Prepares
Jeremiah & Lamantations • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 9 viewsGod prepares His people to represent Him in this world
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Who was Jeremiah?
A common name with a disputed meaning - “The Lord hurls/founds/establishes/exalts”; perhaps his name reflects his parents’ hopes for Jeremiah and the nation
A native of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin
A member of a priestly family but perhaps not a priest
The son of Hilkiah, possibly the same Hilkiah who found the book of the law in the days of Josiah
Possibly a descendant of Abiathar, who was the sole survivor of Saul’s massacre, but was later removed from his office by Solomon for supporting Adonijah in his bid to become king
Important dates
643 - birth of Jeremiah
640 - Josiah becomes king
628 - Josiah begins his reforms
627 - Jeremiah begins his ministry
609 - Josiah is killed in a battle with the Egyptians at Megiddo
605 - Nebuchadnezzar defeats Assyrians and Egyptians at Carchemish; first deportation of exiles (including Daniel) to Babylon
597 - Second deportation of exiles to Babylon
586 - Fall of Jerusalem; Judean refugees flee to Egypt taking Jeremiah with them
Purpose
To call his hearers to repentance in view of God’s judgment on Judah, which would come soon by an army from the north
To provide historical details and a backdrop to Israel’s defeat by Babylon
Chapters 30-33, “the book of consolation”; a new covenant (31:31-34)
1. Created
1. Created
1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests living in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah. 3 It also came throughout the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. 4 The word of the Lord came to me: 5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 6 But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.” 7 Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. 8 Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s declaration. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with my words. 10 See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.
v.1-3 historical summary of Jeremiah’s ministry
“the word of the Lord” - this is what we have in the book of Jeremiah and in all of the Bible
v.5 “I chose you” - a theme throughout all of scripture
God chose Abraham; Jacob and not Esau; Israel as a nation
God chose Jeremiah before he was even born
God chose us (who believe) for salvation
“I formed you” - the same word for Adam’s creation; also for the work of a potter
“a prophet to the nations” - not just Israel
v.6 “I don’t know how to speak…only a youth”
A common complaint (c.f. Moses)
“a youth” - inexperienced
v.7 “Do not say, I am only a youth”
1 Tim 4 12 “12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
v.8 “Do you be afraid…I will be with you to rescue you” - God’s promise of his presence and his protection
v.9 God touches Jeremiah’s mouth
Jeremiah and Lamentations: An Introduction and Commentary (Lalleman) ii. A Prophet Commissioned (1:4–19)
Touching Jeremiah’s mouth is a tangible sign of God providing the prophet with the words and the capacity to speak in his name
v.10 “uproot and tear down”, “destroy and demolish”, “build and plant”
Home improvement shows - “demo day”
2/3 of these are negative
2. Watched
2. Watched
11 Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over my word to accomplish it.” 13 Again the word of the Lord came to me asking, “What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a boiling pot, its lip tilted from the north to the south.” 14 Then the Lord said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land. 15 Indeed, I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north.” This is the Lord’s declaration. They will come, and each king will set up his throne at the entrance to Jerusalem’s gates. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah. 16 “I will pronounce my judgments against them for all the evil they did when they abandoned me to burn incense to other gods and to worship the works of their own hands.
v.11 “a branch of an almond tree”
In Hebrew, “almond” = “awake”, so this is an “awake tree”. It blossoms in January when other trees are still dormant. It is a harbinger of spring, as though it watches over the beginning of the season.
Also, the word “almond” in Hebrew sounds very much like the word “watch”, so this is a play on words; an object lesson
v.13 “a boiling pot…tilted from the north to the south”
The pot tilted away from the north (that is, toward the south), with its liquid contents about to boil over. The impending disaster on Judah is compared to the spilling of the contents of a boiling pot, which would scald the people of Judah
v.14 “Disaster will be poured out from the North”
From the North, because that that’s the highway used for travel in that region. No one traveled west across the Arabian desert!
v.16 The reason given for the coming judgment? The idolatry of Judah
3. Charged
3. Charged
17 “Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them. 18 Today, I am the one who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population. 19 They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you.” This is the Lord’s declaration.
Matthew Henry - “The fear of God is the best antidote against the fear of man. It is better to have all the men in the world our enemies than God our enemy”
v.18 Who wouldn’t want to have these characteristics? (fortified city, iron pillar, bronze walls)
v.19 “They will fight but never prevail” - like watching a replay of the football game after you already know the outcome!
God had an assignment for Jeremiah to speak His words. Does he have an assignment for us?
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We can have the same confidence that Jeremiah had
