The Plowman

 

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Jeremiah #55 - An exposition of Jeremiah 40:1-41:18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 8, 2009.

Introduction:
The history of the church has been a history of persecution.  The first Christians were hunted by Roman Emperors and scattered across the Middle East.  During the Middle Ages Christians were surrounded by Barbarians.  During the Reformation period Bible-believing Christians were branded as outlaws.  Things are really no better today.  Today in the Middle East and other parts of the world Christians are opposed by radical Islam.  In China the church is oppressed by Communism.  In Europe and the United States the church is marginalized by atheism and secularism.  It is not easy to be a follower of Christ in today’s world.  Thus we join our voice with believers through the ages declaring, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.

We live in a post-Christian culture.  A culture in which nothing is sacred.  Not marriage or family.  Not the church and its worship.  Life is not even considered sacred.  The paradigm has shifted.  Old loyalties have been forgotten.  Former worldviews have been cast aside.  A “new morality” (which is really just the old immorality) has taken hold.  The church, once a major player on the world stage has been relegated to a utilitarian role.  How should we respond?  What are we to do?

Do we fight?  Do we assume the mentality of warriors and seek to recapture the culture for Christ?  That is certain the attitude of a large number of folks.  I do not deny that we are in the midst of a “culture war.”  So I understand the attitude.  But I wonder if our pursuit of reclaiming America’s Christian past is more the result of a romantic dream than a reality.  Yes there is no denying that our founding documents rest solidly on a Judeo-Christian foundation.  But American has always been made up of saints and sinners from her earliest days.  In addition we now face a culture sees the Constitution as a “living” document that grows, learns and changes over time.  It doesn’t matter what the framers thought or what they meant.  That was then and this is now.  Thus through the rewriting of the Constitution the church is pushed aside and no longer has a role to play in government or national affairs.

Well does that mean we throw up our hands and surrender to an increasingly secular culture?  Do we abandon the public square and retreat into our churches hoping they will leave us alone?  No I’m not suggesting that at all.

But I am saying that a warrior spirit determined to gain political clout will not usher in a great sweeping revival.  No lasting change will come as a result of our getting our guys in office.  At the same time life is not going to improve is we slip quietly into the night and withdrawal from public life.

What I’m saying is that we must be faithful to believe, live and preach the gospel.  And we must do so having embraced a sound remnant theology.  Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapters 40 and 41.

Text: Jeremiah 40:1-41:18

What is clear from these two chapters is this…
Thesis: God always preserves a people for His own glory.

God’s people may well be besieged, attacked, opposed and scattered throughout the earth but they will never be lost.  God always preserves a remnant.

These 4 things constitute a sound doctrine of the remnant.

1. God always preserves a remnant.  (40:1-8, 11-12)
2. God always provides for His people.  (40:9-10)
3. God always keeps His word.
4. Whether the danger is from without or within, the remnant belongs to God and His purpose will prevail.  (41:11-15)

Our great need is not the development of a warrior culture to “take back” society.  It isn’t the development of church growth strategies but rather the recovery of a sold remnant theology.  Don’t read that as an escapist mentality or as “poor little ol’ us.”  I mean it in the sense that because God is for us who can stand against us?  I mean it in the sense that the gates of hell cannot prevail.  I mean it in the sense that no matter how bad things get or how powerful the enemy - God will always have a people.

 

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Jeremiah #54 - An exposition of Jeremiah 39:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Bpatist Church on Sunday evening, February 22, 2009.

Introduction:
Forty years is a long time to wait for payday.  After forty years of declaring that judgment was coming it is no wonder many laughed at such a notion.  Crazy Jere had been preaching the same message for decades but it never came.  His was the lone voice warning of an impending doom while others predicted a time of peace and prosperity.  It is hard to be faithful to the message given when nothing seems to change.  How long did Noah warn of a coming flood before a single drop of rain fell?  For 2000 years the church has been saying, “Jesus is coming back.”  An unbelieving world laughs at such a notion.  An increasing number of “churches” now wonder if we’ve misunderstood what He said.  The whole notion that the world is coming to an end and that judgment is to follow is a punch line to most.  When you think the end of the world you think of some wild-eyed fanatic with a sandwich board sign walking the streets of downtown.  Some are embarrassed to preach such an outdated message…but preach it we must for it is the Word of God.

For 18 months the army of Babylon surrounded the city of Jerusalem.  The city was under siege.  Yet many still refused to believe the end was near.  Judah’s king repeatedly sought advice from God’s prophet, “Is there a word from God?”  Yet he continued to reject God’s revelation.  Surrender?  Never.  Now the end was at hand.  Chapter 39 of Jeremiah records Judah’s final days.  The army of king Nebuchadnezzar marched into the streets of Jerusalem for the last time in July of 587 B.C.  Its walls were broken down the temple and the palace were destroyed by fire – and the city did not return to Jewish rule until the middle of the 20th century A.D. 2500 years later!

The fall of Jerusalem is the climax of Jeremiah’s prophecy but it was the lowest point in his life.  For 40 years he declared it was coming but there was no joy in his being vindicated.  His nation was destroyed.  His countrymen wiped out.  The prophet’s heart was broken.

On the Day of Judgment every promise God ever made about the fall of Jerusalem came true.

• God said disaster would come from the North – disaster came from the North.
• God said Jerusalem would be surrounded and besieged – it was surrounded and besieged.
• God said there would be famine – the famine was great.
• God said the whole land would be laid waste – it was laid waste.
• God said death would enter the city – death entered the city.
• God said foreign kings would establish their thrones in the city gates – they did.

Everything God promised came to pass.  Many of Jeremiah’s contemporaries doubted that a day of judgment would ever come – they were wrong.  Many in our own culture doubt that a day of judgment will come – they are wrong.

• What will happen when our Lord returns?
• What happen to you on the Day of Judgment?

 

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Jeremiah #53 - An exposition of Jeremiah 38:14-28. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 15, 2009.

Introduction:
They are powerful words.  They are words written more than 60 years ago by a man who suffered greatly for the name of Christ.  A man not satisfied with declaring the gospel but rather was determined to live the gospel.  These are words that must be heard today:

“If we refuse to take up our cross and submit to suffering and rejection at the hands of men, we forfeit our fellowship with Christ and have ceased to follow him.  But if we lose our lives in his service and carry our cross, we shall find our lives again in the fellowship of the cross with Christ…to bear the cross proves to be the only way of triumphing over suffering.  This is true for all who follow Christ, because it was true for him.”

Where did we get the idea that if we love Jesus all will be well?  How is it we convinced ourselves that nothing bad is ever supposed to happen to us because we belong to God?  We certainly didn’t come to that conclusion by reading the Scripture.  We did not get there by studying the history of the church.  Far from delivering us from trial, hardship and struggle – our faith often invites trouble.  To live a godly life in an ungodly world is to ask for trouble.  That was certainly Jeremiah’s experience.

40 years of faithfulness resulted in his being imprisoned, beaten, accused of treason and generally despised by everyone.  Paul didn’t fare much better.  Remember what he said?

Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.  2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Neither of these quotes would qualify as recruiting poster material but they are both true.  They reflect the language of Jesus.  “You want to be my disciple?  Take up your cross daily and follow me.”  Take no thought of tomorrow what you will eat or drink, what you will wear or where you will live…rather follow me.  He called for the forsaking of houses and lands or family and friendships – it was about loyalty and devotion.  It was about having no other gods before him.  The life we’ve been called to as the people of God is a difficult life.

Outline:

1. Faithfulness to God guarantees you will enter into the fellowship of His sufferings.
2. When faced with paralyzing fear the godless choose to walk by fear not by faith.  (38:14, 19, 24-25)
3. Lest we become overconfident – even the faithful are subject to shameful failure due to fear.  (38:24-28)

 

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Jeremiah #52 - An exposition of Jeremiah 38:1-13. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 8, 2009.

Introduction:
What do you do when you are called to a specific task but fulfilling it is next to impossible?  What do you do when you are given a message, a message that is vital and essential to society’s well being but no one cares?  They are not interested.  They think you are some kind of nut or extremist or dangerous fanatic?  What happens when your message is so out of step with the culture that you are deemed the problem?  Let’s add to the mix – I’m not talking about a completely secular culture.  I’m talking about a culture that embraces “spirituality” but isn’t interested in what the Bible has to say.  A culture long on being spiritual but short on specifics.  One that embraces almost anything while rejecting what has been revealed by God.  What do you do when even those who supposedly represent God stand in opposition to what He is doing?  By the way, though that sounds very much like our culture, I’m talking about the kingdom of Judah some 2600 years ago!  Our text this evening is found in the 38 chapter of Jeremiah.

