Tempted To Quit
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Introduction
Introduction
The relief of finishing the school year.
Still some level of emotional nostalgia - thinking about the joys experienced as a kid.
Swimming, playing catch, hikes…still lots of work.
But, no school for a few months!
For our seniors that we recognized last week, this thing they overcame called senioritis. Right, the closer you get to completion the more tempting it is to quit.
Within my educational experience, people who are doctoral students who attain the label of “ABD” - all but dissertation.
Some people put years into their continued education and then just when they are so close to finishing, they stop.
It’s easy to get tired.
In life, it’s sometimes hard to keep going.
This is true even in our own spiritual lives.
Disciplines are called disciplines for a reason!
Especially when the rest of the world has turned into such an un-loving, miserable, contentious, impatient, cruel place.
It’s tempting just to say, “I’m going to stop living the right way and join in the easy way.”
Jeremiah faced that same temptation. It would have been so easy for him to give up.
But, Jeremiah was faithful until the end of his life.
What kept Jeremiah going when it was tempting to quit?
The same things that renew us to keep us going.
Jeremiah’s Call
Jeremiah’s Call
vv. 4-10
God begins His call with a reminder of all that He has already done for Jeremiah: Formed, Knew, Consecrated (set apart or make holy), and Appointed (specific to Jeremiah).
But, there is this immediate push-back from Jeremiah (v. 6). It’s amazing the audacity that Jeremiah has to say that God is wrong. False modesty? Faithless?
Excuses like this are lies that prevent us from living out God’s calling and purpose.
*Look at what sin you’ve done.
*You’re too old to start now.
*You’re too young to make a difference.
*You haven’t been a Christian long enough.
*People will laugh at you or question your motivation.
But, God rebukes Jeremiah in gentleness.
God gives a word to encourage Jeremiah - you will be able to do it.
Paul had similar thoughts when considering the call of God:
2 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV)
16 Who is sufficient for these things?
And later he answers the question:
5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
Jeremiah forgets who He is talking to.
When God says something, believe it.
God continues on encouraging Jeremiah in v. 8.
But, how does He say it? He doesn’t scream it. It comes in a whisper in his ear. “Declare” is a word related to the word for secret.
Sometimes, when God speaks it is going to require attentive listening.
Be aware of God’s voice.
Encouragement to be in God’s Word!
How God most often and most clearly speaks.
Not only does God speak to Jeremiah, but there is also an action that He takes.
He places his hand upon the mouth of Jeremiah.
This act symbolizes God placing His own words into the mouth of Jeremiah.
An act that Jeremiah would later take on his own.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
An action we must take responsibility for.
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
God knew Jeremiah would needs the words of God because of what he would face. The rejection of his difficult message.
“Do not be afraid… (v. 8).
Fear and doubt combine to paralyze.
Jeremiah and Lamentations—From Sorrow to Hope A Dubious Candidate
Jeremiah’s doubts find an echo in J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel The Fellowship of the Ring. A hobbit named Frodo has been chosen to make a long and dangerous quest to destroy the one ring of power, a quest he himself would not wish to choose. “I am not made for perilous quests,” cried Frodo. “I wish I had never seen the Ring! Why did it come to me? Why was I chosen?”
The answer Frodo is given is similar to the one God’s prophets often receive: “Such questions cannot be answered.… You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess; not for power or wisdom, at any rate. But you have been chosen and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have.”
Faith in God’s calling frees us to live.
God’s Promises
God’s Promises
vv. 11-19
Two visions that Jeremiah receives.
First, vv. 11-12
An almond branch. A common sight around his home town of Anathoth. Still a top producer of almonds.
What’s the connection between the vision and the interpretation?
shaqed vs shoqed // almond vs watching
A play on words, a pun.
God was using a common sight to remind Jeremiah that God was always watching.
This is where the almond tree also helped to remind Jeremiah that the fulfillment of God’s judgement was coming.
The almond tree was considered to be the “waking tree” because they were the first tree to bloom in the spring.
This symbolic tree would carry this heavy message that
What God has said, God will do.
For some, especially for Jeremiah, he would see the threat of judgement that God had made would be fulfilled within the lifetime of Jeremiah.
But, for others, there is the promise that God offers mercy to those who turn away from their rebellion!
God is willing to receive you.
The second vision is one of a boiling pot - literally a pot that is blown upon in that the fire is being stoked to stay hot.
This pot is facing away from the north - that is it is facing to the south, but coming from the north. The direction the Babylonians would eventually come when they would destroy the city of Jerusalem.
The invading kings would set up a siege outside of the city (v. 15).
3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer of Samgar, Nebu-sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.
Why would this destruction come upon Jerusalem?
v. 16 gives the reason.
But for Jeremiah, his calling would be doing the work of a prophet, “dress yourself for work” (v. 17).
God tells him that the message would be rejected; nonetheless, God tells him he would be “a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls” (v. 18).
These are images of pure strength, even strength beyond comprehension - bronze walls.
God provides strength beyond expectation.
Strength we need because we face similar enemies that Jeremiah faced. Political and even Religion.
Notice that Jeremiah is not promised a life of ease: “They will fight against you” (v. 19).
Yet, the promise he does receive is that God will be with him.
God indwells believers.
This indwelling produces the fruit of the Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
These characteristics are what define a Christian.
It is what Jeremiah needed then.
It is what we, as a church, need today.
Creates a church that draws believers and lost alike.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jeremiah understood that he was to...
Be salt, not salty.
Salt serves as a preservative. It keeps things from going bad.
We need some salt in the world today.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
Exactly what Jesus has called us to be.
This was the principle Jeremiah lived.
And this was how Jerusalem cracked and crumbled before Jeremiah did.