Jeremiah sees the end. More visions of judgement upon Judah, but the people will not listen.
Jeremiah 3:
1 "If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the LORD.
2 Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom.
3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed.
4 Have you not just now called to me, 'My father, you are the friend of my youth---
5 will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?' Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could."
Faithless Israel Called to Repentance
6 The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: "Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore?
7 And I thought, 'After she has done all this she will return to me,' but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8 She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore.
9 Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree.
10 Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretence, declares the LORD."
11 And the LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
12 Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, "'Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever.
13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favours among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD.
14 Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
15 "'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16 And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, "The ark of the covenant of the LORD." It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again.
17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.
18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage.
19 "'I said, How I would set you among my sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations. And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me.
20 Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to me, O house of Israel, declares the LORD.'"
21 A voice on the bare heights is heard, the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God.
22 "Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our God.
23 Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
24 "But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our fathers laboured, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
25 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonour cover us. For we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 4:
1 "If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver,
2 and if you swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."
3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds."
Disaster from the North
5 Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, "Blow the trumpet through the land; cry aloud and say, 'Assemble, and let us go into the fortified cities!'
6 Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring disaster from the north, and great destruction.
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.
8 For this put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned back from us."
9 "In that day, declares the LORD, courage shall fail both king and officials. The priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded."
10 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD, surely you have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, 'It shall be well with you,' whereas the sword has reached their very life."
11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A hot wind from the bare heights in the desert toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow or cleanse,
12 a wind too full for this comes for me. Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them."
13 Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles--- woe to us, for we are ruined!
14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares from Dan and proclaims trouble from Mount Ephraim.
16 Warn the nations that he is coming; announce to Jerusalem, "Besiegers come from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah.
17 Like keepers of a field are they against her all around, because she has rebelled against me, declares the LORD.
18 Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart."
Anguish over Judah's Desolation
19 My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
20 Crash follows hard on crash; the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are laid waste, my curtains in a moment.
21 How long must I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 "For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise'---in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.
25 I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the air had fled.
26 I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger.
27 For thus says the LORD, "The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
28 "For this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above be dark; for I have spoken; I have purposed; I have not relented, nor will I turn back."
29 At the noise of horseman and archer every city takes to flight; they enter thickets; they climb among rocks; all the cities are forsaken, and no man dwells in them.
30 And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.
31 For I heard a cry as of a woman in labour, anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, "Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.".
Things to think about…
1. The words ‘declares the Lord’ are listed eight times in Jer 3 as a continuation from the Lord’s message in the first two chapters. This is in the period of Josiah’s reign and the ten northern tribes of Israel which were taken captive by the Assyrians over 100 years before in 722BC. They are asked to return Jer 3:12. Yet they did not. But Judah is shown as being even more unfaithful because she saw the unfaithfulness of her sister Israel and yet committed worse adultery, Jer 3:6-10. He says they have been like “an Arab in the wilderness”, vs 2, Arabs were noted as waiting for someone to plunder, those coming from Israel were good targets. Ancient enemies answer for present day conflicts.
2. Judah is about to be judged in the same way the ten northern tribes of Israel were judged. As such Israel is called ‘more righteous’, Jer 3:11. Judah still had the priests, the temple and the sacrifices and so her hypocrisy was more evident. Our Lord hates hypocrisy. We know Christ’s words were most vehement against the Pharisees. But the same is true for the church. Remember the church of Laodicea receives judgement because they are lukewarm hypocrites, Rev 3:16. Judgement after all begins with the church, 1Pet 4:17.
3. King Josiah did many reforms in his time as king, 2 Kings 23. He pulled down the gold calf that Jeroboam had set upon Bethel and destroyed the high places, he cleaned out the temple and restored right worship. Unfortunately, outward reform is not enough, there needs to be a change of heart. Judah was outwardly religious by keeping all the sacrifices and festivals, but their hearts were far from the Lord, Jer 3:6. Judah had turned away from listening to their prophets, as the Lord had said to Jeremiah in chapter 1. Pray for godly shepherds to lead the people of the Lord, Jer 3:15. Please pray for your under-shepherd as well.
