Please read through my Jeremiah study questions and then as much as you can of the first half of Jeremiah. Be sure to read Chapters 16, 20, 23, and 28.Suppose you are asked to help prepare an anthology of great quotations from the ancient world. There are going to be two Jeremiah quotes, and you get to one of them. Of all of Jeremiah's many quotable lines, which two would you choose? Why this line? Of the other verses suggested by students in this class so far, which would you choose for your 2nd Jeremiah quote?
If you are one of the first three or four posters, you can choose an extra quote from Jeremiah on your own rather than commenting on another poster's verse.
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (1st quote)
ReplyDeleteThis one is probably one of the most well known from this book and I'm sure several of my classmates would hate for me to use it, but it is certainly a favorite. Why? God here is talking to the priests and exiles through a letter. He reinforces the prophesy of a 70 year captivity, but urges the people to not give up and to trust Him. Honestly, I didn't know that. I feel as though this quote has been taken out of context so often that I just didn't know the story behind it. Everyone makes it out to be all about themselves and how God has plans for them and me me me, but really it is about God and his perfect timing.
Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (2nd quote)
Here Jeremiah is talking about a person's innermost desires, feelings, and thoughts. While we may not always understand ourselves, the passage continues in verse 10 with someone who does, "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." (3rd quote)
The phrase 'reward' here is deceiving. People always believe that reward has a positive connotation, however for a wicked man/woman with evil desires, God is going to 'reward' justly. They will get what they deserve. Same for the righteous. Tying this in with the original quote, we might not always understand ourselves, but God does.
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
ReplyDeleteI liked this quote because it reminds us that even if/when we accept the Lord into our hearts we are not completely in the clear. You have to constantly be aware of threats and sometimes our hearts tell us to do things, but we don't always understand messages from our hearts. Overall you may be 'saved' but you still have the potential to commit sins.
Jeremiah 12:1 "Whenever I complain to you, Lord, you are always fair. But now I have questions about your justice. Why is life easy for sinners? Why are they successful?" I thought this verse is relevant for any time period. I know I look at people sometimes and wish I had their life and their success. We always think that if we have more material goods and professional success that our lives will magically be better. But these things can come at a cost and it's not things you can see. I think people throughout time can look at 'sinners' and think how easy it must be for them to not care so much. Because I think it's hard to be good all the time. Also, it's often time we look at those successful people who only give the illusion of success and an easy life, so who really knows.
Jeremiah 8:4, " Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return? As humans we are naturally inclined to do things that are not good for us, especially when it comes to the spiritual sense. However, as this verse suggests, no matter how many times we fall or turn away we can always come back to God. He is always there for us no matter what we do. He will always forgive of us of our sins.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse that Jessica suggested is another great verse from Jeremiah. It fits well with my first one in that God has a future for us and no matter how many times we turn aside from it we will get there eventually. God is behind us in everything we do, whether it is to prosper us or catch us when we fall. No matter what God will be with us.
I like 10:2 Do not follow the ways of other nations; do not be disturbed by unusual sights in the sky, even though other nations are terrified. I like this one because it takes things like a comet or eclipse, which they didn't have knowledge of and makes it seem part of what God has brought to the world. In a way, it seems to foretell that science can be a part of religion. The two go hand in hand and are not separated.
ReplyDelete29:11 This one give hope to everyone. Those who were there than and those who come later. It is a way to say that through all the bad I will still bring you the rainbow. God will find a time and place that forgiveness is appropriate. Never give up, keep on believing, eventually you will be saved.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
ReplyDeleteI like this quote because it really plays on the basic human notion that we need to know what is going to happen. It gives you the promise that God is always going to watch out for you. This is going to really appeal to the people that are constantly worry that they are not going to be OK, but this verse brings to light that the Lord is always truly there.
I really like Jeremiah 17:7-8: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that send out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
ReplyDeleteFirst, I like the phrase "who trusts in the Lord" changing to "whose trust IS the Lord." From trusting IN something to that trust actually BEING that thing to me shows absolute confidence and peace.
Second, I think the analogy of trusting in the Lord being like a tree firmly rooted by a source of water shows more confidence and peace. A tree with a deep root system can withstand any strong storms that come its way. These roots can reach deep down and find water. Even in years of drought, the tree's leaves will be green and it will bear fruit. Therefore, the tree is never anxious - a good lesson for me!
I also really like some of the very first verses of Jeremiah. In chapter 1: 5 is the well-known verse, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you." I know this was a call to Jeremiah, but I like to think that this is true of us all - that God knew us and is aware of our lives and has hopes and plans for us all. It is really comforting on days when you are feeling hopeless.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked this one. It shows that God has a plan for us. It was probably used for those that believe in predestination as well. I still think it's nice though.
Mary and Jessica's quotes were pretty good too. The heart is definitely hard to figure out at times, despite what we see in romantic comedies.
I liked Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." These are obviously the words of God that Jeremiah spoke. At this time, this verse helps people to see that God truly was involved in their lives. Some people may have seen him as authority and someone looking over them. This verse, however, shows that he knew everyone individually and loved them.
