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YAG 9th Retreat: Session 5

Text: Jeremiah, Lamentations
1 May 2009

YAG 9th RETREAT 
SESSION # 5
Friday, 1 May 2009
Time: 8.00pm
Theme: “I Have Hope”


A. A NECESSARY TEST

1. In the realm of Prayer

a) Personal

b) Intercessory

2. Praying

a) Amidst difficulties

b) Against all odds

3. Exercise of Hope

a) In persevering prayer

b) With understanding

c) With hope

4. Jeremiah

a) Imprisonment           Jeremiah 37-38

b) Pleading with the Lord

c) Three observations

i) Prayer heard           Lamentations 3:56

ii) Presence of God felt           Lamentations 3:57a

iii) Personal word to Jeremiah given           Lamentations 3:57b

d) Great encouragement to keep praying


B. UNDERSTANDING WHY GOD DOES NOT HEAR OUR PRAYERS

We have transgressed and rebelled; You have not pardoned

  Lamentations 3:42

Your iniquity is marked before Me, says the LORD.

  Jeremiah 2:22b

How shall I pardon you for this?

Jeremiah 5:7a

1. Departing from the Lord            Jeremiah 2:5a

a) Changing of faith in God in favour of idols            Jeremiah 2:11

b) Changing of their Glory to things that did not profit           Jeremiah 2:8e, 11b

c) Forsaken the Lord           Jeremiah 2:13, 17b, 19d

2. Devoted to idolatry           Jeremiah 2:5b

3. Defilement of the Promised Land (wicked idolatrous practices)           Jeremiah 2:7

4. Disappointing behaviour

a) People did not desire to know more about the Lord           Jeremiah 2:6

b) Priests did not inquire from the Lord            Jeremiah 2:8a

c) Teachers of the law did not know the Lord            Jeremiah 2:8b

d) Rulers transgressed           Jeremiah 2:8c

e) Prophets prophesied by Baal           Jeremiah 2:8d

5. Disastrous pursuits

a) Wickedness           Jeremiah 2:19a

b) Backsliding           Jeremiah 2:19b

c) Breaking promises to God           Jeremiah 2:20

6. Degeneration

From nobility to degeneration

Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned
before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?

Jeremiah 2:21

7. Denial

a) Refusal to admit pollution

How can you say, I am not polluted.

Jeremiah 2:23

b) Refusal to return to God

But you said, There is no hope. No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go.

Jeremiah 2:25b

c) Refusal to accept correction

In vain I have chastened your children; they received no correction

Jeremiah 2:30

d) Refusal to admit wrong

Yet you say, I have not sinned

Jeremiah 2:35

8. Devastating rejection of invitation to return to God

Yet return to Me, says the LORD

Jeremiah 3:1

And I said after she had done all these things, “Return to Me.” But she did not return

Jeremiah 3:7

Return, O backsliding children, says the LORD

  Jeremiah 3:14

Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings

Jeremiah 3:22


C. UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO MAKE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES

1. From God

a) Anger will be set aside           Jeremiah 3:12b

b) Mercy will be given           Jeremiah 3:12c

c) Acknowledgment of iniquity necessary           Jeremiah 3:13a

d) Promise of a fully restored relationship           Jeremiah 3:14-15, 17-18

2. From Jeremiah

a) Coming to God           Jeremiah 3:22c

b) Confession of sin           Jeremiah 3:23-25

D. PERSEVERING IN HOPEFUL PRAYER

1. Despite adverse circumstances

a) The anger of the Lord displayed           Lamentations 3:43

b) Prayers not heard and answered           Lamentations 3:44

c) Desolation and destruction           Lamentations 3:45-47

d) Enemies           Lamentations 3:52-54

2. Determination to seek God in prayer

a) Tears “without interruption”           Lamentations 3:48

b) Till the Lord looks down and see           Lamentations 3:49

c) Calling on the Lord           Lamentations 3:55

d) Pleading with the Lord           Lamentations 3:56


E. APPRECIATING THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD

1. God hearing prayers

You have heard my voice

Lamentations 3:56

2. God drawing near

You drew near on the day I called You, and said, “Do not fear”

Jeremiah 3:57

3. God’s vindication           Lamentations 3:58-66

O LORD, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life.

Jeremiah 3:58
(Cf. Psalm 3:3-4)