Weekly Guide：Week 78
July 21, 2019
Forward
Jeremiah was called by God to be His vessel in the Book of Jeremiah. God chose Jeremiah while he was still in the womb to bring His word to the nations for the people. Whether the world welcomes or not, the people listen or not, the word through the prophet came direct from God and has His authority and is significant its meaning. God did not call anyone to be prophet but we all can be His vessel to spread His word because the Holy Spirit lives in everyone of us and His word is already written in the Bible.
May you all be renewed in His word each day!
Question
Why did God say the city of Jerusalem must be punished?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Warned the people of Benjamin to flee from Jerusalem, for disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction.
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The Lord declared the city of Jerusalem must be punished. It must take warning as it is filled with oppression.
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Let enemies glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine, because they have not listened to God’s words and have rejected His law.
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An army is coming from the land of the north, armed with bow and spear to attack Zion.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - The Lord says to the Judah: “Ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” But they wont walk in it. Why didn’t they choose the Lord’s way? What ways am I choosing today instead of the Lord’s way and therefore unable to find peace?
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Fidelity - The Judah “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” We as God’s servant today how much awareness do we have with the realities and the needs of the world? How may I face the injustice with grace and honesty?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did the Lord call the Judah to turn back to Him?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord told the Judah to “Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.”
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The Lord would do to the promised land as what He did to Shiloh.
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This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.
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The bones of the kings and all of Judah will be removed from their graves. They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, they will not be gathered up or buried.
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The Lord says: “Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.”
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The Lord asked the people to deal with each other justly, do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow. Today, who among us are the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Why would the Lord punish the sinners?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The prophet would weep day and night for the slain of people. He would weep and wail for the mountains and take up a lament concerning the wilderness grasslands.
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People have forsaken the law, followed the stubbornness of their hearts, so the Lord will scatter them among nations.
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The Lord will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Idols are worthless, the objects of mockery. But our God is the Lord who created everything. Is any worthless object of mockery in my life to tempt me? Am I following the worthless idols and forsake the Almighty God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How the Lord wanted the prophet to tell people His will?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah to tell the people: “Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant.”
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To proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: “Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them.”
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Israel and Judah have broken the covenant, so the Lord will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape.
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Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them.
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The prophet brought a case before the Lord: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?”
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For all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands. But after I uproot them, I will have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The wicked, they are close to God on their lips but far from their hearts. Reflect on what comes out of my mouth with what is in my heart, do they match up? How may I ask God to help me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How would the Lord ruin the pride of Judah?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
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These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts.
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The prophet wept in secret: “Because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.”
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The cities in the Negev will be shut up. All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away.
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The Lord declares: “This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you.”
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - “Judah refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt! For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,” declares the Lord, “to be my people for my renown and praise and honor.” We too, changed from rebellious through repentance to become His people. What am I doing today to glorify and give praise to God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Why did Jeremiah pray to the Lord for the people?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.
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Jeremiah prayed to admit guilt, but the Lord wouldn’t allow him to pray for the well-being of this people.
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Jeremiah accused the false prophet to prophesy lies in God’s name with false visions and delusions.
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Jeremiah wept for the people’s suffering.
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The Lord would not go out to this people and told Jeremiah to send them away from His presence.
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The prophet lamented about his own trouble where everyone cursed him. But the Lord promised to deliver him for a good purpose.
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Jeremiah prayed God to remember and care for him.
Meditation: My Story
- Fidelity - Jeremiah prayed for the people to God not to leave them, even when being cursed by them and refused by God. Do I have the heart to love others’ souls like the prophet and willing to pray for their salvation?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What are the attributes of the Lord's servant?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Before I was born the Lord called me. I have labored in vain. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.
+ The Lord who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and my God has been my strength.
+ The Lord wants His servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and will also make him a light for the Gentiles, that His salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
+ He will keep him and will make him to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land.
+ Can a mother forget the baby at her breast? The Lord have engraved His people on the palms of His hands.
+ The Lord's servant would be persecuted, but the Lord would help him so that he would not be disgraced and put to shame.
+ Trust in the name of the Lord and rely on our God.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God never forgets us and never forsakes us: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Let me remember His promise and be strengthened through His word.
+ **Fidelity** - When the servant of the Lord is being looked down upon, he knows the Lord will help him, so he is not disgraced nor ashamed. Have I ever been looked down upon in my service to the Lord? Let me receive strength and glory from Him.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is it like when salvation comes to Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ You who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord, think about His calling and blessing.
+ The Lord will surely comfort Zion. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
+ Listen, people. Instruction will go out from Him. His arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to Him and wait in hope for His arm.
+ Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; sorrow and sighing will flee away.
+ Jerusalem shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion, now a captive.
+ Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem. The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. My righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations." & goto :_no_skip
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God wants us: "Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults." Am I afraid of the "mere mortals" in my heart? Or, do I have hatred when others hurt me? Let me hand off my grievances to God and let Him bring justice and righteousness.
+ **Fidelity** - How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation. Am I a true ambassador of the Gospel? Who else may I share the good news with and testify for His glory?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How does the Lord's servant suffer for us for our sins?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The appearance of the Lord's servant was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness. But, he will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
+ The Lord's servant had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
+ He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, familiar with pain, and we held him in low esteem.
+ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
+ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.
+ Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin. The will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
+ After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Lord's servant had no beauty or majesty to attract us. His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness. But he will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Our true value is not determined through our outward appearance. Do I value how others see me more than how God sees me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What salvation did God promise the Israelites?
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### Question
What salvation did God promise the Israelites?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Enlarge the place of your tent, your descendants will dispossess nations.
+ Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
+ In a surge of anger, God hid His face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness He will have compassion on you.
+ In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.
+ Give ear and come to God; listen, that you may live. He will make an everlasting covenant with you.
+ Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways, for He will freely pardon.
+ God's ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts than your thoughts.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - In the surge of His anger, God has everlasting kindness and compassion on us. The peace in Him cannot be denied by the worldly suffering and dread. Think about His everlasting kindness and compassion. Make that my comfort and strength.
+ **Integrity** - Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Ask God to purify our hearts. Let me ask Him to forgive my sins and all things I have done to displease Him.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How shall we face the high and exalted one?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it and keeps hands from doing any evil.
+ For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
+ Rebukes the Judah for being rebellious and treacherous, but whoever takes refuge in Him will inherit the land.
+ The Lord lives in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - The wicked are like the tossing sea, "There is no peace, for the wicked." Am I still full of guilt and sin and unable to let go? Please ask the Holy Spirit to help me, to forsake the sins that has being bonding me to receive peace from God's grace.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why does the Lord save the sinners?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ God declares to His people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
+ If on the day of your fasting, you do as you please, in quarreling and strife. Is this the kind of fast God have chosen for people to humble themselves?
+ If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please, then you will find your joy in the Lord.
+ The arm of the Lord is not too short to save, but your iniquities have separated you from your God.
+ He saw that there was no one, no one to intervene, so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
+ The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - The fasting that pleases God is to share the food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter. When you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood. When I serve, do I serve with all my heart and all my mind? Let me remember that when I act with such righteousness and mercy, the Lord's glory would be behind me in support!
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses