Theocratic Ministry School Review 2012 [Jeremiah]

[Admin]

<< BACK TO: Jeremiah >>

1. Why is the Bible book of Jeremiah beneficial for us? [Mar. 5, si p. 129 par. 36]

[/b] of the prophet himself. He was fearless in proclaiming an unpopular message to a godless people. He spurned fellowship with the wicked. He appreciated the urgency of Jehovah’s message, giving himself wholeheartedly to Jehovah’s work and never quitting. He found God’s word to be like a fire in his bones, and it was the exultation and rejoicing of his heart. (Jer. 15:16-20; 20:8-13) May we ever be as zealous for the word of Jehovah! May we also give loyal support to God’s servants, as Baruch did to Jeremiah. The sincere obedience of the Rechabites is also a splendid example to us, and so is Ebed-melech’s kindly consideration for the persecuted prophet.—36:8-19, 32; 35:1-19; 38:7-13; 39:15-18. - si p. 129 par. 36[/ul]

2. How might Jehovah deliver us from persecution today? (Jer. 1:8) [Mar. 5, w05 12/15 p. 23 par. 18]

[/i].” (Jeremiah 1:8) How might Jehovah deliver us from persecution today? He might raise up a fair-minded judge like Gamaliel. Or he may see to it that a corrupt or antagonistic official is unexpectedly replaced by a more reasonable one. At times, though, Jehovah may permit the persecution of his people to run its course. (2 Timothy 3:12) If God allows us to be persecuted, he will always give us the strength to endure persecution. (1 Corinthians 10:13) And no matter what God permits, we have no doubt as to the final outcome: Those who fight against God’s people are fighting against God, and fighters against God will not prevail.[/ul]

3. When and how did the anointed return to “the roadways of long ago”? (Jer. 6: 16) [Mar. 12, w05 11/1 p. 24 par. 12]

[/b](2 Timothy 1:13) To this day, the anointed help one another as well as their “other sheep” companions to pursue the healthful, happy way of life that Christendom has abandoned.—John 10:16.[/ul]

4. Why can it be said that there is “balsam in Gilead” today? (Jer. 8:22) [Mar. 19, w10 6/1 p. 22 par. 3–p. 23 par. 4]

[/i] Yes, today there still exists spiritual balsam. The comfort and hope provided by the good news of the Kingdom is able to bind up broken hearts. Would you like to experience such healing? All you need to do is open your heart wide to the comforting message from God’s Word and allow it to fill your life. Millions of people have already done so. The healing by this balsam provides a foregleam of greater relief that is still to come. The time is fast approaching when Jehovah God will bring about “the curing of the nations,” with everlasting life in view. At that time, “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” Yes, there still is “balsam in Gilead”!—Revelation 22:2; Isaiah 33:24.[/ul]

5. In what way does Jehovah “feel regret” after pronouncing judgment? (Jer. 18:7, 8) [Apr. 2, jr p. 151 box]

[/i]when he has completely misjudged a matter. Rather, Jehovah feels regret by adjusting his dealings, responding to the change of heart he observes.

This is not just a cold rescinding of a sentence. Jehovah’s feelings change toward repentant sinners. According to some scholars, the origin of the Hebrew verb translated “feel regret” in the verses cited above is thought to reflect the idea of “breathing deeply,” maybe with a sigh. This may indicate that when Jehovah sees genuine remorse in a human heart, figuratively he breathes deeply, as with a sigh of relief. God can show the repentant person the loving attention enjoyed by those having His approval. That sinner may still face certain consequences, yet God is pleased with his change of heart. He softens “the calamity,” or divine discipline, that otherwise might be due. (Jer. 26:13) What human judge is inclined to recognize true repentance in this way? Jehovah takes delight in doing so.—Jer. 9:24.[/ul]

6. How did Jehovah fool Jeremiah, and what lesson can we draw from this? (Jer. 20:7) [Apr. 2, jr p. 36 par. 8]

[/i]Jeremiah by using some crafty, underhanded scheme against him. Rather, God “fooled” his prophet in a positive, beneficial sense. Jeremiah felt that the opposition was too great, that by himself he could no longer fulfill his God-given assignment. But fulfill it he did, with the Almighty’s support and help. Hence, you might say that Jehovah overpowered him, proving far stronger than Jeremiah and his human inclinations. When this man of God thought that he had reached his limit and could not keep going, Jehovah exercised a persuasive force so that Jeremiah was fooled, as it were. God proved stronger than the prophet’s weaknesses. Even in the face of apathy, rejection, and violence, Jeremiah was able to continue to preach.[/ul]

