The Word Of God As A Hammer Series

THE WORD OF GOD SERIES

SERMON FOUR – AS A HAMMER

Jeremiah 23:28-30

The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.?

In this passage there are two similes used – FIRE AND HAMMER

I want to deal with the Latter of the Two

THE WORD OF GOD AS A HAMMER

This Scripture teaches that the Bible is Like a hammer which rouses and strengthens the life and conscience, crushing everything that is evil within the heart.

What this metaphor is teaching is about the POWER OF THE WORDS OF GOD

It’s been said that the pen is mightier than the sword.

What that means is that words can be powerful.

Words can be weapons.

A careless, harsh word can cut a person like a knife.

But Words can also be helpful tools.

Wise words spoken at the right time can prevent tragedy.

A kind word can also provide comfort and consolation to someone who’s

hurting.

Words are powerful. This certainly pertains to the greatest words of all – God’s Word.

God’s Word is like no other. It is infallible and all-sufficient.

And God’s Word affects people in unimaginable ways.

IN THIS PASSAGE GOD IS REVEALING THE POWER of HIS WORD by using the Symbol of a HAMMER

I BEGAN THINKING ABOUT A HAMMER THIS MORNING IN RELATION TO THE WORD OF GOD!!!

I. THE DEMOLITION OF A HAMMER

One of the first things we’d use a hammer for would be pounding or even breaking.

That’s the picture that God is painting concerning his holy Word.

There are Four Different Types of Hammers mentioned in the Word of God

1. pattiysh pat-teesh’ – Which is just a General type of Hammer used by

Goldsmiths

2. maqqabah mak-kaw-baw’ – Used for Cutting Stones

3. halmuwth hal-mooth’ – Sharp Hammer – Piercing effect

4. mappets map-pates’ – War Club or Battle Axe

The One Mentioned here is Hammer for General Use

The situation in Jeremiah’s day was not unlike our day.

In this chapter God gives one of the most scathing indictments against false prophets who were scattering His sheep!!!

There had been a controversy between Jeremiah and the false prophets over the simple question, Will God punish sin, yes or no?

There was a war being waged in Judah against the faithfulness of God’s Word.

These false prophets were placing false hopes in their own imaginations.

They were teaching the People what they had dreamed up instead of Preaching What Thus Saith the Lord

The False Prophets were telling the People what they wanted to hear

Jer 23:16

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

Jer 23:22

But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

Jer 23:32

Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

Lightness means – The Prophets did not take the things of God Serious

They Spoke to the People jokingly

They treated the Things of God as Trivial

They just had fun with the People of God

BASICALLY DID NOT TAKE THEIR POSITION SERIOUS AND USED THEIR SPEECHES TO LIGHTEN THE MOODS AND MAKE THE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER

BOY THAT SOUNDS LIKE AMERICA TONIGHT – WE’VE GOT A GENERATION TONIGHT THAT WANTS A PREACHER TO BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

We have a Generation that Does not Like Preaching that Tears Down

We’ve got a Generation that Wants to here about the good things in life The Funny Side of things

THAT’S WHAT PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY WOULD HAPPEN

II Timothy 4:3-4

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

The word itching-- knetho knay’-tho -- This is the Only Place that this word is found in the Bible

It means to rub, to scratch; and then to tickle