Text: Jeremiah 38:1-13

Sermon Outline:

1. Faithful ministry in unfaithful times always enrages the ungodly. (38:1-4)
2. Faithful ministry in unfaithful times draws the most severe persecution. (38:4-6)
3. Faithful ministry in unfaithful times relies solely on God’s gracious deliverance. (38:7-13)

Faithfulness enrages the ungodly, resulting in the most severe persecution, thus we must rely solely on God’s gracious deliverance. We live in unfaithful, unstable times.  May God find us faithful.

 

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Jeremiah #51- An exposition of Jeremiah 37:1-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on February 1, 2009.

Introduction:
Have you ever wanted something so bad you ached for it?  You wanted it so bad you were just sure you would die if you didn’t get it?  I’m sure you had that feeling as a child.  For most of us that sort of longing was a regular thing.  “You don’t understand mom, if I don’t get that comic book I could die!”  Looking back it is amazing I’m still here because I must have been a very fragile child – I was always on the verge of dying.  If you’ve ever experienced that intense longing to possess then you’ve also known the pain of disappointment.  Not the disappointment of an unfulfilled longing – but the disappointment of getting what you wanted.  You got it only to find out it wasn’t exactly what you were expecting.  I learned early on, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.”  The fact is – that’s a pretty good spiritual principle to live by.  Be careful what you pray for – God just might let you have it.  Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 37.

Text: Jeremiah 37:1-21

Thesis: Be careful what you pray for…God just might let you have it!
Outline:

1. A wicked heart in search of truth must be careful because it just might find it.
2. A faithful heart seeking to be obedient regardless of the cost just might get the chance to pay the price.

Conclusion:

• I warn you – be careful what you pray for…God might let you have it.
• The wicked heart seeking truth may find it.
• The faithful heart desiring obedience at any price just might get to pay it.

 

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Jeremiah #50—An exposition of Jeremiah 36:1-32. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 18, 2009.

Introduction
It is an interesting thing.  Most people I talk to believe the Bible.  They have no problem stating they believe it to be “a” word from God.  I’m talking about folks “outside” the church.  They acknowledge the Bible as more than a book.  They are willing to give it special status.  Yet they know very little about what it says.  Even within the church there are those who confidently express their faith and confidence in God’s inerrant and infallible word and yet they embrace ideas that are contrary to the Scripture.  What does it mean to express a high view of Scripture if, in practice, you have a very low view of Scripture?  It is one thing to profess faith in the truthfulness or inerrancy of Scripture and something more to confess the “sufficiency” of Scripture.  This evening as we continue our journey through Jeremiah’s prophecy I want us to consider the doctrine of the Scripture as we come to an historical account of Jeremiah’s prophecy being written down.  Our text is found in the 36th chapter of the book of Jeremiah the prophet.

Text: Jeremiah 36:1-32

I don’t think it is an accident that this account of Jeremiah’s recording his prophecies comes on the heels of the events of chapter 35.  Remember?  The Rechabites, sons of Jonadab, for 250 years have lived in obedience to the commands of their father.  They lived in tents, planted no gardens and drank no wine because that was the wish of their father.  The people of Judah on the other hand repeatedly ignored the command of the Sovereign King of the universe.  God persistently spoke to them and they consistently turned a deaf ear.  His words went in one ear and out the other.  Now we have this account of the giving of Scripture through the prophet to the people.  This happened in the 4th year of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah.  This happened in 605-605 B.C.

I want to use this text to point out three important principles about God’s Word.

God’s Word is a divine Word.  (36:1-8)
What is it we discover in verse 1?  “This word came to Jeremiah from the Lord…” God initiated it. Second, “take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you…” The words were God’s words not Jeremiah’s.

2 Timothy 3:16-17—2 Peter 1:20-21

4 very important things are learned about the Scripture from this text. This word was given by God – 36:1 This word was given through man – 36:2-4, both Jeremiah and Baruch This word was given for life/salvation – 36:5-7, BF&M – “salvation for its end” This word was indestructible – 36:28, 32

God has revealed himself through His word and offers us life and hope and peace in a relationship with Him.  That relationship comes through His word.

