A Leaders' Discussion with God

Psalm 133:1–3 ESV

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Introduction

This mornings passage was chosen because of the significance of leadership. I want to take a few moments and look at a time in Jeremiah’s life and what he went through as a called leader in his ministry and calling by God.

You see as we just witnessed the commissioning of our leaders within the church I want to look at this text and see how Jeremiah responded and how God responded to him. After looking at that discussion, what does it mean for us as a church and how shall we treat those leaders among us in our church.

Remember that I called this sermon series

God’s Response in a Tumultuous Time

This passage is a clear indication of those times.

Jeremiah was called to be a spokesperson for God directly by God’s voice and now in this chapter, the leader is facing one of his toughest battles.

In this battle he cries out to God for help and a clarification of, in modern times, what is going on?

before we look at this chapter, it needs to be stated that this discussion with God is linked with the events outlined in chapter 11.

As a church leader it is the scariest chapter to read. In fact, I can well imagine that for some of you sitting here or listening to this message only affirms in your mind why you don’t stand up and take up a leadership role.

Leadership in a church, both volunteer and paid requires that one must come to God first. To seek out direction from God. To have a set of gifting to be able to stand in a position of leadership.

We as a congregation, must, understand this and respond accordingly to those among us who follow God’s leading and are willing to serve in this capacity.

I will expand this thought later, but let me give you an update as to the events in Jeremiah’s life found in Chapter 11.

Jeremiah finds himself in the threats of the “men of Anathoth”

These were threats from the people in Jeremiah’s home town.

If the weekly press release existed it would read,

“Home town boy makes it big” followed up by “Home town boy threatened by local men to stop proclaiming his message”

These men, whomever they were, were threatening the very life of the prophet. Their hearts were so hardened that God’s word for their lives were being ignored and they were willing to seek out God’s messenger to end his.

Talk about a Tumultuous time.

It is with this in mind we move to today’s text,

Before we look into God written Word, let’s pray

A Leader’s Confession

The chapter begins with the written confession of a leader to His God.

Turn with me to Jer 12 and I will begin by looking at the first 4 verses.

Jeremiah 12:1–4 ESV

1 Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? 2 You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. 3 But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. 4 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”

A Leader’s Confession

Notice how Jeremiah starts this complaint.

He first identifies that he is talking with a holy, sovereign God.

This is for the leaders out in our crowd today. God is sovereign.

Nothing get by Him. He works through all situations no matter how drastic they may appear to us, God is sovereign.

For the people in the crowd that are following the leaders.

The same message is for you. God is sovereign.

He has placed that leader in your midst for a purpose. If there comes a time in which you are questioning God why, God is sovereign.

Sovereignty means that we bring our concerns and thoughts to God.

But as you notice, God is not afraid to hear our thoughts.

Let’s look at the passage.

My translation states,

When I complain to you.

Do you have complaints in your life.

How do you respond to your complaints.

I remember in High School I have a very good Math teacher. He was the type of teacher that inspired you to learn and in fact, I became a student of math because of his love for the subject and wanting for his students to understand it as well.

But one time I had a complaint. I felt he unfairly marked my test.

He had an open policy that a student could protest their mark, but he reassured us that if we come to him with a protest, he would make sure he would carefully go over the test and find any and all mistakes made. Student who went, often found that there were more mistakes than first discovered, or overlooked, and would walk away from the complaint with a lower mark.

But I had a complaint. I looked over my test, I noticed the grade showed that I had made a mistake because it wasn’t 100 % but I couldn’t find where I had made my mistake.

So I went before the judge with this comment.

Mr Nimitez, I would love to learn from my mistakes for the next time I take a test, could you please show me where I made the mistake so that I can learn.

Have you had a complaint? How do you approach the person in whom you have a complaint with?

If you were standing before a judge who has just pronounced judgement, do you say, Oh by the way, I have a problem with your judgement.

