors. Therefore they deserved to suffer these hard things Jeremiah prophesied about.

 

LET IT GROW

How good is your memory on history? Here are three questions for you: Who was the first to conquer God's people, the northern kingdom of Israel? Who was the next to crush God's people in the southern kingdom of Judah?  Who conquered both Assyria and Babylon? (Assyria, Babylon, and Medes and Persia became the world empire.) How did you do?

Jeremiah's prophesies were God's judgment and punishments on the nations not worshiping Him. Now, chapters 50-51 tell of Babylon's upcoming sentencing in the divine courtroom.

Before we get into that, let's take a look at some of the background of Babylon:

• In less than 150 years after Israel fell to Assyria, Judah fell to Babylon.
• Israel was warned to repent of idolatry by prophets Jonah, Hosea, Amos, Micah, and Isaiah.
• Judah had prophets Nahum, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Obadiah, Zephaniah.
• King Hezekiah of Judah tore down idols in the land and restored worship of God in the Temple in Jerusalem. Although, he was followed by bad kings who led Judah into idol worship.
• There were various philosophers and religions in the world established during this time-Lao-tse, of China; Pythagoras, a mathematician, too; Buddhism in India; Confuciusism in China; Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of the 7 wonders; Greek gods were worshiped.
• Babylon was the chief city, which was located some 50 miles south of modern Baghdad, Iraq.
• Neb was God's servant of judgment on Judah. Jeremiah urged Judah to submit to them and live, but many did not, thus fighting and killed or running to Egypt.
• The Babylonians were going to be punished for their sins of pride and covetousness as they lived on prey.
• Babylon would fall, never to be restored again (verse 39), while the Jews would be restored (verses 4-6).
• When the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon. Cyrus, King of Persia, conquered Babylon in 539 BC without a battle.

History bears out those events did happen in the world, as does the Bible. Babylon was a symbol of all evil in the Scriptures. These messages can apply to the end times, too, when God will destroy all evil, once and for all. In Revelation 17-18, the Lord will crush all evil during the end of the tribulation.

Do we see that a Sovereign God is in control of world events?

Who is in control of your life? Are you trying to control it instead of allowing God to?

LET IT GO

Everlasting Father, You are our hope. We give thanks for Your mercy and love. Jesus, thank You for providing salvation for us sinners. Our hope is in You, Jesus. We wait for Your return to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. Please forgive us of our sins, individually and as a nation.

Jesus, You are way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness; that is who You are, as the song says.