Turn and Seek the Lord
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(1) Turning and seeking the Lord requires that we see - The Lord’s Judgment is the U-Turn Sign!
For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, Neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
(a) God’s judgment is a call to repent
(b) God’s judgment is a call to seek
Illustration:
Application:
The Lord intends that his people see His judgment and turn from trusting in the wrong things and seek the Lord.
The weight of sinful foolish trust should sink in as we consider that the LORD has smitten Jesus Christ for our sinful unbelief.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
(2) Turning and seeking the Lord requires that we see - The Lord’s Judgment is a Specific Warning Sign!
Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, Branch and rush, in one day. The ancient and honourable, he is the head; And the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; And they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, Neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: For every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, And every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.
(a) Judgment is specifically pronounced upon the leaders (v. 13 - 16)
(b) Judgment is generally pronounced upon all people (v. 17a)
Illustration:
Detours always appear at an inconvenient time, don’t they? On occasion you will come upon a detour that says something like this, “Road closed to through traffic.” A short time later, another sign will read, “Road closed in .6 miles”. Just after that sign, you may see one more final warning that says, “Road open to 5555 Shaker Road.”
These kinds of construction signs are warnings to let you know what is ahead.
Sometimes the signs are more serious. For example, there are places in Middletown that when the rain is excessive, construction crews will put signs out that say “high water.” This typically means that you should find an alternate route. Then, there are those who ignore the signs and when they attempt to go through the water, they vehicle stalls out in the middle of the high water.
In similar fashion, God’s warnings become quite specific here. These now are not merely warnings but they are specified judgments. We should take note of the specific warnings here and make specific application in our lives.
Application:
First, there is certainly a message for those who are not God's people. A refusal to trust in the Lord in spite of clear corruption and evil in the world is a rejection of many warnings that God has given. It is not merely an absence of trust that is in view here - it is a matter of trusting in the wrong things.
Secondly, this judgment pronounces that these leaders will be “cut off”. It mustn’t be overlooked that the true Leader would One day come.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Prominent/Political Leaders
The change of policies by political or prominent leaders is the wrong place to rest our faith.
Why?
Consider the Herodians:
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Herodians
In summary, the Herodians were also known as the Boethusians. Theologically they were in agreement with the Sadducees, but politically they were more pro-Herodian than the Sadducees. While the Pharisees looked for a cataclysmic messianic kingdom to remove the present Herodian rule, the Herodians worked to keep Herod’s dynasty in power.
It is serious because these leaders often stand in opposition to Jesus Christ. Here is the nuance. We think that because a religious leader calls himself a Christian that he must be a good religious leader. The issue is not what the man professes. The issue is whether he or she are calling us to faith in themselves or to faith in Christ. It is a serious sin to place faith in men over faith in the Lord.
What are examples:
Neither Capitalism nor Socialism are king. Jesus is King.
The change of policies by political or prominent leaders is the wrong place to rest our faith. What are examples:
If you don't get Medicare approved, it will be alright
If you can't get in to the doctor in a more timely manner If no one can diagnose your health issue
If you can't get in to the doctor in a more timely manner
If no one can diagnose your health issue
If the economy fails, it is ok.
If you have to sell your house, it will be alright
If you cannot purchase as many Christmas gifts
If you don't get a cost of living pay increase...etc
If you don't get approved for disability...etc
If your child doesn’t get the grant for college, it’s ok
If your child doesn’t get the scholarship, it’s ok
How do you know that people are placing their faith here:
In spite of past failures of these sources, people still continue to place their trust in them (v. 13) rather than turning to the Lord
The level of anxiousness that is evident in conversations over these issues
The hopelessness that people communicate in the event that they lose one or all of these
What are some practical solutions to help with this?
If you cannot spiritually handle listening to modern news, then stop. Here is what I mean...
If each time you watch the news, you are caused to hope in a policy or a political leader, then stop watching and listening to it.
If each time you watch the news, you are caused to hope in a policy or a political leader, then stop watching and listening to it.
Religious Leaders
The ones claiming to have a message from the Lord but preaching a message that does not call to faith in the Lord - they are the wrong place to rest our faith.
The ones claiming to have a message from the Lord but preaching a message that does not call to faith in the Lord - they are the wrong place to rest our faith.
What are examples:
What are examples:How do you know people are placing faith here?What are some practical solutions?Examine your religious intake by what or who is causes you to trust in. If it causes you to place faith in yourself, then call it what it is...a false teacher. If you are called to faith in Christ, then receive it.
How do you know people are placing faith here?
What are some practical solutions?
Examine your religious intake by what or who is causes you to trust in. If it causes you to place faith in yourself, then call it what it is...a false teacher. If you are called to faith in Christ, then receive it.
Examine your religious intake by what or who is causes you to trust in. If it causes you to place faith in yourself, then call it what it is...a false teacher. If you are called to faith in Christ, then receive it.
(3) The Lord’s Judgment is a Special Sign of Long-suffering!
Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, Neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: For every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, And every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, But his hand is stretched out still.
Conclusion: