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What two words describe the kind of love Jehovah has shown his people?
Jer 31: 3
Everlasting Love
According to Jeremiah 31:1, Jehovah promises to become the God of whom?
All the families of Israel.
Jehovah says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” What quality of Jehovah does this emphasize?
Jer 31:3
His loyal/enduring love.
Someone feels like their past mistakes mean Jehovah couldn't possibly still love them. How could you use verse 3 to encourage them?
Jer 31: 3
Possible answer: Jehovah's love isn't temporary or dependent upon us never making mistakes. His love is enduring, and he draws people to himself with loyal love.
Compare Jeremiah 31:4 and 31:13. What's a repeated theme?
Jehovah restores joy to people who had experienced suffering.
Jehovah says he will lead his people beside what?
Jer 31: 9
Streams of Water
In verses 4-5, Jehovah says Israel will again do what two joyful things?
Be rebuilt/celebrate with tambourines and plant vineyards.
Jehovah specifically mentions bringing back the blind, lame, pregnant women, and others who might have difficulty traveling. What does that tell us about the way Jehovah cares for his people?
Jeremiah 31:8-9
He notices individual limitations and tenderly helps vulnerable ones; nobody is insignificant to him.
Jehovah describes himself as a Father who carefully leads his people. What's one way you could imitate that when helping someone spiritually weaker than you?
Jer 31: 9
Be patient rather than expecting them to progress at my speed.
Read verses 8-9 and 16-17. What two things does Jehovah provide for people experiencing hardship?
Help for the present journey and hope for the future.
Find the verse where Jehovah promises to change mourning into rejoicing. What three things does he promise to do?
Jer 31:13
Turn mourning into exultation, comfort them, and give them joy instead of grief.
According to verse 8, name two types of people Jehovah promised to gather back with his people.
The blind, the lame, the pregnant women, and women giving birth. (Any two.)
ehovah tells his grieving people to stop weeping because “there is a hope for your future.” What does that teach us about Jehovah when our present circumstances look hopeless?
Jer 31: 16-17
Jehovah can see a future we can't yet see, so his promises give us a reason for hope
Ephraim acknowledged his wrongdoing after being corrected. If counsel from an elder, parent, or mature Christian hurts your pride, what could these verses help you do?
Jer 31: 18-19
Possible answer: Instead of defending myself immediately, examine whether the correction is deserved and allow it to change me.
Compare verses 18-20. What happens first: Ephraim acknowledges his wrongdoing or Jehovah shows compassion? What lesson can we draw from the whole exchange?
Ephraim expresses repentance/correction has produced a response, and Jehovah expresses compassion. Genuine repentance opens the way for restoration, and Jehovah wants to show mercy.
Find the verse where Jehovah describes Ephraim as his “precious child.” What does Jehovah say happens inside him when he remembers Ephraim?
Jer 31:20
His emotions are stirred / he will have pity on him.
Who is pictured as crying for her children in Jeremiah 31:15?
Rachel
Ephraim had done wrong, yet Jehovah calls him his precious child and says his emotions are stirred for him. What does that reveal about Jehovah's feelings toward someone who genuinely repents?
Jer 31:20
Discipline doesn't mean Jehovah stops loving someone; he feels deep compassion and wants the repentant person restored.
Someone returns to Jehovah after making serious mistakes but still feels ashamed of themselves. What could this verse help you tell them?
Jer 31:20
Possible answer: Repentance changes their standing with Jehovah. He doesn't merely tolerate repentant people—he can still view them as precious.
Compare Jeremiah 31:31-32 with 33. What's one major difference between the old covenant and new covenant emphasized here?
Israel broke the former covenant; under the new covenant Jehovah's law would be written within his people/on their hearts.
His emotions are stirred / he will have pity on him.
Jer 31:34
Forgive their error and no longer remember their sin.
According to verses 31-32, what covenant would the new covenant replace?
The Law/Mosaic covenant Jehovah made with Israel after bringing them out of Egypt.
Jehovah says that after forgiving someone's error, he will “no longer remember their sin.” What does that teach us about Jehovah's forgiveness?
Jeremiah 31:34
His forgiveness is genuine. He doesn't continually hold forgiven sins against a repentant person.
You've told someone you forgive them, but during your next argument you're tempted to bring their old mistake back up. How should Jehovah's example affect what you do?
Jer 31:34
Possible answer: If I've genuinely forgiven them, I shouldn't keep weaponizing an offense I've agreed to put behind us.
Look at the entire chapter. Jeremiah 31 contains people crying, being disciplined and living away from home—but it also contains dancing, rebuilding, planting, forgiveness and hope. What overall picture of Jehovah emerges from the chapter?
Jehovah isn't merely interested in punishing wrongdoing. His discipline ultimately has a restorative purpose. He wants his people back, heals them, forgives repentant ones, restores their joy and gives them a future.