THE CRISIS CONTINUES

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Adapted from : www.fustero.es Lesson 7 for November 14, 2015

Yeremia 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD"

Causes for the fall of Judah:• Lie and pride (Jeremiah 9)• Idolatry

(Jeremiah 10:1-15)

How to avoid the fall:• A call to repentance (Jeremiah 26:1-6)

Judah’s response:• A death threat (Jeremiah 26:7-15)• Jeremiah is absolved (Jeremiah 26:16-24)

LIE AND PRIDE

“Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jeremiah 9:1)

Why was Jeremiah so sad?Jeremiah cried because Judah was going to be condemned. The

people could avoid that condemnation if they repented from their sins. But Jerusalem didn’t want to listen to his message (Luke 19:41-44).

Which were Judah’s sins?

•“Everyone will deceive his neighbor, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.” (Jeremiah 9:5).Lie•“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches.” (Jeremiah 9:23).Pride

E.G.W. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students; section 2; cp. 9; pg. 66)

IDOLATRY“Thus says the Lord: ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.’” (Jeremiah 10:2-3)

GOD

• Great in might (v.6)

• Fearsome (v. 7)

• True (v. 10)

• The living God (v. 10)

• At His wrath the earth will tremble (v. 10)

• He has made the earth by His power (v. 12)

• He rules the Creation with His voice (v. 13)

IDOLS

• Futile (v. 8, 15)

• They must not be feared (v. 5)

• Liars (v. 14)

• They shall perish (v. 15)

• They cannot do good or evil (v. 5)

• They have not made the heavens (v. 11)

• They cannot speak (v. 5)

God’s people copied everything the pagan nations did (maybe they’re still doing the same).Is it worth following customs and beliefs that have no purpose instead of trusting and obeying the only true and powerful God?

A CALL TO REPENTANCE“Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.” (Jeremiah 26:3)There is a clear message throughout the Bible: repent sincerely; God will forgive you and deliver you (2Chr. 6:37-39; Ez. 14:6; Mt. 3:2; Lk. 24:47; Acts 17:30).We all have sinned and deserve death. Nevertheless, God has provided a way for us to be saved through the Cross.

“In mercy to the world, Jesus delays His coming, that sinners

may have an opportunity to hear the warning and find in Him a

shelter before the wrath of God shall be poured out.”E.G.W. (The Great Controversy, cp. 26, pg. 458)

God is still patient and merciful to us today.

“Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, ‘You will surely die!’” (Jeremiah 26:8)

Jeremiah reaffirmed his prophecy and called the people to repentance again (v. 12-13).He waited for the judges’ decision with a clear conscience. If they killed him, they would be spilling innocent blood (v. 14-15).We should show the same courage when people accuse us because of our faith.

Jeremiah prophesied the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, thus he was death threatened. A judgement against the prophet took place (v. 10).

A DEATH THREAT

“So the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, ‘This man does not deserve to die. For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.’” (Jeremiah 26:16)Some people still had a healthy

conscience.They understood that Jeremiah was not responsible for his threatening message, but God was. So he asked the judges to free the prophet.They argued that other prophets prophesied similar things in the past.

Gamaliel defended the apostles like that some centuries later. He concluded this way: “lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:39).

JEREMIAH IS ABSOLVED

E.G.W. (The Great Controversy, cp. 26, pg. 459)