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YAG 11th Retreat Session 2

Text: Jeremiah

YAG 11th RETREAT 
Session 2
Friday, 28 May 2010
Theme: “CALL TO ME”

1. A special revelatory word          Jeremiah 4:5-18

a) Use of imagery

i) Lion           Jeremiah 4:7

ii) A dry wind           Jeremiah 4:11-12

b) Warning of War (invasion)

i) Disastrous destruction           Jeremiah 4:6c, 7

ii) Destroyer of nations           Jeremiah 4:7b

iii) Chariots           Jeremiah 4:13b

iv) War Horses           Jeremiah 4:13c

v) Plundered           Jeremiah 4:13d

vi) Watchers from the north           Jeremiah 4:16

c) Spiritual Significance

i) Fierce anger of the Lord           Jeremiah 4:8c

ii) Because of the evil of your doings           Jeremiah 4:4f

iii) Your ways and your doings have procured these things for you          Jeremiah 4:18

d) Historical significance

i) King and princes will perish           Jeremiah 4:9b

ii) Priests and prophets will be astonished and wonder           Jeremiah 4:9c

e) Extending Hope

i) Clothe yourself with sackcloth           Jeremiah 4:8a

ii) Washing of the heart from wickedness           Jeremiah 4:14a

iii) Ridding self from evil thoughts           Jeremiah 4:14c

iv) Rebellion           Jeremiah 4:17b

v) Bitterness of wickedness           Jeremiah 4:18

f) Significance of this special revelatory word

i) There will be markedly new changes for Jerusalem

ii) The changes will be for the worse

iii) The punitive will of God must be understood and accepted

iv) Jeremiah must take time to digest this new word

v) He must make the necessary changes to absorb and include this new knowledge

B. JEREMIAH’S SECOND PRAYER          Jeremiah 4:19-21

Call to Me

Jeremiah 33:3a

1. Emotional Response

a) Pain in the heart           Jeremiah 4:19

b) Alarmed by this word of warning from the Lord           Jeremiah 4:19

c) Overwhelmed by thoughts of destruction           Jeremiah 4:20

d) Lament “How long?”           Jeremiah 4:21

2. Emotions and Prayer

a) Closely related

b) Valid

c) Limited significance

i) It will not change the will of God

ii) It will not necessarily improve faith

iii) It will drive a person to enter into a higher level of prayer

C. GOD’S REASONED RESPONSE TO JEREMIAH          Jeremiah 4:22-31

And I will answer You

Jeremiah 33:3b

1. God offers an explanation

a) In answer to prayer

b) To aid understanding

c) Significance of the Scriptures

i) Truths

ii) Principles

iii) Practices

2. Assessment of Judah

a) Foolishness           Jeremiah 4:22a

i) No knowledge           Jeremiah 4:22b

ii) Silly children           Jeremiah 4:22c

iii) No understanding           Jeremiah 4:22d

iv) Wise to do evil           Jeremiah 4:22e

v) No knowledge of doing good           Jeremiah 4:22f

b) Aftermath of execution of the fierce anger of God

i) Earth without form and void           Jeremiah 4:23a (Genesis 1:2)

ii) No inhabitants           Jeremiah 4:25, 29

c) Glimmer of hope

Not a full end

Jeremiah 4:27b; 5:10b, 18b (3 x)

i) To be fathomed

ii) To be appreciated

d) The firmness of God’s will

i) I have spoken           Jeremiah 4:28c

ii) I have purposed           Jeremiah 4:28d

iii) Will not relent           Jeremiah 4:28e

iv) Will not turn back           Jeremiah 4:28f

D. SIGNIFICANCE

1. Prayer is not everything

2. Prayer is not nothing either

3. Prayer is still very important for good reason:-

a) Hope is sustained

b) There is a future yet but it must be discovered/fathomed

c) The challenge of understanding and appeasing God’s anger