Our Redeemer is Strong

Thursday, July 30, 2015
Jeremiah 50:28-34 NIV 

28 Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon declaring in Zion how the LORD our God has taken vengeance, vengeance for his temple. 29 "Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day," declares the LORD. 31 "See, I am against you, you arrogant one," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty, "for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. 32 The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her." 33 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go. 34 Yet their Redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) The Lord used Babylon to punish Assyria for deporting Israel. He would use another enemy to chasten Babylon. The sins of Israel and Judah would be pardoned and they would be restored. What do the fugitives and refuges from Babylon declare in Zion (v.28)
2) What does the Lord declare about Babylon? (v.29-32)
3) What does the Lord declare about His people and why He defends them? (v.33-34)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) What "enemies" do you have in your life? 
5) Has the lord ever allowed one, or more, of those "enemies" to overtake you? If so, what was the result?

LIFE LESSONS
6) The Lord allows His people to be oppressed by their enemies to bring them to repentance.
7) Though the Lord allows His people to be chasted by their enemies, He defends them against abusive chastening (oppression)
8) The Lord always restore His people after they have confessed and repented of their individual, corporate, and/or national sin.