The Weeping Prophet
Jerusalem 627 - 586 BC
Jeremiah
The Weeping Prophet
Jerusalem 627 - 586 BC
Introduction
Jeremiah's father was a priest in Anathoth, 3 miles NE
of Jerusalem.
A Levite's task was to teach the scriptures.
(too many for all to serve in
the Temple).
Contemporary prophets -
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Obadiah
and Huldah (2 Kg 2214-20).
Plus exiled in Babylon, Daniel
(from 605 BC) and Ezekiel (from 597 BC).
God called Jeremiah to 'swim against the tide' for over
40 years (627-586).
Most men hated him for speaking the awful truth of deserved
judgement.
Few learned of the new covenant
of God's forgiveness and grace.
When called he was afraid; how could one so young know
what to say?
But God anointed him and throughout
his life God protected him.
God was with him as he endured
much suffering and abuse.
He died only when the work was completed.
Jeremiah faithfully and courageously proclaimed all that
God revealed -
the good and the bad.
God bottled up all his tears - none were wasted.
He was not a hopeless misery,
but a griever with fervent faith in God.
Throughout his long ministry
he wept alone over the wickedness of Judah.
He didn't just criticise,
that is all too easy, but he cared deeply - like his Lord.
414,19
821-91 Lu 1334 also Jer 1024
Few read all of Jeremiah (but only Jer 18 - the potter,
and 31- new covenant)
Triumph is always more popular
than judgement!
And even fewer ever read Lamentations.
Not the greatest prophet (John Baptist), not the most
successful (Jonah),
Not mystical (Ezekiel), not majestic
(Isaiah) and certainly never popular;
yet he remained faithful and obedient,
and will receive his just reward.
Quoted in Math 218 1129
2113 Heb 1016 Rev 84 1310
182,4 etc
There is no doubt that God spoke to this earnest, sensitive
prophet.
"Declares the Lord", "The Lord says", etc x 304 times
in 1364 verses!
Mostly Hebrew poetry - concise, careful, emotional and
rational (heart + mind).
Kings during prophecy of Jeremiah:
Josiah 640-609
Jehoahaz 609
Jehoiakim 609-598
Jehoiachin 598
Zedekiah 597-586
Detailed History in 2 Ch 34-36 and 2 Kg 22-25
God Calls
Jeremiah
The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests ...
11
Hilkiah = 'The Lord is my portion'. A good name for a priest.
Priests at Anathoth taught the Word of God; couldn't all
serve in the Temple.
The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of Josiah
(626)
... to when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
(586) 12-4
How did the Word of God come to him?
Jeremiah was a boy who sought answers, God's answers,
to perplexing ?'s.
Not ?'s like 'Who was Cain's wife?'
But real ?'s - e.g.
Our God is good and merciful,
why do so few seek him?
God is Almighty; how can he allow
so many evil men in high places?
Anathoth was only an hour's walk from Jerusalem.
Jeremiah was not an ignorant country
lad.
Like Abraham, Elijah, Hosea before him, he sought God.
He didn't just seek to obey God,
though this is also important.
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me. Prov 817
You will seek me and find
me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 2913
God's first word to Jeremiah was staggering.
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you
in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 14,5
Like John Baptist. Lu 115,41
God's knowledge so greatly exceeds all man's in both extent
and time.
God's plan is executed with precision. There are no unforseen
circumstances.
Appointed prophet, not just to Israel, but to all nations,
and all generations.
This is no small responsibility.
What if he didn't hear correctly?
1 Kg 2225 Jer 28
Jeremiah did not choose his career as a prophet. God chose
him. Jn 1516
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I
am only a child." 16
God is sovereign. Men rarely see this characteristic today.
So keen to see God as Father and
Friend, forget he is also Almighty.
e.g. Creation. Choice of Abraham,
Jews, and us! End-time Judgement.
Jeremiah sees this, but thinks there must be some mistake!
How can a teenager be a prophet.
Not even a Rabbi yet (not till 30).
He is acutely aware there was
so much still to learn. (this is always so.)
But God knows his man; he does not make mistakes.
But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child'. You
must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,"
declares the Lord. 17,8
God teaches Jeremiah to think the truth about himself. s 42, 34, 103
What was the truth?
God is with him and will tell
him what to say, where, when and to whom.
All that follows is the result of this truth.
God did tell him.
And with great courage
Jeremiah obeyed, even when the cost was high.
Note that he could only be 'rescued',
if he is first imprisoned,
or if men executed
some fiendish mischief against him.
'Rescue' does not equal ease,
prosperity and success.
His scroll was burnt,
he was imprisoned, rejected, exiled. 2 Co 1123b-27
But
at all times God was with him. God kept his word. He still does.
Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me,
"Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations
and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build
and to plant." 19,10
Jeremiah = 'to Build' or 'to throw down'. (like English word 'to raise')
God's desire is always to build,
and build well,
but when men refuse,
punishment is the only possible result.
A double ministry. Like Hosea's
son Jezreel = 'Punish' or 'Scatter' (or sow)
God appoints an insignificant teenage village priest to be 'over nations'!
God's plans are awesome. They
certainly seemed so to Jeremiah too!
He proclaimed what God had planned for Babylon: and it
was fulfilled.
What were the first two 'Words' God gave Jeremiah for the people of Jerusalem?
They are the foundation of the next 40 years of warning
and promise.
The word of the Lord came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"
"I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The Lord said
to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my
word is fulfilled." 111,12
That wasn't too complicated! What did it mean?!
Almond tree is first to blossom but the last to ripen.
God chose the Jews to be the first
to blossom and bring the Messiah.
There would be a final ripening
when 'the times of Gentiles fulfilled.'
Lu 2124
Ro 1125,26
In Hebrew Almond tree = 'Saqed' To 'Watch' = 'Saqad'
What was God watching?
That his word would be fulfilled.
Good and bad.
Yes, God would see the coming of his new covenant fulfilled.
But God also saw all their wickedness; for they rejected
his many warnings.
So complete destruction by Babylon
plus exile was ordered.
That was the second 'Word' or 'foundation'.
style="font-weight: bold">Destruction.
Prophets are not so much given foresight as insight.
They see people as God sees them.
There is nothing hidden from his sight.
The word of the Lord came to me again: "What do you see?" "I
see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered. The
Lord said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all
who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the
northern kingdoms," declares the Lord. 113-15a
Like Daniel when he was shown the events for his day.
And also of the last days - nearly
3000 years later!
Jeremiah was overwhelmed.
So he wrote a short Hebrew poem:
"Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance
of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding
walls and against all the towns of Judah. I will pronounce
my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking
me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshipping what
their hands have made. 115b,16
Most of the rest of his prophesy would be expressed in poetry.
Concise, emotional as well as
rational, easier to remember.
You don't need to be a professor to understand this clear message.
But would they realise the truth
of what Jeremiah told them?
Would they believe it came from
God, not Jeremiah.
It was the type of message that would never make him popular!
So God reminds him of his sure
promise to be with him, and not to be afraid.
Many years later Jesus reminds
his disciples of the same truth. Math 1028
"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.
Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.
Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze
wall to stand against the whole land - against the kings of Judah, its officials,
its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against
you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue
you," declares the Lord. 117-19
Sometimes it seems that all the world is conspiring against us.
The Media select information and manipulate our minds.
e.g. IRA c.f. PLO
or Endless sleaze accusations
of only Tory's before '97 election.
or The vitriolic pro-Palestinian,
anti-Israeli broadcasting of the BBC.
But God says we will stand like iron against all comers.
The cost will be high, but the victory is secure. Don't
give up.
Jeremiah would need this repeated promise
and all the tenacity of the Holy
Spirit (Joel 228,29) to withstand 42 years
of ridicule, rejection, assassination
attempts, imprisonment and exile.
God was with him throughout - especially in the following:
Anguish. 821
- 91
Plot by his own people in Anathoth
revealed. 1121
Why do wicked prosper?
121
Do not marry. 161 No
feasting. 168
Scroll burned, Jehoiakim orders
his death, but hidden by the Lord. 3621-26
Attack planned.
1818
Beaten and put in stocks by Pashhur.
201,2
Ridiculed all day. 207
"But the Lord is with me like
a mighty warrior ... He rescues me." 2011,13
Banned from Temple.
365
Death threat, supported by Shaphan.
268,24
Imprisoned.
3715,16
Thrown into cistern, rescued by
Ebed Melech. 384-13
Taken to Egypt.
437,8
'Rescue' can be deliverance or martyrdom!! Dan
317,18 Rev 69-11 176 204
God rescues Jeremiah from the clutches of Satan, but not
from hardship.
His soul remains safe and perfectly
secure in the hands of the Lord Almighty.
The Early Years
What did God say to the religious, yet idolatrous, people of Jerusalem?
These chapters reveal what God said and repeated over
several years.
They are so relevant to today's world; yet they are almost
universally ignored.
We are blind to truth, deaf to correction and poor in
holy living.
We too easily deceived. The desire
for popularity abounds;
but the result is usually
compromise, not transformation. Ro 121,2
The word of the Lord came to me ... 12,4,11
21 etc
Many times the word came, and each time he both spoke and recorded it.
Jer 2-20 are the first 21 years from 626 (mid Josiah)
to 605 (first batch of exiles).
Few details are given as to the precise year or event
referred to.
I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me.
22
Why do we fade in zeal like the Ephesians? Rev 21-7 Are we easily
distracted?
Compare our generation with 200 years ago (Wesley and
Whitfield).
and 350 years ago (Reformation,
then Civil War and Puritans).
How may we improve the heritage we are leaving to the
next generation?
Let us compare ourselves
(occasionally) with what we used to do.
"I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I would like
to be.
I am not what I hope to be. But
I am not what I was, and by the grace of God,
I am what I am." John Newton
Jeremiah saw a ghastly national degradation and hears
God asking:
What fault did your fathers find in me? ... They did not
ask, 'Where is the Lord?' ... 25,6
Personal faith had become just a way of life, a tradition. 2 Tim
35
Religion was made all too easy.
Selected commandments were ignored
- the hard ones they did not like.
Small compromises began and soon
became blatant sin.
The proud have no sense of need,
of daily dependance upon the Lord.
Israel was no longer mighty, as in David's day - But no
one bothered to ask why?
Why were they under Egypt or Assyria?
Why were they to be soon exiled
to Babylon?
The God of Israel had not changed!
But the whole nation had. How?
My people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. They
have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug
their own cisterns, broken cisterns ... 213
What false, unreliable 'cisterns' had they dug?
Sought provision and prosperity
from Baal.
Desired what many think will bring
success and popular esteem.
Rejected holiness as being
restrictive; instead of God's best way for men.
'Can't just rely upon God!' Work
hard, believe in yourself - you can achieve.
Drugs, alcohol, sex, riches, holidays,
power ...
Each can become evil;
and misused, each will fail to satisfy in the end.
Springs of water are fresh, clear and pure;
not like the stagnant water that
grows algae and bilharzia of Egypt.
Jesus is the rejected 'Spring'.
Jn 414 738 Is 123
5811
Only in him can man
be satisfied, now and for ever.
What about today? We have not changed much.
Happiness and profit have become
the main criteria of what is best.
Most claim not to need God or
Baal anymore; we can do it all ourselves!
Such humanist arrogance
has a very high, though unrealised, price tag.
Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord?
217
We cannot blame God for failure - he has clearly and repeatedly warned us.
God has told us the right way
to live, but most men reject it.
I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?
221
God planted a choice vineyard, and carefully nurtured it. See Is 5.
We have ignored God. So inevitably
it has yielded only wild bitter grapes.
"Although you wash yourself with soda and use an abundance of soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Sovereign
Lord. 222
Some felt guilty and tried to make themselves acceptable to God.
What ways to men
try?
Go to Church, give gifts to charity, try and keep at least
part of the Law ...
endless resolutions and the hope
of reformation (instead of regeneration).
God says all these efforts by man will always fail.
Forgiveness and Atonement is only
by what Christ has done. No other way.
Only the sins of the trusting
repentant are forgotten. Hos 72 c.f. Ps 10312
They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when
they are in trouble, they say, "Come and save us!" 227b
In war and suffering, God is often a 'last resort'.
God, who knows our hearts, will sometimes graciously hear
such pleas.
In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction.
