Jeremiah 9: Group Study Handout

Overview

Jeremiah laments for the slain of his people, wishing for a place to escape from their wickedness (vv. 1-2). He describes their deceitful nature, saying they speak falsehood and have become strong, but not in truth (vv.

Key verse

“Yahweh says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for I delight in these things,” says Yahweh.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (WEB)

Outline

1. Jeremiah 9:1–2 Jeremiah's Lamentation
2. Jeremiah 9:3–6 The Nature of Deceit
3. Jeremiah 9:7–9 Impending Judgment
4. Jeremiah 9:10–12 Desolation of the Land
5. Jeremiah 9:13–16 Cause of the Destruction
6. Jeremiah 9:17–21 Call for Mourning
7. Jeremiah 9:22–26 The Vanity of Human Pride

Discussion questions

1. In v1, why does Jeremiah wish for his head to be 'waters'?
2. What does Jeremiah mean by 'they don’t know me' in v3?
3. In vv. 23-24, why does Yahweh say not to glory in 'wisdom' or 'might'?
4. In v15, what does Yahweh mean by feeding the people 'wormwood'?
5. When have you felt like weeping for a situation, as Jeremiah does in v1?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Jeremiah 9: Proverbs 3, 1 Corinthians 1, Jeremiah 4.

Before next time: read Jeremiah 10.