Jeremiah 22: To Know the Lord
THE BOOK ANNA and the King of Siam, from which the musical The King and I was made, tells the true story of Anna Leonowens, who in 1862 became governess to the royal Siamese family. For one of her first lessons she decided to teach the children geography. The only map in the palace showed Siam at the center of the world. The Siamese king was pictured wearing a splendid crown and holding symbols of plenty and authority. Next to Siam was poor Burma, full of demons, its king without clothes or crown. It was a matter of perspective. God often sees powerful figures quite differently from the way they see themselves.
Warming Up to God
How often do you say that you "know the Lord"? What does that phrase mean for you?
Read Jeremiah 22. »
Discovering the Word
- The kings named here were among the last to rule in Judah. What did they consider important (vv. 8-9, 14-15, 17, 20-21, 23)?
- Verses 15-16 refer to Josiah, who led Judah into spiritual renewal a generation earlier. How is justice defined in these verses and in verse 3?
- Why was the fate of Josaiah's son Jehoiakim to be so harsh (vv. 18-23)?
- Why are the people told not to mourn for the king of Judah (vv. 10-12) and Jehoiakim (vv. 18-19)?
Applying the Word
- How do you respond to the idea that doing justice is inseparable from knowing God (v. 16)?
- How does your knowledge of God affect how fairly you treat others?
Responding in Prayer
If this study reveals ways that you have been unfair or failed to stand up to injustice, confess that to the Lord. Pray for people who are being unjustly treated.
For Further Study
Good News About Injustice by Gary Haugen