Chapter Summary

Prophecy of seventy years' captivity. Sign of the wine cup of fury.

Discussion Questions for Jeremiah, Chapter 25

1. Who is this message for according to verse 2? Was Jeremiah a naturally talented speaker? What is something difficult that you have felt convicted to do for the Lord? Has there been a time when the Lord has given you the strength to do something that you thought you could not do?
2. How long has the Lord been warning Judah? Has there been some area in your life that the Lord was patient with? What is an area where you can be patient with others as a believer considering how patient and merciful the Lord is with our sin?
3. In verse 5, How long does it say that the Lord has given them the land? How can this promise be fulfilled if they were being cast out of the land? Has this promise been fulfilled as of yet with a kingdom of the people of God there in Israel?
4. Who are the servants of God in verse 4? What are they doing? Who is the servant of God in verse 9? What is he doing? What two characteristics of God do these two servants display while acting on His behalf? How can these two characteristics be in harmony?
5. Why do you think Judah is sentenced to serve the king of Babylon specifically for 70 years before they can return to the land? Read Numbers 14:26-35. How does this exile compare to the wilderness wandering after the exodus from the land of Egypt? How is it different?
6. How is there still hope in this message of punishment and discipline from God? Will he continue to punish them forever? How does this give hope to believers who have fallen into sin today? Has there been a time in your life that you can look back and that it has been made better by the Lord correcting and disciplining you?
7. Why is it that the Lord "will punish the king of Babylon and that nation" (v.12, NASB) when they were just called servants of God in verse 9? Was Babylon completely obedient in acting as an agent of judgment for God? What are some biblical examples of agents of God carrying out their service, but doing so in an incomplete or overzealous manner? Can our good service to God be used to override other sin we have done along the way?
8. What does this "cup" (v.15, NASB) represent? Why do you think the cities around Jerusalem are the first mentioned to drink this cup (vv. 18 & 29, NASB)? In verses 17-29, is there anyone exempt from this cup?
9. Jesus speaks of another cup of wine, just before He is crucified. In Matthew 26:27-28, what does this cup at the last supper represent? What is the cup then for? How is it like the cup in Jeremiah 25? How is it different? Is there anyone barred from coming and receiving the benefits of the cup of Jesus?
10. What imagery is God using for his judgment on his people in verses 33-38? Who in this imagery are the common people, their leaders, and God Himself? These are challenging images of judgment from God on every man, woman, and even child: What then are some truths to return to from Romans 3:9-26 to remind ourselves that God is just in His actions? How does the justice of God reveal the goodness of God, even when the justice seems severe to us?

Key Words/Phrase

Desolations, v. 11.

Characters

Jeremiah, Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh.

Strong Verse(s)

v. 31.