230a
Men rarely respond to trouble as God desires. Amos 46-11
Rev 1611,21
'We don't need God any more!'
'He is only for children and old women!'
How often do men see disasters and being God's warning
or just punishment?
Why do my people say, "We are free to roam; we will come to you no more"? 231
God is not a 'kill-joy', he alone gives true peace and lasting joy. Math
2524
In the desert, God gave them food, water, clothing and
protection.
Most wanted to do whatever they desired, without God's
restrictions. 220
They claimed to be free, but in reality were enslaved
to sin. Jn 831-36
Jesus promised truth will be revealed
to the thirsty. That truth will set us free.
You say, 'I am innocent; he is not angry with me.'
235
Some were so deceived that they even thought they were innocent before God!
Many today think that the God of Love tolerates almost
anything.
He cannot punish or discriminate.
He will never sit as Judge.
'What have I done to deserve ...?'
'I'm not perfect but I do my best; not like ...'
But sin is not graduated; some as little sins, some great.
Sin is not believing in Jesus.
Jn 318
What do we need to believe? It is more than that there
was a historical Jesus,
or even that he was crucified.
We need to believe why! i.e.
I am a sinner.
My sin deserves death.
It is impossible for
me to win God's approval.
Jesus alone offers
me forgiveness and salvation.
Many baulk at one or more of these 4 essential steps to
be a Christian.
They remain proud, brazen, and
refuse to blush before God. 33b 615
To admit my guilt is not easy, but it is the only way
to become righteous.
Jesus said, "Because you claim
to see, your guilt remains." Jn 941
I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because
of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no
fear; she also went out and committed adultery. Because Israel's immorality
mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with
stone and wood. In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not
return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the Lord.
38-10
In 722BC, about 100 years earlier Israel had been destroyed for her wickedness.
She had been exiled, never to
return.
Much of Judah had also been destroyed by Assyria, but
they were not exiled.
Even with Isaiah the prophet and
king Hezekiah they had failed to learn.
They had seen God destroy 185,000
of Sennacherib's army in one night.
Their trust in the Lord had been
followed by the 55 year reign of Manasseh,
a most evil king. 2
Kg 2116
Judah learned nothing from Israel's demise.
Are we any better at learning from history?
Anti-Semitism has already cost
Britain her empire.
UK has rejected God's laws. Abortion,
divorce, homosexuality etc.
The church has been pathetic in
its stand against such law changes.
We are now being 'exiled' into
Federal Europe!
Easily deceived by
only the few rich and powerful who will benefit.
It is probably a step towards
the final evil One World Government,
which will only allow
a multi-faith/New Age 'anything goes' religion.
Wickedness will triumph and Christians
will be persecuted.
Yet God pleads with his people.
"Return, faithless people," declares the Lord, "for I am your husband. I will choose you - one from a town and two from a clan - and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the Lord, "men will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honour the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. ... they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance. 314-18
God's continuing plea is for men to return to him.
Many Jews have now returned to Israel, and some to faith
in Messiah.
God promises that a remnant will be saved, will grow under
good shepherds,
the Throne of God will replace
the Ark,
and finally all nations will gather
in Jerusalem to honour the Lord. When?
This is the first of his visions of the 'last days' and
beyond.
Most of what Jeremiah sees here will occur in the
Millennium.
Today the Ark and the Temple are
still missing.
The nations have never yet gone
to Jerusalem to officially honour the Lord.
Though ~10,000
multi-national Christians go to celebrate Tabernacles.
"How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land,
... Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding ..."
319,22
"If you will return, O Israel, return to me," declares the Lord. ... "Then the nations will be blessed ... O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbour wicked thoughts?" 41,2,14
'If only ...' It remains the Divine regret, the Divine longing. Lu
1941
Today's evil thoughts lead to tomorrow's evil actions.
2 Co 10 5 Ps 13923,24
A cry is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading
of the people of Israel ... 321
Their crying was not to God, but to the idols that had failed - inevitably.
The people wanted God and Baal;
but God's commandment forbids
all such additional demonic deceits.
Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Lu 133
This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:
"Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns ...
circumcise your hearts ... or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done - burn with no one to quench it.
... Sound the trumpet throughout the land! ... for I am
bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction. Your
towns will lie in ruins without inhabitant ... the fierce anger
of the Lord has not turned away from us." 43-8
God is uncompromising; though eager and quick to forgive.
He will not tolerate wickedness.
God really means this solemn warning.
Is there any area of our lives that remains 'unploughed'?
A 'left-over' of our old life
that we cling to.
A temptation that we enjoy too
much to repent of!?
Do we ever 'sow among thorns'?
Seeking satisfaction or fulfilment
in worldly pleasures?
They may not be against God's
Law, but will spoil our relationship with God,
and prevent us bearing
fruit.
The answer to sin is always 'surgery', not compromise.
Jeremiah is distraught with the vision he is given - Jerusalem in ruins!
Oh my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh the agony of my heart!
... For I have heard the sound of the trumpet ... the whole land lies
I ruins ... 419,20
It seems that he is alone in seeing the impending disaster.
It is a lonely experience; and avoidable, if only the
people would listen to God.
Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, ... search through her squares.
If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the
truth, I will forgive this city. 51
No doubt Jeremiah would have searched diligently, but he found no one.
c.f. Abraham pleading with God
for Sodom. God did save Lot. Gen 1822-33
In Judah, everyone was too busy making money and enjoying
themselves ...
God was ignored as irrelevant in the contemporary,
'if I can get away with it' society.
Jeremiah weeps and God is angry.
"Should you not fear me?" declares the Lord. "Should you not
tremble in my presence?" 522a
Few today have any concept of Almighty God as being angry. Heb
1031 1229
"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares
of death. ... Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth
with turmoil. The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes
before honour. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the
fear of the Lord a man avoids evil." Prov 1427
1516,33 166 also Lu 125
Sadly, the author, Solomon, did not learn from these wise words either.
They vaguely hoped God would keep his word to be gracious
and kind,
but consistently refused to hear
all his warnings of judgement and disaster.
But God means what he says - he always keeps his word
- all of it.
So the faithful Jeremiah had to
repeatedly preach about the consequences.
Disaster follows disaster; the whole land lies in ruins ... I am bringing
a distant nation against you ... They will devour your harvests and food,
devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds ...
they will destroy the fortified cities ... Disaster looms out of the north,
even terrible destruction. I will destroy the Daughter of Zion, so
beautiful and delicate ... This what the Lord Almighty says: "Cut down the
trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished
..." 420 515-17
61b,2,6
Jeremiah does not tell of God's judgement with cold-hearted condemnation.
Like Jesus, he weeps with compassion
and pain. 91 1317 Lam 116
348
But the people refused to acknowledge that they were dying.
They clung to their sin and
steadfastly refused to repent.
Not to believe God's clear and repeated warnings must
the ultimate folly of man.
To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears
are closed so that they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to
them. ... I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes,
because they have not listened to my words. ... 610,19
also Is 69,10
In Jeremiah's day they refused to hear - and today men remain just as hard.
"They have not listened ... therefore ..." is recorded
x 49 in Jeremiah
(also by Ezekiel in Babylon x
67)
And Jeremiah tells of the consequences "So ..." or "...
because ..." x 228
Pray that God will cause us to hear what we do not like
to hear
This is especially important as we become older.
God's judgement is never arbitrary or out of spontaneous pique.
God says, "Flee for safety ... sound the trumpet ... take warning, O Jerusalem
... I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in."
61,8,11
I appointed watchmen over you and said, "Listen to the sound of the trumpet!"
But you said, "We will not listen." 617
But in Jerusalem they preferred to listen to false prophets.
They have lied about the Lord; they said, "He will do nothing!
No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine."
512
The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
531
From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets
and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of
my people as though it were not serious. "Peace, peace," they say,
when there is no peace. 613,14
As 'blind leading the blind', prophets and leaders did not tell the truth,
Seeking popularity and success;
they told the people
what they wanted to hear.
Like newspaper editors and false
prophets today.
The message of false prophets is seen in 74
1021 2315-40 2712-17 28
(and Shemaiah in Babylon
2924-32)
When will church leaders say coveting, fornicating and
homosexuality are sin?
Who will dare say that ecumenism that ignores RC errors
is blind folly?
Who has the courage to say Islam is an evil, violent,
idol-worshipping religion?
Who will challenge replacement theology or false restoration
prophecy?
Who sees the truly blasphemous and evil foundations of
the European Union?
When will the church purge itself of unrepentant offenders?
God is about to judge the UK and the world,
but the careless, compromising,
ignorant church only says, "there, there!"
This destruction is also inevitable and irreversible.
But in God's great mercy, he would not destroy all the land nor all the people.
This is what the Lord says: "The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely." 427
"Yet even in those days," declares the Lord, "I will not destroy
you completely." 518
In the Temple
The young king Josiah was a zealous and godly man. He ordered the Temple
to be swept and cleaned. It had been neglected for over 50 years during the
reign of his wicked father, Manasseh. They found the book of the Law - and
read it. Josiah determined to obey it too! He instigated all manner of reforms
and burnt all the public idols. Some might say there was a religious revival,
and been delighted. But Josiah could not change the heart of the people.
God, who sees right into the soul and knows our every thought was not fooled
by any amount of external clean-up. These 4 chapters reveal God's direct,
uncompromising word to the religious of the Temple.
Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the Temple of the Lord,
the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord!" 74,8
What leads to such presumption?
Compromise - theological and
practical. e.g.
Truth undermined by
tradition and human intelligence.
Scripture
seen to be only part of the equation, not the revelation of God.
Scripture
can be misquoted, distorted and 'subject to development'.
Holiness is no longer
considered a vital goal, but as prim and restrictive.
Pride prefers sin and excuses
it or even refuses to admit any real wrongdoing.
Ignorance rejects that 'the fear
of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.'
The 'religious' vainly cling to
church ceremony;
yet refused to change
their lives. 620 721,22 Is 111
Amos 521,22
'God is love', they say, 'he cannot
be angry with us.' Thought they were safe.
'Not perfect, but not
bad enough to deserve judgement.' 710
Deceptive promises of revival;
Church will triumph and not be destroyed.
Time will reveal if
such prophecies are true or false.
I
fear many will be deeply disappointed, or even disillusioned.
Trust in popular 'signs
and wonders', in Alpha, in emotional meetings.
They cry, "The Meeting
of the Lord, the Meeting of the Lord!!"
(See
Danger Signs! )
God desires us to be confident in the price Jesus paid
for us. Heb 1019-22
But beware of presumption
that is careless,
compromising, arrogant, ignorant and deceptive.
What did God see and hate among the people of Jerusalem?
I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. 713
From the time your forefathers left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They are stiff-necked and did more evil than their forefathers. 725,26 also 117 253,4 265 2919 3233 3514,15 444
They have set up detestable idols ... to burn their sons and daughters. 730,31
Truth has perished ... they cling to deceit. Prophet and priest alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious ... Friend deceives friend and no one speaks the truth. 728 85, 10,11 95,8
They have not obeyed me ... they have followed the Baals. 913,14
No one repents ... they have no shame at all. 86,12
From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain. 810
It is not by truth that they triumph. 93 (but by deceit and force and bribery)
The shepherds are senseless and do not enquire of the Lord. ...
Everyone is senseless. 1021, 14
What a list! What utter folly. Why are men so arrogant?
God did not whisper one warning; they were loud and clear.
'Again and again' his warnings
were repeated.
But the people refused to take
any notice of the Lord God Almighty.
Thus their destruction was inevitable
and irreversible and just.
Why do men worship idols?
To gain what others have. Prosperity,
fertility, power.
Today few men worship images,
but we remain greedy and covetous.
"Covetousness is as
idolatry." Col 35
By fair means or foul men strive
for more: even by war. James 41-4
Beware of the 'Name it and claim
it' brigade.
Beware of 'seed faith'. God is
not like a man who can be bribed.
Beware of the 'prosperity gospel';
it is both deceptive and popular!
It is never long before
riches and joy are emphasised more than our need
for salvation, for
repentance and believing in Christ redeeming work.
God longed to find righteousness and truth and justice on earth.
924 Is 57
But he saw only deceit and spin,
arrogance and men fighting for more.
He saw the rich becoming richer
on the back of the poor. He was not pleased!
Yet Almighty God, Creator of all things, provides us with all we need.
