Jeremiah

Jeremiah 19: No plan mends what God breaks

Begin in prayer

Before we go with Jeremiah to the valley, let us bow before the LORD in prayer. Ask Him to make our hearts tender, to keep our family near Him, and to show us Christ, who makes broken lives whole.

Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh.

Psalms 130:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You judge sin, and that only Jesus can make what sin has broken whole, and help us to turn from our sin and trust Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The LORD tells Jeremiah to buy a potter’s clay jar and take elders and priests to the Potsherd Gate (verses 1 and 2). The people have filled this place with innocent blood and burned incense to other gods (verses 4 and 5). The LORD warns that the siege will bring terrible suffering on the city (verses 7 to 9). Jeremiah breaks the jar before the men, and says the LORD will break this city the same way (verses 10 and 11). Jeremiah then stands in the court of the LORD’s house and repeats the warning (verses 14 and 15).

As you read Jeremiah 19, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD judges the sin of His people, and no human plan can mend what He breaks.

The valley of Hinnom lay south of Jerusalem, where Topheth had been built (verses 2 and 5). The people had shed innocent blood and built high places to Baal, so their sin filled this valley with violence (verses 4 and 5). The LORD names the valley as a place of slaughter, because the judgment would fall there (verses 6 and 7). The siege would bring terrible suffering, so the city would be pressed beyond endurance (verses 8 and 9). Jeremiah broke the clay jar before the men, a picture of Judah’s ruin (verses 10 and 11). The people had hardened their necks and would not listen to the LORD (verse 15). Jesus alone makes broken sinners whole.

How does Jeremiah 19 show us that the LORD judges the sin of His people, and that no human plan can mend what He breaks?

God judges innocent blood and idols.

Judah had filled this place with innocent blood and burned incense to other gods (verses 4 and 5). The LORD says the valley would become a place of slaughter (verse 6). Jesus shed His own blood for sinners.

Sin brings ruin that cannot be mended.

Jeremiah broke the clay jar before the people, and it could not be made whole again (verse 11). The siege would bring terrible suffering on the city (verse 9). The LORD said He would make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem (verse 7).

The LORD warns before judgment falls.

Jeremiah warned the people at the Potsherd Gate and in the court of the LORD’s house (verses 2 and 14). They had hardened their necks and would not listen (verse 15). Jesus warns sinners to repent.

Memorize

As one breaks a potter’s vessel, that can’t be made whole again

Jeremiah 19:11

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what hardened part of me needs Jesus to make it whole?

Jeremiah broke a potter’s clay jar before the people, and the LORD said that He would break Judah in the same way. The city had shed innocent blood and hardened its neck. What God breaks cannot be mended by human plans, and sin cannot be hidden from His eyes.

Jesus was broken for His people. He bore the judgment that breaks sinners, and He stood in their place at the cross. His death paid their debt, and God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Christ alone makes broken sinners whole, and His work is enough for every believer.

Come to Jesus with your broken heart, and turn from the sin that breaks you. Repent, and trust Him to make you whole. Everyone who comes to Him is forgiven, and He will not reject them.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God judges sin, and that only Jesus can make a broken heart whole. Parents, you may want to explain verses 5 to 9 gently, since they describe child sacrifice and a siege. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He makes whole what sin has broken, and bring the heart question to Him. Let each child who wants to pray say a short prayer.

But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared.

Psalms 130:4

Lord, You judge sin, and You alone can make broken lives whole. Forgive our hardened hearts and the sin we try to hide. Bring each of us to Jesus, and make us whole in Him. Help us to live under Your mercy this week. Amen.