Sermon Tone Analysis

Review

We have just started the Book of Jeremiah.

As we have mentioned, Jeremiah began his ministry in the days of King Josiah, during a time of great Spiritual Revival in the land of Judah.

Josiah

Josiah, at the age of 16, 2 Chron.

34:3 states:

All of this was done from Josiah’s heart without any knowledge of the Scriptures.

It was not until the 18th year of Josiah’s reign that the Torah Scroll’s were found in the Temple.

The Chronicler puts it this way: 2 Chron.

34:8; 2 Chron.

34:14; 2 Chron.

34:19-21

Jeremiah’s First Visions

We read last week that Jeremiah’s Calling occurred in the 13th year of Josiah.

This was 1 year after Josiah had begun the cleansing of the land, and 5 years before the Torah Scroll was found, Adonai called Jeremiah and gave him the following visions: Jer.

1:11-16

The Almond Branch

Adonai starts by testing Jeremiah, to see how well he sees.

Jeremiah is shown an Almond Branch.

Not a very complex vision, but Adonai is gracious to start us out slowly.

When Adonai asked what he saw, Jeremiah said, מַקֵּ֥ל שָׁקֵ֖ד אֲנִ֥י רֹאֶֽה׃.

“I see an Almond Branch.”

He does not get complicated, nor does he attempt to interpret what he saw.

He simply answers Adonai’s question.

I have been warned before, that when the Almighty God asks you a question, He is not looking for information!

Jeremiah’s straight-forward answer is accepted by Adonai, who then gives Jeremiah the interpretation.

Adonai promises to watch or שֹׁקֵ֥ד over His word.

We should keep in mind, that Adonai is explicitly talking about keep His written word of judgement against the Children of Israel, as Moses foretold.

Disaster from the North

Adonai now gives Jeremiah his first predictive prophesy.

Judgement is coming from the North.

Last time we mentioned that although Babylon is almost directly East of Judah, any army that they would send would have to come along the fertile crescent.

Therefore their attack would pour out over the country from the North of Israel.

Adonai claims direct responsibility for stirring up the kingdoms (or families) of the North to come and bring judgement upon His people.

Adonai states that the form of judgement will be total conquest.

Because a king would only set up his throne at the gates of a conquered city.

Now in vs. 16, Adonai gives the reason for this coming judgement:

For all their wickedness,

They have forsaken Me

Offered incense to other gods, and

Worshipped the work of their hands.

Idolatry; making god in our own image; worshiping what we have created; this is the primary sin, from which all other wickedness stems.

Michael Brown puts it this way:

The core issue that has incurred Yahweh’s wrath is now introduced: idolatry.

This is the root of his people’s wickedness, the reason for the exile and judgement.

By its very nature it is the ultimate betrayal of the Lord, since following idols meant forsaking him, and when they abandoned the worship of the Creator, they replaced it with worship of idols, burning incense to them and bowing down before the works of their own hands.

From the divine perspective, this is utter folly, a despicable outrage, an ungrateful, evil act.

Jeremiah’s Commission

After calling Jeremiah, and giving him 2 visions that will form the foundation of his ministry, Adonai now commissions him to go and declare the word to the people of Judah.

Jer.

1:17-19

“Gird up your loins.”

This is a very common phrase that means “Get Ready”, or “Get your boots on”.

Adonai gives Jeremiah an interesting option.

He says, “Don’t be afraid of them, or else I will terrify you myself.

Do what I set before you, or else you will have Me to fear!”

God encourages Jeremiah that He has established him as a unbreakable city, and declares that his ministry will be targeted at:

The whole land

The kings of Judah

The kohanim

The people of the land

And finally Adonai encourages Jeremiah that even though the people will fight against him, Adonai will be with him to deliver him!

Application

How do we apply this passage to our lives?

Pray for Repentance

I know that we are praying for revival.

We are praying that the nation of Australia repents and returns to Adonai.

I am also praying for the leadership of this nation, that they will fear Adonai and return to worshiping Him alone.

But, I believe one of the lessons that we can learn, is from the promise that Adonai made to King Josiah. 2 Chron.

34:23-28

The same can be said for Australia.

If our leaders will humble themselves before God, mourn and weep over the sins of this nation, then the Lord will be gracious to us, and forgive us, heal our land and give us one more generation of peace.

But if not, if there is no repentance, and no humility in our leaders, nor in the people of in this nation, then the same judgement that came upon Judah will come upon us.

Adonai is no respecter of persons, He will watch over His word to perform it.

Sin of Idolatry

Adonai told Jeremiah that judgement was coming for the sin of idolatry.

The same is true here in Australia today.

How many people know that this month has been called “Pride Month”?

I recently heard it called “Romans 1 Month”.

Romans 1 does accurately describe our culture here in Australia.

But many people do not realise why or how the wrath of God is poured out in Rom.

1:18-23

The reasons for the judgement are the same, as what was expressed to Jeremiah.

Ungodliness and unrighteousness

Forsaken the truth of God

Did not glorify God

Worshipped the work of their hands

It is for these reasons that Adonai gives a culture over to the evil desires of their hearts to do what is dishonorable with their bodies.

Our country of Australia has traded the truth of God for a lie, we have set up man as god, and we have abandoned the trust in the Almighty.

Therefore the Lord God Almighty has given us over to our own sinful desires, to do the things that are shameful, against nature and depraved.

Our Commission

We looked today at the commission of Jeremiah, and I have mentioned before that not all of us are called to be Prophets.

But all of us will be called to stand and some point in time.

Yeshua commissioned us to be His witnesses, Matt.

28:18-20

We are all called to share the Good News in our circles of influence, just as Rav.

Sha’ul said to the congregation in Colossae: Col. 4:2-6

So also we ought to:

Devote ourselves to prayer

Conduct ourselves with wisdom

Make the most of every opportunity

Speak with grace and truth