Do you have a complaint against an officer that has just pulled you over for some offense and you say, I have a problem with the inconvenience that you are causing me so that I can’t get on my way.

How does one deal with complaints in our lives?

BTW. I walked away with a changed test score. 100%. I have kept this test for many years.

How do you complain to God.

Folks this complaint was no small complaint that Jeremiah had with God. He had just gone through a time of potential lynching.

The complaint was an intense dialogue with a sovereign God.

Look at the text, I complain to you, I plead with you.

Why,

Last Sunday I experience an event that I felt was unjustified against me, against the church, and to a larger extent, against God.

I too had to wrestle with the outcome. Why

God we are doing so much to follow your Word and direction for our lives, but our reputation, and in turn your reputation lands in the hands of people.

Why. Humanly speaking, I wanted to respond with full gusto, to expose the truth so clearly to defend with all my might.

God spoke, a sovereign God, said, leave it with me. I will use this to bring honor and glory to you.

Did it anger me, you bet, did I stay there, not for long. Have I given it to God. Yes, and I look forward to the day that I see how God will use this time to bring honor and glory to Him.

But Jeremiah states what we so often feel as believers.

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?

Now before I go any farther, once again look at who is considered the wicked.

The very people of God.

In order to understand this concept. One needs to do a study in the book of proverbs and pull out all the verses that point out peoples actions. You will find they land in one of three categories.

Wise, simple, foolish.

You see the wise, when confronted with their actions or behaviour will listen, learn and walk away wiser.

The simple will hear the wisdom and walk away unchanged.

The foolish is a category, I hope to never stay to long in. God doesn’t deal well with us when we find ourselves or stay in that category.

Look at verse 2. Jeremiah’s complaint has increased to the point that it is God’s fault that they are so successful.

Look at what you have done!

With the coming of spring, there is much conversation with gardeners of what crop they will plant in their back 40 in their yards.

I admire those people who have that gift, ability and desire.

My back 40 Inches have strawberries. They did poorly.

I have 4

not plants, 4 berries.

I’m proud of my berries, I planted them, they took root, they grew, they produced fruit. I don’t complain that I have no Saskatoon berries, because I never planted them.

Jeremiah’s complaint is so strong that he is blaming God for the success of the wicked.

Look at the second part of verse two.

YOU are near to their mouths, but you never captured their hearts.

One commentary writes

The problem of the prosperity of the wicked in the light of God’s righteousness is not directly solved here or elsewhere in Scripture. The only final answer is faith in the sovereign wisdom and righteousness of God. Some interpreters see in Jeremiah’s questions (v.1) a measure of impatience. He is still deeply troubled by the treachery of his fellow citizens of Anathoth. He acknowledges at the outset that God is righteous—a fact basic to all theistic thinking. Jeremiah refuses in principle to question the justice of God, but he still has questions about the success of the wicked in the light of his own trials. Even in the light of the NT, believers today are troubled by similar doubts. In a spirit of holy familiarity, Jeremiah would reason or argue the case with the Lord. The wicked he refers to are not just those of Anathoth but the wicked in general. Aware only of temporal rewards and punishments, OT saints continually probed the problem. With true discernment Jeremiah realizes that prosperity is not accidental but goes back to God’s general grace in providing human needs (cf. Matt 5:45; Luke 6:35). He uses the figure of a fruit-bearing tree (v.2). The wicked, instead of thanking the Lord for his goodness and worshiping him, are actually hypocrites, mouthing pious phrases without reality in their hearts

Feinberg, C. L. (1986). Jeremiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 457). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Then Jeremiah talks about himself as righteous,

Test me God.... but deal with them swiftly.

Jeremiah continues to tell God get rid of them because it is also affecting the ground and the land. All of your creation is grouwning because of their wickedness.

Strong words, strong confession

But how does God Answer?

God’s Answer

God’s answer is clear and direct. Folks, please realize that God will answer us when we cry out to him.

He will respond, he is not afraid to be asked, to be questioned, but he will answer.

