INTRODUCTION #28
1. Open your bibles to James 5:10.
2. In a previous lesson we discussed three things from James 5:7-9 that exhort Christians to be patient.
Exhortation #1, v. 7a&8, We must be patient until the Lord comes!
Exhortation #2, v. 7b, We must follow the example of patience demonstrated by Farmers!
Exhortation #3, v. 9, We must stop blaming one another for our problems!
3. Let’s move on to discuss another exhortation that James gives us.
4. Exhortation #4, JAMES 5:10 EXHORTS CHRISTIANS TO BENEFIT FROM THE EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE BY THE PROPHETS.
(1) Let’s read James 5:10, “10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.”
(2) An interesting study would be to go back into the Old Testament and study the suffering of all the prophets, however for now we will only study some of the suffering and patience of one of the prophets.
5. In this lesson we will study the example of the suffering and patience of Jeremiah. Jeremiah went through so much suffering that he became knows as “the weeping prophet”.
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, TURN TO JEREMIAH 18:18. THIS PASSAGE REVEALS THAT JEREMIAH SUFFERED VERBAL ABUSE AND REJECTION.
1. Turn to Jeremiah 18:18. This reveals that the people of Judah attacked Jeremiah with their words and refused to listen to him. Let’s read Jeremiah 18:18, “18 Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”
2. This treatment directed toward Jeremiah is an example showing that proud sinners do not like hearing about God being in control and the fact that God is going to bring judgment on the disobedient.
(1) They think that if they silence the messenger they will silence the Lord. However, Ps.2:4 says in regard to those who would oppose God and Christ: “He [God] who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision(mockery/ridicule).”
(2) Their argument: We have plenty of priests, prophets, & elders. We can do without Jeremiah.
(3) “With the tongue” Jeremiah’s enemies plotted a “smear campaign” consisting of lies about him. In v. 18, the people of Judah say, “let us attack him with the tongue”.
The plot probably included quotes from his messages that suggested he was a traitor to Judah. They probably said that he was a traitor because he was speaking against Judah.
3. An illustration that can help us to appreciate a truthful preacher like Jeremiah. “If a doctor detects cancer is he nicer to not burden you with such bad news?” By not telling us the truth the doctor may not put us in a state of shock, but he not showing to be a helpful doctor.
4. Turn to John 16:33. In this verse Jesus reminds faithful teaches and preachers to learn to expect opposition and rejection from out listeners. Christians will never enjoy opposition but they do need to learn to expect it!
In Jn.16:33 Jesus says “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
5. Like, Jeremiah, if we encounter verbal abuse and rejection, we must learn to patiently keep on doing what we know that God wants us to, despite the abuse and rejection.
II. SECOND, TURN TO Jeremiah 20:1&2. HERE WE LEARN THAT JEREMIAH WAS HIT BY A RELIGIOUS ASSISTANT TO THE HIGH PRIEST.
1. Listen to a little background information about Jeremiah 20:1&2. This passage reports that Jeremiah was struck or smote by an assistant to the high priest. This would have been a terrible display of disrespect toward Jeremiah since it came from one that was suppose to also be a servant of God. Commentators think that maybe Pash’hur had some one to lash Jeremiah with 40 stripes. That was the normal practice in those days.
(1) The priest, a servant of God, but one that was not willing to accept truthful prophecies that foretold that Judah was going to receive condemnation.
(2) And then to bring more disgrace and shame to God’s spokesmen, Jeremiah, Jeremiah’s hands and feet and neck were fastened in stocks. “Stocks” was a wooden device where there were holes to fasten one’s hands, one’s feet and one’s neck.
1) As one was fastened in stocks they were in a bent over and a very uncomfortable position.
2) Jeremiah was fastened in the stocks near the temple and in a very obvious place for everyone to see him. His opponents were trying to bring as much shame to him as they could. Let’s read Jeremiah 20:1&2. “1 Now Pashhur the son of Immer, the priest who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. 2 Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.”
