Vain Ritualistic worship without devotion to God Liars

• • Vain & Ritualistic worship without devotion to God Liars, Dishonorable and untrustworthy No shame for sins Corrupt Religious & Civil Leaders Unwilling to listen and change Idolaters Forsaken the Lord and do not fear or respect Him

Judah’s spiritual condition • • Forsaken the Lord and did not fear or respect Him (Jer 2: 18) Vain & Ritualistic worship without devotion to God (Jer 7: 8 -11) Liars, Dishonorable and untrustworthy (Jer 9: 3 -5) Idolatry (Jer. 7: 17 -18, 30 -31) No shame for their sins (Jer. 6: 15) Will not respond to God’s message ( Jer. 7: 2728) Corrupt Religious & Civil Leaders (Jer. 2: 8) Prophet (23: 13 -14, 17) Priest (5: 31) 3

Jeremiah: Faith in a Corrupt Age

Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Lesson Objectives 1. Be encouraged to live more faithfully 2. Observe how Jeremiah remained faithful to God and completed his mission 3. Notice similarities between Jeremiah’s commission and work and our spiritual commission and work

Babylonian Captivity Date 606/5 BC 597 BC 586 BC Deportation First Second Third Captives Taken Nobles, Daniel (2 K. 24: 1; Dan. 1: 1 -2) Jehoiachin, Ezekiel (2 K. 24: 12; Jer. 52: 28; Ezk. 1: 1 -2) Jerusalem (2 K. 25: 8; Jer. 52: 29)

Daniel Jeremiah Ezekiel

Jeremiah 1: 1 -3 – Length of Mission The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

Jeremiah 1 – Length of Mission thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign until the exile (41 Years) 627 BC – 586 BC * His work continued in Egypt after the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer. 43 -44)

Jeremiah 1 - The Call & Commission Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. " Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth. " 7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth, 'Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. 8"Do not be afraid of them,

Jeremiah 1 - The Call & Commission "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you, " declares the LORD. Then the LORD stretched out His hand touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant. "

shaqed (almond) Andshoged the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see? " And I said, "I see an (watching) almond branch. " Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it. " (1: 11 -12) • Almond tree is first tree to bud in spring • play on words

Jeremiah 1 - The Call & Commission They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you. "

Assurances/Commands of God 1. “I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (1: 5) 2. “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you” (1: 8) 3. “I have put My words in your mouth” (1: 9) 4. "I am watching over my word to perform it. “ (1: 12) 5. "Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you” (1: 17) 6. You will be able to resist all attacks and to stand triumphant at last (1: 19)

The Difficulty of His Mission 1. Content of His message Jeremiah 1: 16 "I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.

The Difficulty of His Mission 2. Locations & Audiences of his Message Ø In the temple Jeremiah 7: 8 -10, 14 -15 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are 14 therefore I delivered to do all these abominations’? . . . will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to this place which I gave to you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren—the whole posterity of Ephraim.

The Difficulty of His Mission 2. Locations & Audience of his Message Ø Kings - Jeremiah 38: 18

The Difficulty of His Mission 2. Locations & Audience of his Message Ø Kings - Jeremiah 38: 18 "Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire. 3'You will not escape from his hand, for you will surely be captured and delivered into his hand;

The Difficulty of His Mission 2. Locations & Audiences of his Message Ø elders and senior priests at the valley of Bin. Hinnom Jeremiah 19

Ø elders and senior priests at the valley of Bin-Hinnom Jeremiah 19: 6, 10, 11 therefore, behold, days are coming, " declares the LORD, "when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-hinnom, but rather the valley of Slaughter. … "Then you are to break the jar in the sight of the men who accompany you and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial.

The Difficulty of His Mission 3. Symbolic Actions 3. Ø Ø No Wife or Children (16: 1 -4) Wear a Yoke (27: 2 -12; 28: 1 -17) Purchase a Field (32: 1 -44)

The Difficulty of His Mission 4. Mistreated - Mocked Jeremiah 17: 15 Look, they keep saying to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come now!" Jeremiah 20: 10 For I heard many mocking: “ Fear on every side!” “ Report, ” they say, “and we will report it!. ”

The Difficulty of His Mission 3. Mistreated - Falsely accused Jeremiah 43: 2 -3 “You speak falsely! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to dwell there. ’ But Baruch has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon. ”

The Difficulty of His Mission 3. Mistreated - Threatened Jeremiah 11: 21 “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life, saying, ‘Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand ’ Jeremiah 26: 8 (in the temple) Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You will surely die!

