Immerse Prophets Day 261 Year 2 Bible Reading
Day 261: Immersed in Jeremiah - Understanding the Prophet's Message
In today's Immerse Bible Reading Experience, we dive into the Book of Jeremiah, the longest book among the prophets composed of oracles and stories over more than 30 years. This book centralizes around the Babylonian empire's threat to and eventual destruction of Jerusalem, leading to the exile of its people, considered the greatest crisis for God's people. God appoints a reluctant and young Jeremiah as a prophet to warn the people of Judah, who falsely believe they are invincible due to the Lord residing in the Jerusalem temple. Despite being mocked, hated, and even imprisoned, Jeremiah faithfully carries out his mission. The Book of Jeremiah is structured into four major sections, each ending with a reference to Jeremiah's written words. The first part contains oracles about Judah, the second part recounts stories and messages during the reigns of King Jehoiakim and King Zedekiah, the third part focuses on the final years of Judah, and the fourth part includes oracles about other nations. Central to this book is the 'Book of Comfort,' promising hope and restoration for God's people. We also hear how God promises a new covenant, transforming and renewing the hearts of the people of Israel and Judah, moving the Bible's great story forward toward a future of forgiveness and renewal.
00:00 Introduction to the Book of Jeremiah
00:39 Jeremiah's Calling and Early Prophecies
02:10 Structure and Content of Jeremiah
03:59 Messages of Hope and Restoration
05:27 Jeremiah's Prophecies and Warnings
07:38 God's Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
10:26 The Call for Repentance
15:07 The Consequences of Rebellion
25:45 Final Thoughts and Reflections
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Volume 4
Immerse: Prophets is the fourth of six volumes of the Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Prophets presents the First Testament prophets in groupings that represent four historical periods, beginning with the prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel’s northern kingdom (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), then before the fall of the southern kingdom (Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk), around the time of Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel), and after the return from exile (Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi).
4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?
QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience
- Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
- Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures. - Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”