2. Notice in verse 2, that before Jeremiah was placed in the stocks Pashhur “smote” or “struck” Jeremiah. Commentators are in agreement that Jeremiah probably received a beating that consisted of 40 stripes. This would have added to the pain of being in “the bent over” uncomfortable position, while fastened in the stocks.
3. After being released Jeremiah will continue to show patience and faithfulness to preach God’s word.
III. THIRD, JEREMIAH 26:8 REPORTS THAT AFTER JEREMIAH GAVE A REBUKING PROPHECY FROM THE LORD THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE AND ALL THE COMMON PEOPLE THREATENED TO KILL HIM.
1. Let’s read Jeremiah 26:8. 8 Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You will surely die!”
2. The priest and the prophets should have been very grateful to hear a prophet of the Lord preach the word of the Lord, but they were possibly leading the common people in seizing Jeremiah and shouting to him, “you shall surely die”.
3. Jeremiah, in the future, patiently and persistently continues to do his job as God’s prophet, in spite of the threats to kill him!
IV. FOURTH, JEREMIAH 32:1-6, REPORTS THAT DUE TO HIS PROPHECY REBUKING THE KING OF JUDAH HE WAS SHUT UP IN PRISON.
1. Turn to Jeremiah 32:1-6. This passage reports that Jeremiah gave a warning to King Zedekiah of Judah. The king didn’t like the warning that stated that he and the children of Judah were going to be taken away in Babylonian captivity. Zedekiah shut Jeremiah up in prison. Since the warning came from God, the king should have known that the prophecy would come true whether Jeremiah was in or out of prison.
(1) The thing that King Zedekiah should have done was to repent and pray for God to forgive him and the children of Judah and ask God to prevent the Babylonian captivity. Instead he took his anger out on God’s prophet.
(2) Let’s read Jeremiah 32:1-6, “1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house. 3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; 4 and Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face, and see him eye to eye; 5 then he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall be until I visit him,” says the LORD; “though you fight with the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed”’?” 6 And Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me, …..”
2. Notice, from verse six, the persistent patience of Jeremiah. Again, he reminds King Zedekiah that he gave the warning about the oncoming Babylonian Captivity because God had told him to say what he said.
(1) Jeremiah patiently continued to do his job, as God wanted him to, in spite of being shut up in prison.
(2) We need to patiently continue doing God’s requirements, no matter what opposition that we might receive.
V. FIFTH, JEREMIAH 37:11-21 REPORTS THAT A CAPTAIN OF THE ARMY OF JUDAH, IRIJAH, ACCUSES JEREMIAH OF BEING A TRAITOR AND JOINING UP WITH THE BABYLONIANS. IRIJAH TAKES JEREMIAH TO THE PRINCESES AND THEY STURCK HIM AND THEY PUT HIM IN PRISON.
1. Turn to Jeremiah 37:11-21. Again, God’s faithful prophet is treated very harsh. Let’s read Jeremiah 37:11-21, “11 And it happened, when the army of the Chaldeans left the siege of Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army, 12 that Jeremiah went out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin to claim his property there among the people. 13 And when he was in the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was there whose name was Irijah the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he seized Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are defecting to the Chaldeans!” 14 Then Jeremiah said, “False! I am not defecting to the Chaldeans.” But he did not listen to him. So Irijah seized Jeremiah and brought him to the princes. 15 Therefore the princes were angry with Jeremiah, and they struck him and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe. For they had made that the prison.
16 When Jeremiah entered the dungeon and the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days, 17 then Zedekiah the king sent and took him out. The king asked him secretly in his house, and said, “Is there any word from the LORD?” And Jeremiah said, “There is.” Then he said, “You shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon!”
Notice that Jeremiah doesn’t “shrink back” and show a lack of courage, but with boldness and patience says what the Lord had told him to say.
In the next few verses Jeremiah patiently pleads with Zedekiah to get him out of the prison house and somewhere, that he would have a chance to stay alive.