7. In what sense were Israel’s enemies sanctified? (Jer. 22:6-9) [Apr. 9, it-2 p. 1166 par. 8]

[/i]. Anciently, the fighting forces, before they entered battle, were customarily sanctified. (Jos 3:5; Jer 6:4; 51:27, 28) During warfare Israel’s forces, including non-Jews (for example, Uriah the Hittite, who was probably a circumcised proselyte), had to remain ceremonially clean. They could not have sexual relations, even with their own wives, during a military campaign. Accordingly, there were no prostitutes who followed Israel’s army. Moreover, the camp itself had to be kept clean from defilement.—Le 15:16, 18; De 23:9-14; 2Sa 11:11, 13.

When it was necessary to punish unfaithful Israel, those foreign armies bringing the destruction were viewed as ‘sanctified,’ in the sense that they were ‘set apart’ by Jehovah for the execution of his righteous judgments. (Jer 22:6-9; Hab 1:6) Similarly, those military forces (principally the Medes and Persians) who brought destruction on Babylon were spoken of by Jehovah as “my sanctified ones.”—Isa 13:1-3.[/ul]

8. Why could Jehovah rightly say to his ancient people: “I have drawn you with loving-kindness”? (Jer. 31:3) [Apr. 23, jr pp. 142-145 pars. 8-11]

[/i], especially their spiritual needs, as best he can. His main reason for acting in such a selfless manner is his desire to please Almighty God.

9 The best way to grasp the essence of the Biblical expression “loving-kindness” is by studying how God treated his true worshippers down through the ages. Jehovah protected and fed the Israelites while they spent 40 years in the wilderness. In the Promised Land, God provided judges to rescue them from their enemies and to bring them back to true worship. Because Jehovah stuck with them through good times and bad during all those centuries, he could tell the nation: “With a love to time indefinite I have loved you. That is why I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”—Jer. 31:3.[/ul]

9. How is God’s law written in hearts? (Jer. 31:33) [Apr. 23, w07 3/15 p. 11 par. 2]

[/b], it can be said that God’s law is written in his heart[/ul]

10. What was the purpose of making two deeds of the same transaction? (Jer. 32:10-15) [Apr. 30, w07 3/15 p. 11 par. 3]

[/b] to verify the accuracy of the open one if needed. By following reasonable legal procedures even when dealing with a relative and fellow believer, Jeremiah set an example for us.[/ul]

[Admin]

<< BACK TO: Jeremiah >>

1. Jeremiah’s survival during hard economic times provides us with what assurance? (Jer. 37:21) [May 7, w97 9/15 p. 3 par. 4–p. 4 par. 1]

[/b] the faithful prophet Jeremiah during hard economic times. Jeremiah survived the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, when people had to “eat bread by weight and in anxious care.” (Ezekiel 4:16) Eventually, the famine in the city became so severe that some women ate the flesh of their own children. (Lamentations 2:20) Even though Jeremiah was in custody because of his fearless preaching, Jehovah saw to it that “a round loaf of bread” was given to him daily “until all the bread was exhausted from the city.”—Jeremiah 37:21.

So Jeremiah, like Elijah, had little to eat. The Scriptures do not tell us what or how often Jeremiah ate after Jerusalem ran out of bread. Yet, we know that Jehovah sustained him and that he survived that terrible time of famine.[/ul]

2. In what ways do Christians with an earthly hope imitate the fine example of Ebed-melech? (Jer. 38:8-13) [May 7, su* p. 179 par. 9]

[/i]” see the injustices done to the modern-day Jeremiah class, the anointed remnant, and the efforts made to stop their preaching of Jehovah’s message. They have not hesitated to take whatever action they could to safeguard and support the anointed class. Rightly, therefore, Jehovah’s promise to E′bed-mel′ech strengthens them, fortifying their confidence that God will not allow opposers to destroy them but that He will preserve them as a class through the impending world destruction into His righteous “new earth.”
*Survival into a New Earth 1984[/ul]

3. Since Jehovah used Nebuchadrezzar’s bodyguards to protect Jeremiah and Baruch, is it proper for Christians to seek the protection of armed police officers today? (Jer. 39:11-14) [May 14,
w83 7/15 p. 31]