God’s Word is meant to be heard, feared, and shared.  (36:9-19)God did not give his word to be sealed up in a book and put away but rather to be shared.  It is intended to be heard.

36:3 – “so that Judah will hear…” 36:6 – “…go on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people…you shall read the words of the Lord…”

36:10 – Baruch went to the temple and read the word. What is it Paul says? Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God.

Note the initial reaction – 36:11-15 They wanted to hear what God was saying.

36:16 – note their response to God’s word – they turned to one another in fear. Heard, feared, shared – this is to be our response to God’s word in the hopes that salvation, deliverance might come.

To denigrate, deny or carelessly disregard God’s Word is to incite His sovereign wrath.  (36:20-31)We find the king’s response very different. He would not hear God’s Word. He did not fear it.

Jehoiakim was never a godly king and those around him rarely knew what he would do or how he would react.  So they always prepared for the worst.  Note the precautions they took – 36:19.

An incredible sight – 36:21-23 He didn’t even wait to hear the whole thing – he burned it as he went. Such disregard for the word of God was the practice of those closest to him – 36:24-26.

It is a dangerous thing to show such contempt for what God has spoken. Note God’s response – 36:27-31

How different things were under king Josiah – 2 Kings 22:11 (622 b.c.).

To have God’s Word is a great privilege and an awesome responsibility.  To whom much is given, much is expected.

It is a divine book. It is meant to be heard, feared and shared. And it is a dangerous thing to casually set it aside.

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:24-25

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 35:1-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 11, 2009.

Introduction:
When you boil it all down, what is the Christian life all about?  Okay, it is about living in relationship with the God who is, the Sovereign Lord of all things but what does that look like, what does it involve?  If you walk in the average Christian bookstore you might be more that a little overwhelmed and confused as you look through the various titles under the heading of “Christian Living.”  As you listen to sermons or talk with your friends you may be helped but then again you might be even more confused.  Is it about “being” or “doing”?  Is it about “relationship” or “ritual”?  Is it complex or is it simple?  Is it about rules or is it about love?  The older I get and the longer I’m around the Scripture the more convinced I am that we’ve really complicated things.  I find it easy to be incredulous about how the Jews complicated things with adding to the law of God.  How they took what God said and added hundreds of laws to clarify and guard the law God had given.  But the truth is we are just as bad.  We have a tendency to elevate our traditions to law status.  I love to read blogs and follow the comment threads.  Especially when dealing with doctrinal matters.  It is interesting to watch how often tradition rather than Scripture guides the discussion.  “We do it this way because Baptist has always thought thus and so.”  Well that’s good.  I am a Baptist and I am one by conviction but I want to know if there is a Scriptural basis for our doing it that way.  When I find summary statements in Scripture about what God requires of me I find it is usually simple and straightforward.  For instance, He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?   (Micah 6:8)

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.  (James 1:27)

Not complex.  Not complicated.  It’s not about jumping through hoops or scaling tall mountains.  It is about simple obedience.  This evening I want us to consider a passage that is straightforward and direct about what the Lord requires of His people.  In this text the sophisticated religious establishment in Jerusalem are taught a lesson by an unsophisticated band of nomads.  Our text is found in the 35th chapter of Jeremiah.

Text: Jeremiah 35:1-19
In verse two we come across a group of folks known as the Rechabites.  We find out later (35:6) that they are guided by principles laid out by Jonadab, son of Rechad.  This was a band of nomads who did not live in houses, they did not garden and they did not drink wine.  R.E.O White says, “…they worshipped God strictly after the manner of the pilgrim patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  They believed crops, vineyards, houses, towns and cities tied men to one spot and so bred luxury, strife, possessions, materialism and all manner of soft, lazy extravagance.”  Phillip Ryken said, “[think the Rechabites] as a cross between the hippies of the 1960s and the Amish.  Perhaps with straw hats and tie-dyed robes.”

It is clear they were a counter-cultural group. Their lives were in stark contrast to the crowd in Jerusalem.

There are two things I want you to note as we walk through this unfolding drama.

I. First I want you to note a tee-totaling test.  (35:1-11)

The passage opens with God commanding Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites to Jerusalem for a party.  This happened during the days of Jehoiakim, which means this is 10 years prior to the events of chapter 34.  So again we see the book is not arranged chronologically but topically.

Jeremiah brought them to the temple had large pitchers of wine brought in and various glasses and then commanded them to drink wine.  In the Hebrew text the phrase “drink wine” is an imperative.  It is a command!

What I want you to see is that this is a test of their whole way of life. But look at their response – 35:6

Note further 35:7-11: They followed all of the commands of Jonadab. They, their wives, sons and daughters all of them, always. Keep in mind Jonadab has been dead for 250 years.

How many families do you know who can say we still do everything the way we were told by our great-great-great granddaddy back in 1758?

II. I want you to note the sobering lessons learned.  (35:12-19)
The Rechabites passed the test but it is Judah who learns the lesson. There is a great contrast between the people of Judah and the Rechabites. And that is the point of the passage. This is why the story is recounted.

Judah discovers the judgment of God is coming upon them because they do not listen and they do not obey.  It is that simple.

First there is a failure to listen – 35:12-15: Further the Rechabites obeyed while the people of God casually dismissed His commands – 35:16.

You do get the picture here don’t you?  The parent saying to the child you need to do this or that and the child says, “sure whatever.”  That is what Judah is doing to God.  “Yeah, sure whatever.”  In one ear and out the other.  They would not obey the Sovereign King of the Universe but the Rechabites, out of love and respect, never failed to obey the wishes of their beloved father.

As a result Judah came under judgment – 35:17: While the Rechabites were blessed beyond measure – 35:18-19.

So what is the point of all this?  What does this story from ancient Judah have to do with me and my living the Christian life?  It is this:

Thesis: Gospel living is a simple matter of hearing and obeying.

Whether you are a brand new Christian or a seasoned saint it is the same.  Hear God when He speaks and do what He says.  It is about listening and obeying.  Hearing and doing.  I’m not saying quit reading books or stop listening to sermons.  I’m not suggesting in any way that you do not need the church.  I am saying don’t loose the simplicity of the Christian life in all the trappings of Christianity.  Are you to grow in your understanding of the doctrines of the faith?  Absolutely!  Are you to grow in holiness every day being conformed more and more to the likeness of Christ?  Of course!  But how do you do that?  By hearing and obeying.  By letting God speak and you, by His grace, seeking to live accordingly.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 34:1-26. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 30, 2008.

Introduction
Do you ever have trouble keeping your commitments? Do you ever promise and then fail to deliver? I find it is very easy to over-commit. To promise to do something because it is needed and I really want to help but the truth is there just isn’t time. The end result is that I disappoint and end up making matters worse. Have you ever promised to pray for someone and then forgot? Ever tell someone that you would call and let them know and then realize too late that you didn’t call? We all fail in these areas and thus cause hurt feelings, strained relationships and at times long-term emotional harm. But what if the one you fail is the Sovereign King of the universe? What happens when you promise God and fail to deliver?

Do you ever think about that? Do you ever consider what it means when you promise God something and then fail to follow through? I’m convinced most do not. I know that a lot of people repeat wedding vows with no thought to what ignoring them means. When you stand before a preacher in a wedding ceremony you take an oath before God to love, cherish, honor, respect and keep yourself only unto your spouse so long as you both shall live. Now with more than half of all marriages ending in divorce do you think those couples have given serious thought to what it means to toss that commitment aside? How many people make God a “promise” if He will just get them out of a jam? “Lord if you get me out of this I promise I’ll never…” – you fill in the blank. Too often we are like the man in the old joke who, fearing he was drowning, began to promise God great things. “If you just let me live I’ll give my life to foreign missions. I got to the jungles of Africa and live out my days preaching your word and loving natives into the kingdom.” As he got closer to the shore, “I promise Lord if you get me out of this I’ll take a week’s vacation and go on a mission trip.” Closer to shore he said, “Honest Lord I’ll give a huge offering every year to Lottie Moon.” Still closer he cried, “I’ll try to go to church more often.” As he drug himself up on the beach he said, “I’ll see you Christmas. Maybe.”