Let us bless the Lord, and be content with what he has
given us.
Our home is not here on earth, but with him in heaven.
Here we are but 'pilgrims and
strangers'. Missionaries for Jesus.
We would naturally love to see - blessing, revival, success.
Jeremiah would have dearly loved
this prospect too.
But we must always first ask,
is it what God has planned?
Then, as now, even the religious people refused to listen.
They were not just careless
or ignorant. They willfully refused to repent.
They chose to reject God's repeated warnings.
713, 24-26 89 96
They had no desire to seek the Lord.
Sin = Being content without God.
(see book Rich Man and Lazarus p.43)
So what was the just result?
I will bring an end to the sound of joy and gladness ... for the land will become desolate. 734
All the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life. 83
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed. 89
I will take away their harvest ... What I have given them will be taken from them. 813 Math 2529
I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins. 911 1022
I will scatter them among the nations ... I will pursue them with the sword. 916
The dead bodies of men will lie like refuse on an open field, like cut corn behind the reaper, with no-one to gather them. 922
I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh. 925
At this time I will hurl out those who live in this land.
1018
God is clear, forthright and honest. He does not mince his words.
So determined is he in the punishment of his city, Jerusalem,
that he even says this to Jeremiah:
Do not pray for this people ... for I will not listen to you.
716 1114
This is surely a most amazing statement - it was from God, not man.
God decreed that he would not change his mind.
Pray for neighbour, but do not pray that God will not
bring judgement.
He will not reverse what he has
planned for Jerusalem.
Neither will he reverse the planned Great Tribulation,
that is soon to come!
What was the personal affect upon Jeremiah?
In the following he reflects the
longing, aching heart of God.
He weeps buckets!
He poured out his heart in a whole book - Lamentations.
Not many read Obediah; but even fewer read Lamentations.
Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips
me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? O that
my head were a spring of water ... 821 - 91
1317
It would be 600 years before the Lord sends his great Physician -
the only One who can heal the
terminally, fatally sick.
Jeremiah sees the problem and the consequence more clearly
than God's answer.
Soon God's solution would appear
clearly out of the mists of sadness.
He also pleads for himself:
Correct me, Lord, but only with justice - not in anger, lest you reduce
me to nothing. 1024
With devastating humour and accuracy, Jeremiah ridicules idol worship.
They cut a tree ... shape it ... adorn it with gold ... fasten it with nails so that it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak! 103-5
His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. They are
worthless. 1014,15
c.f.
No one is like you, O Lord; you are great ... The Lord is the
living God, the eternal King. 106,10
God made the earth by his power ... When he thunders, the waters
in the heavens roar. 1012,13
Disaster Looms Closer
God then reminds Jeremiah of his Covenant with Israel.
111-17
He is told to remind the people of its duality -
it is both a great blessing to
the obedient and a curse of disobedient. Deut 27
I answered, "Amen, Lord." 115
The house of Judah has broken the covenant I made with their forefathers.
Therefore this is what the Lord says, "I will bring on them a disaster they
cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them."
1110,11
Jeremiah obeyed the Lord God and told the people his word.
Their reaction to his forthright preaching was just as
predicted. Rejection!
Just as men had likewise rejected
Abel and Jesus, and all prophets in between.
God had warned Jeremiah that the men of Anathoth would
hate his message
and seek his life; so he was not
surprised. 1121
But it still hurt that his own people would hate him and
God so much. 11 Jn 111
No one believed him, and worse, no-one else even seemed
to care.
Certainly no one admitted that they had broken their covenant
with God.
They were totally blind to the fact of offending their
righteous and mighty God.
Jeremiah asked God what many before and since have asked:
Why do the wicked prosper? Why do the faithless live at ease?
121
The consistent answer is found in Ps 733,17 Then I understood their final destiny.
The story is told of an arrogant farmer who wrote to his local newspaper
boasting how he had ploughed his fields on Sunday, and worked and drilled,
and sprayed and finally harvested them, all on Sunday - and gained a bumper
crop. The wise editor added under the published letter, 'God does not always
settle his accounts in October!'
He asks another common question, "How long ..." 124
(Is 611 Hab 12)
Also asked by the martyrs in Rev
610 and Ps 943
We must wait patiently God's perfect
timing. James 57,8 2 Pe 39
No one knows the day
or hour. Math 2436
He is coming soon.
Rev 2212,20
Nearer than when we
first believed. Ro 1311
Jeremiah was also honest enough to complain to God at his lot and his loneliness.
123,4 1510
1819-23 207-18
What was God's answer?
Would he let off Judah because Jeremiah was unhappy?
Would he pardon the people when they refused to repent?
Would he just ignore them when they ignored him?
No!
God repeats his determined plan to uproot and destroy Jerusalem.
It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there no-one who cares ... for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other; no-one will be safe. 1211,12
This promise is also extended to ALL nations. A promise few are willing to heed.
"But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy
it," declares the Lord. 1217
Jeremiah was then told to wear a linen belt, but he was not allowed to wash
it.
He had to hide it for many days till the maggots destroyed
it.
In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 139
It was a graphic illustration!
Then he had to fill every wineskin with wine.
I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land ... I will
smash them one against the other ... I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion
to keep me from destroying them. 1312-14
You hope for light, but he will turn it to thick darkness ... all
Judah will be carried into exile ... I will scatter you like chaff
driven by the desert wind ... Woe to you, O Jerusalem.
1316, 19, 24, 27
Jeremiah did not weep out of self-pity;
but for his own people and the
beloved city that would soon be destroyed.
We are told how God sent a drought - there was famine and no relief.
(also wind, floods, earthquakes,
volcanos, disease, economic etc)
Judah Mourns ... they wail ... they find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing they cover their heads. 141-6
Unfilled and unfulfilled, without hope or experience of kindness.
Desired relief from the distress, but refused to repent
and seek forgiveness.
Therefore God will not listen to their pleas.
1411,12 151
What do we say about disasters today? See Lu
132-5 Jn 92 Job
Only rarely leads to repentance.
If possible blame someone else.
Never seen as the hand of God.
Jeremiah prays earnestly:
O Hope of Israel, its Saviour in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land? 148
Then the Lord said to me, "Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry ... instead I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague." 1411
But I said, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Instead I will give you lasting peace in this place.'" 1413
Then the Lord said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them ... those same prophets will perish. 1414,15
Jeremiah still continues to plead to the Lord God, "Our hope is in
you." 1422
So the Lord finally tells him the awful truth:
Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go
out to this people. 151
This must be one of the most difficult passages for modern man to accept.
Yet it was the truth.
And now when the time of the Gentiles are
fulfilled it may again be God's word.
How do we cope with such truth, when men see God only as a God of love?
If it is any consolation, Jeremiah found it difficult
too. He complained.
He asks God why he seems to be
the only one preaching disaster.
Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you
be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?
1518
But God did not flinch. He knew his man. He reminded him of his earlier promise:
I will make you a wall to this people ... they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you ... I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel. 1520,21
And that was not all.
God had further instructions:
You must not marry. 161
Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal.
165
And do not enter a house where there is feasting.
168
Who said being a prophet was easy?
There is often a high price to
pay for the high privilege.
Men who crave popularity and are afraid to tell of God's
anger and his tears.
This did not happen over a week or two, then it was all over, and he was
given a new message. No, God is not like that. This went on for 16 years
- all the later part of Josiah's reign. Then for another 24 years during
the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah.
The people asked Jeremiah:
Why has the Lord decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? 1610
Amazing. 'There's none so blind as those who don't want to
see!'
So Jeremiah spells it out - again -
what was wrong, and the inevitable
and just result.
Your fathers forsook me and followed other gods ... But you have
behaved more wickedly than your fathers. ... So I will throw you
out of this land. 1611,12
In the amazing grace and forbearance of God, he also says:
But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country. 1215
However, the days are coming when ... I will restore them to the land.
1614,15
When would this be?
Not is their lifetime. None would return from Babylon
for 70 years.
Like the disobedient, who wouldn't enter promised land
under Moses. Ps 958-11
God's plan to bring redemption to the needy world would
not be thwarted
because the Jews were rebellious.
Neither will his plan to come again will be thwarted
because Israel and the Church
are sinful.
God remains faithful. The days of restoration have come
and will come!
The promise of restoration may lead some to falsely say,
'There, it's not as bad as all
that.'
But what did God say then? And what does he say now?
But now ... I will repay them double for their wickedness and
their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms
of their vile images. This time I will teach them my power and might.
Then they will know that my name is the Lord.
1616-21
Cursed is the one who trusts in man ... 175
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. 177 Ps 1
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
179
Those that turn away from you will be written in the dust.
1713 Jn 86
Blown away without trace. There is no escape. It is as bad as that!
It was true they were being heavily taxed to pay Pharaoh
Neco.
And, yes, there were rumblings to the north - Babylon
had defeated Nineveh.
But otherwise life went on quite well for the Jerusalemites.
Jehoiakim had reversed all Josiah's reforms. Wickedness
was seen to prosper.
Many asked Jeremiah why he continually prophesied such doom?
And it never happens!
People scorned Jeremiah and God because the judgement
had not yet come.
They keep saying to me, "Where is the word of the Lord?" 1715
They thought they could safely ignore God's warning.
Jeremiah just an eccentric extremist.
But God was not slow in carrying out his plan; only amazingly
patient!
Habakkuk, the prophet, was also pleading with God.
He longed for God to do something to stem the unending
flow of wickedness.
But nothing seemed to happen.
Hab 1
Then God told him he was raising up the Babylonians to
destroy Jerusalem!
No one gave Nebuchadnezzar orders - most despotic ruler
the world has known.
He didn't realise that he was
fulfilling God's plan.
Jehoiakim had forbidden Jeremiah to preach in the Temple.
So there had to be 3 new venues
for preaching:
In the city gate:
Not keeping the Sabbath holy (or
any day!)
They traded like on every other
day. Therefore unquenchable fire. 1719-27
Fulfilling greed was
more important than obeying God. Amos 85
At the potter's house:
Pot marred and remade. But only
if the nation responds and repents.
But people said, "We will continue
with our own plans."
Therefore unrelieved disaster.
181-17
They hated and mocked Jeremiah
and his preaching and prophecies. 1818
At Ben Himmon:
Clay pot smashed. So also will
this nation be irreparably smashed. 191-13
Here the clay had been fired.
Once smashed it could never be remade.
Pashhur, a false prophet, had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks.
But it didn't change God's word. His judgement remained.
201-6
Pashhur and all his friends would be exiled and never
return.
Jeremiah makes another complaint against the Lord - and sings his praise!
I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say I will not mention him ... his word is in my heart like a fire ... I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. 207-9
He acknowledges that the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior.
2011
And adds Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the
Lord! 2013
Yet he continues Cursed be the day I was born
... why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to
end my days in shame? 2014,18
Now he will never speak like this again. He has heard his Master's "Well
done."
He sheds no more tears and no
one hates him any more.
During Jehoiakim's Reign
His Palace (608)
221-23
Jehoiakim reigned for 11 years (609-598) having been placed on the throne
by Pharaoh Neco who did not like Jehoahaz. 2 Kg 2331-35
First thing Jehoiakim did was build himself a big luxury
cedar palace.
Never mind the cost; he didn't
have to pay, he just taxed the people even more.
He had already agreed to pay Neco
a stiff levy.
His eyes and heart set on dishonest
gain.
(David used income from foreign
victories.)
Jeremiah had the courage to say such 'stealing' from the
poor was wrong.
God decreed that the consequences of injustice, especially towards the weak
and disadvantaged, was destruction.
Do what is just and right ... But if you do not obey these commands ... this place will become a ruin. 223-5
(It became a ruin 23 years later)
Jehoiakim took no notice, he did evil in the
eyes of the Lord. 2 Kg 2337
Again Jeremiah prophesies - no one would mourn for Jehoiakim,
He will have the burial of a donkey - dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem ... I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen'. 2218-21
For several years life may have seemed good, but God determines the end.
He surrenders to Nebuchadnezzar in 605.
After 3 years he rebels and seeks
help from Egypt.
But Neco declines
In 597 Nebuchadnezzar lays siege and defeats Jerusalem.
