Today’s passage: Jeremiah 34:1-22
Helpful thoughts:
- Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in 2 Kings 25:6-7.
- The people obeyed the Lord’s command to free their slaves until it looked like they were out from under pressure. Their obedience was not motivated by worship of the LORD but by fear of negative consequences. Once they got what they wanted, they went right back into their sin.
- The cutting of animals in two and walking through the parts was a formal and serious way of establishing a covenant promise. Those who walked through were effectively swearing on their life to keep their promise.
Questions to consider:
- How can seeing prophecy fulfilled within the history of Israel give us confidence for prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled?
- Why wasn’t the people’s repentance concerning slavery long-lasting? If we are doing right things in order to get stuff from God, what will the long term fruit of that thinking be? Why is that view of God and of us unbiblical and untrue?
- Why is it right to do the right thing, regardless of the earthly consequences? (Romans 11:33:12:2) How can we be motivated to do what is right and love people even if they have never loved us or might never love us back? (1 John 4:19)