SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. NOVEMBER 26,2017,Topic: God Calls For Repentance

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. NOVEMBER 26,2017
Topic: God Calls For Repentance
Memory Verse: Jeremiah 4:14. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? (KJV)

Lesson Text: Jeremiah 2:4-13;3:14-18;4:1-18;22:1-9. Lamentations 3:31-33.

CENTRAL TRUTH: God forgives those who repent of their sins.
FOCUS: To review how God dealt with the disobedience of Isreal and heed His warning to repent.

OUTLINE:
1. God’s People Forsake Him
       A. Why Did God’s People Stray?
       B.  Be Just and Righteous
2. Warning Of Judgment
       A. Consequences of Sin and Rebellion
       B. Consequences of Forsaking God’s Covenant
3. God ‘s Call to Return
       A. Promises for those who Return
       B. Call to Genuine Repentance
C. God Will Show Compassion

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain the need for God’s people to evaluate their relationships with God.
2. Set forth reasons why God would judge His people.
3. Describe God’s response to true repentance.

INTRODUCING THE LESSON
   Historically, Israel relied on their association with God through His covenant. He set them up to be His people, delivering them from Egypt and providing them with their own land. But Israel has stray far from Lord. Jeremiah was the last prophet sent to Jerusalem and Judah before that nation was taken into captivity.
     In these chapters from Jeremiah, we will examine the reasons why Israel has strayed from the Lord. We will also see how much God Loved Israel and what He desired from them if they would repent.

                      COMMENTARY AND APPLICATION
1. God ‘s People Forsake Him
A. Why Did God’s People Stray?  Jeremiah 2: 4-13
        Over one hundred years had passed since Israel ( The Northern Kingdom) had gone into captivity because of their refusal to repent. Now Judah (the southern Kingdom) was facing the same consequences for the same reason. The Lord was holding them accountable for their rebellion.
        God challenged Judah to explain why their ancestors had strayed. They began to practice idolatry even though God cared for the Israelites during the wilderness wanderings bringing them through places that no one could survive ( Jeremiah 2:4-6). Then they defiled the Promised Land, making it “detestable” (NIV)-through their idolatry (verse 7).
        The Lord held the priests, the leaders of Judah, accountable for not even asking “where is the Lord?’’ ( verse 8). Those who should have held God in the highest esteem had not only become complacent, they turned their back on the Lord and worshipped idols. Even the prophets were prophesying by Baal and not Lord.
       In verse 9, God brought charges against Judah, comparing their faithfulness to God to the loyalty of other nations to their “gods” which weren’t gods at all (verse 10-11). His people has exchanged their “Glory” (KJV). Three strong  verbs are used in verse 12 to emphasis the extend of their apostasy: “astonished” (KJV); or “appalled”,NIV; “Be horribly afraid”(KJV, or “with great horror,” NIV). They had abandoned God, the Fountain of living waters. Instead, they hewed out broken cistern, relying on worthless idols and their own abilities.
       Cisterns carved from rock were used to collect rainwater and were essential during dry seasons. But broken cisterns were of no use. Drawing water from a cistern when a stream or river was near was unthinkable. Who would use stagnant over fresh water, flowing stream? But Judah had done that, and worse. Instead of drawing life from the Lord, the spring of living water, they turned to idols that like broken cisterns, had no life.
  QUESTION: Why would Christians today Stray from and forsake the Lord?

B. Be Just And Righteous. Jeremiah 22:1-5
   In Jeremiah 22, God sent Jeremiah to deliver His message to the King, his officials, and all who enter the city, that is, all of God’s people ( verses 1-2). The King referred to was possibly Jehoiakim.
      The Lord’s message was clear: “Do what is just and right” ( verse 3, NIV). God commanded Judah to begin to administer justice in the courts and throughout the city. The fact God was reminding them that they needed to be just and righteous indicates that they were neglecting justice in all walks of life. God’s intent was for the leaders and elders of Judah, especially the royal leadership who held power, to ensure justice was done.

QUESTION: What areas of Justice does the Lord specify in Jeremiah 22:3? Do these injustices occur today? Explain.
   Verse 4 gives a promise to those who would obey and begin administering justice for the oppressed. They would remain in the land, experiencing the freedom to dwell in the city. The king will live in the palace and would be accompanied by the court officials and their people . God expected justice, but promised that faithfulness would bring reward.
     However, if the promise of blessing was insufficient to encourage justice, then God was ready to punish them ( verse 5). If they were disobedient and allowed injustice to continue, the Lord would make the palace “a desolation” (kjv). That God’s determination for justice is assured is demonstrated by His oath, “I swear by myself……..”(KJV). There is no higher authority.


