Weekly Guide：Week 82
August 18, 2019
Forward
We continue to read the Book of Jeremiah this week. Jeremiah regain freedom, was favored by the king and given the right to settle in Babylon. However, with the heart of a shepherd, Jeremiah chose to stay put.
Jeremiah knew it was God’s will to restore the remnant of Judah who were carried off to Babylon in exile. Jeremiah loved the land and its people as a shepherd. He made a hard choice in his service, but it was a clear choice. Life would have been easy in Babylon where he was respected, but Jeremiah, a faithful servant and prophet, gave up his own comfort and prosperity like a true shepherd.
May you all be renewed in God’s word each day!
Question
What would become of the Philistines and Moabites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Jeremiah prophesied the day had come for the Lord to destroy all the Philistines and to remove all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon.
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Jeremiah prophesied the punishment to Moab, the woe to Nebo, the disgrace and capture of Kiriathaim and the shattering of Misgab.
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Moab would be ashamed of Chemosh, as Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel.
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Moab had defied the Lord and ridiculed Israel, for her arrogance, her insolence, her pride, her conceit, and the haughtiness of her heart.
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The fortunes of Moab would be restored.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The destruction of the Philistines came from the Lord. Who is in control of the rise and fall of the nations today? How do I look at the politics of the world? How does my view affect me?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did Jeremiah say about the other nations?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Jeremiah prophesied the Ammonites’ punishment. Rabbah would become a mound of ruins.
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The Lord would restore the fortunes of the Ammonites afterward.
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The Lord would bring disaster on Esau at the time when He punishes him. Edom will become an object of horror.
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Damascus had become feeble, she had turned to flee and panic had gripped her; anguish and pain had seized her.
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Kedar and Hazor would be attacked, taken and carried off.
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Elam would be scattered to the four winds, then restored.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - How did pride of the Ammonites, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam stand by the Lord? Where is my pride?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What was the source of Babylon’s destruction?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Babylon would be punished, captured, put to shame and Marduk would be filled with terror.
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The people of Israel and the people of Judah together would go in tears to seek the Lord their God.
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Announced once then again, the punishment of Babylon.
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The people of Israel were oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go.
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A sword against the Babylonians, those who live in Babylon and against her officials and wise men!
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The young of the flock will be dragged away; their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - What is our responsibility when God’s chosen people are being devoured? Take a look at verses 17 and 18. What shall I do when facing those who have sinned and those who deserve punishment?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did the Lord avenge against Babylon for Israel?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord would bring devastation to Babylon to avenge her abuse of the Israelites.
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The Lord would stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Leb Kamai.
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Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the Lord Almighty. Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives!
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The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because His purpose is to destroy Babylon.
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The Lord would dry up Babylon’s sea and make her springs dry. Babylon would be a heap of ruins, a place where no one lives.
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Jeremiah had written on a scroll about all the disasters that would come upon Babylon. He asked Seraiah to read all these words aloud.
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When finished reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - What was written about Babylon’s prosperity and standing in this chapter? But, Babylon fell to disgrace because she did not put a leash on her desires. How am I putting to proper use of the gift and privilege from God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How was Jerusalem captured?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Zedekiah became king and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
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King of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. The whole army fled the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden.
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The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
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Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the important buildings.
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The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord. The commander of the imperial guard took away all that were made of pure gold or silver.
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The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers. The king of Babylon had them executed.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Had Zedekiah reasons or just himself to blame for his miserable end? Are other people, fate, or God responsible for how my life is?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did Jerusalem describe her own pain?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Jeremiah laments the capturing of the people of Zion. How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.
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Jerusalem describes the insufferable pain was inflicted on her, that the Lord brought on her in the day of His fierce anger.
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Jerusalem admitted that the Lord is righteous, yet she rebelled against His command.
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Jerusalem pleaded to the Lord to see that there’s no one to comfort her in her distress.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Zion laments that her pain was the result of righteous judgment from the Lord. Does the suffering in the world today come from God’s judgment? What’s the source of suffering? How should I face suffering?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How the Lord wanted the prophet to tell people His will?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ 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."
+ 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."
+ Israel and Judah have broken the covenant, so the Lord will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape.
+ Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them.
+ The prophet brought a case before the Lord: "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?"
+ 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?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
+ These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts.
+ 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."
+ The cities in the Negev will be shut up. All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away.
+ 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?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.
+ Jeremiah prayed to admit guilt, but the Lord wouldn't allow him to pray for the well-being of this people.
+ Jeremiah accused the false prophet to prophesy lies in God's name with false visions and delusions.
+ Jeremiah wept for the people's suffering.
+ The Lord would not go out to this people and told Jeremiah to send them away from His presence.
+ The prophet lamented about his own trouble where everyone cursed him. But the Lord promised to deliver him for a good purpose.
+ 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
### Question
How did God throw the people out of the promised land and then bring them back again?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord wanted the prophet to not marry and have sons or daughters for they will die of deadly diseases and will not be mourned.
+ The Lord said: "It is because your ancestors forsook me, I will throw you out of this land."
+ The Lord said: "The days are coming when I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors."
+ The Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress.
+ Judah's sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.
+ Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
+ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? The Lord search the heart and examine the mind.