Jehoiakim is chained and brought
to Nebuchadnezzar. 2 Ch 366 Ezek 199
Note Jehoiakim is not
mentioned in 241
Josephus tells us how Nebuchadnezzar then commanded that he be thrown over
the city wall and be left unburied.
(Antiquities Book 10 chapter 6)
So much for 'cedar', it may impress some but ...
Ahab also built cedar and ivory
palace. Amos 315 1 Kg 2239
Neither it, nor he lasted long.
(Meggido is now a grassy hillside)
There is more about this evil king later.
Prophesy in Temple Courtyard
(608) 261-24
God tells Jeremiah to speak to all the people all the words of God.
261-3
If you will not listen to
me and follow my law ...
then I will make this
house like Shiloh ... 264-6 (See also
712-15)
At Shiloh the Philistines desecrated
and 'exiled' the Ark. 1 Sam 4
Jeremiah was immediately seized by priests, prophets and
people.
This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. 268,11
The brave Jeremiah repeats his message and then adds
"As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing." 2612-15
The same was later said of the One whom he served. Jn
518 719 1033 Math 2616
Ahikam was brave too. (see also 2 Kg 2214)
Uriah was joined the martyrs for
prophesying same message. 2620-23
So Jeremiah was spared - God had much more work for him
to complete.
Men also tried to kill Jesus before
God's time - and failed. Jn 820 etc
Jeremiah was instructed to offer the Recabites wine.
They refused saying:
Our forefather commanded us not to drink wine, build houses,
sow seed or plant
vineyards, but must always live
in tents. We have obeyed. 351-11
Jeremiah speaks to Judah about the Recabites and their
example of obedience.
Therefore this is what the
Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says, "Listen! I am going to bring
on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced
against them. I spoke to them but they did not listen.
... Jonadab, son of Recab shall never fail to have
a man to serve me. 3517-19
The Recabites remain a grand example.
'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.' Jn
1423
Battle of Carchemish
(605)
Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egypt.
(His father had defeated Nineveh
in 612 and Assyria at Haran in 609)
Start of new era of Babylonian supremacy until 539.
Very soon it would be too
late (605)
For 23 years ... the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken
to you again and again, but you have not listened ... Turn now, each of you,
from your evil ways ... do not follow other gods to serve and worship them
... then I will not harm you ...
Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: "Because you have not listened
to my words ... I will summon my servant Nebuchadnezzar and bring them against
this land ... This whole country will become a wasteland, and these nations
will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years ... But when the 70 years are
fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and will make Babylon desolate
for ever." 253-14
Jerusalem did not listen. Nebuchadnezzar came and exiled the best of Judah.
The Temple and city would not be destroyed for another
18 years -
Such is the patience and grace
of God.
Jeremiah's Scroll
(604) 36
It was now the 4th year of Jehoiakim's reign.
His cedar lined mansion had been completed.
Nebuchadnezzar had come and gone.
Judah's allegiance changed from Egypt and the tax
now went to Babylon.
For a vassal one king much like
another, so long as he remained king!
Jeremiah was a bit of a nuisance;
so he banned him from preaching
in the Temple.
Otherwise all seemed well, very well in fact ... until
...
Baruch read Jeremiah's scroll in the Temple Gate on a
day of fasting.
The Court officials then asked Barach to read it to them.
They tell Barach and Jeremiah
to go and hide; then the king is told.
Jehudi reads the scroll to Jehoiakim.
He burns each piece as God's word
is read with measured contempt.
What an insult!
But once again the plan of God is not thwarted by a rebellious
king.
Jeremiah dictates a longer scroll
to Baruch! 2219
And Baruch is given assurance
of God's protection. 45
Righteous Branch
Prophesied (604)
Daniel and friends had been exiled to Babylon.
Wickedness continued apace in Jerusalem. Could it get
any worse?
Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:
Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture. Therefore ... I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back ... I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King ... In his days Judah will be saved ... he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness. 231-6 see also Ezek 34 Jn 101-18
Note that the flock (Judah) belongs to the Lord. And it still does.
The Lord himself will gather the remnant - none will be
missing.
We eagerly await the great day when the Righteous Branch
will save all Judah.
Then they will live in their own land.
238
How kind of God to reveal some sure though future hope.
Today the UN, USA, UK, EU, PA etc are all trying to take
the land from the Jews.
In the Lord's time they will wish
they hadn't tried! Zech 122-5 142,3,9,12-14
(See Revelation Appendix notes
- 'God Chose Israel')
The Lying
Prophets (604) 239-40
The task of a true prophet is to turn men from wickedness.
These men are godless and encourage sin, even in the Temple.
In Samaria they worshipped Baal.
2313
In Jerusalem they commit adultery
and live a lie (hypocrites). 2314
They are all
like Sodom to me.
Speak of false hope, of peace
(of prosperity and success). 2317
They distort the words of the
living God. 2336
Therefore :
The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart ... Is not my word like fire, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces. 2320,29
There are false prophets and people pleasers in every
age.
Beware of any popular personality.
Weigh his words carefully;
keep only what is good.
Learn all the Scriptures;
they remain the surest test for truth.
(See notes on Acts
2030)
The Blood-line Ends
(597) 2224-30
Egypt and Babylon fight again in 601; both suffer very heavy losses.
Jehoiakim rebels and is killed after the resulting siege
by Nebuchadnezzar.
His son Jehoiachin is imprisoned for 36 years in Babylon.
Released, but, as prophesied,
he never returned to Jerusalem. 2 Kg 2527-30
You will never come back to
the land you long to return to ... 2227
None of your offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of
David. 2230
This too was fulfilled. The blood-line was broken after
Zedekiah.
Jesus could never have been born into a cursed line.
Shealtiel was the son of Neri,
not Jehoiachin. Lu 327
The signet ring was passed to
a new 'king', Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel. Hag 223
(See notes on Luke
3 and Haggai 2)
Under Zedekiah
Vision of Figs - Good and Bad
(596) 24
The exiles in Babylon were good!
Daniel and best in 605
Then second batch in 597, Ezekiel
and others and Temple articles.
Though sent away, they will be
watched over, brought back, planted, built.
They will return to me with all
their heart, and I will be their God.
Zedekiah and those who remain however are like bad figs
that couldn't be eaten.
Hated by all. The Lord will send
sword, famine, plague and destruction.
But in patience he would wait
a further 9 years (596-587).
The message from the Lord God was graphic and clear -
but totally ignored!
Yoke of Wood and Iron (593) 27,28
All nation will serve my servant Nebuchadnezzar.
Do not listen to lies of false prophets, God has not sent
them.
They too will be taken to Babylon.
Why did they lie?
Loved popularity. Deceived. Thought
God only judged others!
Hananiah says yoke of Babylon will be broken,
and Temple articles and exiles
will be back within 2 years.
Then he broke the yoke he was
wearing.
Proof of 'peace prophecy' (or
revival etc) - see if it happens.
Jeremiah says wooden yoke will be replaced by an iron
one.
And this year Hananiah will die
for preaching rebellion against God.
Hananiah died two months later.
Beware! 2 Kg 116,17 Act 59 Rev
116
Letter to Exiles in
Babylon 29
Build houses and settle.
Don't listen to false hope; you will be there for 70 years!
God sent you into exile, but he has not given you up.
He has plans.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all
your heart.
You will be gathered from all the nations I sent you.
Don't listen to your false prophets in Babylon.
Take care how (and who) you hear.
Is 4220 Mk 424 Ps 95
Response from Shemaiah (and others) in Babylon?
Reprimand Jeremiah who 'poses
as a prophet'.
But history proves that Jeremiah
was the true prophet.
Israel will be
restored 30-33
These encouraging chapters are well known.
After all the judgement, they were literally a sweet dream.
3126
To whom are they directed, and when will they be fulfilled?
I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and
restore them to the land I gave to their forefathers to possess.
303
This cannot refer to the Church. Our forefathers were not given land.
How awful will that day be! None will be like it. It will be a
time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.
307
When is 'that day' and who will suffer?
It will be at the end, because none like it before or
after. Math 2421
The 'trouble' will not only be for Israel, but for the
Church and the world.
For the Church through persecution
and Tribulation, Math 2422
and for the world by the Tribulation
and finally Messiah's arrival. Math 2430
But for Israel the trials will be doubled. Deut
2117 Is 402
The elder brother has double privilege
and double punishment for failure.
'Saved out of it' = 'saved through it'.
Neither Church nor Jacob are raptured
before the Tribulation.
Many martyred and days shortened
for the sake of the elect. Math 2421
They will serve the Lord their God. (instead of foreigners)
308,9
Who does Israel serve today?
In the last 50 years the US and
EU have put enormous pressure on Israel.
Two main reasons: Oil and Globalist
agenda. Both require satisfying Islam.
Since Islam demands
total world domination, this is a foolish track to take.
One day Israel will serve the
Lord. He will be their King. What a day!
Who does the Church serve? Are we "In his grip!"
Let us hold fast to the truth
and not give in to popular compromise.
"So do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel," declares
the Lord. "I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants
from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and
no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you," declares the
Lord. "Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter
you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with
justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished."
3010,11
Babylon was the region's superpower and showed no sign of decline.
But Babylon would only last for
66 years (605-539BC).
God would also destroy the Medes/Persians, Greek and Roman
empires.
Over in Babylon, Daniel would be given further vision
and revelation.
The Lord will soon destroyed the
remnants of these great world empires.
He will set up a righteous and
everlasting kingdom. Dan 231-35, 44,45
Meanwhile God disciplines us with love. So do wise parents;
but it is hard.
The promised result will be peace,
security and salvation.
Jeremiah spells out the true nature of their situation.
This is what the Lord says: "Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond
healing. There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no
healing for you. All your allies have forgotten you; they care nothing for
you. I have struck you as an enemy would and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great and your sins so many. Why do you cry out
over your wound, your pain that has no cure? Because of your great guilt
and many sins I have done these things to you." 3012-15
Why was the wound incurable?
They refused to listen to the
word of the Lord.
They refused to repent or admit
their guilt or their need of God.
It was not just a little help
they needed, but a new nature.
No man can save himself, or heal himself from sin.
We all need a Saviour Redeemer.
There is always a price to pay
for my sin. The question is, who pays it?
They cried over their wound (the unpleasant consequences
of sin)
but not over their sin (the offense
to God).
It seemed that God had abandoned them. (Even before 586)
He had! And yet he hadn't.
God never left Jeremiah, Baruch,
Ezekiel, Daniel and his friends.
Nor was not deaf to those who
cried to him in those difficult days.
Jeremiah tells the people what God was going to do about it.
"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord, "because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares." 3017
The day would surely come when God would perform this great miracle.
The 'incurable wound' would be
healed.
Five centuries later the Son of God came. But they rejected
him.
They wanted a King, not a Saviour.
Who do we want and need?
Now, after a further 2000 years, the day is fast approaching
when God will fulfill this
compassionate and glorious word.
The wound will be healed.
The outcast will be loved and
honoured.
All Israel will be saved. Ro
1126
God cares about his people far more than we realise -
or they do!
When all the world turns against Jerusalem, God will not
do so.
He will be like a lioness whose
cub is threatened!
Furthermore,
Justice will be done and God will
fulfill his promise to Abraham. Gen 123
"But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into
exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you
I will despoil." 3016
Even in the depths of wickedness Jeremiah sees a new day dawning.
This is what the Lord says: "I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents
and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,
and the palace will stand in its proper place." 3018
Jerusalem will be rebuilt. The insulting mosque and golden dome destroyed.
No longer will men brazenly declare the lie that 'God
has no Son',
but Jesus, the mighty Son of God
and Saviour, will reign in Jerusalem.
"From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring
them honour, and they will not be disdained. ... " declares the Lord.
"So you will be my people, and I will be your God."
3019,22
They will see him whom they pierced and mourn,
but knowing the forgiveness of
God, their mourning will be turned to joy.
At last, all the world will honour the Jews, instead of
hating them.
The Jewish Lord of all the world
will rule the earth. (In the Millennium)
No more will the U.N. pass endless resolutions against
God's chosen people.
They will know that the Lord is their God, their Saviour
and Redeemer.
See, the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling
down on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn
back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come
you will understand this. 3023,24
Only in the last days will the judgement (for and against) be understood.
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an
everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you
up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up
your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Again you will plant
vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy
their fruit. There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim,
'Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God'."
313-6
There has never been a day when the Lord stopped loving his people.
