Working Notes
byEsther Berg
READ Jeremiah 32:1-5; and include 32:24, 25, 36-42
Key idea: Obedience to the Word of God bears witness to the hope and future
that is in God alone.
Narrative (pages 46-50)
Read the first paragraph on page 46.
Jeremiah was imprisoned by, Zedekiah, the king of Judah (Jer. 32:2) because
his prophecies were upsetting to both the king and the people. Jeremiah’s
prophecies concerned the destruction of Jerusalem (God’s holy city) and the
exile of King Zedekiah. The people considered Jeremiah a traitor for
speaking painful words about repentance and about the coming punishment for
their sinful behavior when all of the other prophets of his day preached the
power of positive thinking.
The city of Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. Jeremiah knew that
destruction was imminent, according to the word of God. The thoughts of most
Israelites concerning their property and possessions were probably geared
more toward survival rather than preservation. Most likely they hoped to get
out with their lives.
In the midst of all the destruction, warfare, and Jeremiah’s imprisonment,
the prophet received a command from the LORD: to purchase a particular piece
of property owned by a relative, but currently under Babylonian control.
*Question*: _Does this command make sense against the backdrop of the
times?_
While the word from the LORD might seem strange and even irrational to us if
we were in the midst of a war torn region (consider buying property in
Saigon in the midst of the Vietnam era – who knew if even the record of
purchase would survive, let alone the real estate itself), odd behaviors
were actually the raw materials with which Jeremiah’s ministry had been
built.
Jeremiah is the prophet of visual aids. Time and time again, God had
Jeremiah demonstrate the prophecies in a vivid, physical manner so that the
people would have greater understanding. *Consider these previous examples:*
Object Lesson Prophecy
*whip from almond tree *God will carry out his threats of punishment
(vs. 1:11,12)
*pot of boiling water tipping southward *God will punish Judah (vs. 1:13)
*a ruined loin cloth *The people have become useless like the
cloth, because they have refused refused
to listen to God (vs. 13:1-11)
*potters clay *God could destroy the people at any time,
like a potter smashes clay – repent now, or
face the judgment. (vs. 18:1-17)
*broken clay jars *God would smash Judah as Jeremiah
smashed jars (vs. 19:1-12)
*two baskets of figs (one good, one bad) *The good figs are God’s remnant
people,
the bad are the people left behind.
(vs. 24:1-10)
*wearing a ox yoke *The nation would have to submit to the
yoke of Babylon’s control or be punished.
(vs.27:2-11)
While Jeremiah was in prison, God spoke to him to tell him of yet another
event that was to take place. His cousin Hanamel (HAW-naw-mell) would come
to Jeremiah’s place of confinement and offer him a piece of family property.
Jeremiah, as family, had the right to the first decision to purchase the
land according to Hebrew law. (Leviticus 25:25) The law speaks of the
obligation of the owner of family land to try to keep land in the family. We
do not know how many people Hanamel approached before he came to Jeremiah.
We do know that a brother, or brother-in-law, son, son-in-law, etc. would
have first opportunity to the land because of the closeness of their
relation. Most likely Hanamel’s offer had been turned down, and wisely so,
by a few others before the offer came to Jeremiah. After all, it would be
foolish to purchase land that was already overrun by the Babylonians.
However, Jeremiah had already received a word from the LORD: first that the
offer would take place; and second that Jeremiah was to accept the offer.
When Hanamel arrived at the court, verse 8 records, _’Then my cousin Hanamel
came to me…in accordance with the word of the LORD…. Then I knew that
this was the word of the LORD.” _(NRSV) Jeremiah knew what he was to do
because God had spoken to him, and all God had said came true. Jeremiah
acted in faith when common sense would have said, ‘no”, because God’s
command was evidence enough for Jeremiah to obey.
*Question*: _Are there times when we know God’s word, yet what seems to make
sense at the time, doesn’t fit with what we know to be God’s direction? What
would you do in that circumstance? What would God have us do?_
The book of Jeremiah records a somewhat detailed account of the property
transaction: price, weighing, signing, sealing, and witnessing. Then we are
privy to what is done with the deed.
*Question*: _Why do you suppose that Jeremiah did everything so publicly in
regards to the purchase of the land? Wouldn’t he have been ashamed to do
something so foolish at such a time?_
It is in the public purchase of the land that we see the illustration for
God’s people take life. The people must know what Jeremiah is doing if they
are to know the prophecy contained within it. Jeremiah’s words are
significant.
*Question*: _Why does Jeremiah begin his prophecy with the words, ‘Thus says
the LORD of hosts”?_
Jeremiah makes clear that the words he speaks and the action that he takes
are not for his own personal investment – he’s no carpetbagger – he is being
obedient to the LORD. The words he speaks come directly from God and the
action he takes illustrates God’s decision for the future of Israel. The
words Jeremiah proclaims, hand in hand with the action he takes, give hope
to the people for their future – a future with the LORD.
The deeds are sealed in an earthenware jar ‘in order that they may last a
long time” (vs. 14). It was common to store and bury things one wished to
preserve in clay jars. Do you remember when the Dead Sea scrolls were found?
They were preserved for over a thousand years in earthware jars. This was
not short term storage, but the best idea they had for long term survival.
No matter how long it took, God was going to restore the land so that
Jeremiah or his descendants would be able to claim that land which was
rightfully theirs, according to the deed that was to be preserved. And not
only would the land be returned again to the people of God, but they would
again be prosperous, for ‘houses and fields and vineyards shall again be
bought in this land.” The future did not just hold the possession of a
desolate country, but it held the possession once again of a land of plenty
– the fruits of the harvest (fields) and the abundance of the blessings
(wine/vineyards).