+ The people did not believe the prophesy: "Where is the word of the Lord? Let it now be fulfilled!"
+ Keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? We may even be deceived by our own deceitful heart. However, as believers, we already have the Holy Spirit in us to help us. So, God wants us not to rely on our own strength but to follow Jesus. How may I distinguish between the voice my own desire and the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What example did the Lord use to show Israel of His wrath?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Lord's word came to Jeremiah told him to go down to the potter's house. Israel to the Lord as the clay in the potter's hand, the Lord can do to them as the potter does to the clay.
+ The Lord is preparing a disaster for Israel and devising a plan against them. So turn from each's evil ways and reform your ways and your actions.
+ The prophet prayed to the Lord to save him from the evil plans of his accusers.
+ The Lord said to Jeremiah to buy a clay jar from a potter then proclaim His word: "He will bring disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle." Then break the jar and say: "He will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired."
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - The prophet prayed to the Lord to save him because Israel repaid good with evil and did not remember how he stood before the Lord to speak in their behalf. Have I ever been misunderstood and even got hurt? How may I call to God for His salvation?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Jeremiah being laughed at?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The priest Pashhur, the official in charge of the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying so he had Jeremiah beaten and put in the stocks at the Lord's temple then released the next day.
+ Jeremiah said to Pashhur that the Lord would make him a terror to himself and to all his friends.
+ The prophet cried to the Lord that he was being ridiculed all day long, mock by everyone, and with terror all around.
+ The prophet knew the Lord was with him, his persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
+ The prophet was willing to be cursed the day he was born, mocked by everyone, and end his days in shame.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - The Lord's word in the prophet's heart was like fire shut up in his bones, he was weary of holding it in. Do I have the same zeal as the prophet with the Lord's word and would spread the gospel like it is burning in my heart?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What does the Holy Spirit do when He comes?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ When the Holy Spirit comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.
+ When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.
+ I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
+ Jesus prayed to the Father, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you."
+ Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus said, "This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." How do I know God, know Jesus Christ, and receive eternal life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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### Question
How did Judas betray Jesus?
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it.
+ Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers. They arrested Jesus and bound him.
+ Peter's first denial.
+ Peter's second and third denials.
+ Jesus tried before Pilate. Pilate found no basis for a charge against Jesus.
+ The Jews did not want to release Jesus but would rather release Barabbas, who had taken part in an uprising.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus said He came to testify for the truth but Pilate retorted, "What is truth?" Do I believe there's one absolute truth? What is my standard for truth?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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### Question
Why did the Jews put Jesus on the cross?
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and slapped Him in the face.
+ The Jews shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!!"
+ Jesus carried His own cross, went out to the place of the Skull. There they crucified Him.
+ Jesus entrusted His mother to the disciple He loved.
+ Not one of His bones will be broken.
+ Jesus' disciple Joseph took His body away and laid it in a new tomb.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Pilate wanted to release Jesus but crucified Him instead because the pressure from the Jews. We often face difficult decisions. What is my principle in making decisions? How are my decisions pleasing to God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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### Question
Who witnessed Jesus' resurrection?
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Early in the morning, Mary went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed and thought someone had taken the Lord out of the tomb.
+ Mary saw Jesus at the tomb.
+ In the evening, Jesus stood among the disciples and showed them His hands and side.
+ Thomas did not see Jesus and asked to see the nail marks. Jesus came and let Thomas to touch Him. Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
+ Jesus appeared again to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee.
+ Jesus told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat and will find some fishes.
+ When Peter heard Jesus, he wrapped his outer garment around him and jumped into the water.
+ Jesus ate fish and bread with the disciples by the fire.
+ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
+ Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" and said to him, "Take care of my sheep."
+ Jesus did many other things as well. Even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - After seeing His wounds, Thomas declared Jesus is the Lord and God. Where does my faith come from? Where does my knowledge of God come from?
+ **Identity** - Jesus let Peter go fish in the water where He first called him. Jesus strengthened Peter's faith again in the same way after He had risen from death. Why did Jesus do this? How may my faith be strengthened by going back to the original love of Christ?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the disciples follow the commands Jesus gave before He was risen into heaven?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
+ The disciples selected new apostle to replace Judas.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - As Jesus left the disciples, they prayed and waited for the Holy Spirit. Do I seek for God's guidance and direction while waiting?
+ **Integrity** - The first thing came to the disciples' minds, when they realized Jesus' authority in resurrection, was their own desire for the kingdom of Israel instead of the will of Jesus. This is a great reminder for myself: do not be limited by my own limited mind but seek God's will!
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
+ How did the Holy Spirit raise the first church?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Holy Spirit filled the apostles to enable them to speak in tongues of different native languages of the crowds declaring God's wonders.
+ Peter addressed the crowds that Jesus is the Messiah.
+ About three thousand heard and accepted his message were baptized and added to their number that day.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Would I feel being cut to the heart and come to God to ask for forgiveness if someone spoke of my past sins, whether intentionally or not? We all need someone who can point out our spiritual weaknesses. More importantly, we need to listen to Holy Spirit's guidance.
+ **Fidelity** - Peter said: "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." We would not turn a blind eye to the unbelievers if we understand from bottom of our hearts the corruptness. Do I truly understand the corrupt generation I'm in?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses