Blessed is the Man
Theme: A challenging message about getting back to our heritage. Letting God restore our heart as men.
Text: Jeremiah 17:1 – 10
Introduction
Each one of our young men will receive a gift today from our church. It is a key chain with a cross. On the placard there is scripture that relates the theme for this year.
The scripture on the front is from Jeremiah 17:7. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. He would often time “lament” (as we see from Lamentations), cry out and warn Israel of the coming judgement. He continues these themes from chapter 16 and into 17.
Beginning with verse 1 he describes seemingly permanency of sin.
Jeremiah 17:1-13 "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars,
They have committed grievous sins. These sins have made a lasting impact on the hearts. Their hearts are hearts of stone and the sins have been carved in. But they have taken it a step further and brought this sin into the worship.
These sins have tainted the place of sacrifice. The horns on the altars were for two purposes. 1) Exodus 29:36-37 tells us blood was sprinkled on the horns of the altar to santifiy the altar. To make “atonement” 2) In 1 Kings 1:50-53 this was a place of asylum. As Adonijah held to the horns to avoid death at the hand of Solomon
IOW this sin has affected their worship.
(2) While their children remember Their altars and their wooden images By the green trees on the high hills.
These sins had been seen and passed down to the children. We don’t live in a vacuum. This means we don’t live to our self. Sins will affect others around us. If we have children then it could be passed down.
IOW – this sin has affected their families.
Judgement
(3) O My mountain in the field, I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures, And your high places of sin within all your borders. (4) And you, even yourself, Shall let go of your heritage which I gave you; And I will cause you to serve your enemies In the land which you do not know; For you have kindled a fire in My anger which shall burn forever."
The judgement is to be turned over to the enemies and all the wealth that was gained under prosperous times will be lost.
IOW – this sin has affected their heritage.
Men – we have lost our way. We have lost our children. We have lost our heritage.
Psalms 127:1-5 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (2) It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. (3) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. (4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. (5) Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
The Contrast
Cursed
(5) Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. (6) For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
Characteristics
A. Trust in man. – trust in self
B. Makes flesh his strength. Strength comes from their own doings.
C. Heart departs from the Lord. The heart has left the Lord. There is no recognition of God in the life.
Result
A. Like a shrub in the desert. – reminds me of the tumbleweed in the old westerns. They are rootless. No stability. Tossed around by every wind and doctrine.
B. Inhabit the parched places. This is a dry place to be.
C. As the salt land that has no purpose
They lost their heritage. It was not the circumstances that caused this but it is the circumstances that reveled this.
They have lost their way. They were followers of God yet they got distracted by idols.
Blessed
(7) "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. (8) For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Characteristics
A. Hope is the Lord.
B. Tress planted by the waters. In the word, also in the Holy Spirit.
C. Roots spreads by the river. We need to be “rooted and grounded in Christ” Col 2:7
Results
A. No fear when the heat comes. Romans 8:38 -39 Who can separate us from the love of God.
B. Leaf will be green. Green from fruit. Also green for shade.
C. Not be anxious in the year of drought. Not afraid when things are dry
D. Not cease from yielding fruit. Always bearing fruit.
Be careful with our heart
(9) "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
We must be careful with the assessment of our own heart. It is deceptive.
(10) I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
God knows the heart. Listen to the word of the Lord.
Matthew 7:16 “By their fruit you shall know (recognize) them”
Conclusion – The Restoring God.
Jeremiah 18 – The Potters house. God reforms man. He starts over again. The mess that we made. That which we didn’t get right God cleans and starts over again.
Psalms 51: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Renew – repair, restore or make anew.
