Lesson 140

Jeremiah 42–52; Lamentations

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remove any potential distractions. Try to be calm and put all worries and troubles aside. This will help you invite the Holy Ghost to help you learn.

Begin your study with prayer.

Sin leads to sorrow, hopelessness, and despair. How can the Savior help you overcome sin and find hope?

Watch how this sister turned to the Savior to be healed from her sorrow and despair and to find hope.

Directions from Prophets

1. Answer one of the following questions:

• What are some specific things prophets have recently directed the youth of the Church to do to protect themselves from the evil influences of the world? You may want to refer to For the Strength of Youth for some ideas.

• What are some reasons people might choose to ignore or disobey prophetic counsel?

• What is an example of prophetic counsel you have followed? How has it blessed your life or the lives of others?

The Prophet Jeremiah

As you study Jeremiah 42–52, look for principles that will help you understand the consequences of choosing either to obey or to disobey the prophets’ counsel.

After the Babylonian army came a second time against Jerusalem, they carried most of the Jews away with them to Babylon (see Jeremiah 39; 52). The small group of Jews who remained in Jerusalem were called a “remnant,” meaning those left behind. Several of those of the remnant believed that if they went to Egypt they would be spared from further abuse from the Babylonian army. They asked Jeremiah to pray to the Lord for direction (see Jeremiah 42:1–3).

Read Jeremiah 42:4–6, looking for how Jeremiah responded to the people and what the people promised to do.

The Prophet’s Counsel

After 10 days the Lord revealed to Jeremiah that the Jews in Jerusalem should stay there (see Jeremiah 42:7–10).

Read Jeremiah 42:9–17, looking for what would happen if the people stayed in Jerusalem and what would happen if they went to Egypt. (In the Joseph Smith Translation the phrase “I repent me” in verse 10 has been changed to “I will turn away” [verse 10, footnote a].)

Quiz 1

1. According to verses 10–12, what would happen if the people stayed in Jerusalem? Select all that apply.

   1. The Lord would relieve them of their suffering.

   2. The Lord would save them from their enemy.

   3. The Lord would allow them to be destroyed.

   4. The Lord would show mercy to them.

2. According to verses 16–17, what would happen if the people returned to Egypt? Select all that are correct.

   1. They would not escape the Lord’s punishment.

   2. They would be killed by their enemy.

   3. They would be blessed and become a prosperous people.

   4. Famine and pestilence would follow them.

2. In your own words, write one statement of principle that is taught in verses 13–17.

Consequences

We can identify the following principle from Jeremiah 42:13–17: When we disregard the Lord’s counsel given through His prophets, we bring negative consequences upon ourselves.

3. Answer two of the following questions:

• Why might people choose to ignore or disobey prophetic counsel? List at least two reasons.

• How does the Lord’s counsel through His prophets show His love for you?

• What can you do to follow the Lord’s counsel given through His prophets?

• What is one goal you can make to better follow the Lord’s counsel given through His prophets?

Obedience to the Prophets

Read Jeremiah 42:19–22, looking for what Jeremiah told the people after he told them to stay in the land of Judah. (The phrase “ye dissembled in your hearts” in verse 20 may have meant that the people lied when they told Jeremiah they would obey the Lord’s words.)

According to verse 22, what did Jeremiah say the consequences would be for disregarding the Lord’s counsel?

Jeremiah’s Prophecies

The remnant of the Jews claimed that Jeremiah was not speaking for God. This remnant not only disobeyed the Lord and went to Egypt, but they also took Jeremiah with them against Jeremiah’s will. Since the people, including the elite and the religious leaders and political leaders, had been caught in their sins and attempted to deceive the Lord’s prophet and were too proud to submit to the Lord’s will, they rejected Jeremiah. (See Jeremiah 43.)

According to Jeremiah 44–52, Jeremiah prophesied that because the people disobeyed the Lord and worshipped false gods, all but “a small number” of the Jews in Egypt would be destroyed (see Jeremiah 44:3–5, 27–28). During this time Jeremiah prophesied of the destruction of several nations, including Egypt and Babylon, but he also shared messages of hope. Jeremiah prophesied that because “their Redeemer is strong,” He would someday gather and save scattered Israel and Judah (see Jeremiah 46:27–28; 50:17–20, 33–34).

