Lesson 140

Jeremiah 42–52; Lamentations

Introduction

The remnant of the people of Judah, who were not taken captive by the Babylonian army, sought the Lord’s counsel concerning whether they should go to Egypt. Through Jeremiah, the Lord promised that the remnant would be safe if they stayed in the land of Judah, but if the people disobeyed the Lord and went to Egypt, they would be destroyed. Jeremiah lamented the destruction of Jerusalem and the affliction of its people. But even in his grief, Jeremiah testified of the Lord’s compassion. Jeremiah pled with the Lord to forgive the people of Judah and turn them back to Him.

Suggestions for Teaching

Jeremiah 42–52

Jeremiah warns the remnant of Judah not to go to Egypt, prophesies of destruction, and testifies of the Redeemer

To prepare students to study Jeremiah 42–52, write the following question on the board: What are some specific things prophets have directed the youth of the Church to do to protect themselves from the evil influences of the world?

Invite students to respond to the question. After students respond, ask:

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

Invite students as they study Jeremiah 42–52 to look for principles that will help them understand the consequences of choosing either to obey or to disobey the prophets’ counsel.

Historical setting

Understanding the context of a passage of scripture can help students better understand its content. Context includes background information that describes or clarifies the settings of the stories, teachings, doctrine, and principles in the text. Understanding the context of the historical settings of stories and accounts in the Old Testament can prepare students to identify the doctrine and principles contained therein.

Explain that 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 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).

Invite a student to read Jeremiah 42:4 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for Jeremiah’s response. Invite students to report what they find.

• What do you think Jeremiah meant when he said that he would “keep nothing back” as he declared God’s word to the Jews?

Invite a student to read Jeremiah 42:5–6 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the people promised to do. Point out the phrase “whether it be evil” in verse 6, and explain that in this case, “evil” refers to something the people didn’t want to do, rather than something bad.

• What did the people promise to do when Jeremiah revealed God’s will?

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

Divide the class in half. Invite one half to read Jeremiah 42:9–12 silently, looking for what would happen if the people stayed in Jerusalem. (Explain that 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].) Invite the other half to read Jeremiah 42:13–17 silently, looking for what would happen if the remnant went to Egypt. Invite students from each group to report what they find.

• What principle can we identify from verses 13–17 about what happens to us when we disregard the Lord’s counsel given through His prophets? (Students may give a variety of answers, but make sure it is clear that when we disregard the Lord’s counsel given through His prophets, we bring negative consequences upon ourselves. Write this principle on the board.)

Invite a student to read Jeremiah 42:19–22 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Jeremiah told the people after he told them to stay in the land of Judah. (You may need to explain that the phrase “ye dissembled in your hearts” in verse 20 means 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 counsel of the Lord?

Remind students of the discussion at the beginning of the lesson about ways that prophets have directed the youth of the Church to protect themselves from the evil influences of the world.

• How is the Lord’s counsel through His prophets a manifestation of the Lord’s love for you?

• What action can you take to follow the Lord’s counsel through His prophets?

Likening the scriptures

Likening the scriptures to a modern context helps students better understand what the principles and doctrine mean for their lives.

Encourage students to make a goal concerning what they will do to better follow the counsel of the Lord given through His prophets.

Summarize Jeremiah 43 by explaining that the remnant of the Jews claimed that Jeremiah was not speaking for God. The remnant not only disobeyed the Lord and went to Egypt, but they also took Jeremiah with them.

Summarize Jeremiah 44–52 by explaining that 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). Jeremiah prophesied of the destruction of several nations, including Egypt and Babylon, but he also shared messages of hope. He 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). Jeremiah 52 recounts the capture of Jerusalem in fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy to Jeremiah.

Lamentations 1

Jeremiah speaks of the sorrow and affliction that result from sin

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

Invite several students to take turns reading aloud from Lamentations 1:1–5. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Jeremiah lamented. Explain that the terms she and her in these verses refer to Jerusalem. Invite students to report what they find.

Point out the phrases “how is she become as a widow” in verse 1 and “she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her” in verse 2, and explain that these phrases imply that Jerusalem was abandoned and alone.

• What words or phrases in these verses describe some of the consequences of sin?

Explain that in Lamentations 1:6–11 we read that Jeremiah continued to lament the destruction of Jerusalem. Lamentations 1:12–22 includes lamentations written from Jerusalem’s perspective, as though the city itself were speaking. Invite a student to read Lamentations 1:16, 18, 20, and 22 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for additional consequences of sin.

Point out that the phrase “my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity” in verse 18 refers to the loss of the rising generation. The phrase “my bowels are troubled” in verse 20 refers to the mental and spiritual anguish we experience when we commit sin.