What he promised yesterday is still valid today, and tomorrow.
Israel will be rebuilt on the new foundations of righteousness
and justice.
How different from the days described by Haggai. Hag
16 (Lev 2616-20)
This is what the Lord says: "Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost
of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, 'O Lord, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.' See, I will bring them from the land of the north
and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind
and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labour; a great throng will
return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them
back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they
will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn
son. 317-10
The return will be with great joy, and also with weeping. Why?
Tears of repentance and with joy of forgiveness.
There will be earnest prayer.
They will see that the God of Moses and Abraham is also
their Father!
They will see that all down the years he cared with the
compassion of a shepherd
and with the power
of the Almighty.
A great throng return, not just a few (as under Cyrus
in 538 BC, or even now).
God will gather them,
as he gathered the animals into
the ark before the flood. Gen 79
Let all the world know that it is God who will do this.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; proclaim it in distant coast lands:
'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like
a shepherd.' For the Lord will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand
of those stronger than they. 3110,11
They are gathered at a price. It is the Lord who pays this ransom price.
What a different life is promised.
"They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice
in the bounty of the Lord - the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young
of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they
will sorrow no more. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old
as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort
and joy instead of sorrow." ... declares the Lord.
3112,13
The Lord will need to minister to this deep mourning.
How will 'the time of Jacob's trouble' become a singing
and dancing for joy?
307 c.f. 317
This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and
great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted,
because her children are no more." This is what the Lord says: "Restrain
your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be
rewarded," declares the Lord. "They will return from the land of the enemy."
"Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often
speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion for him," declares the Lord.
3115,16,20
Like Jacob wept for his beloved Rachel at Bethlehem,
as Hannah wept for a child at
Ramah and at Shiloh,
as the mothers wept for their
children in the days of Herod,
and as many parents have since
wept for their wayward children.
So God has wept many years for his beloved people. Lu
1942 Mk 1434
Now they weep with him, but not
in vain. As in Lu 738,44,47-50
So there is hope for your future," declares the Lord. "Your children will
return to their own land. ... Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear
down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over
them to build and to plant," declares the Lord. 3117,28
Again the Lord declares that Israel will return; not you, but your children.
In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour
grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' Instead, everyone will
die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes - his own teeth will be set
on edge. 3129,30
There is collective (national) punishment (e.g. Israel, Egypt, Babylon, UK
etc)
and individually each of us are
responsible for our own sin.
I cannot blame my mother for my inherited inclination
to sin. Ro 512-20
Neither can I blame the church's failure, the world or
even Satan for my sin.
The people of Jerusalem were in deep trouble. Who could
they blame?
The rebellious Zedekiah? Their
idolatrous priests? The lying prophets?
God makes it clear here that we cannot just blame others
when trouble comes.
His repeated warnings had been
ignored and laughed at by everyone.
His Law was clear, but arrogant
men thought they knew better.
He willingly forgives our confessed
sin, but never our excuses.
The New Covenant
"The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like
the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to
lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband
to them," declares the Lord. "This is the covenant I will make with the house
of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their
minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be
my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother,
saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of
them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more." 3131-34
How is the old covenant different from the new?
'Law-keeping c.f. new heart, know God (not just about
him) and his forgiveness.
New birth begins a life that learns to hate all sin. Its
attraction is dulled.
By faith men of God in Heb 11 were obedient; not righteous
because obedient.
Righteous because they longed
for and believed for the day
when God would send
the Messiah, our vital Redeemer.
Abel by faith looked forward to
a much better sacrifice.
Noah was given the atonement of
God and by faith saw a better Ark. Gen 614
Abraham understood that God would
provide for the required sacrifice.
He believed God's word,
as each of them did. Gen 156 Jn 856
They were each assured that God
would fulfill what they hoped for. Heb 111
How far can the word of God be trusted?
Does he always keep his promises?
This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who
decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that
its waves roar - the Lord Almighty is his name: "Only if these decrees vanish
from my sight," declares the Lord, "will the descendants of Israel ever cease
to be a nation before me." This is what the Lord says: "Only if the heavens
above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched
out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have
done," declares the Lord. 3135-37
Has anyone been able to stop the earth rotating around the sun?
Has anyone been able to change the position of the stars?
No one yet knows how big the universe is
and the deepest borehole is still
only about 7 miles.
In these words the faithfulness of God to the descendants
of Israel is made clear.
(this includes those Gentiles
that have been grafted into Israel. Ro 1117)
If God has rejected Israel, does God reject me every time
I sin?
Why may we have confidence?
Because God keeps his
word. Heb 1011-14, 19-23
Because the payment
Christ made for us is recognised in heaven.
(But
always beware of presumption. Heb 1026)
The sign and seal of the new Covenant is the existence of the nation of Israel.
"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when this city will be rebuilt
for me. ... The city will never again be uprooted or demolished."
3138-40
Jerusalem will be rebuilt for the coming Messiah.
As proof of this Jeremiah is instructed to buy family land at Anathoth in
587
The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah
the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard. ... The
word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to
come to you and say, 'Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative
it is your right and duty to buy it.' Then, just as the Lord had said, my
cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, 'Buy my
field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to
redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.' I knew that this was the
word of the Lord; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel
and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed
the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. I took
the deed of purchase - the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions,
as well as the unsealed copy - and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah,
the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses
who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the
guard. In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: This is what the
Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Take these documents, both the sealed
and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so
they will last a long time. For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of
Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this
land.' 322-16
Anathoth was just 3 miles NE of Jerusalem.
Nebuchadnezzar's army was probably encamped on that very
field.
So it's current value to Jeremiah
was nil.
But God had a plan for this apparently hopeless situation.
No, it was not immediate rescue; but a return in 70 year's
time.
And it would be over 2,500 years
before King Jesus would reign in Jerusalem.
17 shekels of silver = 7 oz = £20 today (Dec 2002).
Cousin Hanamel probably thought Jeremiah was a religious
fool.
But he wasn't and it was no mistake;
it prophesied God's eternal purpose.
The proclaimed the return of Judah
to Jerusalem and to the Lord.
The documents are still hidden somewhere in the rubble
under the Old City.
(The Baruch's of this world always
do a good thorough job)
This was a quite different to anything God had previously
revealed,
so, wisely, Jeremiah prays:
Ah, sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great
power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. You show love to
thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of
their children after them. ... You performed miraculous signs and wonders
in Egypt ... You gave them this land you had sworn to give their forefathers,
... but they did not obey you or follow your law; ... you brought all this
disaster upon them. ... And though the city will be handed over to the
Babylonians, you, O Sovereign Lord, say to me, 'Buy the field with silver
and have the transaction witnessed'. 3217-25
Yes, the Lord is always Sovereign. Act 424
The world will sometime have to
see the truth of this.
And they will curse God instead
of repenting! Rev 169,11,21
Please Lord, tell me what is going on. When is this going
to happen?
You repeatedly told me about disaster;
why this apparent change of plan?
God always keeps his word. Disaster did come - so will
the everlasting kingdom.
What do we do about apparent contradictions in scripture?
Like 'your wound is incurable'
c.f. 'I will heal your wound' 3012,17
God will explain in due time;
not always immediately. Be patient.
God explains to Jeremiah - and to us ...
I am about to hand this city over to the Babylonians ... they will burn
it down. ...The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in
my sight from their youth. ... From the day it was built until now, this
city has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove it from my sight.
... They would not listen or respond to discipline. They set up their abominable
idols in the house that bears my Name ... They built high places for Baal
... (they) sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech.
But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: "I will surely gather
them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great
wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.
They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness
of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good
and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant
with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them
to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me ... Once more fields
will be bought in this land for silver ... because I will restore their
fortunes," declares the Lord. 3227-44
So God confirms his everlasting covenant; but does not
reveal the timing.
Few today are prepared to live in the sure hope of the
Lord's word for tomorrow.
Most want everything now.
All questions and mysteries must
be answered immediately.
A little later the Lord God would confirm what he said:
While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word
of the Lord came to him a second time: ... I will hide my face from this
city because of all its wickedness. Nevertheless, I will bring health and
healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace
and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will
rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they
have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against
me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honour before all
nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will
be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide
for it. ... once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride
and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the
house of the Lord, saying, "Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord
is good; his love endures forever." 331-13
What a contrast to the misery of 587 (334,5.)
How will this change come about?
And when? For as yet there is
no historical record of such thanks.
God will send the Messiah, his only Son, not just once, but a second time.
In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from
David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days
Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by
which it will be called: 'The Lord Our Righteousness.'
3315,16
Judah is not yet saved, nor is Jerusalem safe - but one day it will be. Ro
1126
Today there is much corruption, lying, and wickedness
in both the Israeli Government
and people. But it will not always be so.
Pray for great day when they will all say, "The Lord is
our Righteousness."
What a day it will be!
There has always been only one way for sinful man to become
righteous;
by the righteousness of Jesus
Christ.
Let this ever be our testimony.
So sure and certain is this covenant that God says:
'If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night,
so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, ... if I have
not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed laws of heaven
and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant
and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on
them.' 3319-26
In the new heaven and the new earth 'day and night' will cease. Rev
2123 225
But it will not and cannot be
by the hand of man.
Only the Lord Almighty, the Creator
can do this.
Thus the Lord's compassion for the Jews is assured.
and he will be praised for ever.
Ps 1031-14
God speaks to Zedekiah five times
(588-586)
34 21 371-10
3717 3814-28
In his patient mercy God continues to warn him;
And five times Zedekiah chooses
to ignore the Lord Almighty!
1. This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Go to
Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him, this is what the Lord says: I am about
to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.
You will not escape from his grasp but will surely be captured and handed
over to him. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he
will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon. Yet hear the
promise of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the Lord says
concerning you: you will not die by the sword; you will die peacefully.
(in Babylon) 342-5
What does Zedekiah do? Nothing!
Like many others, this proud man refuses to acknowledge:
that God is Almighty
that God has the sole right to command what
is right and wrong
that he gives the orders; not a mere man, even
if he is a king.
Within 2 years Jerusalem was destroyed, and Zedekiah blind and in Babylon.
There was even a belated, half-hearted attempt to do right.
Did they try to bribe God?
The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made
a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves.
Everyone was to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was
to hold a fellow Jew in bondage. So all the officials and people who entered
into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves.
... But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves
they had freed and enslaved them again.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: This is what the Lord, the
God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your forefathers when I brought
them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I said, 'Every seventh year
each of you must free any fellow Hebrew who has sold himself to you. After
he has served you six years, you must let him go free.' Your fathers, however,
did not listen to me or pay attention to me. Recently you repented and did
what is right in my sight: ... you even made a covenant before me in the
house that bears my Name. But now you have turned around and profaned my
name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free
to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again.
Therefore, this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not
proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim 'freedom'
for you, declares the Lord - 'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and
famine. 348-17
If it was a bribe it could never succeed, even if they had kept it.
But they failed to keep even this covenant
promise.
It was more than 'their word', but a sacred promise given in the Temple.
Like the Egyptians, they liked having slaves to do their work. Exd
145
Why do men continuously refuse to listen to God?
Why do we think we know best?
2. The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur ... and the priest Zephaniah (no relation to the biblical prophets). They said "Inquire now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."
But Jeremiah answered them, "Tell Zedekiah, 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ... I will gather (the Babylonians) inside this city. I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in anger and fury and great wrath. I will strike down those who live in this city - both men and animals - and they will die of a terrible plague. After that, declares the Lord, I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ...
Furthermore, tell the people, this is what the Lord says: 'See, I am setting
before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city
will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders
to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his
life. I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the Lord.
It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy
it with fire ... I am against you, ... I will punish you as your deeds deserve,
declares the Lord'." 211-14
This message was given after Zedekiah had rebelled against Babylon.
In spite of Jeremiah's warnings, he had sought
help from Egypt.
Nebuchadnezzar had just begun his siege.
The walls of Jerusalem may not have seemed
so thick now.
Zedekiah probably began to feel insecure.
But there is not even a hint of repentance.
Jeremiah determines to tell him the whole awful truth - again.
God is not fooled by such false humility. God's
word remains unchanged.
How many preachers today dare to proclaim that God will punish us
'as our deeds deserve'? 2114
Few, if any. Certainly no popular preachers
or leaders do so.
