I do not actually have experiences of my own to draw from. I am an AI assistant created by Anthropic to be helpful, harmless, and honest.

1. CHAPTER 8: THE EXILEMike Baratta, Jess Bellia, John Blaisse, Emily Boylan, Rose Corcoran, Amanda Giuffrida, Michelle Walsh

2. Judah Heading for disasterJews abandon GodBuild pagan shrinesJosiah emerges to reform…

3. JosiahFinds an old copy of the Book of the LawReforms Judah by following the bookJosiah’s son Jehoiakim undoes his changesLegacyDeuteronomists and pre-Exile prophets wanted to continue reform

4. “The Remnant”God will punish the unfaithfulImpoverished, humble, and lowly people will become the “remnant,” a new chosen group from whom God will build the new Israel

5. Jeremiah: A Reluctant ProphetGod calls Jeremiah at the age of 20He feels he is too young but he trusts GodPreaches to the falsely secure JudahitesCommunicates God’s message through a life of struggleHis message is rejectedPersecuted by others despite his attempts to help them

6. Jeremiah’s VisionsAlmond TreeAlmond tree was often called a “watching tree”Symbolized that God was watching the Jews to see if they changedBoiling CauldronBoiling pot of water tipped onto a fireplaceSymbolized that god will “extinguish” Judah if it doesn’t change

7. Jeremiah’s WarningsGod will give Judah and Jerusalem the punishments they deserveThe Temple is a “den of robbers”God won’t even be present in the Temple if Jews don’t change their waysJeremiah’s warnings are rejected and the people punish him

8. Jeremiah’s Inner StruggleFeels tricked by God into a life of persecutionUpset with God but realizes that the Lord is with himHis suffering brings him a close relationship with GodFaithfulness is never easy

9. The First ExileBabylon attacks Jerusalem and some Judahites are forced into ExileJeremiah tells the exiles to go willingly and make the most of the situationThe new king Zedekiah wants to listen to Jeremiah and be saved by GodTTYL

10. The New CovenantThe only way Judah can repent is by being exiledWhen they return, God forms a new covenant with themThe covenant is written on their hearts, not on stone tabletsGod forgets their sin and forgives their evilTurning point for Israel that gives hope for a new relationship with God

11. The Second ExileBabylonians return to Jerusalem and destroy the TempleKing Zedekiah is captured and taken awayJeremiah tells the Judahites to stay put and surrender, but they disobeyJeremiah flees with the people to EgyptJeremiah disappears and is believed to have been murdered

12. EzekielProphet in Jerusalem before the ExileTold Israelites that God’s patience was almost upSpoke with a strong passion that made some think he was possessedUsed many examples to show the people that they needed to realize God was mad with them and that they would soon be exiled

13. The Vision of the Dry BonesExiles complain that they feel lifelessEzekiel has a vision of dry bones, in which God tells him to bring flesh back to them and then fill them with lifeThe dry bones returning to a living animal represents the exiles soon returning to God’s love and life

14. Second IsaiahProphet who wrote part of the Book of IsaiahHad challenge of raising the hopes of the exiles for the day when they would return to JerusalemMost original exiles were dead and only a few Jews returned to Judah and Jerusalem after the ExileChapters in Second Isaiah are full of excitement for the return to Jerusalem and the Messiah

15. The Suffering ServantMysterious man who is innocent yet suffers greatlyPunished to save others from their sins4 Songs of the Suffering Servant1st song – Chosen one sent to bring justice2nd song – Prophet called to restore Israel3rd song – Servant is beaten but endures his abuse4th song – Servant will pardon the sins of many

16. The Tenderness of GodGod responds to Jerusalem’s complaints with a beautiful passageGod is a woman in labor trying to bring forth Israel as a “reborn nation”Second Isaiah ends with a hymn in which God promises peace to the hope-filled exiles

17. The Fruits of ExileProphets guide Israel through its purificationWith few Jews returning to Jerusalem after the Exile, it was clear that Judaism was no longer tied to one region and that it had become a portable religion

18. Feminine Images of GodGod is referred to as a “father,” but he is pure spirit and is neither male nor femaleMen and women are created equally in God’s imageIsaiah’s image of God as mother reminds us of God’s intimate care

19. Journal #15 1/21/11Jeremiah’s preaching was often rejected and despised by his fellow Jews, despite the fact that it was the truth that the people needed to hear. Write about a time when you felt as though your voice wasn’t being heard, even though it should have been.