Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.13UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.07UNLIKELY
Fear
0.07UNLIKELY
Joy
0.59LIKELY
Sadness
0.53LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.55LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.43UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.81LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.75LIKELY
Extraversion
0.14UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.58LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.73LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Here we have the beginning of the preaching ministry of Jeremiah.
It is a hard message of sin and judgment.
Look with me at verse 9.
God is pleading with the people of Judah through Jeremiah.
Take special note of the word “plead”.
It is “riv” or “ruv” in the Hebrew and it means to toss, grapple, wrangle, strive, contend, quarrel.
Most scholars believe it to be a judicial term.
That would mean that God is laying out a legal case before Judah.
While I believe that to be true we should also understand the term to communicate a passionate plea to Judah as well.
The reason is simple.
God is not stating the case to Judah for the sole purpose of condemning them.
He is stating the case so they will recognize their own guilt and throw themselves upon the mercy of the Judge in repentance.
Jeremiah is preaching in hope that Judah will experience the grace of God.
We must see our illness or we will not run to the Great Physician.
We must experience spiritual poverty before we will seek the riches of Christ.
It’s to that end that Jeremiah preaches.
We will look at the case God lays before Judah and then we will see the grace of God in this chapter.
1.
The Goodness of God (1-3).
A. In bringing His word to them (1).
Three times they are reminded that God is speaking to them in verses 1-3.
The fact that God would speak to those who are not speaking to Him shows His goodness.
B. In remembering them (2).
God remembers how Judah loved Him.
Israel and God were like newlyweds.
Israel followed God like a young bride follows her husband.
C. In protecting them (3).
Israel was set apart by God “holiness unto the Lord”, a choice possession “firstfruits”.
Those that attacked Israel were judged by God.
This looks back to when God delivered Israel from Egypt.
There was genuine love for a brief time.
God remembered.
They have wronged the One who has always done them right.
They have cursed the One who has blessed them.
They have forgotten the One who has always remembered them.
2. The Idolatry of Israel (4-8).
A. Their forgetfulness led to idolatry (6-7).
God led them through the wilderness and to the Promised Land.
How do you forget something like that?
* You were in bondage now you are free.
* You traveled through a dangerous desert which you should not have survived: deserts, pits, drought, shadow of death.
* You received a bountiful land you did not deserve.
They forgot all of that.
But God says “I remember!”
I remember delivering you from the blood thirsty Pharaoh.
I remember sustaining you through desert, drought and death.
I remember bringing you out alive when it wasn’t possible for any to survive!
We would think it more likely that God would forget us than we would forget God.
He has reason to forget us, we have none.
B. Their idolatry was an insult to God (5).
Look at the question God asks in verse 5. “What did I do to deserve this?”
More pointedly He asks “What sin did I commit to convince you to turn to the worship of worthless idols?”
We see further insult in verse six.
They didn’t even notice the Lord was no longer with them.
They are not even looking for God.
It would be like if you were gone from your house for six months, returned and your wife and kids said “you were gone, we didn’t even notice.”
What an insult!
C. The idolatry was widespread (8).
* The priests didn’t even ask “Where is the Lord?”
They handled the Law, had it in their hand but had no relationship with God.
* The pastors transgressed (sinful rebellion) against God.
* The prophets were speaking for Baal (chief male object of worship for the Canaanites).
3. The absurdity of Israel’s actions (9-19).
A. They have left their own God (10-12).
This is not even something pagan people do.
God says go to Chittim (from West) and Kedar (to the East), look diligently!
The pagans are loyal to their gods and their gods aren’t even real!
The pagans are more loyal than you!
Look at verse 11. “Has a nation changed their gods that aren’t even real?
No! But you have!!”
In verse 11 God calls the heavens as a witness against Judah.
He says “Be astonished!
Be afraid!
Be desolate (devastated)!”
We should be blown away at the ease in which people forsake the one true God.
Even in America we see this.
People are more loyal to their sports team than some people are to the Lord.
They’re more loyal to their political party than they are to the Lord!
How absurd to be more devoted to such small worthless things than we are to our living Lord!
B. They have forsaken the living water.
God mentions two evils in verse 13:
1) The people have forsaken living water.
2) The people have embraced broken cisterns.
There were three ways to get water in Jeremiahs day: A spring, a well, a cistern.
The best way was a spring the worst way was a cistern.
Springs were called fountains.
This was pure water that was easily accessible.
Cisterns were filled by rain, they often leaked and were a breeding ground for insect larvae.
How absurd to forsake an easily accessible spring for a broken cistern.
It made no sense.
God is the fountain of living water the idols were the broken cisterns.
C. The absurdity of trusting in nations.
In verse 18 you see a reference to Egypt and Assyria.
These were nations Israel and Judah looked to for protection.
In doing so they embraced their gods.
Drinking the water of the Sihor (Nile) symbolized idolatry.
Drinking the waters of the Euphrates in Assyria symbolized the same thing.
Look at the questions God asks in verse 14:
Is Israel a slave?
Is Israel a servant?
Is Israel spoiled (a prey to predators)?
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9