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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Jeremiah the prophet lived in the final days of the crumbling nation of Israel. He was, appropriately, the last prophet that God sent to preach to the southern kingdom, which comprised the tribes o...
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Dean Fugett
From the Book of Jeremiah and Jeremiah’s life, the lesson taught is clearly that of focus, commitment, perseverance, and faithfulness under all conditions.
Jack Gutknecht
1. Jeremiah shows us the fullness of God's character.
We live in a world that has an impoverished view of God. Jeremiah challenges us by putting on display the full range of God's character. In contrast to the false gods and idols that the nations worship, the LORD is the only true God (Jer. 10:1-16).
E.g. Jeremiah 10:10 “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.”
(KJV)
"Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song."
God is sovereignly working out his purposes for human history. Before Jeremiah was even born God had set him apart to be his mouthpiece (Jer. 1:1-19). See Jeremiah 1:5 KJV --
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Through this prophet, God announces his plans to raise up and destroy nations (Jer 1:10-- “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”), as well as his plans for his people (Jer. 29:1-23). The LORD sits in judgment over his own people as well as the nations, pouring out his wrath on their rebellion (Jer. 25:1-38; 46:1-52:34).
2. Jeremiah shows us the depths of our sinfulness.
We live in a world that often denies or minimizes the reality of sin. Jeremiah penetrates this delusional fog with striking descriptions of our depravity. God wired us to be worshipers, but in our folly, we exchange worship of the true God for the worship of worthless idols (Jer. 2:4-13; 44:15-30 --
{Jer. 2:13 says, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."}
Sin has its roots in the human heart, deceiving us into calling evil good and good evil (Jer. 17:1-13). See especially:
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (KJV)
This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts, {see Jr 17:9}
How does it overflow?
While self upon the surface floats
Still bubbling from below.
There is no aspect of our being that sin has not infected. Jesus said,
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Walk through Jeremiah’s prophecies; see how the judgment proclaimed in the book of Jeremiah serves as a backdrop for the beauty of God’s promised salvation through Jesus Christ.
3. Jeremiah shows us the power of our Savior.
Let others in the gaudy dress
Of fancied merit shine;
The Lord shall be my righteousness {Jr 23:6; Isa 45:24}
The Lord for ever mine.
This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts,
How does it overflow?
While self upon the surface floats
Still bubbling from below.
We live in a world that is in desperate need of a Savior. Jeremiah points us towards a Savior who comes from the line of David, a righteous Branch who will reign as a wise and righteous king, executing justice (Jer. 23:5). He will be called "The LORD is our righteousness" (Jer. 23:6) because he will give his people the righteousness they need to be acceptable before a holy God (Jer. 33:14-16). What we could not do for ourselves, God has done for us through his promised king.
Beyond judgment lies hope. God's intention is not destruction. His plans for his people are to give them "a hope and a future" (29:11). God remains accessible (Jr 29:13). He'll watch over the exiles 24-7.
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