God sets before us, 'The way of life and the way of death'.
218
Note that it is the way, not a way. 'Multi-faith'
is not new.
The Jews thought they could worship God as
well as idols.
What surprised them most was that God himself was against Jerusalem.
215,13
They even thought that he might do some miracles
for them! 212
Today men teach that God is not against anyone.
He is said to be 'God of Love', but never 'God
of Judgement'.
Zedekiah was correctly told that he and his officials would go to Babylon
and Nebuchadnezzar would show them no mercy.
217 He didn't. 396-10
God faithfully fulfilled all that Jeremiah had prophesied and warned.
God's word is always fulfilled. From Adam to the Revelation.
If the judgement is delayed;
don't presume that
God has forgotten or can safely be ignored.
God longs to show mercy,
to patiently extend the day of opportunity.
But in the end, justice must be satisfied.
3. Nebuchadnezzar temporarily withdrew his siege of Jerusalem,
when Egypt threatened to attack him.
375
Zedekiah asks Jeremiah, 'Please pray to the Lord for us.'
373
Did this indicate a change of heart? Regrettably,
No.
Fear had replaced uncertainty - but there was
still no repentance.
So God's message to him remained the same.
Pharoah's army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt. Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city; they will capture it and burn it down. 378
And if that was not clear he adds:
This is what the Lord says: do not deceive yourselves, thinking, 'the
Babylonians will surely leave us.' They will not! Even if you were to defeat
the entire Babylonian army that is attacking you and only wounded men were
left in their tents, they would come out and burn this city down.
379,10
How often we all need to hear the words 'Do not deceive yourselves'?
We tend to believe what we want to hear, even if it is a lie.
In the News Media facts are either 'filtered'
or exaggerated.
A false prognosis is
confidently predicted.
The objective is either
money or some 'agenda'; not truth.
While Nebuchadnezzar was withdrawn,
Jeremiah tries to return home to Anathoth.
3711-21
Arrested. Falsely accused of deserting to Babylon.
Judged for unproved motive, not for an illegal act.
The Officials hated him, especially when he
was right!
He was beaten and imprisoned for a long time. 3715,16
4. Zedekiah is becoming desperate now. Again he seeks Jeremiah.
Jer 3717
Privately because he now feared his officials as well as Nebuchadnezzar.
'Is there any word from the Lord?'
Perhaps the Lord has changed his mind?!
Zedekiah had taken not a single step towards
repentance.
"Yes," Jeremiah replied, "You will be handed over to the king of
Babylon."
Each time he had ignored God's word because he did not like it.
c.f. Rich young ruler in Mk
1017-23
Zedekiah is not alone in paying a very high price for his stubbornness.
Jeremiah pleads for his life. Prison under Jonathon was harsh.
3718-21
Released to barracks and given bread.
God protects him as promised. His work was not yet complete.
Jeremiah continues to proclaim the unwelcome truth from Barracks.
381-13
Officials demand Jeremiah's life.
Zedekiah weakens - like Pilate. Lu
2323-25 Jeremiah is 'in your hands.'
Thrown into cistern, but Ebed-Melech pleads
justice for Jeremiah.
Granted. Gave kindness of protection of 'old
clothes'.
Jeremiah returns to barracks. Ebed-Melech is rewarded.
3915-18
5. For the last time Zedekiah seeks Jeremiah.
3814-28
Soon it would be too late.
Again Jeremiah dares to challenge the king:
'If I tell you the truth, you will kill me,
and you will certainly ignore it!
For what it was worth, Zedekiah promises to
spare his life.
Then Jeremiah tells him the same unpleasant truth - which was ignored!
This is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "If you surrender
to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this
city will not be burned down; you and your family will live. But if you will
not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed
over to the Babylonians and they will burn it down; you yourself will not
escape from their hands.'" 3817,18
Note that Jeremiah did not just churn the same old handle.
Each time he seeks God's word and speaks
specifically.
This time he adds:
Even now, if you capitulate to Babylon, Jerusalem will be spared destruction.
Why didn't Zedekiah surrender?
He didn't believe the word of God
He was more concerned about himself than the
city or the Temple.
He also feared the Jews who had already
surrendered.
(No obedient officials
in the slave camp to protect him)
Zedekiah kept his promise to Jeremiah,
but again he refuses God's opportunity.
Zedekiah flees to save his own skin - he fails. 391-10 Is
1515,16
How could he hope to succeed when God had told
him otherwise?
He is captured; his sons are killed before
his eyes, then he is blinded.
He is then taken in
shackles to Babylon. 2 Kg 254-7
But before his final attack Nebuchadnezzar gave specific orders
to spare Jeremiah.
By good intelligence, he knew what Jeremiah had been saying.
Jeremiah is set free to where he wished. 3911-14
His work was now completed - almost. He had
been a faithful servant.
See the hand of God upon Jeremiah, and upon Nebuchadnezzar!
Daniel had been his Prime Minister for nearly
20 years.
What is the timeless message of God that Jeremiah proclaimed so clearly?
God is faithful: man is not.
God is righteous: man is not.
God is merciful: man is stubborn.
God is totally just: man is easily deceived.
God is gracious: man is greedy.
God is Almighty: man thinks he is!
It is easy to see who is wise and who is foolish.
Why do most men reject the wisdom and the need of Christ crucified?
Why do they pour such scorn on the timely warnings of Almighty God?
Why do they ignore such pertinent history?
Jerusalem
Destroyed (586) 398
5212-30 2Kg 258-10
After over 40 years of repeated warnings, Jerusalem is destroyed -
Temple, king's palace, peoples
houses, walls ... everything.
And the 70 year time clock
starts.
No sacrifices until
516 when Temple rebuilding completed.
How did they react to seeing Zion, the city of God destroyed?
Devastated.
But not so much as to repent
and admit they deserved it!
God not only allowed it, but ordered 'his servant'
Nebuchadnezzar to do it.
What about Jeremiah? Did the people admit, 'Yes, you were
right' ?
No evidence of it.
Only Nebuchadnezzar honoured Jeremiah!
Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah
through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: "Take him and look after
him; don't harm him but do for him whatever he asks."
3910,11
Nebuzaradan, the Babylonian Captain of the guard, said
to Jeremiah:
"The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord
has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened
because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today
I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon,
if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don't
come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please. ...
Go back to Gedaliah ... and live with him among the people, or go anywhere
else you please." Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and
let him go. 402-5
Nebuchanezzar appointed Gedaliah was the son of Ahikam
as governor.
He had supported Jeremiah
20 years earlier. 2624
Jeremiah at Ramah elects to go to Gedaliah at Mizpah (2m
to NW)
Many Jewish exiles in Moab, Ammon, Edom returned to live
under Gedaliah
Like Jeremiah, he told them to settle and live without
fear of Babylon. 409
Enjoyed a good harvest. 4012
Would this be the beginning
of a new, righteous era?
No! It was not to be - not
yet.
King of Ammon sends 10 men to kill Gedaliah - also other + Babylonian guard
Gedaliah was warned, but
he did not believe it. 4013 - 4110
Johanan leads counter-attack, but the murderer Ishmael
escapes. 4111-15
And Johanan flees from
Babylonians to Egypt.
What about Jeremiah in all this skirmish?
Johanan and those not murdered seek Jeremiah to know what
to do next.
They pledge obedience to
whatever the Lord says.
Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah ... 427
Stay in this land ... I will build up ... do not fear Babylon ... I am with you ... But if you go to Egypt the sword and famine you fear will overtake you ... Do not go to Egypt. 428-22
They accused Jeremiah of lying and being influenced by Baruch.
So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord ...
437
In Tahpanhes the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: "While the Jews are
watching, take some large stones with you and bury them in clay in the brick
pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes. Then say to them,
'This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for
my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over
these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy above them.
He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death,
... He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt. ...
438-12
According to Josephus (IX,9,7 p. 222)
in 592 Nebuchadnezzar made
a successful attack on Egypt.
There was continuous war and rebellion.
Jeremiah Prophesies Jews in Egypt
Jeremiah consistent and true to the end.
What did he say to the Jews in Egypt?
441-9
Cities of Judah lie in ruins
because you worshipped other gods.
You refused to listen to
any warnings.
To this day they have not humbled themselves ... Therefore this is what
the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster
on you and to destroy all Judah ... None of the remnant of Judah who have
gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of
Judah. 4410-14
Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other
gods ... said, "We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in
the name of the Lord ... We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven.
4415-19
It is not surprising that audacious arrogance met with the judgement of God.
Go ahead then ... but hear the word of the Lord ... I am watching over
them for harm, not for good ... The Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and
famine until they are all destroyed ... this will be the sign to you ...
I am going to hand Pharaoh Hophra over to his enemies who seek his life,
just as handed Zedekiah over to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon who was seeking
his life. 4424-30
Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) was killed by General Amasis in 570 BC
And Amasis was then overshadowed by the growing Persian
strength.
There follows various messages concerning other countries:
The date of the these prophecies is only given in
462 471 and 4934
What is the purpose of them?
It is the Lord Almighty
who brings punishment and justice
on individuals
on whole nations
on the gods of those
nations.
Unlike Daniel, nearly all Jeremiah is in Hebrew poetry.
Not easy to tie to particular events.
Prophecies to other Nations
Egypt
Description of the Egyptian army after Carchemish.
463-6
'The swift cannot flee nor
the strong escape'
Egypt refuses to admit defeat.
'She says, I will rise...' 468
Many have made such a boast
- and failed. Is 477 Zeph 215 Rev
187
'But that day belongs to the Lord Almighty, a day of
vengeance'. 4610
'But you multiply remedies in vain; there is no healing
for you'. 4611
God judged her gods - again. 4625 Exd
1212
Egypt has never since been a major world power.
Remained under Babylon,
Persia, Greek Ptolemy's and then Rome.
'Jacob will again have peace and security'.
4627 Not yet, but they will do.
Also in Ezekiel 'Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms
and will never exalt itself above the other nations. ... Egypt will no longer
be a source of confidence for the people of Israel.' Ezek
2915,16
'I will destroy the idols ...' Ezek 3013
Egyptian temples and pyramids only sought by tourists
and archaeologists.
One day (in the Millenium) Egypt and Assyria will be one
with Israel. Is 1924
God will do what today seems impossible. They will repent
and worship the Lord Almighty
the God of Israel.
(Like Nineveh, in the days
of Jonah's preaching)
Philistines
47
'For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines ...
the Lord is about to destroy
the Philistines.' 474
Is this the same Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the
New Testament? Yes!
After Nebuchadnezzar they disappear from the pages of
history. Zeph 25
... until Arafat distorts
history to try to justify his false claim to Judea.
Why destroyed? Pride and hatred of Judah. Zech
96 Ezek 2515
Moab
48 (Descendants of Lot by incest)
Likewise 'the fall of Moab is at hand; her calamity will come quickly.'
4816
She too was proud, ridiculed Israel and defied the Lord.
4829 4827 4826,42
Sacrificed their children to Chemosh, the principal Moabite
god. 487,13,46
Moab will be restored. 4847 Watch and see what
God will yet do.
Ammon
491-6 (Descendants of Lot by incest)
Exiled because rich and boastful. 494,5
Yet they will also one day be restored.
496
Edom
497-22 (Descendants of Esau)
Why did God hate Esau?
Contempt for the blessing
and promise of God.
He sold his birthright
for a bowl of soup.
See also:
Priests who had contempt
for the Lord. Mal 1
Sons of Eli. 1 Sam
212-17
Sacrifices of Cain c.f.
Abel. Gen 42-6
Jacob wrestled all night,
cried, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me'.
How different from
the strong, self-sufficient, God ignoring Esau.
Edom enjoyed terrorising others; pride will be shattered
in an instant. 4916,19
(Wealth of Petra vanished
when the Kings Highway trade route changed).
Rejoiced at defeat of Judah. Obad 111-15
Ezek 2512-14
The 'Saul', the 'Herod' in man is still powerful. Don't
underestimate it.
Herod the Great, who murdered
the babes of Bethlehem was an Edomite.
The flesh and the Spirit have always been at war. Ro
85-9 Gal 517
Thankfully, no restoration of Edom is prophesied.
Damascus
4923-27
Assyria was already feeble. Soon it would be set on fire.
Destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's father in 609 BC
Kedar
4928-33
Location unknown. Probably a nomadic mountain settlement (camels).
