INTRODUCTION
Outline.
Prophet Jeremiah’s Preaching
Remarks.
1. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing the second lesson in our series on the theme: “We cannot but speak.” This lesson deals with the challenges of the men of God that speak the word of God in truth. We will see how neither threatenings, beatings; imprisonment or the face of death could silence them. There will be times we will be called upon to speak unto both those desirous to hear our message; and before those that would rebel against: “Thus saith the Lord.” The Lord has not given us: “The spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7. We must be, “bold fearless preachers” because the Lord has sent us to speak His word with confidence and without fear.
2. We will discuss the preaching and prophecies of Jeremiah before the people of Israel. He prophesied during a time of great trial and punishment Jehovah would bring upon His people for their sin of idolatry and rebellion toward His commandments.
3. This would not be an easy task for the prophet. He would be pushed to silence regarding the word of the Lord; because of persecutions; the threatening looks and terror in his life, as a prophet of the Lord. After wrestling with his fear and their threatening, Jeremiah said: “I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (remain silent),” Jeremiah 20:9. With this introduction, let’s consider the: “Prophet Jeremiah’s prophecy.”
BODY OF LESSON
PROPHET JEREMIAH’S PREACHING
A. The prophet’s call. Jeremiah writes: “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:”
1. The Lord’s revelation: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Notice:
a. I have formed thee.
b. I knew thee – before thou camest forth out of the womb.
c. I sanctified thee.
d. I ordained thee – a prophet unto the nations.
2. Jeremiah’s excuse: “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” Sounds a little like Moses:
a. Moses response to Jehovah: “And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither theretofore: ... but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue,” Exodus 4:10. Notice:
1) Stephen spoke of Moses’ skills, in learning, words and deed; during his message of rebuke unto the Jews, moments before being stoned to death.
2) He said: “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds,” Acts 7:22. Fear will make us speak words such as these; until we remember the Lord is with us. God continues with Moses.
b. Jehovah’s rebuke: “And the LORD said unto him, who hath made man's mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say,” Exodus 4:11-12.
c. Moses’ excuse: “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send,” Exodus 4:13.
d. Anger of the Lord: “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth:”
1) “And I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth.”
2) “And (I) will teach you what ye shall do.”
3) “And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth.”
4) “And thou shalt be to him instead of God,” Exodus 4:14-16.
3. The Lord’s charge and assurance to Jeremiah: “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD,” Jeremiah 1:4-8. Note:
a. Be not afraid of their faces.
b. I am with thee to deliver thee.
c. What a great assurance and comfort from God.
B. Jeremiah’s work of prophecy. Jehovah outlines of his work: “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me:”
1. Jeremiah’s work: “Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”
2. Jeremiah’s preparation: “Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a defended city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.” Illustrate: The Whole Armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-17.
3. Jehovah’s promise: “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee,” Jeremiah 1:9-19. This is Jehovah’s promise to all His prophets and leaders. Notice:
a. Promise to Moses: “And he said, certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain,” Exodus 3:12.
b. Promise to Joshua: “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,” Joshua 1:5-6.
c. Promise to Paul: “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city,” Acts 18:9-10.
d. Promise to his disciples, Matthew 28:19-20; Hebrews 13:5.
C. His prophecy. Notice: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein,” Jeremiah 6:16.
1. Jeremiah was sent unto a rebellious people:
a. The people’s rebellious: “But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone,” Jeremiah 5:23.
b. Its leadership also was corrupt: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” See Jeremiah 5:30-31.
2. Isaiah also prophesied to Israel’s rebellion: “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us,” Isaiah 30:9-11. They were so corrupt; they did not want God in their presence.
3. Ezekiel also prophesied to the nation. Ezekiel while prophesying unto the children of Israel in Babylonian captivity received a word from the Lord. He writes: “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.” Jehovah continues:
a. First, “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither has they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and has hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”
b. Further, “Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.”
c. Next, “And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.”
d. Additionally, “The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.”
e. Finally, “And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD,” Ezekiel 22:24-31.
D. The commitment of Jeremiah. Notice: “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay,” Jeremiah 20:9. Jeremiah’s was pressed to speak out; and he could no longer hold his peace regarding the word of the Lord. This was the position of other prophets. Notice:
1. David: “I said, I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongues: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing (murmuring; whispering) the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,” Psalms 39:1-3.
2. Job: “For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer,” Job 32:18-20.
3. Ezekiel: “So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me,” Ezekiel 3:14. We will notice later the evils of remaining silent; when the Lord has sent us to speak His word with integrity and in truth.
4. Conclusion: The prophets and servants of God had a burning desire to speak the word of the Lord with boldness. Their courage should remind us of the courage of the apostle Paul’s preaching. Notice:
a. Paul writes: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God,” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2.
b. The men of God must stand up; speak the word of the Lord with boldness and courage, as did others! Paul’s charge to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 16:13.
c. If we fail to speak His word to warn the people; Jehovah said: “Their blood will be required of thee,” Ezekiel 3:17-21. Illustrate: Paul’s words to the elders of Ephesus, Acts 20:26-27. I have declared unto you the “whole counsel of God.”
E. The judgment of God. God’s judgment came upon the people in Judah, Jerusalem and Egypt. Jeremiah writes: “Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, everyone to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.” Notice:
1. First, “And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof.”
2. Further, “The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf.”
3. Next, “I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.”
4. Finally, “And Zedekiah (the) king of Judah and his princes, will I give into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you. Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah desolation without an inhabitant,” Jeremiah 34:17-20.
5. Conclusion: Jehovah promises to judge His people for their sins. They were taken into captivity by Babylon as He promised. Notice:
a. All these things were fulfilled in the year of 597 BCE, by the King of Babylon.
b. A remnant was allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild in 520 BCE, by the King of Persia. Reference: Wikipedia, “Babylonian Captivity.”
c. But a remnant did return and once again dwell safely in the land of their fathers. Here Jehovah:
1) Jeremiah wrote: “Israel is a scatter sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the LORD of host, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve,” Jeremiah 50:17-20. I will have forgiven them of their sins; and they shall be no more.
2) Ezekiel wrote: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whether they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains; and one king shall be king of them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all,” Ezekiel 37:21-22. These verses also have a prophetic meaning, “there shall be one fold and one shepherd,” John 10:16; Ephesians 2:11-22.
3) Micah wrote: “Who is a God like unto thee, (which) pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy,” Micah 7:18. We can be thankful, that God does not remain angry unto us forever. He does turn again his face toward us in kindness and forgives “all of our iniquities, sins and transgressions.” As I begin to conclude, let me review quickly what we discussed. We considered....
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
Prophet Jeremiah’s Preaching
B. Summarize main points.
1. We discussed the preaching of Jeremiah before the people of Israel. He prophesied during a time of great trial and punishment Jehovah would bring upon His people for their sin of idolatry and rebellion toward His commandments. This would not be an easy task for the prophet. After wrestling with his fear and their threatening Jeremiah said: “I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (remain silent),” Jeremiah 20:9. He eventually, recovered and spoke the word of the Lord with boldness and in truth.
2. We can be confident, that God will always be with us as we speak his word. Jeremiah recovered from his moments of weakness and fear; and once again began to speak the word of God with boldness and assurance. We pray for the same boldness for the ministers, evangelists and leaders of the church of Christ.
3. We can be confident, when we a judged for our sins; and it appears the wrath of God are ever upon us; that surely he will again turn his face towards us in kindness and forgiveness, even as he did Judah and Jerusalem.
C. Invitation. Present the plan of salvation, H, B, R, C, B.
D. Exhortation.
E. Motivation.