Invite students to use what they learned from Lamentations 1 to write in their study journals a principle that summarizes the results of committing sin. After sufficient time, invite students to share what they wrote. After they report, make sure students understand that when we sin, we will feel troubled.

• Why do you think we feel troubled or distressed when we commit sin?

To help students better understand this principle, invite a student to read aloud the following statement by President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994):

“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).

Lamentations 2–5

Jeremiah trusts that the Lord will show Israel compassion and pleads with the Lord to forgive Israel and turn them back to Him

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

Explain that Lamentations 3 records that Jeremiah lamented 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. Invite several students to take turns reading aloud from Lamentations 3:19–26, 31–32. Ask the class to follow along, looking for a truth that might have helped the people of Judah to have hope. Explain that the phrase “the wormwood and the gall” in verse 19 refers to bitter suffering.

• What reasons did Jeremiah give to explain why the people could still have hope even after they had experienced great despair?

• According to verse 25, whom does the Lord help?

• What principle can we identify from these verses about why we can have hope even after we have sinned? (Students may suggest a variety of principles, but make sure they identify the following truth: Because the Lord is compassionate, we can find hope in knowing He will help us if we seek Him.)

• How might understanding this principle help someone who feels despair or is troubled because of his or her sins?

• How does knowing that the Lord is compassionate help you desire to seek His help when you may feel in despair or trouble?

To help students feel the truth and importance of this principle, share the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“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).

Explain that in Lamentations 3:33–66 we read that the Lord “doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men” (verse 33), which means that He does not take pleasure in punishing people. However, the afflictions we experience because of sin can help motivate us to “turn again to the Lord” (verse 40).

Explain that in Lamentations 4 we read that Jeremiah compared the lives of the righteous people who had lived in Judah in the past to the lives of the wicked people of Judah who lived during his own time.

Lamentations 5 records one of Jeremiah’s prayers to the Lord. In Jeremiah’s prayer he acknowledged the sins of the people and the consequences they had suffered because of their sins.

Invite a student to read Lamentations 5:19–21 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for what else Jeremiah prayed for.

• What stands out to you about Jeremiah’s prayer?

Point out the phrase “renew our days as of old” (verse 21), and explain that Jeremiah pled that the Lord would forgive the people and make them clean, as they had been in former times. However, the last verse of Lamentations indicates that the people refused to repent (see Lamentations 5:22), which would result in their destruction by the Babylonians.

Invite students to ponder the Lord’s compassion and what they can do to seek the Lord and to turn themselves more fully to the Lord so they can be renewed.

Commentary and Background Information

Jeremiah 42:4. “I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back”

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that the prophets reveal God’s word even if it is not popular:

“Why do prophets proclaim unpopular commandments and call society to repentance for rejecting, modifying, and even ignoring the commandments? The reason is very simple. Upon receiving revelation, prophets have no choice but to proclaim and reaffirm that which God has given them to tell the world. Prophets do this knowing full well the price they may have to pay. Some who choose not to live the commandments make every effort to defame the character of the prophets and demean their personal integrity and reputation. In response, the prophets remain silent and merely turn the other cheek. The world may see this as weakness, but it is one of the greatest strengths a [person] can have—to be faithful, unyielding, and unwavering to that which he [or she] knows to be true, accepting whatever consequences may follow” (Robert D. Hales, “If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments,” Ensign, May 1996, 37).

Lamentations 1:3. Bondage that results from sin

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that we can avoid the grief and sorrow that comes as a consequence of sin if we keep the commandments and rely upon the merits of the Savior:

“The prophecies and lamentations of Jeremiah are important to Latter-day Saints. Jeremiah and the Jerusalem of his day are the backdrop to the beginning chapters in the Book of Mormon. Jeremiah was a contemporary of the prophet Lehi [see 1 Nephi 5:13; 7:14]. …

“We learn valuable lessons from this tragic period. We should do everything within our power to avoid the sin and rebellion that lead to bondage [see D&C 84:49–50]. …

“Bondage, subjugation, addictions, and servitude come in many forms. They can be literal physical enslavement but can also be loss or impairment of moral agency that can impede our progress. Jeremiah is clear that unrighteousness and rebellion were the main reasons for the destruction of Jerusalem and captivity in Babylon. …

“Our challenge is to avoid bondage of any kind, help the Lord gather His elect, and sacrifice for the rising generation. We must always remember that we do not save ourselves. We are liberated by the love, grace, and atoning sacrifice of the Savior. … If we are true to His light, follow His commandments, and rely on His merits, we will avoid spiritual, physical, and intellectual bondage as well as the lamentation of wandering in our own wilderness, for He is mighty to save” (Quentin L. Cook, “Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 88, 89, 91).