GOD DEMANDS A JUST SOCIETY
JEREMIAH 22:13-17, 21-23
By Clarence Weaver
LESSON AIM
After studying today’s lesson, students should understand that the Lord used His prophet Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah that He was greatly displeased with the unjust treatment the poor received at the hands of their wealthy neighbors and employers. Jeremiah warns that this injustice is contrary to the will of God and will not go unpunished. Students will decide to treat poor people fairly.
KEEP IN MIND
“I spake unto thee in thy prosperity: but thou saidst, I will not hear”(Jeremiah 22:21a).
Introduction
In this lesson, God condemns the descendants of Josiah, who were unrighteous and unjust, did not pay their workers fairly, and gloried in wealth (verse 13-14). Jeremiah declared that Josiah, as a true king, worked through justice (verse 15-16). In contrast, unlike Josiah, the current king was greedy and oppressive (verse 17). The lesson ends by declaring that because the leaders trusted prosperity more than God did, they would suffer shame under God’s judgment to come (verse 21-23). The demand to work for justice is clear in Scripture. This lesson points us directly to the consequences that attend injustice. We are called here to do justice because the God whom we serve delights in justice.
1. Descendants of King Josiah Condemned for Their Unrighteousness (Jeremiah 22:13-14)
A. Jeremiah had warned King Jehoiakim of God’s finally warning in Jeremiah 22:1-9. Jeremiah begins by condemnation. Judgment delivered against King Jehoiakim for oppressing the poor to work for nothing and not paying them for their labor. King Jehoiakim thought since he was the king he was entitled to having the best palace and the people was obligated to do it because he is king.
B. The word “woe” is used as preparation for a declaration of judgment and condemnation. The charges against Jehoiakim are injustice, pride, arrogance, greed, and oppression of the poor and laborers and the lack of right priorities ass king.
Injustice: unfairness, prejudice, wrong, and discrimination.
Pride: conceited, self-importance, proud, and vain
Arrogance: haughtiness, egotism, and overconfidence
Greed: gluttony, ravenousness, desire, and insatiability
Oppression: domination, subjugation, and cruelty
People that have those kinds of spirits don’t care who is hurt or how it is paid for. There is nothing wrong with anyone having things to reflect their position, however the motivate behind obtaining them will always be judge.
2. Jeremiah Proclaims the Righteousness of King Josiah (Jeremiah 22:15-16)
A. Having a Godly Character is Better than Silver and Gold
King Josiah had judged the cause of the needy and supplying to the poor, and doing the things God required him to do.
King Jehoiakim thought having a grand home was the standard that made him king. During a time when the nation was turmoil bankrupt and the Babylonian army currently surrounded the city an insensitive Jehoiakim thought only about himself.
B. What Does the Lord Requires From You
Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
ACT JUSTLY
Or, in other words, act with fairness, honesty, and integrity. What God requires of us is that we do what is right and fair in our relationships with other people.
Justice involves the sense of a standard of equality among people. It can be as simple as being honest in even the smallest routine business transaction.
We are a nation of Enron’s – and they are not all on a large scale.
We do the cheating on small scales that never make the headlines.
We cheat our neighbors.
If we can swindle an employee, or steal from our employer, we’ll find a way and do it. But God requires all of us – Enron or simple individual – to act justly.
LOVE MERCY
The second thing that God requires of us is that we “love mercy.” We are also to fill our hearts with compassion and kindness toward one another.
It is a word that most often used in a covenant sense, involving the attitude of two parties who are in covenantal relationship with one another. In relation to God’s mercy, it is used most often of His grace, or of UNEXPECTED kindness.
Micah tells us three things God requires of us. One is to act justly. The second is to love mercy. Easy tasks, But hard to make a reality.
We don’t love mercy.
We don’t value kindness.
We return rudeness with rudeness.
We allow opportunities to show kindness to pass us by.
When we should be gentle with others, we are harsh.
WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
Have you noticed that when Micah tells us what God expects the first two things he expects have nothing to do with God. They have to do with how we behave toward one another.
God expects His children to love and get along with one another. He expects His children to treat one another justly and fairly, and He expects His children to love mercy and to show kindness toward one another.
But the third expectation Micah shares is that God expects us to have a right relationship with Him – with God Himself.
That right relationship with God always begins with humility, not arrogance.
God expects us to walk humbly with Him. Easy task, But it is hard to make a reality. We are arrogant. We are proud. We tend to think that God’s role is to make us happy, to serve us, to answer our prayers. But it is we who are to serve and glorify God.
The pattern of King Josiah’s righteous reign characterized with justice, which translates into the knowledge and relationship with God.
3. Cruelty of King Jehoiakim Condemned (Jeremiah 22:17)
A. King Jehoiakim’s was condemned for his wicked reign of injustice, covetousness, violence, oppression, and bloodshed.
Injustice: (James 3:16 AMP) For where there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition) there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil practices. He oppressed the poor with every decision, they sought to get all they could from those who could least afford to give and then misused and abused everything they received.
Covetousness: (James 4:2-3 AMP) (Verse 2) You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murders [To hate is to murder as far as your heart is concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do no have because you do not as. [See 1 John 3:15]. (Verse 3) [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet you fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose, and evil, selfish motives. Your intentions is, [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
B. King Jehoiakim is condemned as being a Hog Dog
King Josiah taught his son King Jehoiakim the knowledge of God and he also observes how his father ruled as the king according to the Word of God, but decided to live for the lust of the world.
2 Peter 2:21-22 KJV For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (Verse 22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
4. Punishment Pronounced for unfaithful Leaders (Jeremiah 22:21-23)
The punishment for King Jehoiakim is in Jeremiah 22:18-20.
A. Warning Always Come Before Destruction: (Verse 21) Jeremiah warned them about their sins and the consequences that would follow when things were going well, but they refused to listen or obey and heed the warning. They said in their hearts, “I will not hear.” They have been disobedience has been a way of life for the city.
B. Disobedience Affects Everyone Under a Corrupted Leadership {Verse 22) The punishment is that they will be carried away into captivity. All the leaders will be blown away with the wind. All allies whom you trusted or relied on in the past will also be carried off into captivity. No one will come to the rescue you from God’s punishment.
The first fruits of our walk with the Lord are so sweet and blessed as we bask in the abundant riches of His grace and forgiveness. He cleanses us from all sin and we find ourselves rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Oh, but how quickly we begin to settle into our own lifestyles.
Holiness, sanctification and godliness were rare in the land now. There were so very few who really called upon the name of the Lord. There were so very few who would bow their head to the Father in Heaven. Every man was looking out for himself now. Only a remnant remained to worship God and serve Him with all their heart.
It is getting harder and harder in our day to find those, even Christians, who live according to the standards of holiness and righteousness. Try preaching or teaching that message and you will not see many come and you may lose most of what you have had. People don’t want to hear the message of holiness, righteousness and sanctification any longer. All they want to hear are messages of faith, joy, peace, love and happiness.
Even in our churches we must be careful that greediness doesn’t creep in. It’s so easy to take sides in any argument or any discussion when those who are more disposed to being your friend than those who are not present are a point of argument.
C. Your Social Status Will Be Destroyed (Verse 23)
Jeremiah refers to Lebanon as the King Jehoiakim’s palace, which he built with cedar from Lebanon. Jeremiah also told King Jehoiakim that he would experience the pain as of a woman in travail in childbirth! He describes the pain and agony that the king and the whole nation will go through as a consequence of their sin and wickedness. Jeremiah prophecies will be like the labor pain of a pregnant woman. There will be shrieks and screaming.
