Trust in God's Kindness

Trust in God's Kindness

Jeremiah 31:23~40

□ Praise and Sharing

 [Hymn]  # 488 There is something of hope in this body

How did you spend last week?

 

Judas is like a car with a broken brake system, unable to stop his religious and social sins. The inertia of sin was stronger than Judah's morality. Since they violated all of God's covenants, all that was left for them was judgment according to the covenant. At that time, God promises a new covenant. The new covenant is a covenant that cannot be broken by the disloyalty of Israel and Judah, and by which a loving God completely restores them and opens a new future. God's new covenant brings light to the dark fate of Israel.

 

□ Words and Sharing

1. God promises the restoration of Judah and Israel (verses 23-30)

1) What words will the exiles who will return to the land of Judah use again? (verse 23)

 

 (Jer 31:23) This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: When I bring back the captives, they will speak these words again in the land of Judah and in its cities: O dwelling place of righteousness, holy mountain! May the LORD bless you.

 

The exiles who will return to the land of Judah will say again, “May the Lord bless you, O righteous dwelling place, O holy mountain!”

 

2) How does God restore the people of Judah? (verse 25)

 (Jer 31:25) For I have refreshed the weary spirit, and satisfied every feeble spirit.

God refreshes the weary soul and satisfies every weak soul.

 

<Sharing 1> God is the only one who can give true rest and satisfaction to our tired and weak hearts. Let’s talk about the recovery, healing, satisfaction, and rest we have enjoyed or are enjoying in God.

Through the healing process of my back, my co-pastor's meal and fruit sharing, the friendly faces of my brother in the hospital ministry, and the members expressing gratitude in the correctional (prison) ministry, I have been able to recover, heal, be satisfied, and rest. I am enjoying it.

2. God promises to make a new covenant with Israel (verses 31-40).

1) Why did God prepare the new covenant? (verse 32)

 

 (Jer 31:32) Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, because I was their husband, and they broke my covenant, declares the LORD.

 

Because even though the Lord was their husband, they broke the covenant.

 

2) What are the characteristics of the new covenant that God will make with Israel? (verse 33)

 

 (Jer 31:33) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days: I will put my law within them, and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be my people, declares the LORD.

 

The characteristic of the new covenant is that God writes the law on their hearts.

 

3) How long will the newly built city of God last? (verse 40)

 

 (Jer 31:40) And all the valley of corpses and ashes, and all the highlands unto the brook Kidron, even unto the corner of the gate of Ma on the east: they are holy to the LORD: they shall never be plucked up or overthrown again.

 

The duration of the newly built city of God will be eternity.

 

<Sharing 2> Israel abandoned the covenant with God, but God prepared an eternal new covenant for them. It is a love that never gives up. If you have experienced God still loving you despite your foolishness and weakness, let’s share it.

 

During the COVID-19 period, I tried and failed to visit Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal without my wife's consent, but I am teaching the Bible online and am confident that God will guide me on the way to visit again in God's time.

 

<Sharing 3> The new covenant contains ‘the atonement of Christ’ and the ‘presence of the Holy Spirit’ that completely changes our inner being. What is the biggest change that occurred as a result of accepting Jesus as Savior and having the Holy Spirit within me?

 

He gave us a heart to always rejoice even in difficult times, to pray without ceasing, and to be thankful for everything.

 

□ Let's pray together

God, help us become holy day by day on the inside in Christ and the Holy Spirit!

Let us enjoy the blessings of the new covenant and become a righteous and holy community!

 

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