The Pack Bible Podcast: Week 10

Scripture References: Jeremiah 23, 29, 30, 31, 33; Romans 11:22; Hebrews 8 & 10

Intro: These sermon notes capture the Radiant Pack Bible Podcast discussion on the book of Jeremiah, featuring guest Deborah Bartlett. As part of the fall Bible reading plan, this session tackles the challenging themes of judgment in Jeremiah while highlighting the profound hope found within its pages and its connection to Jesus.

Key Points:

1. Understanding God's Judgment in Jeremiah: The discussion acknowledged the harsh realities of exile and suffering described in the book. Key context points: 
   • Promised Consequences: God had warned Israel in the Law (Deuteronomy/Leviticus) of severe consequences for persistent, wholesale idolatry and covenant-breaking.
   • Progressive Discipline: The final judgment (exile) came only after decades of lesser judgments and prophetic warnings were ignored. God's actions, while severe, were measured and preceded by immense patience.
   • Kindness in Severity (Rom 11:22): God's grief (reflected in Jeremiah the "weeping prophet") shows His heart even in judgment. His aim was ultimately redemptive, not purely destructive.
2. Finding Hope Amidst the Judgment: Despite the darkness, hope permeates Jeremiah: 
   • God's Unfailing Love & Faithfulness (Jer 31:3): Rooted in God's character, He promises He will not make a "full end" of His people (Jer 30:11) but will restore them.
   • Specific Promises: Turning mourning to joy (Jer 31:13), satisfying the weary (Jer 31:25), forgiving sin completely (Jer 31:34), bringing them back from exile, defeating enemies.
3. Seeing Jesus in Jeremiah: The book clearly points forward to Christ: 
   • The New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34): The famous prophecy of a new covenant written on hearts, explicitly fulfilled by Jesus (cf. Hebrews 8 & 10).
   • The Righteous Branch (Jer 23:5-6): Prophecy of a Davidic King named "The LORD our Righteousness."
   • Enduring King & Priest (Jer 33:17-18): Promise pointing to Jesus' eternal kingship and priesthood.
4. Application for Believers as "Exiles" (Jer 29:4-7): Deborah shared personal testimony of applying Jeremiah's instructions to the exiles in Babylon to her own life transition. The principles apply to all believers as spiritual exiles in this world: invest where God places you, build, plant, seek the welfare of your community, pray for it, and live fully even when circumstances aren't ideal.
5. Practical Approaches to Reading Jeremiah:
   • Seek God Within It: Pray for soft hearts and understanding (Jer 29:12-14). Ask God to reveal personal areas of disobedience mirrored in Judah's struggles.
   • Discern Truth: Be aware of modern "false prophets" and cultivate Jeremiah's courage to stand for God's truth.
   • Persevere: Keep reading faithfully, even through difficult or lengthy passages.

Conclusion: Jeremiah powerfully portrays the seriousness of sin and the reality of God's judgment, yet simultaneously overflows with hope grounded in God's steadfast love and His promises of restoration. Ultimately, this hope finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant and the Righteous King, who calls us to live faithfully as His hopeful exiles in this present age.

Call to Action: Engage with Jeremiah seeking both God's severity and His kindness. Look specifically for the pointers to Jesus and the New Covenant. Apply the principles of Jeremiah 29 to your own life – invest in and pray for the community where God has placed you. Persev