It will become a haunt for jackals.
Elam
4934-39
SE of Babylon. They will be scattered to the four winds.
But one day they will be restored.
Babylon
50, 51
The great and mighty Babylon will become a wasteland.
503,13 5137,64
See Daniel Notes for description
of Babylon.
A country to the North will attack (Medes & Persians).
God is against Babylon because they were arrogant and
opposed him. 5024,31
Babylon's gods cannot protect
her. 502 (Nor can riches or power)
Babylon, you who destroyed so much; now your turn has
come. 5125
Like Jacob and Esau, Judah and Babylon are poles apart,
and always at war.
In the midst of Babylon's destruction by God, he will
raise up Judah
At that time Judah will seek the Lord
and bind themselves to the
Lord in an everlasting covenant. 504,5
Israel will return and be
forgiven. 5019,20
Now Israel's captors hold them fast ... yet their Redeemer
is strong. 5033,34
Satan never lets go willingly. But is no match to the
power of God over sin.
Babylon under Belshazzar is defeated, but Judah is not
forsaken. 515
'In those days ... a search will be made for Israel's
guilt,
but there will be none ...
for I will forgive the remnant I spare.' 5020
So effective is the blood of Christ that even the All-seeing
God can find no sin
remaining in any who repent
and trust in Jesus. What a miracle! Col 122
Eph 17
213 1 Jn 17-9 Zech 131 Heb
914 1019-22 1 Pe 118,19 Rev
15 714
At the end Babylon will fall suddenly, the rich merchants
will weep,
but the redeemed saints
will rejoice! 518,36 and Rev 188,10
The contrast is stark. Let
us be ready, work out our salvation,
and stop others from
suffering this eternal weeping.
'Come out of her, my people ...' 5145,6
Rev 184 = 'sanctify'
'Be separate ...' Exd 2633 Lev
1531 Math 1349 2 Co 617 Ro
835-39
'Be holy ...' Lev 1144 1 Co
12 Eph 14 1 Pe 115,16 Heb
1214
How are we to be 'separate' from the world?
Be in it, but not of it?
Jn 1714
It is all to easy to conform with the majority and be
popular,
But God is never pleased
with such behaviour.
Conclusions:
Jeremiah did not choose to be a prophet. God chose and
anointed him. He was charged with telling the people all that God spoke the
welcomed and the unpalatable. God kept his promise to rescue him: from Satan's
clutches, but not from hardship. He died only when the assigned work was
complete. Jeremiah remained to the end an earnest, obedient and sensitive
servant.
The cost of being a prophet is high. Jeremiah was unpopular,
rejected, persecuted and forbidden to marry. He saw clearly and felt deeply,
as God did, how much the people would suffer because they stubbornly refused
to hear the repeated warnings of Almighty God. He did not envy the wicked
in their prosperity: God showed him their end, and like his Saviour, he wept.
God first revealed, "I am watching." He sees not only
all the actions of men but also all our thoughts. Never excuse sin or pretend
it hasn't happened. Confess it quickly and openly. Know the assured forgiveness
of our Father. Never preach a false peace. Neither sin nor God can ever be
ignored.
Jeremiah sees the startling truth that God himself would
destroy Jerusalem, the city of God, and the Temple. He consistently proclaimed
that God is faithful. He always keeps his word - good or bad.
God will destroy; but he will also gather his people.
At the end it will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but at that time they
will respond with tears of repentance. The Righteous Branch will save Israel,
who will become a holy nation. Do not give up praying in seemingly hopeless
cases. God may yet do what today seems impossible. Nothing is too hard for
the Lord God.
Both the love and Judgement of God are certain. It is
vital to declare that God must punish sin. The Christian believes that the
justly deserved punishment was borne by Jesus on the cross. Those who do
not believe this are condemned already. Now is the time of God's opportunity
to repent and believe. Soon it will be too late.
The Word of God is true and endures for ever. Thank you
Lord.
And thank you Jeremiah, God's faithful, enduring and now rewarded servant.
Jesus and Jeremiah
Jeremiah warned the Jews of the destruction of the 1st
Temple.
Jesus warned Jews of the destruction of the 2nd Temple.
Both were ignored.
After Calvary, God waited 40 years (till 70 AD) - the
period of testing.
Jeremiah preached and warned the people for 40 years.
Both suffered many assassination attempts and were rejected
by men.
Both wept - not for themselves, but for the people.
821-91 Lu 1941
Jer 1118,21
268 3626 384 Lu 429,30
Jn 71 859 1031,39 1150
c.f. Jn 184,5
In Israel it takes a man to cry. In most countries of
the West it is thought sissy.
Stoicism is Greek,
not Hebrew.
Jeremiah's cave (where he prayed) is next to Golgotha
(Gordon's Calvary).
One day God will wipe away all the believer's tears .
Is 258 Rev 717
His personal lament. 207-18 Lam
3
Honest prayers. 1023-25 121-4
207-18 and Lamentations.
God answers, but not
as we might expect. Is 556-11
The world talks much about their 'rights';
Christians admit we
deserve nothing.
We live in a meritocracy; you get what you work for.
But the Kingdom of
God is based on mercy (not getting what we deserve)
and grace (getting
what we do not deserve)
The only merit is
of Jesus - his faithfulness, his sacrifice.
Even man's best
is but the fruit of his Spirit.
Quotes from Jeremiah in the
NT
| Jer | NT | |
| 616 | Math 1129 | ... and you will find rest for your souls. |
| 711 | Math 2113 | My house ... a den of robbers. |
| 915 | Rev 811 | ... bitter food and poisoned water. |
| 924a | 1 Co 131 | Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. |
| 152 | Rev 1310 | If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. |
| 1516 | Rev 109,10 | It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. |
| 3115 | Math 218 | A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. |
| 3131-34 | Heb 1016 | "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the
Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." |
| 5113 | Rev 171 1810 | You who live by many waters ... your end has come. |
| 5145 | Rev 184 | Come out of her, my people, run for your lives. |
| 5149 | Rev 182 | Babylon must fall ... just as the slain in all the earth have fallen because of Babylon. |
| Math 1614 | Some say ... Jeremiah or one of the prophets. |
Lamentations
Each chapter is a carefully written acrostic. (except
5)
Each verse starts with
successive 22 Hebrew letters (3 is a triple acrostic).
Each poem (chapter) tells of the sin, the anger of God
and his mercy.
1 is about Jerusalem's weeping. Referred to as 'She' in
11-11 and 'Me' in 112-22
Tells of the personal agony
of destruction of city, the Temple and people.
Admits to many sins, and
it was the Lord who has brought this grief.
Jeremiah was not comforted
because Nebuchadnezzar gave him freedom.
2 is about God's perspective. He was angry and ordered
this just judgement.
Jerusalem had refused to
listen to God. (Jeremiah warned them for 40 years)
Then the Lord fulfilled
his word - none escaped.
3 is personal, 'I', Jeremiah felt deeply the continuous
rejection and persecution.
Yet, God is compassionate
and faithful - 'I will wait for him' and for salvation.
Both calamities and good
things come from the Lord. Why should I complain?
'Streams of tears flow from
my eyes because my people are destroyed.'
4 is about 'They', the prosperous sons of Zion were once
gold, but are now clay.
Their agony in extreme famine
is far worse than the sword.
Their suffering was not
arbitrary, but punishment for proud, unrepentant sin.
5 is about 'Us'. Our dancing has turned to mourning. Zion
lies destroyed.
'Woe to us for we have sinned.'
'Restore us to yourself,
O Lord that we may return'
(Not granted to them, but
only 70 years later)
Lamentations is sung every year in synagogues on the 9th
Av.
i.e. the exact day the Temple
was destroyed in 586 BC and also in 70 AD.
In Christ, Peace. In the world, Trouble
(a sermon)
Preached at Emmanuel Baptist, Falmouth on 24/6/90 (now slightly revised)
It was a lonely experience.
The words in italics were spoken by 'Jeremiah' (Glyn Jones)
Every day we hear about the progress of the 'peace process'
in Bosnia, the Middle East
or N.Ireland.
Our hopes rise, but in spite of all the talk, the wars
continue.
Nearly 60 years ago Neville Chamberlain cried, "Peace
in our time!"
2000 years ago a far wiser man cried,
"Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you.
I do not give to you
as the world gives." (Jn 1427) and later he said,
"I have told you these things,
so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you
will have trouble.
But take heart! I
have overcome the world". (Jn 1633)
These words of Jesus bring much encouragement to us.
They have proved true in experience.
But have you noticed how easily we pass over what we don't
like!
We like the promise of peace, we like joy, quick success,
and an easy life.
But the second phrase is "In the world you will have trouble?"
And we don't like trouble!
It speaks of God's just
judgement but we only like to experience his love!
It is rare to find a man
with a zeal for responsible hard work,
the costly call, or
the demanding obedience.
We must not live on a diet of selected bits of God's word
- the nice bits -
else we will surely surcumb
to error and deception.
Always read the context; and here the whole verse, not
just the nice 1st part.
In Christ, Peace. AND In the world, Trouble.
May I ask how many of you have read all 52 chapters of
Jeremiah
in the last year? (only
one person out of about 200 raised their hand!)
Jeremiah is here - and so is the God of Jeremiah! (enter
man dressed as Jer.)
So I hope you are not too
embarrassed.
Why do we avoid a book like Jeremiah?
1) Too Long 2) Too Difficult
or 3) Too Depressing
Maybe we just don't like
the message.
The people of Jerusalem did not like it either!
They turned their backs
on the preaching of Jeremiah.
So let us go back to Jerusalem; it is 627 BC, what has
been happening?
Manasseh had finished his long and most evil reign.
Josiah, his grandson, who had become king when only 8
years old, is now 21.
In the last few years Judah had seen a major clean up
operation.
All the pillars, high places
and Asherah, all the ecclesiastical bric-à-brac
had been piled up in
the Kidron valley and burnt.
Corruption in high places
was ended.
Teams went throughout all
the country burning idols. Such zealous reform!
It was Revival!
Here at last was an earnest
godly king,
whose court hummed
with spiritual fervour.
What was God's view of all this? It will probably surprise
us.
The young prophet Jeremiah began to speak what God told
him.
"From the north disaster will be poured out on all
who live in the land ...
I will pronounce my judgements on my people because
of their wickedness in forsaking me ..." Jer 113-16
But God, do you really mean that?
With all this 'God-given' revival,
and the impact of the
Charismatic Movement?
'No,' they said, 'this can't be right. This isn't God
speaking to us.'
But God who sees what men are blind to, said,
"Your ways are not my ways and your thoughts are not mine."
I see the greed and injustice, how the rich get richer,
and the poor poorer.
I see you make promises to your spouse and break them.
Your free and easy sex is an abomination.
And the 1 in 3 children
who are born to unmarried parents
show just how wide-spread
fornication has become.
I have heard the cry of the 170,000 aborted babies you
murder each year.
"My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken
me, the spring of living water and dug their own cisterns, (i.e. their
own laws) broken cisterns that cannot hold water. ... Although you wash
yourself with soda and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt
is still before me. Jer 213-22
"I gave unfaithful Israel her certificate of divorce
and sent her away ...
(the N.kingdom of Israel had been exiled under the Assyrians
100 yrs ago)
"her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; ...
she did not return to me with all her heart, but only
in pretence ..." Jer 36-11
7 years went by, and the king's revival continued.
Now the temple was being cleaned.
Not just a little dusting
- it was a 100% job.
Josiah was in earnest.
Hilkiah had found the Book of the Law.
The King not only read it, underlining the important parts,
but he started putting it
into practice.
It was God's word, all of
it.
It was written to be obeyed,
not just talked about!
They started to celebrate the Passover again.
Internationally there was a semblance of peace.
Necho in Egypt had no stomach for war.
For the first 20 years of his reign, Ashurbanipal of Assyria
had been at war,
but now for the last 20
years he had retired to his library in Nineveh.
He had unilaterally disbanded
his brutally efficient war machine.
So Assyria was now militarily
weak.
There was peace on all sides. Even the prophets were saying
so.
- all except Jeremiah!
"Now I pronounce my judgements against (Judah). ...
Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come
like a whirlwind ...
O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved.
...
A besieging army is coming from a distant land,
raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.
Jer 412-17
Others said that God will surely protect us; we are his
people.
