Jeremiah 25:8-14
Guard your light
Theme verse for this morning: 25:10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp.
The verdict of God-of-the-Angel-Armies on all this: “Because you have refused to listen to what I’ve said, I’m stepping in. I’m sending for the armies out of the north headed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant in this, and I’m setting them on this land and people and even the surrounding countries. I’m devoting the whole works to total destruction—a horror to top all the horrors in history. And I’ll banish every sound of joy—singing, laughter, marriage festivities, genial workmen, candlelit suppers. The whole landscape will be one vast wasteland. These countries will be in subjection to the king of Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:8-12 - The Message Bible).
I would like to share with you three things from this passage and under the theme Guard your light: such as, He is an everlasting God, Disobedience to his word would bring an everlasting disgrace, and your enemies will become an everlasting waste.
1. Everlasting God
Yahweh ascertains here his authority over the land of Judah, people of Judah. He is again warning the children of Abraham, children of Isaac, children of Jacob, the decadents of Judah that he would destroy them if they don’t obey his holy words. He is an everlasting God. This title was first given by Abraham (Genesis 21:33).
Prophet Isaiah declares as the word of the Lord that “I, the Lord, the first, and with the last” (Isaiah 41:4). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 22:13). “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2). He is ageless, day-less, and for him one day is thousand years and thousand years are one day, (2 Peter 3:8). He has no beginning and no ending, nothing is changed (Malachi 3:6). Jesus Christ is same yesterday, today and forever ( Hebrews 13:8).
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:28). He sends his prophets, he sends his servants. He sends his word through anyone at all times to teach his people, to warn his followers and to punish them if they disobey his word.
Abraham called God by different names according his experience with God. First he called him as El’elyon, supreme God (Genesis 14:22), the as El’shaddai, the almighty God (Genesis 17:1), now as El’olam, the Everlasting God (Ellicott commentary). “God of perpetuity, the eternal, unchangeable God. This marks him as the "sure and able" performer of his promise, as the everlasting vindicator of the faith of treaties, and as the infallible source of the believer's rest and peace (ref. Matthew Henry).
2. Everlasting disgrace
God has chosen Judah to be a people of royal priesthood and holy nation. Joel 2:26 says, “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God that hath dealt wondrously with you: and MY PEOPLE SHALL NEVER BE ASHAMED.” Then why this disgrace because of their disobedience to the Word of God brought disgrace to them and to their children. Achan brought disgrace to his family. David brought disgrace to his life by entering into Bathsheba. Ruben brought disgrace to his father Jacob by having relationship with his father’s wife. Sin brings disgrace, humiliation and disappointment. You would be a man of disgrace. Disgrace is defined as very bad, making other people feel sorry and embarrassed, the state of not being respected by other people, usually because you have behaved badly.
Romans 10:11 says that those who believe in him shall not be put to shame. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS CAUSES US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST, and make manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.” ‘I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.’ (Psalm 25:2-3).
‘There is un-announced warfare going on against the believer. The enemy is employing every strategy to bring the believer into shame and disgrace. God has promised repeatedly in His Holy Word that, those who trust in Him, would not be put to shame. No matter who you are and the level of your walk with God, the enemy wants to cause shame and disgrace. The Devil who is the Accuser of the brethren, employs our human mistakes, shortcomings, errors, personal challenges to amplify the opportunity for shame and disgrace.” Shame or disgrace is a spiritual force, which must be dealt with spiritually. JESUS CHRIST our Redeemer was publicly disgraced, despised, rejected, assaulted and went into public ridicule on behalf of every believer. They spat on Him. He was naked, beaten and scourged for our freedom from shame (Olanrewaju OBEMBE, The Guardian).
‘Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.’ (Isaiah 54:4). ‘In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame (Psalm 71:1). ‘Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.’ (Psalm 119:39). ‘Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood.’ (Isaiah 54:4)
3. Everlasting waste
The disobedience and the complacency in life leads to uselessness. God can bring down anyone from any state of life. Your height is not permanent and the evil will put you down. The sin will find you out. “It is never pleasant to read of destruction, but this is the corollary of the Lord’s righteousness. It must also be remembered that it was anticipatory, and thus allowed the nations concerned time to repent.” (Cundall). He is a God of justice and righteousness and he deals with everyone according to their deeds and the work of their hands. ‘The word deeds refer to the bad deeds they have done to the people of God, Judah and the redeemed, chosen of God’. Also read Jeremiah 50:29, 51:6, and 2 Chronicles 36:17 (Jamieson Fausset Brown). He is God and his word would stand alone. He is a mighty God.
‘The fixing of the time during which the Jewish captivity should last, would not only confirm the prophecy, but also comfort the people of God, and encourage faith and prayer. The ruin of Babylon is foretold: the rod will be thrown into the fire when the correcting work is done. When the set time to favour Zion is come, Babylon shall be punished for their iniquity, as other nations have been punished for their sins.’ (Matthew Henry). I will recompense them according to their deeds, according to the works of their own hands as they have done to others, it shall be done to them, as they have cruelly used others, they shall be used with cruelty, and as they have made other countries desolate, their land shall become desolate. They shall receive a just recompense of reward.( John Gill).
Don’t hinder anyone’s progress and blessings. God blesses according to the measure he has for everyone. If God is for us who can be against us. No one can stop your blessings if God decided to give. If you snatch anything that would last for a while but never brings joy and gladness. Calamity , failures are the result of your faithless and evil actions against God. God deals righteously even with his own children, and with his servants. He will ruin everything if we go against his purposes and will of God.
He spared none in the BIBLE, some of them were so close to his heart but dealt righteously, ex., Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Saul and David. But come back. He is ready to forgive. Confess and leave it forever. Don’t play with sin and wickedness. The Lord sees everything he will recompense in his due time.
Conclusion: Dear child of God, listen to God’s word. Guard your light. Good bless you.