Due to Jeremiah’s patient persistence for survival, Zedekiah does make better arrangements for Jeremiah. Let’s read verses 18-21, “18 Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What offense have I committed against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison? 19 Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land’? 20 Therefore please hear now, O my lord the king. Please, let my petition be accepted before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.” 21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah to the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.”
The “daily piece of bread” was probably less than one item on the dollar menu from the Sonic! Jeremiah’s “daily piece of bread” would have been only one time a day. Jeremiah would never have had the opportunity to splurge at a place like Two Senoritas.
The “daily piece of bread” certainly couldn’t have been very much. With no more to eat than “a daily piece of bread” Jeremiah was still on a starvation diet. No doubt death would still come, but it would just be prolonged and stretched out a little longer.
In spite of the fact Jeremiah was on a starvation diet he patiently spoke God’s word each time God requested him to do so! A lot of 21st century preachers would quit being over weight if we were on such a diet!
VI. SIXTH, JEREMIAH 38:1-13 REPORTS THAT JEREMIAH WAS PUT DOWN INTO A DUNGEON OR A WELL WITH A MUDDY BOTTOM AND JEREMIAH BURIED UP IN THE MUD OR MIRE.
1. Turn to Jeremiah 38:1- . This passage reports that after Jeremiah was put in the dungeon with a miry, muddy bottom, thankfully, Jeremiah was rescued by a servant of the king and thirty others that King Zedekiah appointed to help in the rescue.
2. Let’s read Jeremiah 38:1-13, 1 Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD: ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.’ 3 Thus says the LORD: ‘This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.’” 4 Therefore the princes said to the king, “Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.” 5 Then Zedekiah the king said, “Look, he is in your hand. For the king can do nothing against you.” 6 So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire. [I’ve pulled cattle out of miry and muddy pools during the time of droughts. After getting them out they would usually die, due to having strained so hard. Most of them would not live.]
7 Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, 8 Ebed-Melech went out of the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying: 9 “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city.” 10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take from here thirty men with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies.” 11 So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12 Then Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Please put these old clothes and rags under your armpits, under the ropes.” And Jeremiah did so. 13 So they pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the dungeon. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.”
3. Drop down to the last verse in this 38th chapter, verse 28. “28 Now Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken. And he was there when Jerusalem was taken.”
4. Jeremiah was a man of great patience under a tremendous amount of difficulty. Jeremiah continued to preach God’s word faithfully, no matter what persecution it brought him.
CONCLUSION
1. Due to a lack of time, right now we can’t discuss other things about the sufferings and patience of Jeremiah. I encourage you to read the entire book of Jeremiah.
2. Please turn to Lamentations 3:22-26. The book of Lamentations was written by Jeremiah. It contains numerous expressions of grief and sorrow that the people of Judah experienced because they were not faithful to God and because of the punishment that they received through the Babylonian captivity.
3. Lamentation 3:22-26 report Jeremiah exclaiming the greatness of God and His mercies and compassion that are new and available every morning to those who will patiently wait on God and what he has for His patient servants.
4. Let’s read Lamentation 3:22-26, “22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.”
5. Let’s repeat vs. 25&26, “…………………”
6. Let’s let this challenge for us to be patient, remind ourselves of how patient that God has been and is with each one of us.
(1) If you haven’t become a child of God, God is patiently waiting for you to come forward and obey the gospel plan of salvation= believe, repent, confess, be baptized!
(2) If there is any reason that you need prayers, God is patiently waiting. Come as we stand and sing!
Acknowledgments for a lot of thoughts in the development of all the sermons on the book of James are to go to:
(1) Bob Winton CD Commentary on Matthew 27:50-54. 464 Ridgewood Drive Manchester, Tennessee 37355. If interested in CD covering many O. T. & N.T. books call (866) 753-8456.
(2) Miscellaneous commentaries by numerous others.
