I Will Gather Them

Thursday, September 11, 2014
Jeremiah 31:7-11 

7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. 
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, [and] with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 
9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim [is] my firstborn. 
10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock. 
11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] stronger than he.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How does the Lord want people to respond to His redemption of the remnant of His people (Israel)? (v.7)
2) What does the Lord say that He will do for His formerly exiled people ? Why? (v.8-9)
3) What were (are) the nations to declare about the Lord? (v.10-11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever felt distant from the Lord? If so, please describe one such time.
5) How did you respond when (if) the Lord made His presence known to you, after a period of silence?
6) Has the Lord ever delivered you from an enemy (or enemies) that were stronger than you? If so, please describe one such time.

PRINCIPLES
7) The Lord loves to rescue His people from their enemies.
8) Because He is our Good Shepherd, the Lord watches over His sheep, even after we have strayed.
9) The Lord chastens His children as a loving Father and longs to be reconciled to do good for us.