Jeremiah is told that things are going to get worse before they get better. Sometimes this is the case before we see the Lord’s deliverance.
Jeremiah 11: The Broken Covenant
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
2 "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
3 You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant
4 that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,
5 that I may confirm the oath that I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day." Then I answered, "So be it, LORD."
6 And the LORD said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the words of this covenant and do them.
7 For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice.
8 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not."
9 Again the LORD said to me, "A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.
12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble.
13 For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal.
14 "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.
15 What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done many vile deeds? Can even sacrificial flesh avert your doom? Can you then exult?
16 The LORD once called you 'a green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.' But with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed.
17 The LORD of hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you, because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by making offerings to Baal."
18 The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.
19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."
20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand"---
22 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine,
23 and none of them shall be left. For I will bring disaster upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment."
Jeremiah 12: Jeremiah's Complaint
1 Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
2 You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.
3 But you, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.
4 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, "He will not see our latter end."
The LORD Answers Jeremiah
5 "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; do not believe them, though they speak friendly words to you."
7 "I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies.
8 My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her.
9 Is my heritage to me like a hyena's lair? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my portion; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart.
12 Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the land to the other; no flesh has peace.
13 They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the LORD."
14 Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbours who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: "Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land.
16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, 'As the LORD lives,' even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.
17 But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD."
Things to think about…
1. Jeremiah’s message to Israel was simple. God gave you a land flowing with milk and honey, you did not keep His law, therefore He will take you out of the land. Jeremiah’s home town of Anathoth were sick of hearing his message, therefore they wanted to kill him. Like Jesus, Jeremiah had no honour in his home town. The Lord says that He would judge these very men, Jer 11::22, 23. Everyone wants to hear about heaven, but very few want to know the truth about the judgement of hell. In fact it is intolerable to mention it in many places. How do you deal with this situation when you witness? Do you find it easier to mention the love of God and never the judgement of God? All truth is necessary when witnessing about the God of truth.
2. Jeremiah complains that the wicked prosper, Jer 12:1-4. This is very like Asaph in Psalm 73. Jeremiah wants swift judgement to come upon them. Jeremiah is suffering for his message. Do you think he is justified in wanting judgement to come upon those who are living in ease and yet are hastening judgement upon Judah? It is always difficult when the very source of your grievance are the ones who will be judged. Keeping a right heart towards the enemies of God is always a balancing act when trying to maintain the integrity of the message of the gospel.
3. The Lord answers Jeremiah by saying things are actually going to get worse, Jer 12:5, you have raced men, what will you do when you have to run against horses. This is just a metaphor to say, ‘We have only just started Jeremiah’. These words would have been quite discouraging for him I am sure. The Lord says your family is against you, those in your own house. The Lord goes on to say, “My house has been against Me”, Jer 12:8ff. Even though they are judged with poor crops and lean harvests they still don’t mend their ways – they still pray to a false god. The Lord says judgement will come upon them, Jer 12:14-17. Do you think Australia is in a similar situation? We have rejected the Lord in many ways. Do you believe there are greater judgments to come if we keep going? Let’s pray that the Lord restores this country as Jer 12:15 says would happen to Israel. May we see restoration back to the Lord in Australia.
4. Jeremiah was not just a prophet to Judah, but also to the surrounding nations as we will read in the later chapters of Jeremiah. But here we see the introduction to this truth when the Lord says “if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD." Jer 12:17. He is the Lord of all the earth, not just Israel.
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
