In the morning, I went to the last 61C discussion of the semester, and then went and declared my computer science major. Afterwards I went to the library and studied with joseph until dinner. After eating some food from naan and curry, we went to our special small group meeting before bible study at 6pm.

In the evening after bible study, we went to dwinelle and studied in a large classroom.

Devotion time questions:

Jeremiah 5

What does v. 1 reveal about the extent of God’s patience before sending judgment?

It shows both the loving patience of God, and the extent to which his people had turned away from him. This is the same condition that existed in the world in the time of Noah, and also in Sodom in the time of Abraham.

God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.
Genesis 6:12

Then [Abraham] said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" [The LORD] answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."
Genesis 18:32

God is patient with us, and quick to forgive those who genuinely seek repentance.

How did the people of Judah and Israel interpret God’s patience?

They misunderstood it as lack of judgement, and claimed that the words of judgement delivered by the prophets were lies. They believed that God would not do the things he promised he would do if they continued to walk in sin. Instead of heeding the warnings brought to them, they discredit and mock the prophets, claiming they are false prophets without the word in them.

Reflect on the description in v. 3 of the extent to which the human heart can get hardened and remain unresponsive to God. What is the inner dynamic involved in the heart of people who refuse correction, who make their “faces harder than stone” and refuse to repent?

Pride. They tried to ignore the sentences put on them, and escape the judgements God promised he would bring. They believed they could ignore God and continue living the lives of sin they were comfortable in, and their pride caused them to harden their hearts against correction. Those who are crushed with punishment yet still refuse to correct their ways can only be driven by stubborn pridefulness.

How strongly am I determined to never allow my heart to get to the point of refusing to repent? What are some practices and habits of heart I can put into place so that I will always be tender and responsive to God’s words of correction?

I can be mindful of pride in all aspects of my life. Also, I need to always be open to and seeking correction, so when good correction is given to me I can welcome it and receive it gratefully. If I am not open to correction, then when it is given it will be harder to take.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1

Reflect on what I can say to God if he were to ask “Why should I forgive you?” or, “Should I not punish [you] for this?”

Through the sacrificial death of Christ I can be forgiven of my sins, and escape the punishment that a just God must carry out.

"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Acts 13:38

I should not be forgiven due to anything I have done, but because of what Jesus did for me.

What about the people’s condition is recited here that explains their lack of fear of God?

The people did not use their eyes, ears, or minds to comprehend God and his word. They were blind and deaf to God and the judgements he proclaimed on them. Though they had capable minds, they refused to use them to understand God and fear him.

What can I do to heighten my own sense of fear of God?

Fear's definition here is not the fear that is being scared or anxious, but instead having a view of "extreme reverence or awe" towards God. Since God, by nature, creates this fear in those who know him, I need to strive to know him more by using my eyes to see him, my ears to hear him, and my mind to understand him more and more through his word and other means. In this way I can know him more deeply and thus fear him more greatly.

In what ways does sin “deprive [a person] of good”? Am I convinced that fearing God and obeying his words lead to my good?

Sinning causes God to withhold the blessings he wants to pour on us. The people did not fear the God who "gives autumn and spring rains in season" (v. 24). I need to seek the good that comes to me from God by fear him and being obedient to him, and not seek the supposed "goods" that come to be through worldly means. True blessings are from God, and sin deprives us of these.

Reflect on the final question of this chapter: “But what will you do in the end?”

If we hurdle down a path of sin in life, all we can expect at the end is God's wrath and judgement. An in the face of that, we can do nothing. Though we can't do anything in that situation, what we can do is correct and address our lives now to be aligned with God rather than against him.

To what extent do I have a secure personal answer for this question? Reflect on God’s justice and mercy, both fully expressed in Christ, and pray a prayer of gratitude for the cross.

Were it not for Christ and his work upon the cross, I would have no answer. Praise God for his justice and mercy.

Thoughts omitted here.