In Jeremiah 52:11 we learn of the fate of King Zedekiah. This verse states that Zedekiah’s eyes were put out and that he was bound in chains, carried to Babylon, and put in prison until he died.

The Book of Lamentations

Sometime after Jerusalem was destroyed, Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. The term lamentation refers to words that express deep sorrow or mourning.

Read Lamentations 1:1–5, looking for why Jeremiah lamented. The terms she and her in these verses refer to Jerusalem.

Quiz 2

1. What do the phrases “how is she become as a widow” (Lamentations 1:1) and “she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her” (Lamentations 1:2) imply?

   1. Jerusalem was abandoned and alone.

   2. Those who lived in Jerusalem had neglected to care for the poor and the widows.

   3. Those who lived in Jerusalem had betrayed their friends.

Reasons to Lament

We read in Lamentations 1:6–11 that Jeremiah continued to lament the destruction of Jerusalem. Lamentations 1:12–22 includes some of Jeremiah’s lamentations written from Jerusalem’s perspective, as though the city itself were speaking.

Read Lamentations 1:16, 18, 20, 22, looking for some consequences of sin.

Results of Sin

The phrase “my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity” (Lamentations 1:18) means that the youth were taken into captivity. The phrase “my bowels are troubled” (Lamentations 1:20) refers to the mental and spiritual anguish we experience when we commit sin.

From what you learned from Lamentations 1, identify a principle that summarizes the results of committing sin.

Distress When We Sin

One principle we can identify from Lamentations 1 is that when we sin, we will feel troubled.

Read the following statement by President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994). Why do you think we feel troubled or distressed when we commit sin?

“You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible! Years of happiness can be lost in the foolish gratification of a momentary desire for pleasure. Satan would have you believe that happiness comes only as you surrender to his enticements, but one only needs to look at the shattered lives of those who violate God’s laws to know why Satan is called the Father of Lies” (Ezra Taft Benson, “A Message to the Rising Generation,” Ensign, Nov. 1977, 30).

The People of Judah

In Lamentations 2 we read Jeremiah’s record of the misery and sorrow that the people of Jerusalem felt after their city was destroyed.

Lamentations 3 records Jeremiah’s lamenting of the destruction of Jerusalem from the perspective of the people of Judah. Lamentations 3:1–18 describes the wicked people of Judah and their relationship with God.

Because the people had damaged their relationship with God, they felt deep despair.

Read Lamentations 3:19–26, 31–32, looking for a principle that might have helped the people of Judah to have hope. The phrase “the wormwood and the gall” in verse 19 refers to bitter suffering.

The Savior’s Compassion

We can identify the following principle from Lamentations 3:19–26, 31–32: Because the Lord is compassionate, we can find hope in knowing He will help us if we seek Him.

Read the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about the Savior’s compassion:

“The Savior’s compassion in the face of our imperfections draws us toward Him and motivates us in our repeated struggles to repent and emulate Him” (Dale G. Renlund, “Our Good Shepherd,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 29).

4. Complete the following:

• Describe how someone from an account in the scriptures received help and hope because of the Lord’s compassion.

• Share a time when you or someone you know received help and hope because of the Lord’s compassion. (Do not share anything that is too personal or private.)

Jeremiah’s Prayer

We read in Lamentations 3:33–5:22 that Jeremiah lamented the wickedness of his people and the consequences they had suffered because of their sins. The last verse of Lamentations indicates that the people refused to repent (see Lamentations 5:22), which eventually resulted in their destruction by the Babylonians.

Read Lamentations 5:19–21, looking for what Jeremiah prayed for.

What stands out to you about Jeremiah’s prayer?

The Choice to Turn to the Savior

If you are feeling now the consequences of any sin, turn to the Savior to find hope and be lifted up from sorrow, despair, and hopelessness.

If needed, seek the counsel of your bishop or branch president, who holds the keys of authority for the priesthood and can help you through the repentance process to feel clean and pure and to regain a sense of peace.

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) a, b, d; (2) a, b, d

Quiz 2: (1) a