After listening restlessly to a long and tedious sermon, a 6-year-old boy asked his father what the preacher did the rest of the week. "Oh, he’s a very busy man," the father replied. "He takes care of church business, visits the sick, ministers to the poor.... And then he has to have time to rest up. Talking in public isn’t an easy job, you know. "The boy thought about that, then said, "Well, listening ain’t easy, either."
Listening is a very important skill. That’s why God gave you two ears and only one mouth.
If you want God’s best for you life you’ve got to be a spiritual listener.
The good and faithful King Josiah died in battle against Pharoah Necho II who was rushing to defend the Assyrians against the Babylonians. His son Jehoahaz served 3 months and then was carried into captivity into Egypt and Josiah’s 2nd oldest son Jehoiakim was placed on the throne as an Egyptian puppet king.
The Babylonians were not to be deterred and soon overran Palestine and in 605 B.C. were knocking at the door of Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim surrendered to the Babylonian king Nebuchadrezzar.
In Jeremiah 36 God tells Jeremiah to record all his prophesies on a scroll. So Jeremiah employed Baruch to record his prophesies.
- Baruch read it before the people
- Baruch then read it before the king’s officials
- His officials told him to leave the scroll with them and hide himself and Jeremiah
- They had it read before king Jehoiakim
Jer 36:21-26
21 The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of Elishama the secretary and read it to the king and all the officials standing beside him. 22 It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. 23 Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. 24 The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. 25 Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26 Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them. NIV
Jer 36:29-31
29 Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, `This is what the LORD says: You burned that scroll and said, "Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and cut off both men and animals from it?" 30 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night. 31 I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.’" NIV
It is a well documented historical fact, Jehoiakim rebelled against Babylon and in December 598 B.C. Nebuchadrezzar was back. Jehoiakim mysteriously died (probably assinated) and his 18 year old son Jehoiachin became king until Babylon breached the walls of Jerusalem 3 months later in March 597 B.C. Jehoiachin was taken captive to Babylon and his uncle Zedekiah was installed as a puppet king of Babylon.
Jer 37:1-3
37:1 Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. 2 Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.
It was during this time that King Zedekiah decided to rebel against Babylon:
2 Kings 24:1 During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the land, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. But then he changed his mind and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. 2 The LORD sent Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders against him. He sent them to destroy Judah, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by his servants the prophets. NIV
Back to Jeremiah 37:3
3 King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: "Please pray to the LORD our God for us." NIV
After reading that I’m thinking, “Wow, that Zedekiah is really a hypocrite – refusing to listen to the Lord, yet when he’s in trouble he wants people to pray for him.” Isn’t that the way people are today? We are so fickle in America. Americans won’t go to church or respond to the Gospel, but when a crisis hits, boy they want somebody to pray for them. (Desert Storm chapel prayer example).
- The Babylonians are back besieging Jerusalem
- Egyptians show up at the border (Zedekiah counts on them as alies)
- Jeremiah prophesies “Don’t count on the Egyptians, the Babylonians will be back like a bad haircut and burn the city.”
- Jeremiah attempts to see his newly purchased property and is arrested, tried, flogged and imprisoned as a traitor.
- (Sure enough, while he was in prison, the Babylonians returned)
- King Zedekiah has Jeremiah secretly brought to the palace and he asks “Do you have any messages from the Lord?” “Yes I do, you will be defeated by the King of Babylon.”
- Jeremiah “What crime have I committed? Where now are your prophets who prophesied that the King of Babylon would not attack you? Hmmmmm?”
Jer 27:8-15
"If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I destroy it by his hand. 9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, `You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies to you that will only serve to remove you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. 11 But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live there, declares the LORD." ’"
12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, "Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live. 13 Why will you and your people die by the sword, famine and plague with which the LORD has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, `You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies to you. 15`I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD. `They are prophesying lies in my name. Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish, both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’" NIV
- So, upon reflection King Zedekiah placed Jeremiah in the palace jail – a better jail, where he was basically under house arrest instead of in a dungeon.
- Jeremiah didn’t quit prophesying – no he continued to warn his people with this message `Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.’ 3 And this is what the LORD says: `This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.’" NIV
- Some officials heard it and told King Zedekiah that he must die & Zedekiah agrees and gives them permission to kill Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah was lowered into an empty mucky cistern and left to die
- Jeremiah was not having a good pastor’s appreciation month.
- Jeremiah’s friend Ebed-Melech (name means servant of the king) beggd the king to allow him to rescue Jeremiah and Zedekiah relented.
- Zedekiah sets up a second secret meeting with Jeremiah at the Temple:
o I am going to ask you something & don’t try to hide the truth.
o Jeremiah, “If I tell the truth, you will kill me & if I give you advice you won’t listen to me anyway!”
o Jeremiah, “Surrender and live and Jerusalem will be spared, or don’t surrender and die and Jerusalem will be burned.”
In July 587 B.C. the walls of Jerusalem were once again breached just as the supply of food ran out. Zedekiah tried to escape but was captured. Zedekiah’s sons were brutally killed right before his eyes and then they gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes and took him to Babylon in chains where he died.
Listen, Christian and non-Christian – God is speaking to you.
What is he saying preacher?
He’s saying “STOP AND LISTEN!”
We must learn to stop and listen to what God the Holy Spirit is speaking to us.
At a minimum you need to be doing this on a daily basis. Those of you who are more mature in Christ should be listening continuously throughout the day.
But pastor, I’ve never heard God’s voice before – I don’t know what it sounds like – how do I listen to God?
1. Stop and Listen – carve out some time – no distractions – sit still and ask God to speak to you.
2. You will hear God’s voice in many ways – Scriptures will pop into your mind, you may hear a still small voice, you may see pictures and visions, or you’ll just know it (you just know in your knower). There are many ways to hear and apprehend God’s voice.
3. You will also hear God speak to you through music, worship, preaching prophetic words, and words of knowledge.
(Prayer – Father God, through your Son Jesus, release your Holy Spirit to speak to the hearts and minds of your people.)
Practice: Close your eyes, quiet your thoughts ……… Now I want you to repeat after me and then listen, are you ready? Alright, say “ Jesus, I love you.”
Alright, what did you hear? (Audience response)
God wants to speak to his people but we need to learn to “STOP AND LISTEN!”
God wants to have fellowship with you.
God the Holy Spirit wants to walk with you and talk with you. He wants to be included in every part of your life.
I encourage you to “make room” for God in your life.
Learn to “STOP AND LISTEN!”
