Denying Reality

1 Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, 2 Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. 3 Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it. 4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt. 5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you. 6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

jer 38:1-

Many times we live in an unreal world.

We live as though sin has no consequences

We walk with blinders on failing to see that which is right in front of our eyes

We live in a bubble removed from reality and ignoring the warnings

We live as though our immediate friends and family are typical of the majority

The theme of “sin” dominates the Bible. There are at least eight different terms in the Hebrew Old Testament reflecting some aspect of sin, e.g., “bad,” “wickedness,” “iniquity,” etc. Some thirteen different words in the New Testament similarly depict various shades of sin, e.g., “evil,” “unrighteousness,” “transgression,” etc. (cf. Pfeiffer, 2003, 1594-95).

It must be noted initially, however, that “sin” does not exist in a vacuum.

Satan was the initial sinner (; cf. ), and he seduced our original parents ().

A corruption of the planet earth followed—first with the Edenic curse (3:16-19), later with the devastating Flood of Noah’s day ().

Additionally, death became the common plague of all biological life (; ; ).

Because of human rebellion, the entire “creation” was subjected to the “bondage of corruption” ().

Romans 8:20–21 KJV 1900

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Spiritual Consequences

Isaiah 59:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

isaiah

No human being on earth can appreciate the horror of being separated from the holy God who created the universe and offered up his Son to atone for sin.

The prophet Isaiah declared: “Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear” (59:1-2).

No human being on earth can appreciate the horror of being separated from the holy God who created the universe and offered up his Son to atone for sin. T

Let us consider some of the major categories in which the monstrous “sin” problem has demonstrated its devastating effects

God had warned the nation of Judah to stop worshiping idols and return to God.

They laughed and mocked the messengers that God sent and went on their way denying the reality of their actions.

2 Chron

2 Chronicles 36:16 KJV 1900

16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Many young people today are unemployed and not motivated well into their 30’s.

They are waiting for the perfect career or job that will not cramp their style.

A non-marketable college degree in a field that sounded cool but has no opportunities.

they refuses to listen to the voices of those asking questions like can you actually be employees in that field

Instead they surrounded themselves with others that are denying reality that this great career can actually be had.

the same exist with those that deny the reality of sin and its consequences in their lives

Consequences of Sin

Separation and quenching the spirit.

Will you hear be so hardened that you never hear from him?

1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV 1900

19 Quench not the Spirit.

It is Harmful to You

It is Harmful to Others

Sin is a Catalyst for More Sin

It is an Eternal Death Sentence to Unbelievers

I The Voice of Denial

Jeremiah 38:1 KJV 1900

jer 38.1

shep pa tiah

mat an

geta liah

pashur

JU cul

Shell a miah

mal kI iah

The officials’ opposition to Jeremiah kept up to the Fall of Jerusalem.

They hated him for his condemnation of their godless policies.

The four mentioned (v.1) doubtless represented a larger group.

Jeremiah’s confinement in the courtyard of the guard (cf. 37:21) still permitted him to make his message known.

With the security of the guardroom as a base, he could have had access to a good many people.

Gedaliah was probably the son of the Pashhur who beat Jeremiah and placed him in the stocks (cf. 20:14).

Jehucal is mentioned in 37:3. All were in the Egyptian party. They naturally quoted Jeremiah’s words in their accusation.

They considered his messages, like those in chapter 21, treasonable; and even to ordinary listeners they sounded that way. Clearly, Jeremiah spoke not as one governed by expediency but as one constrained by the Lord. His counsel was either to surrender or suffer ruin (vv.2–3).[1]

They denied the reality of the consequences of their sin .

Their will always be voice of those that deny the consequences of sin.

Jeremiah 6:14 KJV 1900

14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 23:16 KJV 1900

16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

Jeremiah 8:11 KJV 1900

11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

We often struggle with the idea that sins have consequences, even though we’ve been forgiven

We have a tendency to be selective about the consequences of sin

Sin has consequences, and in this passage, Jeremiah takes the difficult position of proclaiming that truth.

These four leaders are denying reality - they need to wake up and they will.

Illustration

prison cell

hospital room

spending Christmas alone

Spending eternity in hell

of Denial

II The Voice of Deliverance

Jeremiah 38:2–4 KJV 1900

2 Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. 3 Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it. 4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

Jeremiah 38:2–3 KJV 1900

jer 38.2-

The people wanted to hear that God would deliver them, regardless of their sin and the consequences he had promised. God wanted them to face the consequences, but he was still extending grace—they would be taken over but would “escape with their lives” (v. 2) if they would go with the Babylonians

in spite of all of the sinful way God was extending His grace to His people.

Don’t fight the judgement go alone with my plan

You will live

You will be OK

Most importantly I will take care of you

Sin has consequences, and in this passage, Jeremiah takes the difficult position of proclaiming that truth.

Don’t fight against God you will lose every time.

I don't want to go to Babylon!

I don't want to go to a new community

This is where God has placed you .....

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Psalm 107:6 KJV 1900

6 Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses.

psal 107.6

The deliverance here was accepting the Exile!

Just as Jeremiah encouraged his people to plant roots in their exile (29:4–7), his willingness to stick it out and keep repeating news that was not winning him any friends is indicative of deep faith in a God who can use suffering and difficulty in our lives for good.

III The Voice of Destruction

Jeremiah 38:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt. 5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you. 6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

jer 38.4-6

Jeremiah is hurting our cause and discouraging the soldiers defending the city

kill him

Lets put him way down into the cistern in the mire and their he will die!

Jeremiah was charged with working against the war effort and with weakening the will of the people to resist the invaders.

Since he was speaking during the final months of the siege, it is no wonder his message was judged dangerous.

By weakening the morale of the soldiers with whom he was in contact in the guardroom, he infuriated his enemies.

The officials on whom the burden of the defense of the city rested saw him only as a traitor. They called for his death.

The Exile was God’s way of using the Babylonians to purge the nation of idolatry.

The Babylonians were only his agents.

Sin has consequences, and in this passage, Jeremiah takes the difficult position of proclaiming that truth.

Jeremiah was given a daunting task: telling people what they didn’t want to hear.

The People wanted to hear that God would deliver them, regardless of their sin and the consequences he had promised.

We can get that of being judgmental is when we’re asking fellow Christians to face the consequences of sin.

Jeremiah, as God’s messenger, wants what God wants: the faith and growth of his people.

What looks like weeding out sin, refining a community, and facing the consequences of sin, can look like seeking ruin. Jeremiah is a reminder to us that faithful deliverance of God’s truth will result in difficulties inside and outside the church.

see the bottom line was the leaders were not living in the reality of the sins they had committed and were fighting against God and His remidy

Remit y - accept the situation and go into exile.

Instead Kill the messenger that tells them the truth.

What Am I asking you to know?

Are you denying the reality of the consequences of sin?

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