Jeremiah’s ministry was one of constant battle and fatigue against the rebellion of his own countrymen. They simply would not listen to him, hence why he is called the ‘weeping prophet’.
Jeremiah 13: The Ruined Loincloth
1 Thus says the LORD to me, "Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, and do not dip it in water."
2 So I bought a loincloth according to the word of the LORD, and put it around my waist.
3 And the word of the LORD came to me a second time,
4 "Take the loincloth that you have bought, which is around your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a cleft of the rock."
5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
6 And after many days the LORD said to me, "Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there."
7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the loincloth was spoiled; it was good for nothing.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
9 "Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.
11 For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.
The Jars Filled with Wine
12 "You shall speak to them this word: 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Every jar shall be filled with wine."' And they will say to you, 'Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?'
13 Then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will fill with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land: the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
14 And I will dash them one against another, fathers and sons together, declares the LORD. I will not pity or spare or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.'"
Exile Threatened
15 Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the LORD has spoken.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.
17 But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock has been taken captive.
18 Say to the king and the queen mother: "Take a lowly seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head."
19 The cities of the Negeb are shut up, with none to open them; all Judah is taken into exile, wholly taken into exile.
20 "Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
21 What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? Will not pangs take hold of you like those of a woman in labor?
22 And if you say in your heart, 'Why have these things come upon me?' it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up and you suffer violence.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.
24 I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert.
25 This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, declares the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.
26 I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen.
27 I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighings, your lewd whorings, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?"
Jeremiah 14: Famine, Sword, and Pestilence
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2 "Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.
3 Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns; they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed and confounded and cover their heads.
4 Because of the ground that is dismayed, since there is no rain on the land, the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
5 Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass.
6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no vegetation.
7 "Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.
8 O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?
9 Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us."
10 Thus says the LORD concerning this people: "They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins."
11 The LORD said to me: "Do not pray for the welfare of this people.
12 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence."
Lying Prophets
13 Then I said: "Ah, Lord GOD, behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.'"
14 And the LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come upon this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.
16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them---them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.
17 "You shall say to them this word: 'Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound, with a very grievous blow.
18 If I go out into the field, behold, those pierced by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land and have no knowledge.'"
19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your soul loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against you.
21 Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22 Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.
Things to think about…
1. Jeremiah’s is told to go and buy a loincloth and put it around himself, Jer 13:1,2. He is then told to travel to the Euphrates River and bury it there and then return, no doubt years later. Only to find it ruined. This journey is about 400klms one way. 800 klms round trip. He is told to go and get it - 1600klms in total for the sake of the message. Yet we know Jeremiah was faithful and this represented the fact that Judah would indeed be taken to Babylon and that they who who once spotless before the Lord were in fact good for nothing. Praise God the new covenant in Christ makes us whole and clean, white as snow before the Lord. Judah believed it was simply because they were Jews. The exile of the northern tribes by Assyria should have been stark reminder that this was not the case.
2. Jeremiah says to the people that every jar will be filled with wine, Jer 13:12. His hearers agree. But Jeremiah says this is not for blessing, but for drunkenness, which they were doing, on their own desires. The Lord will therefore set them up for judgement. That no doubt changed the mood of his hearers. Sadly, it didn’t change their hearts.
3. Exile would indeed come for the inhabitants of Judah and the cities of Judah, including Jerusalem, would be destroyed, Jer 13:15-27. After Hezekiah showed the Babylonian envoy all the riches of Jerusalem the Lord said by these same ones will all your treasures be taken away. The rules of Judah maintained a relationship with the Babylonians from that point on and hence why Jeremiah says “What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you?”, Jer 13:21. These ‘friendly faces’, would in fact rule over them. Sadly, this happens in wills after the death of a wealthy head of a family and the wealth is distributed. Some may not get what they believe they deserve; Jerusalem would not receive mercy from Babylon. This would not happen if Judah repented. Sadly as a leopard cannot change its spots, so Judah cannot change and repent, vs 23.
4. Jeremiah is praying for the drought to break in Jer 14:1-9. He acknowledges their iniquities before Him, vs 7, but ultimately the Lord asks Jeremiah not to pray for the people or for the land, because He simply won’t answer the prayer, vss 11, 12. Even though they fast, the sword is ready for them, vs 12. What a sad thing it is when a Christian has been told many times of the areas that they need to get right before the Lord, only to harden their hearts and reject His word. Such people the Lord says do not have forgiveness of sins simply because the fruit is not there, and they mock the work of the cross. While we cannot lose our salvation if we are saved by grace, words found in Hebrews 10:26, 27 say the opposite. Be holy as He is holy.
5. Lying prophets, Jer 14:13-17. The Lord says He didn’t send them. They are prophesying no judgement, no exile. A bit like some modern preachers, all is good in Vanity Fair. Such is not the case. The Lord says they prophets will die by Babylonian swords and their hearers will suffer the same fate. This the Lord take pleasure in this? Verse 17 gives your answer. He does not, but in fact weeps over their predicament.
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the school holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer Points
1. TGP – internet provider is being sorted this week. Pray it is resolved.
2. That we see Christ even as Covid goes through the community.
3. Praise, hope and Joy through this new year.
4. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. More new folk on Sunday
2. Wonderful worship on Sunday – thankyou Paul, Zac, Gina as well as iMan and Tim – technical team.
3. Safety over the Christmas New Year’s season.
4. Joy in our service, great times in the cafe.
5. Word of God being blessed at CBC.
Announcements
1. All ministries on break until the end of January
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
