The Ambassador Group

Jeremiah

00. Jeremiah: Introduction

01. Jeremiah: The Prophetic Calling of Jeremiah

02. Jeremiah: The Crisis Within and Without

03. Jeremiah: The Last Five Kings of Judah

04. Jeremiah: Rebuke and Retribution

05. Jeremiah: More Woes for the Prophet

06. Jeremiah: Symbolic Acts

07. Jeremiah: The Crisis Continues

08. Jeremiah: Josiah’s Reforms

09. Jeremiah: Jeremiah’s Yoke

10. Jeremiah: The Destruction of Jerusalem

11. Jeremiah: The Covenant

12. Jeremiah: Back to Egypt

13. Jeremiah: Lessons from Jeremiah

Welcome to another in-depth exploration of the Book of Jeremiah, written by Imre Tokic, Ph.D., LLD, edited for audio and produced by the Ambassador Group.

Symbolic Acts Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make 1 vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Every student of the Bible knows that it is filled with symbols, things that represent concepts and ideas other than themselves.

The entire earthly sanctuary service, for example, was a symbolic prophecy of the plan of salvation.

The significance of the Jewish economy is not yet fully comprehended.

Truths, vast and profound, are shadowed forth in its rites and symbols.

The gospel is the key that unlocks its mysteries.

Through a knowledge of the plan of redemption, its truths are opened to the understanding.

That quotation is from the book, Christ's Object Lessons, page 133, by Ellen G.

Through the symbolism of the earthly sanctuary, or the symbols of prophetic books such as Daniel 2, 7, 8, and the book of Revelation, and in many other ways, the Lord has used symbols to convey truth.

Meanwhile, Jesus himself, with his parables and object lessons, used symbols to explain deep truths.

The book of Jeremiah itself is rich with symbolism and imagery.

In this exploration, we're going to take a look at a few of these symbols, what they were, what they meant, and what lessons you can learn from them for yourself.

♪♪♪ Truth in Symbols Truth in Symbols Scripture is exceedingly rich in symbols.

All kinds abound, and in most cases they represent truths greater than themselves.

For example, we have 2 sacrifices mentioned in Genesis 4 3-7.

As you listen to the New Living Translation, try to answer this question.

What do Cain and Abel's sacrifices symbolize?

Genesis chapter 4, verses 3 through 7, New Living Translation.

When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord.

Abel also brought a gift, the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock.

The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift.

This made Cain very angry and he looked dejected.

"'Why are you so angry?' the Lord asked Cain.

"'You will be accepted if you do what is right.

But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out.

Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.

But you must subdue it and be its master.

Very early in the Bible, we can see the difference between the attempt to work one's way to Heaven in the offering of Cain and the realization that salvation is by grace alone, made available to us only through the merits of a crucified Savior, the offering of Abel.

We Find another example of a symbol used in Numbers 21, verses 4-9.

Again we will hear the new living translation.

The Bronze Snake Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom.

But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses.

Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?

There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink, and we hate this horrible manna.

So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.

Then the people came to Moses and cried out, We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you.

Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.

Then the Lord told him, Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole.

All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it.

So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole.

Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed.

What was the symbolism of the bronze serpent uplifted on the pole?

To be certain, let's compare John 12.32 which quotes Jesus when he said of his own death, and when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." The Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the uplifted serpent.

They lived because they believed God's Word and trusted in the means provided for their recovery.

That quotation is from the book entitled, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 431.

All through the Old Testament, the Earthly Sanctuary Service served as the most detailed symbolic representation of the plan of salvation.

How much the Israelites understood about the meaning of all the rituals has been an open question for millennia, though no doubt many did grasp the most important of all truths taught there – substitutionary atonement.

The idea that in order for their sins to be forgiven, a substitute had to die in their stead.

In 1st Corinthians 5, verse 7, New Living Translation, Paul tells the believers in Corinth, Get rid of the old yeast by removing this wicked person from among you.

Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are.

Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

In fact, through the sanctuary service, we have been given symbols, not only of the death of Jesus, but also of his high priestly ministry in heaven, the pre-advent judgment, and the final disposition of sin at the end of the age.

What other biblical symbols of the plan of salvation can you think of?

Which ones especially speak to you about God's saving grace and the hope we can derive from it.

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground.

He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person.

From the New Living Translation, what essential truths are taught from the 5 sets of verses and their symbolism.

Jeremiah 18 1-10 The Potter and the Clay The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah.

He said, Go down to the potter's shop and I will speak to you there.

So I did as he told me, and found the potter working at his wheel.

But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

Then the Lord gave me this message, O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay?

As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand.

If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.

And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.

Isaiah 29.16 Respecting the Potter How foolish can you be?

He is the potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay.

Should the created thing say of the 1 who made it, He didn't make me?

Does a jar ever say, The potter who made me is stupid?

What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator?

Does the clay dispute with the 1 who shapes it, saying, Stop, you're doing it wrong?

Does the pot exclaim, How clumsy can you be?

Romans 9 18-21 The potter has a right to decide purpose.

So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

Well then you might say, Why does God blame people for not responding?

Haven't they simply done what He makes them do?

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Jeremiah

06. Jeremiah: Symbolic Acts

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