"No harm will come to us;
we will never see sword or famine ..."
"They dress the wound of my people as though it were
not serious.
'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace."
Jer 811
"'Should you not fear me?' declares the Lord,
'Should you not tremble in my presence?'" Jer
522
(pause - selah)
"My grief is beyond healing, my heart is sick within
me. ...
for the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart
wounded,
I mourn, and dismay has overtaken me.
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician
there?" Jer 818-22 (RSV)
We will leave Jeremiah for a moment,
and allow him the privacy
and the time to weep alone before God.
We will go forward some 640 years to the same little city
of Jerusalem.
There is a man riding a donkey. He is surrounded by a
crowd who shout,
"Blessed is the King who
comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest!"
But as he came to the Mt of Olives and looked down on
Jerusalem he stopped;
the crowd stopped, suddenly
they went silent - Jesus was weeping!
Through his tears he said,
"If you, even you, had only
known on this day what would bring you peace
but now it is hidden
from your eyes." Lk 1938-42
What does make for real lasting peace?
Certainly not successful
Summits or phoney Peace talks.
As my wife said recently,
"The treaties of men are motivated by fear and honoured
when convenient!"
ONLY THE CROSS OF CHRIST CAN RECONCILE MAN WITH GOD.
Only a man who believes that Jesus is our Redeemer,
that he has bourn our sin,
has paid the full price to set us free,
only he can know true peace
with God.
So, Jesus wept, just as Jeremiah wept,
because the people
did not know who could bring them this peace.
They stubbornly rejected Jesus as the Messiah, the Redeemer.
And their day of opportunity
would soon be over.
In the last days we shall not experience peace and prosperity,
but war, famine, earthquakes,
disease, deception and distress.
The greed of man will cause global warming and world-wide
pollution.
There will be no Middle-East peace, or world-wide revival.
A New World Order will be led by a satanic Beast and his
false Prophet,
who will persecute Christian
believers as never before.
Babylon (world economics and trade) will collapse "in
a single hour",
as it is written, "Fallen,
fallen is Babylon the great".
Many will be deceived.
Because of wickedness the love of many will grow cold,
(because it is a conditional
love; I will love you, if you love me)
Men will hate to hear "You must repent and be born again."
The need for the Cross of
Christ will divide men, as it always has.
Islam and New Agers (many roads to god) will hate the
Christians.
But this persecution will be a most effective witness
of the true gospel
of Christ. It always has
been!
Do you still want to see the gospel, preached throughout
the world?!
But back to Jerusalem. It is 610 BC
Josiah was 39 and in his prime.
He had been reading of God's mighty deliverance from the
slavery in Egypt.
2 years ago Nabopolassar of Babylon had rebelled against
the Assyrians.
He had joined up with the Medes and captured Nineveh,
the Assyrian capital. They retreated to Haran and cried to Egypt for help.
Pharaoh Necho immediately
set out to his aid.
But Josiah knew from God's word all about Egypt
and he didn't want to be
the meat in the sandwich!
Ignoring a warning, he went off to battle with his puny
little army.
And he died a fool; but
a fool for God!
Just like so many early Christians who faced the lions
as fools for Christ.
or like Wycliffe, Tyndale,
Latimer, Ridley and many others
who each faced the flames
rather than compromise and enjoy an easy life.
600 years after Josiah came a far mightier man who would
be crucified.
And what he did has always seemed foolish to men.
Only to a very few has the Cross been the very wisdom
God.
For most it is either a
tragedy of self-sacrifice or can safely be ignored.
But it remains God's only
way to win the victory over sin.
O, and by the way, Josiah also won - in a way.
His battle had delayed Necho so that he was too late to
help Assyria.
By the time he reached Haran,
they had already been defeated by Babylon.
The clock has moved on to 605 BC.
4 years ago Egypt had made Jehoiakim king of Judah.
So we must return to Jeremiah. (Jeremiah returns)
We had left him weeping over Jerusalem and the hardness
of man's heart.
He yearned to know what God would do. Now he had heard!
"The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah concerning all
the people of Judah
in the 4th year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of
Judah,
which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon. ...
For 23 years ... the word of the Lord has come to me
and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have
not listened. ...
I will summon ... my servant Nebuchadnezzar. ...
I will banish the sounds of joy. ...
(and you) will serve the king of Babylon 70 years."
Jer 251-11
Jehoiakim submitted to Nebuchadnezzar that year without
any battle or siege.
Daniel, his 3 friends and many of the best men were taken
to Babylon.
But Jehoiakim wasn't too worried, he was still king.
He even built himself a new palace in best cedar wood
- at Gov. expense!
One winter evening he had listened to Jeremiah's scroll
being read to him.
With measured contempt he
chopped it up,
burning each piece as it
was read.
But the purposes of God are not changed because a king
(or a president or Prime
Minister) does not like what God says.
Jehoiakim didn't care what God thought. He never even
stopped to ask!
Today in the U.K. who cares what God thinks?
We spend nearly £21,000 million on defence each year,
and export £2,300 million of arms mainly to the Middle
East and Third World
so that we can help them
prove who is the biggest and the best.
What does it matter what God thinks if £7,000 million
is spent on advertising. - goods that we often
don't need and cannot afford: so we have to borrow
and the average household
debt is £1,700 (not including mortgages).
What does God think about our careless consumerism?
About the £8,000 million
that we in the EC spend on cosmetics each year
when more than half the world earns less than
£6/week.
God is not pleased when we pass laws that defy his 10
Commandments.
One day we will find out what God thinks,
and by then it will probably
be too late.
But it's 601 BC and Nebuchadnezzar is busy fighting Egypt.
This time both sides lose. They each sustain massive losses.
Nebuchadnezzar returns to Babylon to re-build his tattered
army.
And Mr "Face-2-Ways" Jehoiakim decides to side with Egypt.
So he foolishly withholds
his tribute to Babylon.
An angry Nebuchadnezzar comes and captures Jerusalem.
He takes all the gold and silver vessels from the temple
also Ezekiel and a large
number of slaves to toil at his brick works.
He kills Jehoiakim and tosses
his body over the city walls,
Just as Jeremiah has prophesied.
Zedekiah is made king. But he is also evil.
Jeremiah is troubled, deeply troubled - in fact he is
now in prison.
Not a nice comfortable modern
jail with TV and all mod cons.
In those days you were lucky
to come out alive!
But that is not what distresses Jeremiah.
It is not his personal circumstances, no.
His concern was that neither king nor people wanted to
hear
what God thought. Ignore
him, they said, he's only a fun spoiler!
It is almost 40 years now since God had made Jeremiah
his prophet.
40 long, lonely years of
swimming against the tide.
God had warned him that his message would not be popular.
But God had also said that he would rescue him - and he
had.
True, he once had to flee
the country for a while!
True, he had been thrown
down a well so that he would starve to death!
True, that now he had been
left to rot in prison!
But Yes, God had rescued him.
He had not been killed,
he had been protected from all of Satan's wiles.
He had suffered, but he
was still God's faithful prophet.
As another servant of God would later say,
"We have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing
power is from God and not from us.
We are hard pressed on every
side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus
may also be revealed in our body.
For we who are alive are always being given over to death
for Jesus' sake,
so that his life may be
revealed in our mortal body." 2 Co 48-11
Or another who said,
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain
what he cannot lose."
(Jim Elliot)
Jeremiah is in prison. It's 587 BC
In Jerusalem there is desperate hunger and growing despair.
Zedekiah had rebelled against Babylon.
He hadn't learned anything
from Jehoiakim's folly.
And now Nebuchadnezzar had nearly succeeded in his 18
month siege. (391,2)
Jeremiah; how can you be so unconcerned about your own
discomfort?
Tell us; how can our hearts be at peace when the world
is crumbling?
Not to mention all the
injustice, the unemployment,
sickness, abuse, and
hardship in our deceived, materialistic society.
How can we be ready for the day
when it will no longer be
'business as usual'?
when the world economic
'pack of cards' collapse,
when the resulting distress
will add to the famine, war, pollution, floods,
hurricanes and earthquakes?
Jesus warned us that many Christians will be martyred
and many other Christians
will be deceived.
Jeremiah, what is the answer?
We need to know how to stand in such a day.
I am about to hand over this city to the King of Babylon,
and he will capture it. Hanamel, your cousin, is going to come to you and
say, 'Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right
and duty to buy it.' Jer 323-8
What sort of answer is that?!
City and temple about to be destroyed and everyone exiled.
And you say buy a field in Anathoth just 3 miles north-east
of the city
with half the Babylonian
army encamped on it?
But Jeremiah knew God. So he obeyed.
And in obeying he understood
God's message.
His cousin duly came, the field was bought, paid for and
witnessed.
Good old Barach, who was still with him, wrote out the
deed.
Barach was the man
who had written the scroll the previous king had burnt.
Over a year's work destroyed
in a few minutes; but he did not complain.
Jeremiah had dictated another,
and longer scroll!
Barach was not a man
who would leave him just because life was hard.
He took the deeds, sealed them in a jar and buried them
- good and secure.
They are still there!
Hidden somewhere in the
rubble that lies under the modern city of Jerusalem.
Of course Jeremiah never saw them again --- that wasn't
the point.
It was never intended to be a nice little retirement
investment,
It was a sign, a parable.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
I am about to hand this city over to the Babylonians ... who will
burn it. ... The people have provoked me by all the evil they have
done ... they have turned their backs to me and not their faces.
... But this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: 'I
will surely gather them from all the lands where I have banished them in
my furious anger ... I will bring them back ... they will be my people,
and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and
action, so that they will always fear me ... I will make an everlasting covenant
with them: I will never stop doing good to them ... Once
more fields will be bought ...'" Jer 3226-43
The exiles did return in the second year of Cyrus, in
537 BC.
They remained in Jerusalem for over 600 years,
until they were exiled again
in 70 AD.
For it was with many tears that Jesus wept over Jerusalem,
for they still did not know
what makes for peace.
Peace with God; forgiveness,
reconciliation and wholeness through the Cross.
Do we know?
Have we learned that the peace of God is far more than
the absence of war?
Jerusalem, the city of peace,
Hebrew 'Salem' = peace,
hence city of peace
It is ironic that Jerusalem
has been more fought over than any other city.
In fact it has changed hands
30 times since the days of Jeremiah!
Now the Jews have returned to their ancient capital a
second time.
Currently about 65,000 Jews emigrate to Israel each year.
It is a sign.
God punishes; and God is always faithful to his covenant.
The same covenant he had graciously revealed to his weeping
servant,
Jeremiah.
For he had seen what his great forebear Abraham had seen:
The day of Jesus Christ.
Not a general utopia
and peace on earth.
Jeremiah had suffered too much to think like that.
He had learned the truth that a man 'reaps what he sows.'
Everyone who seeks the Lord
with all his heart shall find him,
and receive eternal
life.
But all who do nothing,
who see no need for
the forgiveness of God,
will
reap the fruit of their wickedness; a just and eternal punishment.
This is a hard lesson. But it remains true.
Jeremiah had learned it in the school of suffering and
tears.
He knew that sin pays a
wage - death.
'The soul that sins shall
surely die.'
Or as Jesus said, 'He who does not believe is condemned
already'.
God's punishment of sin
is just, deserved and certain;
whatever some well-meaning
men may say.
Jeremiah had learned from experience
that a believer is often
called to walk a lonely and tearful road
but it is not for ever;
for 'Joy comes in the morning.' (Ps 305)
He learned that 'Those who sow in tears will reap with
songs of joy.' (Ps 1265)
He learned that
In the world there will
be trouble - and plenty of it;
but in Christ, and in Christ
alone, there is peace.
Thank you Jeremiah.
You saw so clearly that God is rightly and justly about
to judge the earth.
You experienced the trials, tribulations and persecution
for over 40 years.
You warned them as you have warned all the generations
of men since,
for the heart of man has
not changed.
You were able to endure because your eyes were set on
a better kingdom.
You wept, but remained full of faith, when all around
you crumbled.
You did not spend your life trying to make it just a little
bit easier
and more comfortable.
You were not conformed to this world.
You were a faithful prophet and pilgrim.
God spoke to you. You had ears to hear.
You knew what Jesus would do,
even if you didn't know
exactly how he would do it.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have
peace.
In this world you will have
trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome
the world".