1. THE APPROACHING DANGER Sunday April 30

a. What calamity was predicted to come upon Judah? Jeremiah 4:5–8. What nation was identified as being the lion of verse 7? Jeremiah 50:43, 44. “All unexpectedly a new world power, the Babylonian Empire, was rising to the eastward and swiftly overshadowing all other nations.“Within a few short years the king of Babylon was to be used as the instrument of God’s wrath upon impenitent Judah. Again and again Jerusalem was to be invested and entered by the besieging armies of Nebuchadnezzar.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 422. b. What prophecy, applicable to the time of the end, was given to Isaiah, Joel, and Jeremiah? Isaiah 24:1–8; Joel 1:15–18; Jeremiah 4:19, 20, 23–27. “That the expression ‘bottomless pit’ represents the earth in a state of confusion and darkness is evident from other scriptures. Concerning the condition of the earth ‘in the beginning,’ the Bible record says that it ‘was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep’ (Genesis 1:2). Prophecy teaches that it will be brought back, partially at least, to this condition. . . . [Jeremiah 4:23–26 quoted.]”–The Great Controversy, pp. 658, 659.“In visions of the great judgment day the inspired messengers of Jehovah were given glimpses of the consternation of those unprepared to meet their Lord in peace. . . .“ ‘I am pained at my very heart,’ Jeremiah exclaims as he beholds the desolations wrought during the closing scenes of earth’s history. [Jeremiah 4:19, 20 quoted.]”–Prophets and Kings, pp. 726, 727.

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2. DELIVERANCE PROMISED Monday May 1

a. What promise is given to the faithful people of God living in the time of universal calamity? Jeremiah 30:5–7; Isaiah 26:20, 21. “The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble. [Jeremiah 30:5–7 quoted.]“Jacob’s night of anguish, when he wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau (Genesis 32:24–30), represents the experience of God’s people in the time of trouble.”–The Great Controversy, p. 616. b. What must we do to be among those who will be saved from destruction? Isaiah 55:6, 7. “Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. . . . Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.“It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits. God’s providence is the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to cooperate with the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to the divine model. None can neglect or defer this work but at the most fearful peril to their souls.”–The Great Controversy, p. 623.

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3. IMPENDING JUDGMENTS Tuesday May 2

a. Why were the appeals of God through Jeremiah unable to save the people of Judah? Jeremiah 5:3, 23; 6:16, 17. “Israel’s experience from the days of the Exodus was briefly reviewed. God’s covenant with them had been, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.’ Shamelessly and repeatedly had this covenant been broken. The chosen nation had ‘walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward’ (Jeremiah 7:23, 24).“‘Why,’ the Lord inquired, ‘is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?’ (Jeremiah 8:5). In the language of the prophet it was because they had obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God and had refused to be corrected.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 414. b. Summarize the description of the predicted doom and its cause. Jeremiah 6:10–13; 15:1–4. “The time had come for deep heart searching. While Josiah had been their ruler, the people had had some ground for hope. But no longer could he intercede in their behalf, for he had fallen in battle. The sins of the nation were such that the time for intercession had all but passed by.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 415.

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4. GOD’S PATIENCE HAS ITS LIMITS Wednesday May 3

a. What appeal did the Lord direct the prophet to make to the people? Jeremiah 3:22. What should this appeal cause us to consider in our day? “By the great mass of the people the call to repentance and reformation was unheeded. Since the death of good King Josiah, those who ruled the nation had been proving untrue to their trust and had been leading many astray. Jehoahaz, deposed by the interference of the king of Egypt, had been followed by Jehoiakim, an older son of Josiah. From the beginning of Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah had little hope of saving his beloved land from destruction and the people from captivity. Yet he was not permitted to remain silent while utter ruin threatened the kingdom.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 412.“The Lord has often spoken to His people in warning and reproof. He has revealed Himself in mercy, love, and kindness. He has not left His backsliding people to the will of the enemy, but has borne long with them, even during obdurate apostasy. But after appeals have been made in vain, He prepares the rod for punishment.”–The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 3, p. 1132. b. How did God make it clear that even His patience has its limits? Jeremiah 9:25; 11:14. “Jesus is about to leave the mercy seat of the heavenly sanctuary to put on garments of vengeance and pour out His wrath in judgments upon those who have not responded to the light God has given them. ‘Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.’ Instead of being softened by the patience and long forbearance that the Lord has exercised toward them, those who fear not God and love not the truth strengthen their hearts in their evil course. But there are limits even to the forbearance of God, and many are exceeding these boundaries. They have overrun the limits of grace, and therefore God must interfere and vindicate His own honor.”–Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 207, 208.

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5. A LESSON FOR OUR TIME Thursday May 4

a. What very important work must men in responsible positions perform when wrongs exist among God’s people? Titus 2:15; Matthew 18:15–17. “We are certainly living in the closing days of this earth’s history. We need to devote much time to our spiritual interests, if we would experience the spiritual growth that is essential in this age. We are to make decided reforms. The Voice said: The watchmen need to awake, and give the trumpet a certain sound. The morning cometh; and also the night. Wake up, My watchmen. Voices that should now be heard presenting the truth are silent. Souls are perishing in their sins, and ministers and physicians and teachers are asleep. Wake up the watchmen!”–Pacific Union Recorder, February 20, 1908. b. How should we respond when admonished by God’s servants? Hebrews 12:13; 13:17. “Let none who claim to be the depositaries of God’s law flatter themselves that the regard they may outwardly show toward the commandments will preserve them from the exercise of divine justice. Let none refuse to be reproved for evil, nor charge the servants of God with being too zealous in endeavoring to cleanse the camp from evil-doing. A sin-hating God calls upon those who claim to keep His law to depart from all iniquity. A neglect to repent and to render willing obedience will bring upon men and women today as serious consequences as came upon ancient Israel. There is a limit beyond which the judgments of Jehovah can no longer be delayed. The desolation of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels and admonitions given them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be disregarded with impunity.”–Prophets and Kings, pp. 416, 417.

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS Friday May 5

1. Name one prophecy of Jeremiah applicable to the time of the end. 2. What assurance does Jeremiah give us regarding the time of trouble, and how only can we prepare for that time? 3. What should we learn from the reasons given for the terrible events in Jeremiah’s day? 4. What evidences do we have that the mercy of God has a limit? 5. What solemn duty rests on today’s church leaders and members?