2. Warning Of Judgment.
A. Consequences of Sin And Rebellion. Jeremiah 4:5-18
           Jeremiah 4 is in the middle of a series of pronouncements of Judgment on Judah because of their rebellion and idolatry. In verse 5-9 Jeremiah is told to warn the people by trumpet, shouting, and signal flag of coming Judgment ( verse 5-6).Judgment was coming from the North and the people were warned to flee to fortified cities and Zion (Jerusalem) for protection ( verse 6). Like a lion coming out of his lair, disaster was coming on Judah and all of its towns would be destroyed ( verse 7). Because God’s fierce anger was against Judah, they were told to put on sackcloth,lament, and wail ( verse 8). Dressing in rough cloth ( sackcloth) and intense emotional outcries were sign of morning and repentance. But it was too late “ for the fierce anger of the Lord was not turned back from us” ( verse 8, KJV).Judah’s government, religious, and spiritual leaders would be overwhelmed by the intensity of God’s judgment (verse 9).
     Verse 10 is difficult to explain because it seems that Jeremiah was accusing the Lord of having “greatly deceived” the people of Judah, but that is inconsistent with God’ character. One possible interpretation is that Jeremiah was interjecting his feeling and anxiety. Note that God did not punish Jeremiah for expressing his feelings. One need only read the Book of Lamentations to understand what Jeremiah felt.
    Jeremiah 4:11-13 describe a scorching wind, a conquering army,that would blow down on them. Normally, winds were used to separate grain from its husk, but this wind would be sent to wither the nation like desert winds do to plants. This army would be powerful and swift, coming on them like a storm front. Verse 13 also compares the enemies’ chariots to whirlwinds and horses to swift eagles, pictures of just how swift and deadly the devastation would be.
  Verse 15-17 emphasis how close and terrifying this army was. The invasion would advance from the north, proceeding south by the mountains of Ephraim and into Jerusalem. This is an accurate description of the coming Babylonian invasion. (Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, after an eighteen-month siege, just as Jeremiah foresaw).
    Verse 14 and 18 stand in opposition to each other. Verse 14 is an appeal by God to His people to be cleansed from their sin and turn their thoughts from evil. But verse 18 states plainly why Judah was to be judged: “Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you (NIV)

B. Consequences of Forsaking God’s Covenant. Jeremiah 22:6-9
In Jeremiah 22:1-5, Jeremiah had already prophesied against the ruling king of Judah, possibly Jehoiakim, warning him and his court to begin acting with justice and righteousness resulting from ignoring this warning.
      In verse 6, the Lord compared the palace of the king of Judah to Gilead and the summit of Lebanon. Gilead and Lebanon were known for their forests, which Solomon used in construction. His ornate palace, so utterly destroyed (verse 7) that people from all over the known world would question why the Lord would destroy this great city (verse 8). God’s answer was certain. Jerusalem was destroyed because Judah broke God’s covenant and committed idolatry (verse 9). Judah knew to worship God alone but had failed to do so.
       Without care we can become dependent on things other than God. Anything that takes precedence over faithfulness to God should be considered an Idol and could eventually destroy our relationship with God.
 
3. God’s Call to Return
A. Promise To Those Who Return. Jeremiah 3:14-18
        God’s desire for repentance is seen throughout the Book of Jeremiah 3:14, God made an appeal for Judah to return to Him. Although Judah was unfaithful to God like a wife committing adultery, God remained faithful.
       God promised a time when He would give them shepherds who would provide godly example by living “according to mine [God’s] heart” (verse 15,KJV).
QUESTION: What characteristics did the Lord intend for these shepherds to have?
        In verse 16-18, the Lord indicated that Judah and Israel will reunite in the Promised Land and grow as a nation. But the ark of the covenant which symbolized God’s presence will not even be remembered.
QUESTION: Since the ark of the covenant represented God’s presence among God’s people, why would the Lord say that the ark would no longer be remembered or missed?
     The reason the ark would no longer be necessary is that God Himself would dwell among the reunited nation of Israel and they no longer need a ritual reminder of His presence. Jerusalem will be regarded as the throne of God. The Israelite would have fully repented and followed God wholeheartedly and not “the stubbornness of their evil hearts”9verse 17,NIV).
   
B. Call to Genuine Repentance. Jeremiah 4:1-4
  In Jeremiah 4:1, the Lord made another appeal to Judah to return.
QUESTION: What three conditions did the Lord gives for Israel’s return to Him and what would be the result?
     First, get rid of their idols. Second, remain steadfast in their oath to keep the covenant. And third, live in justice and righteousness. This would result in influencing nations to call on the Lord (verse 2)
      God did not wish any one to be distort His relationship with them. The surety for keeping a close relationship with God was God himself. To”swear, The Lord liveth” (KJV) is equal to saying that no person worships only the Lord. So in this context, only by worshipping the Lord would His people be able to live according to His covenant.
       Verse 3 and 4 give clear pictures of the repentance and change that God desires for His people. “Break up your fallow ground” is the first (verse 3, KJV).In ancient days, when a field lay fallow for some time, it would have been hard to plow using tools of that day. Only by using picks could the field be made ready to plow and plant. The Lord wanted His people to break up the hardness of their hearts and receive His word.
    The second uses the figure of circumcision. The Lord wanted His people to cut away anything from their hearts that would prevent a bountiful relationship with the Lord (See Hebrews 12:1-12).

C. God Will Show Compassion. Lamentation 3:31-33.
  In spite of all Judah’s backsliding, their idolatry and injustics, God still desired to have a close relationship with them. In Lamentation 3:32, Jeremiah stated that it is because of ‘’the multitude of his mercies” (KJV), “his unfailing love” (NIV). He does not want anyone of His people to remain cast off forever (verse 31). God does not want to inflict or even to bring grief to His people (verse 33); rather, He has promised to show compassion to not separation forever (verse 31; see also verse 22-23)

                    DISCIPLESHIP IN ACTION
Sometimes, we allow things in our lives that are not the best for us. These can be sins that are specifically set forth in the Bible or they may be things we do that takes our attention away from God, effectively becoming like an idol that we worship. What do we do when it becomes apparent to us that our relationship with God is being affected?? We must repent!
   Although Jeremiah made it clear that God loved His people and wanted a close relationship with them, they did not repent and, eventually, the Babylonians destroyed their cities and led them into captivity. God loves us as well and wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him. To do that, we must keep ourselves free sin by allowing the Holy Spirit to continually examine our hearts.
    Repentance is never easy. It is admitting that we were wrong and God is right. Our pride which is what is sometimes called the deadliest of all sins-gets in our way. But swallow your pride and get with God. This is the way to enjoy constant fellowship with Him.
                   
             MINISTRY IN ACTION
 Explore possibilities for your class to find ways to help people in your community who need a voice, so they can have justice.