HEALTHY INDEPENDENCE-X—Jeremiah 17:1-14
Attention:
Enough Is Enough:
A couple with three children waited in line at San Francisco's Pier 41 to buy tickets for a boat trip to the historic Alcatraz prison.
Others watched with varying degrees of sympathy & irritation as the young children fidgeted, whined, picked at & punched one another.
The frazzled parents tried, without success, to reprimand their kids publicly without causing a scene.
Finally they reached the ticket window.
The exasperated Dad said, “Five tickets, please”...“Two round trip, three one way.”
The children exhibited unhealthy independence that had to be dealt with!
Unhealthy Independence must be dealt with, so that a Healthy Independence prevails!
Jn. 17:15-16—Jesus prayed for His disciples:—“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
God’s people must exhibit a ‘Healthy’ independence from the world in which they live.
?Are you walking/living INDEPENDENTLY of that which has potential to destroy you spiritually? The prophet Jeremiah contrasted two major aspects of Independence—Independence from God versus independence from the world.
*Dependence upon YHWH brings independence from worldly influence.
What can be gleaned by contrasting healthy & unhealthy independence?
*How can I be independent of worldly influence?
So far we’ve found that A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
1. A RESIDENT REBELLION(:1)
2. An ABERRANT EDUCATION(:2)
3. BLINDLY SIGHTED BENEFITS(:3-4)
4. An ANGERING LIFESTYLE(:4e)
5. MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUSTS(:5)
6. The ‘CURSE’ Of MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUST(:6)
7. A CORRECTED TRUST(:7)
8. A TELLING PLANTING(:8)
9. INTERNAL DECEITFULNESS(:9)
10. A THOROUGH & DECISIVE SEARCH(:10)
11. BROKEN ENDEAVORS(:11)
12—A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
The ENTIRE SCOPE Of TIME(:12-13)
Explanation:(:12-13)
:12—“A glorious high throne from the beginning
Is the place of our sanctuary.”
“A glorious high throne”...
This verse begins by describing a ready admission by the faithful, that ‘THE’ eternally living God(YHWH)—is sovereignly omnipotent—THE King with all power.
The faithful recognize, are party to, & surrendered to YHWH’s “gloriousness” of that sovereign omnipotence It is a testimony to YHWH as ‘THE’ Creator.
No one other than YHWH Himself, commands or can command “a glorious” & “high throne”!
Job 42:1-6—YHWH-God had given His servant Job, a painful lesson on the limitations of human wisdom—“Then Job answered the LORD & said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, & let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, & you shall answer Me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust & ashes.””
Ps. 139:1-6—<<For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.>> O LORD, You have searched me & known me. You know my sitting down & my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path & my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind & before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.”
“Glorious”—dwbk kaw-bod' Rarely--dbk kaw-bod’—Noun Masc.—1) Glory, honor, glorious, abundance—1a) Abundance, riches, 1b) Honor, splendor, glory, 1c) Honor, dignity, 1d) Honor, reputation, 1e) Honor, reverence, glory, 1f) Glory. Strong—properly--Weight, but only figuratively in a good sense--Splendor or copiousness.?From—dbk kaw-bad'; OR--dbk kaw-bad'; a primitive root; To be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense(burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense(numerous, rich, honorable); causatively--To make weighty(in the same two senses).
“High”—Mwrm maw-rom’—Noun Masc.—1) Height—1a) Height, elevation, elevated place—1a1) In a high place(adverb), 1b) Height, 1c) Proudly(adverb), 1d) Of nobles(fig.). Strong—Altitude, i.e. concretely--an elevated place; abstractly--Elevation; figuratively--Elation; or adverbially--Aloft.
“Throne”—aok kis-say’, OR--hok kicceh kis-say’—Noun Masc.—1) Seat(of honor), throne, seat, stool—1a) Seat(of honor), throne, 1b) Royal dignity, authority, power(fig.). Strong—properly--Covered, i.e. A throne(as canopied).?From—hok kaw-saw’—properly--To plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication--To cover(for clothing or secrecy); a primitive root.
“From the beginning”...
This tells us that YHWH’s “glorious high throne” has always been His, from even before time began by means of God’s own declaration!(Gen. 1:1) His eternal existence is recognized by all those thruout time, who find “sanctuary” in Him. IF you do NOT find sanctuary in the One who rules “From the beginning” then you are trusting in an insufficient, inadequate ‘little-‘g’ god’! And such a ‘little-‘g’ god’ is incapable of saving your soul FROM hell, as well as being incapable of saving your soul TO heaven!
Not only does this verse set YHWH apart as the Author of “the beginning” of all things(cf.-Gen. 1:1-2:1), but also as the Author of ‘Israel’s’ “beginning.” And that speaks to YHWH’s INTENTION that Israel would trust & be witness to the truth of & the desire of the eternal Almighty God!
Jer. 7:3-4—“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Amend your ways & your doings, & I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, ‘The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.’”
“Beginning”—Nwvar ree-shon' OR--Nvar ree-shon’—Adj.—1) First, primary, former—1a) Former(of time)—1a1) Ancestors, 1a2) Former things, 1b) Foremost(of location), 1c) First(in time), 1d) First, chief(in degree)—Adverb—2) First, before, formerly, at first. Strong—First, in place, time or rank(as adjective or noun).
“Is the place of our sanctuary.”
Verse :12 is a truthful statement of the reality of “sanctuary” in God alone. This ties in well with verse :13’s & :14’s statements.
That YHWH “is the place of our sanctuary”, is a truthful & open recognition on the part of the prophet Jeremiah, of God’s heavenly majesty.
