Today’s passage: Jeremiah 6:1-30
Helpful thoughts:
- Remember, the people God is talking about in verse 10 are the people who identified as God’s people.
- Prophesying or teaching that there is peace when people are still in rebellion against God is sin.
- In our culture, we have come to value peace of mind over peace with God. We should not have the ability to enjoy peace of mind if we are not right with God.
- The imported frankincense in verse 20 would have been seen as extravagant worship by the people. They spared no expense to express outward forms of worship. But that attempt to impress only stings all the more when there is a lack of submissiveness.
- God did not want imported spices. He wanted sackcloth and ashes. He wanted repentance.
- Verse 27 refers to Jeremiah and his role as God’s prophet to the people.
Questions to consider:
- What kind of peace do you value most? Why is it tempting to try to simply turn down the volume of life and conflicts around us and just settle for that? What kind of peace truly blesses our lives and the lives of others most?
- What is the reality of Jeremiah’s restated assignment in verse 27 tell us about expectations for our efforts in ministering the truth to others? How will different people respond?
- What was true even of Jeremiah? Was he without fault? What is our ultimate hope and who is our true PEACEMAKER? (Colossians 1:15-20)