Chapter Summary

First message to backslidden Judah concerning their ingratitude to God and wickedness against Him.

Discussion Questions for Jeremiah, Chapter 2

1. How does Jeremiah describe Judah's relationship to God? What concepts and theological truths might this image evoke? How is our relationship with God like a marriage?
2. Compare the faithfulness of God to the faithfulness of Israel? What does this reveal about God's character? What does it reveal about humanity?
3. In 2:8, what three groups are highlighted? What does this say about the state of Israel? Can you think of modern examples of how bad leadership has impacted the church? How should we respond to this?
4. In 2:10-12, God calls the heavens to be "shocked (ESV)." Why? What does it mean to "change your gods (ESV)?" What would that look like today?
5. What are the two evils of 2:13? What does it mean that they have chosen broken cisterns? What does this image teach us about unfaithfulness to God?
6. In chapter two, the land and people have suffered. Read 2:17. Who is responsible? Why? What does this verse tell us about personal responsibility?
7. What does it mean that Israel has drunk the waters of the Nile and Euphrates? What are some ways that we prioritize political power over God's promises? Why do we do this?
8. In 2:19, Israel is said to have forsaken the Lord because the fear of the Lord is not in them. What is the fear of the Lord? Are there other passages that help us understand this?
9. 2:22 speaks of a futile attempt to wash away the stain of guilt. How do we try to clean ourselves of the guilt of sin? How do we know this is never truly effective?
10. What words and images are used to describe Israel's sin in 2:20-25? What do these images convey about God's view of sin?

Key Words/Phrase

Jehovah forgotten, v. 32.

Characters

God, Jeremiah.

Strong Verse(s)

13, 32.