The Difficulty of His Mission 3. Mistreated - Physical Abuse Jeremiah 20: 1 -2 Now Pashhur , the priest who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. 2 Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

The Difficulty of His Mission 3. Mistreated - Imprisoned Jeremiah 38: 4 -6

The Difficulty of His Mission 3. Mistreated – Imprisoned Jeremiah 38: 4 -6 Then the officials said to the king, "Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people but rather their harm. " 5 So King Zedekiah said, "Behold, he is in your hands; for the king can do nothing against you. " 6 Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern… which was in the court of the guardhouse; … Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and

The Difficulty of His Mission 4. opposed by false prophets at home and in Babylon Jeremiah 28: 3 -4 (Hananiah –Judah 593 BC) “Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house… the king of Judah (Jehoiachin, 597 BC) with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon…” Jeremiah 29: 27 -29 (Shemaiah – Babylon) “Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who makes himself a prophet to you? For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘This captivity is long; build houses and dwell in

The Difficulty of His Mission 5. Ignored and burned his message Jeremiah 36: 23 When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king (Jehoiakim ) cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire … until all the scroll was consumed in the fire

The Discouragement of Jeremiah 20: 14, 18 Cursed be the day when I was born; Let the day 18 Why not be blessed when my mother bore me!. . . did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame?

Times He Questioned God Jeremiah 12: 1 -2 …Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? Jeremiah 20: 7 -8 O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, "Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.

Jeremiah: Faith in a Corrupt Age 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Felt he was inadequate for the task Living in political turmoil Ungodliness surrounding him Preaching an unpopular message (repentance, surrender, destruction, exile, death) to an audience that would not listen for 40 years Mistreated/Suffered(physical, emotional, spiritual) Struggling at times to reconcile God’s HOW? promises with circumstances in his life Yet, he faithfully executed God’s Plan

Times he Questioned God Jeremiah 12: 1 -2 1 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You …Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?

Times he Questioned God Jeremiah 20: 7 -9 O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day… If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name, ” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

Times he Questioned God Jeremiah 20: 11, 13 But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. … 13 Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of evildoers. 11

How did Jeremiah remain faithful? • • Had a reverence for God and a love for His word Understood that God was in control Had a love for mankind (“weeping” prophet) He trusted that God would be faithful. Ø Ø • to protect Jeremiah in his mission to watch over His Word and bring it to fulfillment to bring justice to evil doers to bring hope and its fulfillment to those of faith Was able to look beyond his present circumstances to the promises of God

Faith in God & Hope for the Future! Lamentations 3: 19 -24 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. 20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 21 But this I call to my mind and therefore I have hope. 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24"The LORD is my portion, " says my soul, "Therefore I will hope in Him. "

• Vain & Ritualistic worship without devotion to God • Liars, Dishonorable and untrustworthy • No shame for sins • Corrupt Religious & Civil Leaders • Unwilling to listen and change • Idolaters • Forsaken the Lord and do not fear or respect Him

The Spiritual Condition of the World • • Do not fear or respect God (Gal 5: 19 -21) Vain & Ritualistic worship without devotion to God (Matthew 15: 19, II Tim. 3: 5) Liars, Dishonorable and untrustworthy (Rom. 1: 28 -32) Idolatry (Col. 3: 5) No shame for sins (Phil 3: 18 -19) Corrupt Religious & Civil Leaders Will not obey (Matthew 7: 13 -14; I Cor 1: 18)

Jeremiah’s Commission and Our Commission • • Jeremiah was chosen by God (Jer. 1: 5) Ephesians 1: 3 -4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love

"I am watching Jeremiah’s Commission and Our Commission over my word to perform it. ” “Great Commission” (Matt 28: 18 -20) (Jer. 1: 12) And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All“Iauthority has. My been given to Me have put in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore “I am with words in your and make disciples of all the nations, you” (Jer. 1: 8) mouth” (Jer. baptizing them in the name of the Father 1: 9) and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. "

Jeremiah’s Commission and Our Commission “Gird up your “Great Commission” (Mattarise” 28: 18 -20) loins and And Jesus came up(Jer. and 1: 17) spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore “speak all” “They will fight and make disciples of all the nations, against you, but (Jer. 1: 17) baptizing them in the name of the Father will. Holy not. Spirit, 20 and the Sonthey and the prevail” (Jer. 1: 9)all that I teaching them to observe commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. "

Difficulties of Our Mission 2. Content of our Message • Deity that revealed an absolute, unchanging, authoritative message that will be the standard by which we are judged (I Pet 1) • Message that calls for the rejection of desires (Gal 6: 14)

Difficulties of Our Mission 3. Mistreatment • Mocked - (I Peter 4: 4) • Falsely accused - (I Peter 3: 15 -16) • Threatened/Physical Abuse/Imprisoned (Matthew 5: 11; John 15: 20)

Difficulties of Our Mission 3. Discouragement • Rejection/Persecution - Will not listen and malign (I Peter 4: 4) • Loneliness – (II Tim 4: 16) 4. Times of Doubt - (Matthew 14: 29 -31)

How can we remain faithful? • • Develop a reverence for God and a love for His word Understand that God is in control Develop a love for all mankind Trust that God will be faithful. Ø Ø • • to protect us in our mission to watch over His Word and bring it to fulfillment to bring justice to evil doers to bring forgiveness and a hope for the future Look beyond our present circumstances to the promises of God II Tim 4: 17 – But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be

God is Faithful! I Peter 4: 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. II Tim 1: 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

God is Faithful! Hebrews 6: 19 -20 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us

Hebrews 12: 1 -2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Potter’s House (Jer. 18) God can reshape a marred or spoiled vessel “Oh turn back each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds”