Edited: Turn & Seek the Lord
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Introduction:
The judgment pronounced on Israel in this message is broken up into four segments, identified by a particular refrain. In this particular section, the children of Israel are judged further because they did not turn and seek the Lord.
Turning requires an about face from their current direction.
Illustration:
Several years ago, we had a team of families who had gone to a conference in Georgia. One of the families was on staff, and during their return trip, I received a phone call from this staff member. The driver of the van had been faithfully driving while everyone in the van was resting. When the people in the van began to awake, they quickly realized that they had driving around 2.5 hours in the wrong direction. It was then that they realized that they needed to turn around and go in the opposite direction.
Similarly, God’s people had been going in the wrong direction, and they needed to turn and seek the Lord!
Application:
We should not take for granted that we are all going in the right direction. Often, going in the wrong direction can be similar to those who are sleeping in the van. You are resting and trusting in the driver, all the while you are heading in the wrong direction. So, this evening, I would:
Proposition:
Urge you to allow the Lord to show you where you are, and to call you to turn and seek the Him!
(1) Turning and seeking the Lord requires that we see - The Lord’s Judgment is the U-Turn Sign!
(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
(a) God’s judgment is a call to repent
Remember that this required a change of heart that would result in a change of life. The key issue here is that of trust.
(b) God’s judgment is a call to seek
(b) God’s judgment is a call to seek
(b) God’s judgment is a call to seek
It is not merely a stop to the wrong direction, but there should be progress in the right direction.
Illustration:
At the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon, they have an indoor track that has 3 lanes. On certain days of the week, the circuit is clockwise, and on the alternate days the circuit is counterclockwise.
On a couple of occasions, I assumed that I was going the right direction on the track. That is until I was met with someone walking in the opposite direction than I was. My initial thought was that he need to turn around; but I soon found out that I was going the wrong way.
My course of action need to stop and turn and progress in the other direction. I need to do a U-Turn and proceed the other way.
The truth here is that the people of God did not simply need to stop trusting in the wrong things, but they need to to progress in the right direction by trusting in the Lord. They needed to turn and seek. A U-Turn needed to be made in heart and in life.
Application:
The Lord intends that his people see His judgment and turn from trusting in the wrong things and seek the Lord.
Consider the smiting of 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.
Transition:
The Lord’s Judgment is a U-Turn Sign
(2) Turning and seeking the Lord requires that we see - The Lord’s Judgment is a Specific Warning Sign!
(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)
(a) Judgment is specifically pronounced upon the leaders (v. 13 - 16)
(b) Judgment is generally pronounced upon all people (v. 17a)
(b) Judgment is generally pronounced upon all people (v. 17a)
(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:
A warning to the lost.
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.
Consider Christ - “cut off”
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.
Through the death of Christ, we have received life, and a reason to trust Him above all.
Transition:
What Christ has undergone allows Christians to face two very similar temptations today.
(1) The temptation to trust in prominent and/or political figures
(1) The temptation to trust in prominent and/or political figures
(2) The temptation to trust in religious leaders who teach false doctrine
(2) The temptation to trust in religious leaders who teach false doctrine
- This was not uncommon in the time of Jesus Christ, and we should not think it a strange temptation today.
And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
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.
The seriousness of these temptations is that they cause us to trust in someone or something other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
(1) The temptation to trust in prominent and/or political figures
(2) The temptation to trust in religious leaders who teach false doctrine
Illustration:
Neither Capitalism nor Socialism are king. Jesus is King.
I want to take you back to the story that I told you at the beginning. The team that was riding in the van had fallen asleep. They were tired. They actually wanted to be back home. So, it wasn’t some errant desire that they had as if they just wanted to stick to their families. They just were unaware of their current condition.
Similarly, it is not always that you and I have a determination to rebel against God; but that fact is that often we are asleep, spiritually speaking. Consider the words of Paul in , and
If you don't get Medicare approved, it will be alright
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
If you can't get in to the doctor in a more timely manner
Such is the case with many Christians. While we say that we are trusting the Lord and seeking Him, I would urge you to reconsider. Here are a couple of examples:
If no one can diagnose your health issue
Some Christians have become politically disillusioned
Some Christians have become politically disillusioned
Neither Capitalism nor Socialism are king. Jesus is King.
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 no one can diagnose your health issue
If the economy fails, it is ok.
If the economy fails, it is ok.
If you have to sell your house, it will be alright
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:
If you have to sell your house, it will be alright
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
If you cannot purchase as many Christmas gifts
If you don't get a cost of living pay increase...etc
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
If you don't get approved for disability...etc
If you cannot spiritually handle listening to modern news, then stop. Here is what I mean...
If your child doesn’t get the grant for college, it’s ok
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.
Some Christians have become religiously misdirected
Some Christians have become religiously misdirected
If your child doesn’t get the scholarship, it’s ok
How do you know that people are placing their faith here:
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.
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
We must have pulpits that call Christian men and women to faith in Christ for spiritual growth.
Conclusion:
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
Illustration:
What are some practical solutions to help with this?
We were watching a group of small children play a baseball game. They are so cute. They have helmets that are too big, bats that are too heavy, and gloves that aren’t broken in yet. One little boy hit the ball off of the tee. He hit it well. When he took off running, he ran the wrong way - towards 3rd base...
Clearly, there is a level of ignorance here. There is naivety. Though he was running confidently, he was running the wrong way. Everyone was yelling at him to turn around.
Similarly, there are Christians who have put an unreasonable faith in political leaders and even religious leaders who are not really teaching Christ.
Will you be honest this evening?
Will you stop and seek the Lord?
Turn & Seek the Lord!
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.