Knowing that they shall be conquered (Jeremiah’s previous prophecies), the
people of Israel now receive a word of hope and a future (Jer. 29:11ff) in a
concrete and visual prophecy. We even see the renewed hope that Jeremiah has
received from this prophecy as he expresses his encouraged faith in verses
24 and 25.
In the final verses for this lesson (36-42) we see that destruction will
still take place. The people of Israel will face the punishment for their
sin and unrepentant hearts. Like the Hebrews before them who wandered for 40
years in the desert because of their idolatry, like those recorded in the
book of Judges who were in a cycle of punishment until they repented, like
the loss of the throne by King Saul and the loss of a child by King David;
punishment or rather consequences are still a part of the love of God – the
discipline of God, for his children. But the final words of hope spoken in
this chapter are for a new day in the future. The discipline that was to
come, would turn the hearts of the people back to God. And God promises to
bring the people back as his renewed people.
*List the promises that a God gives to the people in verses 36-42. I count 6
listed below. You may wish to organize them in a different manner.*
1. _Gather the people, bring them back_
_2. Settle in safety (no fear of punishment of this magnitude again)_
_3. Again be God’s people, and he their God_
_4. Gift of one heart, one way_
_5. An everlasting covenant – God will never stop doing good for them and
give the_
_gift of the ‘fear of the Lord” or everlasting faith to keep them
faithful._
_6. These gifts will bring joy to God._
Summary:
Jeremiah’s prophecy and his faithfulness to continue to do what is right
(what God commands) have culminated in words of hope and blessing for the
people. The consequences of the peoples’ actions have not been removed, but
they have been given a glimpse of the blessing of repentance and faithful
worship and service for the Lord. Being forgiven does not mean that we have
been excused. Part of Zacchaeus repentance and salvation was the return of
stolen money (making right what he had done wrong). Deitrich Bonhoeffer
warned Christians in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, to not fall prey to
‘cheap grace” that forgets the lessons and necessity of a true repentance.
We can never repay God for the pain our sin has caused, but we can be
renewed, restored, and forever grateful for the grace we have been given to
bear the burdens of this life and the natural consequences for our actions;
all these things knowing the promises of hope and a future that await those
who have put their trust in God.
II Definitions and questions to ask
It is important to note that this lesson is not about where one spends their
money or where one has loyalties for investing in the future. Neither is
this scripture about where people chose to live or wield their political
influence. Although those issues are extremely important to God (Jesus spoke
more about how we spend our money that any other topic), the issue here is
the faithfulness of Jeremiah rooted in his trust in God in spite of the
circumstances, and the word of hope God gave to the people and Jeremiah
through the purchase of the property. God gave a word of hope in what seemed
to be a hopeless situation.
Be sure to check the definition of *Repentance* from the previous supplement
written by the Rev. Terrye McAnally for Lesson 7.
*Redemption* is usually used in scripture as being freed (bought back with a
price and having the debt record stamped, ‘paid in full”) from our sin.
This theme is evident as God promises the people a future in spite of their
unfaithfulness. They have neither the inclination nor the means to make
amends for their sin and unfaithfulness, yet God has promised that it is He
who will turn their hearts, He who will make them one, He who will do what
it takes so that they will have a future as His people.
The idea of *Reformation* is often thought of as a human struggle for
reform. In Jeremiah, the reforming comes solely from the hand of God. The
Babylonians are God’s instruments, not for changing the religion of the
people or bringing about some new order, but in order that their hearts
might return to the one true faith. We see this illustrated in verses 38 -
41 where the blessings come because of God’s desire alone.
Be careful that this lesson not take the road of self elevation and hope
created by the human spirit. This story is about hope that comes when human
effort fails. Even efforts to repent. This is a story of hope in spite of
human effort, that comes because of God’s great love for his children, and
God’s desire to see them restored.
_It would be appropriate, if there are those who feel comfortable, for some
to share about times when God has given hope in spite of a loss, or illness,
or difficult situation; when common sense said one thing and when God showed
another._
III. Suggestions for Leaders
A. Preparing the Lesson
1. Read the scripture including 32:24,25,36-42 and the supplemental
narrative provided here.
2. Place the questions asked in the narrative section, or any you may
think of that will bring out the text in a place where you can readily
retrieve them.
3. The play listed in this chapter could be a helpful tool to discuss
the human responses to pain and problems and how we trust in God in the
midst of them. If you wish to use this, be sure to line people up ahead
of time so that they can practice. They must understand what they are
reading in order to get the message across.
4. Be sure to have Bibles for those who forgot theirs, and hymnals or
song sheets for everyone.
B. Connecting with God and with one another
1. Opening prayer: Gracious God, in the midst of our hurried lives, we
often lose sight of you. As we gather today to read your word, let it
fill us and move us in obedience to you. Give us the grace to trust you
in all things. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Then follow the guide.
C. Discovering the scriptures
1. Read the text together
2. Use the questions provided in this supplemental study in the
narrative section
3. (optional) Then use the play provided
D. Exploring the scriptures
If time allows, use the discussion questions for the play in small groups.
Add the following questions.
1. How do you respond to God’s will in your life?
2. How has God revealed hope in your life.
3. What are ways we can look for the promises of God today?
*4. How does today’s text apply to your life?*
E. Closing time
Follow the guide