ReplyDeleteThe second one that I would pick would be Jeremiah 8:4, which states,"When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return?" God is saying in this passage that even though people fall into sin, he still wants them to return to Him. People at that time felt that if they turned away from God once, they could not come back. Instead they would find comfort in other things. God showed them that there would always be a place for them.
Jeremiah 1:7
ReplyDeleteBut the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
I like this quote because it says that no matter how young you are you must do the Lord's will and do what must be done. Age is no excuse for young and old are the same in the eyes of God when it concerns the acts of the righteous.
It shall be thus, that when it comes to doing the work of the Lord the Youth will be an old man and the elder will be a young man for age is no barrier when it is doing the Lord's work. When the Lord says to do a thing it shall be done whether the joints be old and stiff or the hands young and shaky.
Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations"
this verse put forward by Megan H is one I highly like. This is one of many quotes that Calvinists turn towards to as prove of God's power and predetermined actions concerning Christians. Before we were born we were chosen to be Christian and just so to were many people chosen not to be Christian before they were formed in the womb.
Truly words to think about.
Jeremiah 17:5 I the lord, have put a cursed on those who have turn away from me and trust in humans strength. This is a good verse because it tells the people that they are in trouble they decide to follow man way and now they will be curse by God. Disobey Gods Law has consequences and the people need to learn them.
ReplyDeleteCindy quote Jeremiah 29:11 I will bless you with a future filled with hope a future of success not of suffering. It shows the people still do have a chance things will change they just need to find God again
I thought this blog post would be easier because there are so many quotable lines, but finding the two best ones? Harder than expected. One line I really like is in Chapter 20, Verse 11 (although verse 12 is fantastic also): "But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten." Gives me the shivers, and reminds me of the burdens of prophets we talked about in class. A second quote chosen by someone else that I liked quite a bit would be Matthew Dawn's Jeremiah Chapter 1, Verse 7: "But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." Pretty humbling stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite verse in Jeremiah would have to be Chapter 1 verse 5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." This verse brings such beauty and wonder to this thing we call life. It tells us that before our parents even met, God already knew us personally and made a special plan for each of our futures. More importantly, this verse teaches us that each life is a gift from God.
ReplyDeleteAnother verse I found particularly interesting was found in chapter 2 verse 32: " Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number." This verse really calls us out on how much time we spend with things such as technology and making ourselves look good; yet, in amongst these habits of ours, we don't believe we can make time for God. God is essentially telling us that remembering and giving thanks to him will be the most important part of our day. As the old saying goes, "don't forget to pray today because God didn't forget to wake you up this morning."
Jeremiah Chapter 1:9 "Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." I particularly like this verse because the Lord is giving Jeremiah the gift of prophecy and the ability to spread the world of the Lord and ideas of Christianity essentially from his childhood forward.
ReplyDeleteChoosing the second verse I would choose Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an epected end." As Liz said, we always want to know everything. As much as we want to know everything we never will and the Lord is the only person who knows what our life has instore for us and we as Christians have to be willing to trust the Lord enough that we let him to the work in our lives and lead us along the right path according to his plans.
I know it's been said before, but if I had to pick just one line it would be 29:11, as it shows that no matter what harm happens in life, God has a plan for you that includes hope. It is a really powerful passage. Another one I would include would be 1:8, "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." It reminds you that God will always be with you, no matter what happens.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 17:5 This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord." I think this verse shows how we as people need to rely on God. People will always let us down, but God is unchanging.
ReplyDeleteThe second verse I would choose is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper yo and not to harm you, plans to give you hope ans a future." This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. For me this verse reminds me that even when I am going through a rocky time in life God is still there, and he has a plan far better than any plan I could come up with. I am not saying there will not be trials and heartaches just that God can get me through.
"O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say." Jeremiah 5:7. I chose this line because it reiterates the trust God has in his people. He reassures them that they are mighty through Jeremiah, one that has stood the test of time and many a hardships. However, Jeremiah is preaching to a new people that have strayed away from the true path the people of God should be taking and he is trying to remind them that salvation is theirs they must simply take it.
ReplyDeleteKnow why Judah is getting destroyed and not being abut to say anything about. taking over his cousins son's deed to his land. know all of these great things that God is planning and not being able to tell anyone because if you did they wouldn't learn anything from this experience of there city burning to the ground.
ReplyDelete---Abigail Miiller
16-20 I like that one because he makes fun of the pagans and their worship of their god and calls them fake gods. its important because it shows his anger at them for worshipping other deities or idols. he is also saying that you cant make up gods because they are false gods that you are worshipping. it also shows how the idol worship has gotten way out of control, even though it is a short passage.
ReplyDeleteI like Melinda's quote too.I think it is a very nice quote in how god plans out all of us. it shows that you were meant to be here on this plant and that you really do have a role to play that will effect everyone and hopefully in a positive way.
-Abigail Miiller