Is it an insignificant thing to promise God something? Is a commitment to God ever to be taken lightly? What does God think about it? We get an idea in our text this evening found in Jeremiah 34 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Jeremiah 34:1-26

Remember the context. Jerusalem is surrounded. They have been under siege for three years. Times are desperate. Word has already come through the prophet – Judah is going into exile. They will be in Babylon for 70 years. The king himself will be taken and will die in Babylon. Are you tempted to promise things when things seem hopeless? Is it reasonable to assume that desperate people take desperate measures? As we explore this chapter I think we come away understanding that…

Thesis: Failure to fulfill a solemn vow before God ignites His sovereign wrath.

Let me give you just a few examples:

For thus says the Lord GOD: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have
despised the oath in breaking the covenant… Ezekiel 16:59

~

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my
covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head. Ezekiel 17:19

Lets walk through this chapter together and note a few things along the way.

I. A troubling and yet gracious announcement. (34:1-7)
34:1 – sets the stage and reminds us of the severity of the situation. These are desperate times.
Nebuchadnezzar, his army, all the kings under his dominion, all the peoples. The whole world is against us. 34:6-7 reinforces it. So Jeremiah is sent to the king with a message from God. Keep in mind Jeremiah has already been imprisoned because of his preaching! How would you like to deliver this message?
34:2 – “A…king, your majesty…God said to tell you He has given your kingdom to the enemy and they are going to burn it to the ground and you are not going to escape. You will meet with Nebuchadnezzar face to face, eye to eye.” This was not going to be a pleasant chat! And yet note God’s kindness to Zedekiah – 34:4-5. All of this is background to what happens next. God was faithful and gracious though the king was not.

II. A treacherous deal. (34:8-11)
This is the Israelite version of the emancipation proclamation. A declaration setting slaves free. Slavery as practiced among the people of God in that day was scandalous. It was a clear violation of the law of God:

“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. Exodus 21:1-2

The same command is given in Deuteronomy 15:12.

“If your brother becomes poor beside you and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: 40 he shall be with you as a hired servant and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee. 41 Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own clan and return to the possession of his fathers. 42 For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves. Leviticus 25:39-42

The Sabbath Year and the Jubilee Year granted freedom to the captives. Because the people belonged to God, the could not be sold to one another. Now the king and the people had ignored God’s law for centuries. But now with the real prospect of “facing God” they decided to repent and obey God’s law. So they set their prisoners free. Why? Was it political? Was it “cramming for the final exam?” I don’t know what the motivation was – I just know it was not sincere!

34:11 – they revoked their repentance. They repented of ever repenting.

Back to where we started.

The threat is over? “Lord, I’ll see you Christmas. Maybe.” This is the way the ungodly respond to crisis. How many ungodly people send for the preacher when in the hospital but completely fail to acknowledge God once they are well? Crisis confessions often ring hollow. Not all. But most. That brings us to the final section…

III. A call for sovereign justice. (34:12-26)
God reminded them they were once slaves. He reminded them He promised deliverance. Yet He was faithful while they were faithless. 34:15-16 – this is a stinging rebuke. So this is what I will do – 34:17-19. I’m going to pronounce a little “freedom” myself. Freedom to the sword, pestilence and famine. He is handing them over to their enemies. Justice will be done.

What’s the point of all this? Failure to fulfill a solemn vow before God ignites His sovereign wrath. In practical terms – you are better off not to promise God you’ll so something than to promise Him and not do it. When you violate a vow you bring judgment on your own head. Be careful what you promise. You may take a bad situation and make it worse.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 33:17-26. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 23, 2008.

Introduction
Do you remember when you were a kid how hard it was to wait for something you really wanted? I remember going on vacation and we would be driving to Arizona or Florida and I’m sure it was before we even got out of town I began to ask, “Are we almost there?” Zac used to ask, as we would be on the way home from a trip, “’most home yet?” Children can be impatient. And some of us never grow out of it! Have you ever promised someone you would do something and then they hound you about when you’re going to get it done? You keep reassuring them and they keep asking. You find yourself getting a little irritated and you want to say, “Did I say I would do it? Then I’m going to do it – now back off!” But when the shoe is on the other foot and you are the one awaiting the promise you are just as impatient. And it gets much worse if you are waiting for something that is critical to you. Have you noticed doctors and hospitals have a completely different system for telling time? They are never in a hurry and it always, “This is something we really need to take care of so I’m scheduling you for next October.” If it is critical to my well being I don’t want to wait. I want to see some action now.

