Jeremiah - Misunderstandings, Struggles, Perseverance
-Introduction
-Last week we talked about the book of Jeremiah.
-We talked about the fact that Jeremiah’s time (overall) was a time of trouble and turmoil -
politically and especially religiously.
-Following the death of Josiah - a succession of sinful rulers - people wandered further
and further into sinful rebellion against God
-God sent Jeremiah to the people with instructions to repent and also with a message of
impending doom for their failure to do so.
-While Jeremiah proclaimed God’s truth, false prophets proclaimed lies that were more
popular, convenient and pleasing to the people.
-Jeremiah’s truth was rejected and he was severely persecuted.
-However, over 2,500 years later, we still have Jeremiah’s words to read and study.
-Jer 1:9 - That’s because Jeremiah’s words were and are God’s words.
-Jeremiah - What a Man!
-Jeremiah was a man dedicated to God. He served God and proclaimed His message amidst a
sinful, rebellious people.
-The people of his hometown, including his own family members, plotted against him, threatened
him and wanted him dead. (Jer 11:19-21; 12:6)
-He was rejected, criticized, threatened, pursued, beaten, imprisoned several times, etc
-Having been instructed by God not to marry (Jer 16:1-2) he faced these trials and endured these
tribulations, for the most part, alone.
-However, he knew that he had God to depend upon and trust.
-Wayne Jackson, in the preface of his book entitled Jeremiah and Lamentations (1997,
Courier Publications, Stockton, CA) had this to say, “There are many things about heaven
that I do not understand. I therefore hope that I am not speaking irreverently when I suggest
that in our final abode, it would be a supreme thrill to embrace Jeremiah and heartily thank
him for the encouragement he has lent to my life.”
-Truly, we can gain a great amount of encouragement by studying Jeremiah - what a man!
-Jeremiah - Did He Misunderstand?
-Jer 1:8-10, 17-19
-If these were the only words we had available to us regarding Jeremiah, we probably would
not formulate the idea that he was one of the most persecuted of God’s prophets.
-We might get the idea that he could have openly and boldly proclaimed God’s word without
any threat &/or fear of persecutions and tribulations.
-Perhaps that’s what Jeremiah initially thought.
-He was a great man - a very strong man. But, he wasn’t void of struggles and times of despair.
-Jer 12:1 - “yet”
-How many times have we done this? - “God, I know you are an all-powerful, all-knowing
God, but…”; “God, I know that you understand all things, but…”; “God, I know that you
know what’s best, but…”; “God, I know you’re ultimately in control, but…”
-That’s what Jeremiah’s doing - “God, I know you’re righteous, but why do the wicked
prosper?
-This seemed unfair and unjust to Jeremiah. We know that because he asks for justice.
-Jer 12:2-6
-However, God was strengthening Jeremiah.
-Heb 12:6-7, 11 - Remember, discipline includes instruction.
-Jeremiah 20:7-18
-“thou hast deceived me” - That is quite a charge. Jeremiah was probably thinking about God’s
words in Jeremiah 1.
-Jer 20:2 - Pashur smote Jeremiah. Possibly a reference to 40 stripes (Deut 25:1-3).
-Jeremiah struggled to reconcile God’s promising words and his own current sufferings.
-Yet, God’s word was one of deliverance, not one of an easy road.
-Jeremiah decided that he would no longer proclaim God’s word. Doing so had only brought him
trouble (vs 8-9).
-But, Jeremiah simply could not keep God’s words within him (vs 9-11).
-He realizes that God has continued to be with him - that he can endure - and through God
would prevail in the end.
-Jeremiah pleaded with God for justice (vs 12).
-Notice the change in Jeremiah’s thoughts and attitudes - “Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the
Lord.”
-quite a change in mind - quite a man
-Yet, Jeremiah still had his ups and his downs. We see that in vs 14-18 - back into a time of
despair.
-Important Lesson For Us
-Jeremiah had his struggles along the way. We do, too.
-We don’t face the same severity of persecution as Jeremiah did but we all face different
challenges and we all have our own difficulties.
-However, as we continue through the book of Jeremiah, it seems evident that he grew stronger
and stronger and overcame those emotional and mental waverings.
-He seemed to settle into a confidence and boldness within his relationship with God and
continued steadfastly.
-We can, too.
-Summary and Invitation
-Since Jeremiah was able to overcome the things he faced and continue faithfully amidst the
circumstances and in those times, we can overcome the challenges we face and continue on.
-We can do so through the same avenue as Jeremiah - faith, confidence and trust in God - abiding
in accordance with His instructions and guidance found within His word.
-Ps 119:105-106
-However, we have an advantage over Jeremiah in the fact that we have God’s completed
revelation and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus.
-John 14:6
-Through Jesus, God has promised us deliverance.
-1 Cor 10:13, 2 Pet 2:9
-Rom 8:33-39
-We may not always have an easy path, but as the children of God, we still have the promise
of ultimate and final deliverance.
-Have you responded to God’s offer of deliverance. Have you obeyed the Gospel of Christ?
-Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Luke 13:3,5, Acts
17:30), Be Baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), Walk in Newness of Life (Rom
6:4)
-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful? If not, confess your shortcomings,
repent of them and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).
Date: October 30, 2005