[/u].—Jeremiah 1:17-19; 25:9; 39:11-14.
Likewise today, Jehovah’s Witnesses pursue peace as they proclaim the Kingdom message in a violent world. However, as long as Jehovah permits governmental authorities to bear the “sword” or its modern-day equivalent in preserving order, they may rightly accept the protection of that “sword.”[/ul]

[Admin]

4. What “great things” could Baruch have been seeking for himself, and on what does his response to Jehovah’s counsel help us to focus? (Jer. 45:5) [May 21, w06 8/15 p. 18 par. 1; p. 19 par. 6]

[/u]. Jehovah counseled him to be realistic and remember what lay ahead: “Here I am bringing in a calamity upon all flesh, . . . and I will give you your soul as a spoil in all the places to which you may go.” Baruch’s most precious possession, his life, would be preserved wherever he might go.—Jeremiah 45:5.

When Baruch was reminded that during the last days of Judah, there was no time for personal “great things,” he evidently responded in a positive way, for he did receive his soul as a spoil. It is reasonable to apply this counsel to ourselves, as we too live in the last days of a system of things. Jehovah’s promise to us is the same—our life will be spared. Can we respond to such reminders as Baruch did?[/ul]

5. In describing the justified retribution to come upon Edom, why does Jehovah contrast himself with “grape gatherers” and “thieves”? (Jer. 49: 9, 10) [May 28, w77 p. 442 par. 7– p. 443 par. 1]

[/u] sought to enlarge their territory by taking over the land formerly controlled by the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.—Ezek. 35:10-12.

These unbrotherly deeds did not escape the notice of Jehovah God. By means of his prophets Obadiah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, he decreed doom for Edom. In essence, Jeremiah and Obadiah presented the same message, making the fulfillment of Jehovah’s word about Edom’s downfall doubly certain: “If it were thieves that came in to you, if despoilers came in by night, to what extent would you have been silenced? Would they not steal as much as they wanted? Or if it were grape gatherers that came in to you, would they not let some gleanings remain? O the extent to which those of Esau have been searched out! How his concealed treasures have been sought out!” (Obad. 5, 6; Jer. 49:9, 10) Yes, thieves steal only what they want, and grape gatherers leave gleanings. But, in the case of Esau (Edom), nothing would be passed over at their going down in defeat.[/ul]

6. What sobering lessons can be learned from what befell King Zedekiah after he “proceeded to rebel against the king of Babylon”? (Jer. 52:3, 7-11) [June 4, w88 9/15 p. 17 par. 8; w81 4/1
p. 13 pars. 3-4; p. 14 par. 6]

[/u]. The very thought of bringing reproach on God should restrain us from ever proving false to our word. Privileged we are indeed to bear the divine name as Jehovah’s Witnesses!—Ezekiel 17:1-21.

***

At that time his name was changed by Nebuchadnezzar to Zedekiah, meaning “Jehovah is righteousness.” Zedekiah was required to take an oath in Jehovah’s name that he would remain loyal to Nebuchadnezzar. But would he keep his oath-bound promise?—2 Ki. 24:12, 17, 18; 2 Chron. 36:13; Jer. 37:1.

For a while Zedekiah did. But in time he yielded to the pressure from powerful princes in his realm who were agitating for revolt against the Babylonians. So he broke his promise and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and turned to Egypt for help. To quell this rebellion, the king of Babylon led his forces against Jerusalem, laying siege to the city in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign.—Jer. 52:3, 4; Ezek. 17:15.

7. What are Jehovah’s “footstool” and his “booth”? (Lam. 2:1, 6) [June 11, w07 6/1 p. 9 par. 2]

[/u].” (Psalm 132:7) Hence, the “footstool” of Lamentations 2:1 refers to Jehovah’s house of worship, or his temple. The Babylonians ‘burned the house of Jehovah’ as if it were a booth, or a mere hut, in a garden.—Jeremiah 52:12, 13[/ul]

8. What did Jeremiah mean when he said that Jehovah would “remember and bow low over” him, and why is this of great significance to us? (Lam. 3:20) [ June 18, w07 6/1 p. 11 par. 3]

[/u] How glad we can be that the true God is not only all-powerful and all-wise but also humble! [/ul]

9. Why is it beneficial for a person to learn to bear a yoke of suffering during youth? (Lam. 3:27) [ June 18, w07 6/1 p. 11 par. 5; w87 2/15 p. 24 par. 1]

[/u]
[/ul]