His response came in three waves. First to Jeremiah, then God shares his heart, and finally a response to the people.

He responds directly to Jeremiah

Turn back to the text and we will begin in verse 5 to read God’s response to Jeremiah

Jeremiah 12:5–6 ESV

5 “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? 6 For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; do not believe them, though they speak friendly words to you.”

God sits down the prophet who has been called to a life of speaking for God, not good news and lays out for him what will be coming.

One commentary puts it this way,

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 6: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (a. The Prosperity of the Wicked (12:1–6))

The Lord’s answer to Jeremiah’s complaint is meant to teach him that he is too impatient.

He would have to suffer even more. What he had endured in Anathoth would be insignificant compared with the trials he had yet to undergo. What would he do then (cf. 36:26; 38:4–6)? His confrontation with the men of his own town has made him realize the magnitude of the task he has undertaken. He cannot turn to his family for help because they were part of his difficulty. God now challenges him to greater courage and faith for greater trials in the future. In spite of his problems up to this point his situation has been like that of a dweller in a peaceful land.

What a response from God.

Basically, If you that that was bad, buckle up, there is more coming.

In one of the churches I served in, they had a benevolent fund set up to help those who needed a financial hand. One year, God laid upon the hearts of the people to give a head of requests.

I saw that and went to prayer because I knew things may be coming for the people, hardships that will test their faith.

God’s reply to Jeremiah was not just testing his faith, but telling him that this ministry that he has accepted will come strong and hard.

He responds with an open heart

The next verses, God responds with His heart about the situation.

look at verse 7

Jeremiah 12:7–13 ESV

7 “I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies. 8 My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her. 9 Is my heritage to me like a hyena’s lair? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them to devour. 10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my portion; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart. 12 Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the Lord devours from one end of the land to the other; no flesh has peace. 13 They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”

There is a mourning of loss. God hopes for and would love for the people to fully accept His protection, but sadly they do not.

In the last couple of years, I have come to the realization I have been giving gifts to people with a set of expectations.

I would give a gift and expect the receiver of the gift to treasure that gift to its fullest appreciation. I would expect that there would not be any hint of re gifting to others.

But, I have learned a true gift is one given without expectations. I give you get, do with it what you want.

My gifts are nothing compared to the covenant that God had with His people. He gave, They can do what they choose, but God will continue to give and it pains Him to see them treat this with contempt, yet God doesn’t change.

He responds to the wicked

God then responds to the wicked.

Jeremiah 12:14–17 ESV

14 Thus says the Lord concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.”

Isn’t it a description of a patient God.

I wish at times I had the patience that God displayed through this.

They are evil, But, God says, if they come back I will accept them with open arms.

But He also warns the folks that hurt or avenge his people, God’s justice will rule in the end.

Our response

What is our response to this Passage,

What is God saying to us as we look at this. God’s Word is here for us for life’s calling.

I hope anyone is not in the calling that Jeremiah had. He was called to be a voice for God in a tumultuous Time.

He lived out his calling with many people against him.

Live the Calling on our lives

What is your calling?

Micah 6:8 ESV

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

As you reflect upon your life, are you following God.

We have talked about being a disciple of Christ. One who is seeking to know God, while being transformed into the image of Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit in the context of community.

Is this your calling on your life?

You see when we have this as a disciple, the events in our life will draw us stronger to Christ.

Do not be weary run with endurance

You see Jeremiah came to God and confessed his frustration. Christ is calling us to the same response.

Hebrews states,

Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Conclusion

In conclusion,

This morning we have dedicated as part of our service the leaders chosen as part of the church.

May I encourage you that as part of your response should be the type of people that stand behind them.

You stand up for them

You pray for them

May then never look back on their time of service with one of regret or feelings of despair like Jeremiah did as he cried out to God.

May they complete the calling on their lives with confidence that they are standing as leaders for this congregation.

With that, as we continue to worship, we will come to the lords Table

Communion