Set Up Road Markers

Saturday, September 13, 2014
Jeremiah 31:18-25 

18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God. 
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon [my] thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. 
20 [Is] Ephraim my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. 
21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. 
22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. 
23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, [and] mountain of holiness. 
24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they [that] go forth with flocks. 
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did Ephraim say that demonstrated remorse over their sin? (v.18-19)
2) What did the Lord say about Ephraim and how did He feel about him? (v.20)
3) What did the Lord instruct His people to do? (v.21)
4) What was the "new thing" that the Lord promised His people? (v.22)
5) How did the Lord say His people would respond after He ended their captivity and why? (v.23-25)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have you ever had to punish a rebellious child? If so, how did you feel about that child while you were punishing him (her)?
7) Have you ever rebelled against the Lord? If so, how did you feel, and what did you do, after realizing that you were in error?
8) Do you record your journey of faith with the Lord? If not, why not. 

PRINCIPLES
9) Repentance is the only way back to God.
10) Godly sorrow leads to repentance.
11) The Lord restores and satisfies the penitent hearts of His backsliding children.
12) Markers on our journey of faith in God are reminders of God's goodness to us when we did not deserve it.