Sermon: When Life Seems Unfair
Scripture Lesson: Jeremiah 12:1-17, “Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy? You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts. But as for me, Lord, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered! Set them aside to be slaughtered!
4-5 How long must this land mourn? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. For the people have said,“ The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!” The Lord’s Reply to Jeremiah “If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?
6-11 Even your brothers, members of your own family, have turned against you. They plot and raise complaints against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak. “I have abandoned my people, my special possession. I have surrendered my dearest ones to their enemies. My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest, so I have treated them with contempt. My chosen people act like speckled vultures, but they themselves are surrounded by vultures. Bring on the wild animals to pick their corpses clean! “Many rulers have ravaged my vineyard, trampling down the vines and turning all its beauty into a barren wilderness. They have made it an empty wasteland; I hear its mournful cry. The whole land is desolate, and no one even cares.
12-13 On all the bare hilltops, destroying armies can be seen. The sword of the Lord devours people from one end of the nation to the other. No one will escape! My people have planted wheat but are harvesting thorns. They have worn themselves out, but it has done them no good. They will harvest a crop of shame because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”
14-17 Now this is what the Lord says: “I will uproot from their land all the evil nations reaching out for the possession I gave my people Israel. And I will uproot Judah from among them. But afterward I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again, each nation to its own possession. And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people. But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Introduction: It seems like nothing moves us to resentment as quickly as injustice. When we experience it personally or collectively, we can quickly have a pity party. The news media, social media and advertisement are constantly comparing our problem filled lives to the seemingly joy-filled, pain-free lives of others. After leaving the gym, I stopped by the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. The line moved slowly, as I stood there, a man on a motorized cart said, “I sure envy you, being able to stand in that line like that. I wish I could stand but my leg will not hold me up.” I thought to myself, you don’t know my story. You don’t know the heartache or scars hidden behind my smile. You don’t know whether I am joyful or sad. When life seems unfair we may be tempted to become resentful or envious.
Though I hate to admit it, resentfulness is a subtle but very real temptation in my heart, especially during times of deep pain and sorrow. Over time, I’ve learned how important it is to recognize this temptation when it comes, so that when I start to go down that path, I can take steps to realign my head and my heart with the truth. Instead of trying to figure things out, Jeremiah goes to God. I have been guilty of trying to figure things out in my head. How did they get that job? Who did they bribe to get that contract? How does the sorriest worker get the best job? Look at how Jeremiah took it to God. “Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy? You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts. But as for me, Lord, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts.”
By God’s grace, Jeremiah doesn’t get stuck in resentment. God shows Jeremiah how to turn from a resentful heart to a grateful heart. Jeremiah knows that God is just, and he can trust what God says, not what you see. If we try to make sense of our circumstances, or compare our circumstances to others’, we will inevitably feel like we drew the short straw. We will always find someone who seems to have an easier life, a better job, a healthier body, or what we long for and can’t have.
Jeremiah did not understand how he could live so righteously and suffer so much abuse. He could not understand how the wicked seems to prosper in their wickedness with no one to oppose them. The first thing Jeremiah had to learn was that he needed to stop trying to understand what is beyond what God has revealed, and instead trust the loving purposes our Father has spoken by filling ourselves with the truth of his word. Jeremiah expressed his feeling and place everything before God. God is faithful, He knows how to bring us back to the truth of who he is and what he has promised, so our joy will be restored once again.
Tell him all your sorrows. I thank God for his grace and patience as I stumble my way down the path of following Jesus. I never imagined the challenges and heartache that I would face in this life, but God knew, and he has promised to carry me through to the end — growing me and drawing me closer to him each step of the way.
It is hard to stand by and see the injustice of our day. Lawlessness abounds and must witness evil and wickedness in high places. Every day the courts are being swayed and justice being perverted. Yet God is a just God who sees and knows. Christian may find themselves battling with feelings of bitterness, resentment, or anger towards what God has chosen to allow, and how unfair it feels, I encourage you to lift your eyes to our loving Savior who knows your pain, struggles, and heartache. Nothing on this earth compares to knowing Christ and enjoying him now and having the sure hope of eternity with him.
When you feel tempted towards resentfulness, and feel the weight of your circumstances threatening to crush you, remember that, though your heart and flesh may fail, God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever. He will faithfully guide you with his promises and counsel until that day when he receives you into glory. Jeremiah questions the Lord’s justice, he has a question and a complaint. Jeremiah is basically saying that it is not fair that he, who tries to do right and who has been tested by the Lord, should be punished while those who do wickedly are unhindered in their quest for posterity and prestige.
God told Jeremiah that He had been compelled to forsake His beloved people because of their rejection of Him. God had claimed Judah for His heritage, but instead of obeying Him, they had snarled at Him like a roaring lion, and had defiled the inheritance that God had given to them.
Jeremiah must continue to call out the hypocrites, who have turned away from God and keep asking God to intervene on the behalf of his wayward people. Jeremiah does it, with a humble spirit, reminding the Lord that He is always just when a case is brought to him. Interestingly, God challenges Jeremiah back. Essentially, he says, Jeremiah must get ready and get prepared to endure these uncertain times.
1. God is not afraid of our questions, He cares about your feelings.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? How long must this land mourn? We must be prepared to hear God answer. Though God does not explain everything to Jeremiah, He assures Jeremiah that these conditions were the results a nation that turned away from God. Judah and Jerusalem had become ungodly, unholy and ungrateful. God compares them to a lion roaring at its master. God is still in charge and has everything under control regardless of what it looks like or what the people are saying.
2. God knows how to prepare us for what lies ahead. “The Lord’s Reply to Jeremiah “If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?”
Things may get more intense before they get better. God compares theses present difficulties as racing with footmen. These are the normal challenges of life. Do not allow the normal challenges of life to make you stumble. It’s like running a race on an open track. If you fall now, what will you do when you must run through woods. This is a season of preparation, strategizing and planning for the future. Jeremiah must prepare because one day the city will fall, the temple will be destroyed, the gates will be burned and the people will be led into bondage. Prepare yourself for things to get worst before they get better.
3. God knows how bring injustice to an end and right every wrong. Jeremiah 12:14-17 “Now this is what the Lord says: “I will uproot from their land all the evil nations reaching out for the possession I gave my people Israel. And I will uproot Judah from among them. But afterward I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again, each nation to its own possession. And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people. But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
God will root the wicked and judge them according to their deeds. God will restore his people to their proper place and renew His covenant with them. God is a just God and will always to do what is right. Psalms 94:15-18 reads “For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated. Who will rise up to defend me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? If the LORD had not helped me, I would have laid down in the silence of death.”
The Psalmist reassures believers that God has a plan, God uses discipline to correct and guide us and He promises long-term victory in the end. The Lord's discipline is a sign of His care (Hebrews 12:6); it teaches and guides. Though evil people may oppress awhile (Psalm 94:5–6), God's people can look forward to complete restoration and perfect justice in the end.