4. Have a look at the prophetic word in Jer 3:16, 17. The Jews were repeating the phrase ‘the ark of the covenant’ as if its presence were magical. When hearts are against God – all our previous acts of religious service have no power or meaning. But Jerusalem will one day be a city where the nations will gather. I believe this refers to a future time from where we are presently – most likely the Millennium. Protests have occurred among the Palestinians towards Israel again recently. But prophecy will not cease being fulfilled over Jerusalem.
5. The inhabitants of Judah were told to circumcise their hearts, Jer 4:4. Judgement was going to come from the north, through Dan, vs 15 – the Babylonians. The besiegers were coming, Jer 4:16. In 586BC they arrived and destroyed the temple. Jeremiah says a number of times ‘I looked’, Jer 4:23-26. He could see the judgement that was coming upon Israel. We know the end for Jerusalem before Christ returns will not be one of peace. But we are called to pray for peace over this city and that all in the city would receive Jesus (Yeshua) as Lord and Saviour. Pray for One for Israel ministry that CBC supports that produces discipleship videos in the Hebrew language.
6. Look at poor Jeremiah. His heart is in anguish and in pain, Jer 4:19. He could see the destruction of Judah by the Babylonians. The Lord had given him a vision of what would happen, vss 20-21. He says the people are foolish and like stupid children, only wise in doing evil, vs 22. Jeremiah considers the destruction of Jerusalem and the cities of Judah like the earth before it was filled with plants and animals. He says the land is without form and void, vs 23. The land shakes, vs 24 and there are no men or birds, vs 25. The fruitful land now a desert and the cities of Judah now lie in ruins, vs 26. Jeremiah saw all this before it occurred. The book of Lamentations also written by Jeremiah is the postscript of this prescript. This is the testament of a true prophet – it came to pass. Why would the people of the Lord not repent? One may ask the same question today with the lethargy and licentiousness that goes on in the church today. God have mercy on us!
7. The Lord shall make a full end, Jer 4:27. The earth and the heavens will be dark, like a destruction of creation. We know this speaks of the land of Judah but certainly echoes the judgement that will come as the Lord reserves the earth for fire after the Millennial reign. The women of Judah are described here who once adorned themselves in scarlet and gold and wore eye makeup, vs 30. Now they cry out as in labour, gasping for breath, saying “Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.", vs 31. Lord give us ears to hear and eyes to see Your words to be obedient to Your will.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Proclaiming Christ”
Reading – 1 Corinthians 12, 14
1. We all love receiving gifts. Especially if they have been well considered with who we really are and what we like. What is the most thoughtful gift you have ever received?
2. As Christians we all have a spiritual gift/s. What is yours? Are you using it to build up the body of Christ?
3. Paul says not to be ignorant of spiritual gifts, 1Cor 12:1. But there is a lot of confusion regarding the spiritual gifts of especially surrounding tongues and prophecy. Tongues as described in these 2 chapters (1Cor 12, 14) speak of known languages in the world, 1Cor 14:10, 11. Discuss how this gift is abused in some church contexts. How should it be used as outlined by Paul?
4. The gift of prophecy is also not well understood in the modern church. The 1st century Christians did not have the entire bible and needed revelation. We have the complete revelation in scripture and hence saying “Thus says the Lord” as the OT prophets declared is not the role of prophecy as described in 1 Cor 12&14. How do we discern the difference between a genuine prophetic word for someone or the church and a false prophecy?
5. Pray for the use of all the spiritual gifts in the church with a right discernment in their use.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
2. Pray for those on holidays and travelling.
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
5. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
6. Sunday’s message from Jer 1 - “Not the calling I’m after” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors on Sunday.
2. New cell groups.
3. Praise and worship – thanks Rod, Rin, Molley, Riley, Zac, great job.
Announcements
1. New Cell groups starting up. Find one near you.
2. PlayPatch starting up next term for toddlers at church. See Maddison for details.
3. Men’s brekky TBA. But will be down at Colleges Crossing within the next month or so on a Saturday morning.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
