The broken covenant
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
The Set Up
The Set Up
This chapter will be a reminder to Judah of of the covenant God made with their ancestors. A covenant they have continually broken and been warned about time and time again.
This chapter presents the legal case God brings against His people, Judah, for their disobedience and announces, one more time the coming judgment. And, he tells Jeremiah of the plot against his very life now too.
Context: Jeremiah continues to minister to Judah during the time of spiritual decline, political instability and this chapter during the reign of King Josiah, a time of attempted reforms , the the people’s hearts remained unfaithful to God.
Theme: This chapter emphasizes God’s covenant with Israel, again, and the people’s failure to uphold it, and the consequences of their idolatry and disobedience.
Key verse: Jer11:8 - you can look up the verse.
Objective/Take-a-way: To understand the importance of covenant faithfulness, the consequences of disobedience, and the call to align our lives with God’s will.
Our Passage
Our Passage
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 “Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant 4 which I commanded your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Listen to My voice, and do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God,’
5 in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.” ’ ” Then I said, “Amen, O Lord.” 6 And the Lord said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them.
7 ‘For I solemnly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, warning persistently, saying, “Listen to My voice.” 8 ‘Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’ ”
9 Then the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 “They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.”
11 Therefore thus says the Lord, “Behold I am bringing disaster on them which they will not be able to escape; though they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them. 12 “Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they surely will not save them in the time of their disaster.
13 “For your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. 14 “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.
15 “What right has My beloved in My house When she has done many vile deeds? Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster, So that you can rejoice?” 16 The Lord called your name, “A green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”; With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are worthless.
17 The Lord of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me by offering up sacrifices to Baal. 18 Moreover, the Lord made it known to me and I knew it; Then You showed me their deeds.
19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; And I did not know that they had devised plots against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, And let us cut him off from the land of the living, That his name be remembered no more.” 20 But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, Who tries the feelings and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You have I committed my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, so that you will not die at our hand”; 22 therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, I am about to punish them! The young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine;
Is there anything in particular that stands out to you?
Let’s read that key verse.
8 ‘Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’ ”
Can Christians get stubborn? Can we break covenant with God today?
I think you will see as we do the outline and overlook of this chapter the importance of covenant faithfulness, and the consequences of disobedience. You will see the call to align our lives with God’s will.
Outline Chapter 11
Outline Chapter 11
Covenant recalled (Jer11:1-8)
God’s command to proclaim the covenant (vv.1-5)
God instructs Jeremiah to remind Judah of the covenant that was made with their ancestors when He brought them out of Egypt.
The covenant did require obedience to God’s commands, promising blessings and the land flowing with milk and honey if they obeyed (v.5).
The people were in persistent rebellion and received divine warnings (vv.6-8)
God commands Jeremiah to proclaim the covenant in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Yet the people persistently disobeyed, following their ‘stubborn hearts,” (v.8)
God declares He will bring the curses of the covenant upon them.
The broken covenant and God’s judgment (Jer11:9-17)
The conspiracy and idolatry (vv.9-13)
Judah has conspired to rebel against God, returning to the sins of their ancestors by worshiping idols (e.g., Baal).
Their idolatry is futile ; their gods cannot save them when judgment comes (v.12).
The number of their gods matches the number of their towns, showing the extent of their unfaithfulness (v.13).
False worship leads to inevitable judgment
God’s silence and refusal to intervein (vv.14-17)
Jeremiah is told not to pray for them.
Their sacrifices are meaningless, for their hearts are corrupt. The offerings are worthless because of their hypocrisy (v.15).
God describes Judah as a ‘thriving olive tree) now destined for destruction due to their idolatry (vv.16-17)
Main teaching point in these verses is due to persistent sin and idolatry it will lead to spiritual ruin and separation from God.
Plot against Jeremiah and protection by God (Jer11:19-23)
The plot revealed (vv.18-19)
God reveals the plot to Jeremiah from his home town in Anathoth. The reason was because of His prophetic messages.
Jeremiah compares himself to a “gentle lamb led to the slaughter,” unaware of danger until God warns him.
Jeremiah’s prayer and God’s response (vv.20-23)
Jeremiah pleads to God for justice, trusting in God’s righteous judgment (v.20).
God does promises to punish the conspirators with disaster, leaving no remnant of their families (vv.21-23)
Another teaching point I found in (vv.18-23) was faithfulness to God’s call may lead to opposition, but God sees and protects His servants, ensuring justice.
Some pondering questions
Some pondering questions
How does the concept of a covenant apply to our relationship with God today? What “terms” has God set for us in the New Covenant through Jesus?
What are some modern idols that compete for our devotion to God? How can we practically turn away from them?
How can we balance God’s justice (seen in His judgment on Judah) with his love and mercy? How does this shape our view of God?
How about applications?
How about applications?
Examine and reflect on your covenant, commitment to God.
Sent time in prayer, asking God to reveal areas of disobedience and commit to aligning your life and your will in line with God’s word and will.
Reject idolatry in all its modern forms
Materialism, success, self-reliance, etc.
Stand firm in faith
Regardless of push back, opposition stand firm in your faith. Pray for courage to live out and share your faith and biblical values with others. Trust God to protect and guide you.
Trust God’s justice
Jeremiah trusted God to handle his enemies. Instead of seeking revenge, pray for your enemies, remember passages like (Mt5:44) and release bitterness, trusting God to be the righteous judge.
Worship with Sincerity
God desires authentic worship from a repentant heart.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This chapter reminds us of the seriousness of their covenant of God and reminds us of the seriousness of our covenant with God. We see the consequences of breaking it through sin and idolatry, and the challenges of remaining faithful in a rebellious world. yet, God remains just, faithful, and protective of those who trust Him.
So, reflect on your commitment to God, repent of any areas of disobedience, reject any modern idols, trust God to guide you and protect you as you live for Him.
(Prayer) (Close)
