The Lord will rebuke Israel who have been led astray by false shepherds, then will restore them again.
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 neighbors 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. A covenant before the Lord is to be kept. But as we learned yesterday, Israel was committed to idols. Here we see early on in Jeremiah’s ministry the Lord asks the men to listen again to the covenant of the Lord by saying to the “cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem”, Jer 11:6. Sadly there are more who have the opportunity to follow than who do follow. The new covenant will never be broken in Christ. Rom 8:31.
2. The sad reality is that the Lord’s patience does run out with people who have constantly resisted His Spirit. Religious people still want to hear and receive from the Lord but the Lord says “Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them”, Jer 11:11.
3. Even Jeremiah was told “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.”, Jer 11:14. Sometimes a minister of the gospel with the Apostle Paul hands people over to Satan to receive instruction. These ones are not prayed for with respect to blessing, but correction. Sadly, I have been in this situation more times than I would like.
4. The answer to the internal rebellion is only found in Christ. As with Isaiah before him, Isa 53:7, Jeremiah says “But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter”, Jer 11:19. This is both prophetic and personal for Jeremiah. Often the lives of the prophets reflected the life of Christ. Jeremiah continues in vs 19 by 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." Remember the Lord Jesus as He was being led out to His crucifixion while carrying the cross says “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?", Luke 23:31. Jesus is the tree that was cut down. Jerusalem would pay in AD70, and we know Israel is being shaped for another period of intense persecution. Only then after a season of humility will they “look upon the One whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him”, Zech 12:10 and repent.
5. In Jer 11:20-23 we see judgement was going to come upon the men of Jeremiah’s town of Anathoth. As with Jesus there was no honour for this prophet in his hometown, Luke 4:16-24. Jesus says the judgement will be greater than that of Sodom and Gomorrah, frightening words.
6. Jeremiah raises a logical complaint in Jer 12:1, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?”. This is the same argument given in Psalm 10 and by Asaph in Psalm 73. He prays rather than him being the lamb to the slaughter, but rather let “them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter” Jer 12:3.
7. Unlike many modern theologians, the Lord doesn’t mince His words against a rebellious people. He bluntly says, “she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her”, Jer 12:8.The Lord says that it is now time “to devour”, vs 9. Who has caused the nation to rebel? As with today, “Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard”, vs 10. Israel’s prophets sold a lie that Israel could follow idols, live as they pleased and not go into captivity, When pastors turn away from Spirit led preaching regarding sin, righteousness and judgement” judgement comes upon the church. In fact, Peter says it begins with the church, “it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God” 1Pet 4:17. We are seeing this today, weak preaching, emotion led worship, no true revival.
8. After Israel is disciplined, they will be restored, “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”, Jer 12:15. Israel will then turn to Christ after a period of humility. It is then that they will be true lights for the gospel, especially in the later days, vs 16 and the Millennial kingdom, vs 17.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesday – 6:30pm at church. We will be discussing how Jesus is the Priest in your life.
Prayer Points
1. New people as they settle in
2. Pray for the new treasurer and outreach.
3. Zac and Suzy as they lead next week, Mathys Communion and Doug as He preaches.
4. Revival over our city.
5. Pray for Kids church and Kids Hope at Karalee State school.
6. Pray for the work we have going on with site development and TMR and the ways forward whether with our friends at the Drive-in or elsewhere.
7. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. New people on Sunday.
2. Members meeting on Sunday was blessed with unity and joy. Thankyou everyone
3. Finances continue to be maintained.
4. The Lord’s grace over our lives and country
5. Café, music, sound and technical team every week
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Ministries this week. Life group, Kids@Church, Kids Hope - Karalee.
2. PlayPatch this Friday 9:30am. Not on this Friday
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for February...
Q. 29. What do we inherit from Adam as a result of this original sin?