YHWH Himself IS, for those whose hearts are His, “the place of our sanctuary.” YHWH is where His people have always found & will always find—solace, direction, & life to the utmost. ?WHY? Because God is the eternally existing Almighty God—Who has always been, Who always is, & Who always will be, Almighty God!
•We shared a similar discussion during one Wednesday’s Prayer meeting. Everyone at the meeting expressed a shared ‘awe of God’s awesomeness’ as we looked in Heb. 6:11-12.?Heb. 6:11-12—“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence[‘to the things that accompany salvation in Christ alone’] to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith & patience inherit the promises.”
If you are unable to bask in the sheer awe of YHWH-God’s being YOUR “sanctuary”, then you are missing the power that He offers & grants you, to serve Him fully!
?Do you trust the “throne” itself(the ‘things’ of God), OR the God whom the “glorious high throne” honors?(Mat. 23:16-22) ?Do you trust the One who rules by means of the throne, & Who actually gives “a throne” over heaven & earth it’s “glory” & it’s “high-ness”?
Mat. 23:16-22—“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ “Fools & blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ “Fools & blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it & by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it & by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God & by Him who sits on it.”
“Place”—Mwqm ma-qowm' OR--Mqm ma-qom' also--(fem.)hmwqm mek-o-mah’, hmqm mek-o-mah’—Noun Masc.—1) Standing place, place—1a) Standing place, station, post, office, 1b) Place, place of human abode, 1c) City, land, region, 1d) Place, locality, spot, 1e) Space, room, distance, 1f) Region, quarter, direction, 1g) Give place to, instead of. Strong—properly--A standing, i.e. A spot; but used widely of a locality(general or specific); also figuratively--Of a condition(of body or mind).?From—Mwq koowm; a primitive root; To rise(in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive & causative).
“Sanctuary”—vdqm mik-dawsh' or--vdqm(Ex 15:17)--mik-ked-awsh’—Noun Masc.—1) Sacred place, sanctuary, holy place—1a) Sanctuary—1a1) Of the temple, 1a2) Of the tabernacle, 1a3) Of Ezekiel's temple, 1a4) Of Jehovah. Strong—A consecrated thing or place, especially--A palace, sanctuary(whether of Jehovah or of idols) or Asylum.
God’s “glorious high throne” is indeed “the place of our sanctuary” BECAUSE God is on that throne!:
Ps. 31:1-8—<<To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.>> In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock & my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me & guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the LORD. I will be glad & rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.”
Ps. 62:1-2, 5-8, 12—<<To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.>> “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock & my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.”.....“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock & my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.[cf.-] In God is my salvation & my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”.....“Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.”
**Ps. 18:1-3—<<To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies & from the hand of Saul. And he said:>> I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock & my fortress & my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield & the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”
Ps. 71:1-8—“In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, & cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, & save me. Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock & my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous & cruel man. For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.”
So what is stated in verse :12 would be in contrast to the previous picture of the unfruitful “partridge” & temporally “rich” “fool”(:11)!
?‘Where’ exactly do YOU find “sanctuary”?
?In ‘What’ or ‘Whom’ do YOU find “sanctuary”?
•Contrary to a popular sentiment among conservatives(as of Joe Biden’s election--Jan. 20, 2021)—‘Donald Trump’ is not the Savior! Maybe God has used him to HELP keep this country on a path of maintaining the Church’s freedoms!...BUT ‘Donald Trump’ is NOT the Savior!...Jesus IS & will always be!
•We must not limit our allegiances to earthly political realms...We must instead look well beyond them!?
?Will your current trust today, remain through to the FUTURE beyond yourself?
Illustration:
During a storm my mother-in-law’s roof began to leak/Two major ‘water spots’ became apparent in one of the rooms of the house/She is wanting to sell the house, so the temptation is there to paint over the obvious spots because they’re not very big/But painting over the spots does not fix the problem!/In order to truly fix the problem, the source of the leak must be dealt with & it must be dealt with considering a long-term(future) solution/The ENTIRE SCOPE Of TIME
My wife & I were watching an HGTV show where a team was charged with renovating & updating a house for a family/The team ran into unanticipated expenses when they noticed cracks running the extent of a few brick walls, as well as some dry wall with bulges & cracks formed along the entire length of it/For the homeowner, the solution to his ‘cracks’ problem was to merely fill the cracks in with spackling compound!/Sorry, but spackling will not take the place of brick, cement or even dry wall!/The owner’s foundation was settling & causing major problems throughout the house/By spackling the owner was avoiding the real issue of his foundation settling/His best solution was to fix the settling issue permanently, & to permanently repair the issues the settling had caused/The ENTIRE SCOPE Of TIME
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The exasperated Dad—“Five tickets, please”...“Two round trip, three one way”—found a way to deal with his children’s bout of independence!
There are Healthy ways of dealing with independence, & they all flow from the throne of God!
Action:
A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
12A. The ENTIRE SCOPE Of TIME(:12-13)
(The Beginning, The Middle, & The End)
1. A RESIDENT REBELLION(:1)
2. An ABERRANT EDUCATION(:2)
3. BLINDLY SIGHTED BENEFITS(:3-4)
4. An ANGERING LIFESTYLE(:4e)
5. MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUSTS(:5)
6. The ‘CURSE’ Of MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUST(:6)
7. A CORRECTED TRUST(:7)
8. A TELLING PLANTING(:8)
9. INTERNAL DECEITFULNESS(:9)
10. A THOROUGH & DECISIVE SEARCH(:10)
11. BROKEN ENDEAVORS(:11)
Pt# 12A only! Presented 01/24/2021am to:
1BCCbelle(Video to YouTube shared to Facebook @ ‘Byron Sherman’ & ’First Baptist Church Carrabelle’)
206 SE Ave. A(Storrs Ave.)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
