Introducing the Prophet
Expositing Jeremiah • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsThe life of Jeremiah is one which experienced good times under a good king, trials under bad kings, exile, and finally visions of redemption for God's people. His life and his writing show us a lot about the nature of God and his faithfulness to covenant. In this first message we will focus on who Jeremiah is and how he was called. More importantly, how did God sanctify, sustain, and equip Jeremiah for his mission.
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NOTE: For this sermon, we are borrowing from the general structure of Jeremiah presented in the “Evangelical Commentary on the Bible”.
Chapters 2-10: Sermons Warning of Disaster
Chapters 11-20: Stories about Wrestling with People and with God
Chapters 21-29: Challenging Kings and Prophets
Chapters 30-33: Book of Comfort
Chapters 34-39: Case Studies in the Failure of Leadership
Chapters 40-45: After the Catastrophe
Chapters 46-51: Oracles about the Nations
Chapter 51: Fall of Jerusalem
Who is Jeremiah?
Who is Jeremiah?
Became prophet in 627 BC
Book goes until 562 BC, likely Baruch (Jeremiah’s scribe) finished compiling it with another editor finishing Chapter 52
Timing...
Starts with reign of Josiah (641-609 BC)
Corrupt reign of Jehoiakim (609-597 BC)
Vassalage of Zedekiah (597-589 BC)
Fall of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar
Shared some traits with Jesus...
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Trait 1: Stood against establishment
Trait 2: Themes of Repentance and Salvation
Trait 3: Predicted Destruction of Jerusalem
Trait 4: Rejected by Masses
Jeremiah saw the heights, downfall, and trials of his people. He also saw prophecies of their redemption. This gives him a special perspective on the totality of God’s covenant.
Studying Jeremiah gives us insights into how God approaches our own faults and deficiencies… and how He overcomes those deficiencies to see His “good” covenant come to fruition.
Jeremiah’s Call… and Excuse
Jeremiah’s Call… and Excuse
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.
God Sanctifies...
God chose Jeremiah (sanctified) —> Not something earned
When God calls us to something, it is not done willingly. It is God’s plan and not our own. This is why submission becomes so critical to our journey. God calls in His plan, but there is still our decision to be obedient
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.
God Sustains...
Mentions Age —> Actually FEAR!
God’s statement in verse 8: “I will be with you”. (Recurring Biblical theme)
15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
God Equips...
Ability (“I have now filled your mouth with my words...”
Authority (“I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms...”)
God’s reassurance is that He will not permit us to fail in what He has appointed.
DO NOT BE CONFUSED: Doesn’t mean “we’ll win” by our standards, but that we don’t need to worry about not being good enough, qualified enough, or any human metric of success.
God’s Will can not be overcome… so long as we are serving in accordance with God’s Will, we do not have to worry about forces outside of our control interfering before we have accomplished what God ordains.
Read Jeremiah 1:4-10 and consider Jeremiah’s calling. Look at how Jeremiah responds with initial hesitation/fear.
1. Jeremiah made an excuse, but that excuse was based in fear. What is an instance when you (or someone you know) felt called to do something but excuses were given to mask an inner fear?
2. God’s response was “I am with you” which we see repeated elsewhere (Genesis 28:15, Matthew 28:20). Many take this to focus on themselves and what they define as “winning”. What is the difference between what we might call “winning” vs what God may intend for us? How can something not necessarily look like victory from a worldly perspective, but be victory for God’s glory?
Jerusalem’s “Sin” and God’s Use of Pagans
Jerusalem’s “Sin” and God’s Use of Pagans
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.
Imagery: Brand and boiling pot
Branch signifies God watching over Jeremiah —> Almond flowers bloom first and are known as “watching flowers”
Boiling Pot —> God’s anger and judgment over those disobedient to His covenant
THEME: God uses the unwitting: “Nations to the north” used for God’s purposes…
PROFOUND THOUGHT No. 1: God uses all Creation, not just “the church”.
PROFOUND THOUGHT No. 2: Just because God uses you, doesn’t mean you’re living according to God’s Will.
UTTERLY TERRIFYING!!!!!!
Difference between being used as a child/servant and being used as an “environmental”
There are a lot of churches hyper-focused on projecting the correct environment that God can use, not realizing that if environment is all they desire, they are no better than the pagans that God already uses for His Will.
Our desire should be the heart of God.
If we pursue God, then He will lead us where He Wills.
It is God’s providence to define and reveal His Will… not something that churches and religious leaders are called to do based on organizational or professional ambitions.
Read Jeremiah 1:11-16 and note that God first promises to sustain Jeremiah, then makes clear his displeasure in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was God’s “chosen people” and the kingdoms to the north were pagans… yet God was sending the pagan nations to be His instrument while His chosen people were being judged.
Do you ever see Christians who assume that just because something is ‘a church thing’ or has the name “Jesus” attached to it, it MUST be a good thing? What are some things (actions, events, etc) Christians do which may use the right words and themes, but don’t appear to be God-pleasing? Connect this to Christ’s teachings that it isn’t our actions that justify us; it’s grace alone. What should we be focused on (individually and as a church) if God uses ALL people for His good?
A Wild Ride
A Wild Ride
The book of Jeremiah is a glimpse into the full spectrum of God’s promise, His judgment, and His salvation from our own consequences.
Thematically, it is the story of Christ’s mission.
By understanding how God works through these prophets, we gain a richer understanding into God’s work in our lives through Christ.
We are grafted in to the covenant (Pauline doctrine) of the chosen people.
Just like the chosen people, we also repeatedly rebel against God’s Will.
And just like the chosen people, God’s desire is for our redemption; to come home and dwell with Him.
