Jeremiah 42:7
After ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,
After ten days
The phrase "After ten days" indicates a period of waiting, which is significant in the biblical narrative. In Hebrew culture, the number ten often symbolizes completeness or divine order. This waiting period suggests a time of testing or preparation, where the people are given an opportunity to reflect on their request and the seriousness of seeking God's guidance. It underscores the importance of patience and trust in God's timing, reminding believers that divine answers may not always come immediately but require faith and perseverance.

the word of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the message that Jeremiah is about to deliver. In Hebrew, "the word of the LORD" (דְּבַר־יְהוָה, devar-YHWH) is a powerful expression that signifies a direct communication from God. It is not merely human opinion or advice but carries the weight of divine instruction. This highlights the role of prophets as God's mouthpieces and the importance of heeding God's word as ultimate truth and guidance for life.

came to Jeremiah
The phrase "came to Jeremiah" indicates the prophetic calling and the intimate relationship between God and His prophet. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," often received messages from God that were difficult to deliver. This underscores the responsibility and burden of being a prophet, tasked with conveying God's will to the people, regardless of the personal cost. It also reflects the faithfulness of God in communicating with His chosen servants, ensuring that His people receive the guidance they need.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the destruction and eventual restoration of Jerusalem. He is often called the "weeping prophet" due to his deep sorrow over the sins of his people.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who communicates His will and guidance to His people through His prophets.

3. The Remnant of Judah
The group of Israelites left in Judah after the Babylonian conquest, seeking guidance from God through Jeremiah.

4. Egypt
The place where the remnant of Judah considered fleeing to escape Babylonian rule, against God's instructions.

5. Ten Days
The period Jeremiah waited before receiving a word from the LORD, signifying a time of testing and patience.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Patience in Seeking God's Will
Just as Jeremiah waited ten days for God's word, believers are encouraged to exercise patience when seeking divine guidance. God's timing is perfect, and waiting can be a test of faith and obedience.

Trusting God's Plan Over Our Own
The remnant of Judah faced a choice between their own plans and God's instructions. This teaches us to prioritize God's will over our own desires, even when His plans seem counterintuitive.

The Role of Prophets and Scripture in Guidance
Jeremiah's role as a prophet highlights the importance of seeking guidance through God's appointed messengers and His Word. Today, Scripture serves as our primary source of divine guidance.

The Consequences of Disobedience
The context of Jeremiah 42 warns of the consequences of ignoring God's instructions. This serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands.

The Assurance of God's Communication
God's eventual response to Jeremiah assures us that He hears our prayers and will communicate His will in His perfect timing.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from Jeremiah's patience in waiting for God's word, and how can we apply this to our own decision-making processes?

2. How does the remnant of Judah's situation in Jeremiah 42:7 relate to times when we face difficult choices? What scriptures can guide us in making God-centered decisions?

3. In what ways does the role of Jeremiah as a prophet inform our understanding of how God communicates with His people today?

4. Reflect on a time when you had to wait for God's guidance. How did that experience strengthen your faith, and what scriptures supported you during that time?

5. How can we ensure that we are not only hearing God's word but also obeying it, especially when it conflicts with our own plans or desires? What biblical examples can we draw from to support this?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 24:12-18
Moses waited on the mountain for six days before God called to him, illustrating the importance of waiting on God's timing.

Isaiah 40:31
Emphasizes the strength and renewal that comes from waiting on the LORD, paralleling the patience required in Jeremiah 42:7.

Psalm 27:14
Encourages believers to wait for the LORD, reinforcing the theme of patience and trust in God's timing.
Divine Comforts for Those in Doubt and FearD. Young Jeremiah 42:7-12
Man's Utter Dependence Upon GodS. Conway Jeremiah 42:7-18
People
Hoshaiah, Jeremiah, Jezaniah, Johanan, Kareah
Places
Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem
Topics
Jeremiah, Later, Pass, Ten
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 42:6-10

     7145   remnant

Library
Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."--Jeremiah i. 8. The Prophets were ever ungratefully treated by the Israelites, they were resisted, their warnings neglected, their good services forgotten. But there was this difference between the earlier and the later Prophets; the earlier lived and died in honour among their people,--in outward honour; though hated and thwarted by the wicked, they were exalted to high places, and ruled in the congregation.
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

"The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. So Then they that Are
Rom. viii. s 7, 8.--"The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is not the least of man's evils, that he knows not how evil he is, therefore the Searcher of the heart of man gives the most perfect account of it, Jer. xvii. 12. "The heart is deceitful above all things," as well as "desperately wicked," two things superlative and excessive in it, bordering upon an infiniteness, such
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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