Broken Cisterns
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Setting the stage
Setting the stage
In our passage today we will see that the Lord remembers, reminds, requests the unfaithful people to return to Him.
Assyrians had taken the 10 northern tribes into captivity some 100 years before Jeremiah came on the scene.
Babylon is rising in power now and Assyrians fall to Babylon. Babylon will be the worlds dominate power during the times of Jeremiah.
Last week I mentioned the five kings that Jeremiah served under Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. The later two being puppets of Babylon.
It was a great time of idolatry and apostasy. The people have turned away from God, engaging in idolatry and other sinful practices. Jeremiah’s message was one of repentance and return, most of which he delivered in the temple. Reminding them that religious rituals without true repentance and obedience to God is meaningless.
The times now is the times of Josiah’s reforms, trying to bring the people back to worship Yahweh. It was short-lived, and the people quickly reverted to their sinful ways after his death.
It is during the time of Jeremiah that the fall happens and the people are taken into captivity in 586BC.
Do you think the church, the body of believers need to be warned and called to repentance even today?
(Transition) As established last week when we started this, we will be reading the chapter and then do an overview with some learning points from it. This will not be a verse by verse study.
Jeremiah Chapter 2
Jeremiah Chapter 2
1 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.
3 “Israel was holy to the Lord, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares the Lord.’ ” 4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the Lord, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty? 6 “They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of deep darkness, Through a land that no one crossed And where no man dwelt?’
7 “I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination. 8 “The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.
9 “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And with your sons’ sons I will contend. 10 “For cross to the coastlands of Kittim and see, And send to Kedar and observe closely And see if there has been such a thing as this!
11 “Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit. 12 “Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord.
13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water. 14 “Is Israel a slave? Or is he a homeborn servant? Why has he become a prey?
15 “The young lions have roared at him, They have roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed, without inhabitant. 16 “Also the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes Have shaved the crown of your head.
17 “Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He led you in the way? 18 “But now what are you doing on the road to Egypt, To drink the waters of the Nile? Or what are you doing on the road to Assyria, To drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 “Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the Lord your God, And the dread of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord God of hosts. 20 “For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot.
21 “Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine? 22 “Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord God.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley! Know what you have done! You are a swift young camel entangling her ways, 24 A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; In her month they will find her.
25 “Keep your feet from being unshod And your throat from thirst; But you said, ‘It is hopeless! No! For I have loved strangers, And after them I will walk.’ 26 “As the thief is shamed when he is discovered, So the house of Israel is shamed; They, their kings, their princes And their priests and their prophets,
27 Who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to Me, And not their face; But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise and save us.’ 28 “But where are your gods Which you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you In the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.
29 “Why do you contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me,” declares the Lord. 30 “In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.
31 “O generation, heed the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; We will no longer come to You’? 32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number.
33 “How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your ways. 34 “Also on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things,
35 Yet you said, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.’ Behold, I will enter into judgment with you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ 36 “Why do you go around so much Changing your way? Also, you will be put to shame by Egypt As you were put to shame by Assyria.
37 “From this place also you will go out With your hands on your head; For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust, And you will not prosper with them.”
Is there anything in particular that sticks out to you in this passage?
Theme of chapter: Turning away from God leads to dissatisfaction, but returning to Him brings restoration and life.
This is still very relevant today to believers. We do not want to try to find fulfillment in things (broken cisterns) that cannot hold any water. Will expand on that in a few minutes.
General Outline
Recalling the devoted beginnings (Jer2:1-3)
You can see the early obedience and trust the people had to God.
Many today are excited, trusting, obedience when they come into covenant relationship with God. As we know we see many that quickly fall away, stray.
Redirected allegiances (Jer2:4-8)
In these verses you see the abandonment of God for Idols
We as Christians can get easily distracted and lose Christ as our primary source of life, but things of this world can become idols to us.
The spiritual leaders, the shepherds were not setting a good example and leading by example.
Recognizing brokenness (Jer2:9-13)
Forsaking the fountain of living waters
Digging cisterns that can hold no water. (if time allows expand on this; idols; things we look to fill us that cannot)- -we need to recognize our broken cisterns.
We need to repent, return to Christ for true restoration, knowing that in Him if all things for life and godliness.
Repercussions of rebellion (Jer2:14-19)
Here we see the impact of abandoning God.
Not knowing God or forgetting, abandoning the God you know can lead you into spiritual bondage. We need to continually seek the Lord who frees us and fills us with true life in Him.
Rejecting Idols, restoring faith (Jer2:20-28)
We see the darkness of the false gods and the idolatrous practices and the refusal to repent and return to the Lord.
Just as Israel’s idols failed them, so will any idols fail to satisfy. Jesus is the unchanging, fulfilling person, presence, power that replaces hollow persuits.
Repentance and renewal (Jer2:29-37)
We can see God lament’s (N)a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. (V) mourn (a person's loss or death).
And we see a call to repentance and return.
May we daily turn from our own justification, to the justification that we find in Christ that we receive by grace through faith. Christ calls for us to return to Him, make a choice to walk with Him daily.
Personal reflections questions
Personal reflections questions
In what ways does your early faith journey remember Israel’s devotion?
What modern day idols can people be tempted to follow today?
What does it mean to forsake something, in our passage the living water?
Have you had times in your faith journey where you strayed and it led to communal consequences?
Why is repentance often difficult?
Consider are there any ‘false gods’ you may have in your life that need to be laid down?
What steps can you take to heed God’s call and strengthen your relationship with Him?
Practical Application
Practical Application
Renew your devotion (prayer, reflection, engagement in God’s word, fellowship with God’s people)
Identify idols: A personal inventory coupled with prayer to see if there are any false idols in your life, if so, identify and surrender them.
Strength in community: We are stronger together (Ecc4:9-12) Support and help each other in overcoming spiritual obstacles.
Are there things you need to repent of? If so, repent and return, take steps worthy of repentance, seeking forgiveness, making amends. Reflect on God’s promises and His desire for return to Him!
For next week, commit to reading Jeremiah chapter-3 before Wednesday night.
(Prayer) (Close)