The army of Babylon had surrounded Jerusalem for 3 years. Things were desperate. They were dismantling their homes in order to reinforce the walls of the city. Even the palace of the king was being ransacked in the effort. The nation has turned a deaf ear to the warnings of God through the prophet Jeremiah and now when defeat and destruction are imminent they suddenly become “Bible scholars.” “God how can you let this happen? You’ve made promises are you going to fail us now?” I would laugh if it were not so tragic. I would launch into a scathing rebuke of the citizens of Judah were it not for the fact their attitude strikes too close to home. Have you ever felt that God has failed you? Do the troubles of life ever seem to cast shadows of doubt on God’s promises? Do you ever struggle with whether or not God is doing all He said He would do? If you say, “No” we need to talk because you are living in denial! When times are difficult and you are hard-pressed on every side you are going to falter. It is part of the “struggle of faith.” It comes with living in a fallen world and the fact that you are in the process of being made holy. God speaks to the prophet Jeremiah about His promise and His faithfulness. As we listen in we learn some valuable truths related to living by faith in less than favorable circumstances. Our text is found in Jeremiah chapter 33 beginning with verse 17.

Text: Jeremiah 33:17-26

Make sure you set this in context. Jeremiah had said this day was coming.
He told them Babylon would take the city. He also said that the king would be taken in exile and would die in Babylon. You are watching all of this come into reality. What’s going to happen to the kingdom once the king is gone? That was a very real worry.

Sometimes we worry about things not worth worrying about – but that is not the case here. This was a justifiable worry. You see God made a promise to David. Now the word on the street was that God had failed. David’s dynasty was coming to an end. So God called Jeremiah in for a little conference. And from this encounter we discover that…

Thesis: God responds to the troubled, questioning heart with a firm yet reaffirming reminder of His grace and faithfulness.

I want to just point out three things quickly.

I. God’s promise questioned. (33:23-26)
God says to His prophet – “Have you heard what the people are saying?” Do you understand what their questioning implies? They are saying that I have rejected the two clans I have chosen. The word “rejected” = cast off, scorned or treated with contempt. How could they accuse God of that? God says they have “despised” my people. The word means = to provoke or blaspheme (to speak evil of).

Are they thinking clearly? First you have to look at what God promised - that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 1 King 2:4

Do you remember what God had said earlier in Jeremiah 22:29-30:

O land, land, land,
hear the word of the LORD!
Thus says the LORD:
Write this man down as childless,
a man who shall not succeed in his days,
for none of his offspring shall succeed
in sitting on the throne of David
and ruling again in Judah.

Our problem is that we have a selective memory. We remember promises while forgetting obligations. We cling to privileges while ignoring responsibility. God is not obligated to do anything for them. They have repeatedly and flagrantly violated the covenant. Yet God is gracious even with these harden rebels. Keep in mind this is before there is any repentance!

There are times when we fail to recognize God’s grace towards us. Times when we feel slighted, overlooked or wronged. But the truth is we have it far better than we deserve and it is all by the grace of God.

Let’s back up and look at God’s response to this questioning attitude.

II. God’s promise restated. (33:17-18)
Context! He is still discussing “the branch” (33:14-16). Note – “a man” to sit on the throne…a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings…” The Branch will fulfill God’s promise to David of an eternal kingdom. Messiah’s coming will also mean the covenant with Levi will be kept. The Lord Jesus serves as both priest and king. He is the son of David; He is a priest in the order of Melchizedek.

But do you sometimes wonder? Do you sometimes struggle with whether or not God has failed you? Are there times when the cares and sorrows of life are overwhelming? Times when your grief clouds your vision and faith is stretched to its limits? He is faithful to His word. Just how faithful is He? Look at this next section.

III. God’s promise assured. (33:19-22)
How certain is God’s promise? About as certain as the sun coming up in the morning! It He isn’t faithful – it won’t matter the world will come to an end. It you (sinful, fallen, rebellious man) can stop the sun from shining then I guess I could break my word. Translation – it isn’t going to happen.

Did the message take with Jeremiah? Well listen to his testimony from Lamentations 3:22-23:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

The next time your heart is burdened or your faith is stretched beyond measure tune your ear to His voice and hear His firm yet reaffirming reminder of His grace and faithfulness.

 

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An exposition of Jeremiah 33:10-16. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 9, 2008.

Introduction:
How do you handle bad news? Are you the type that takes a deep breath and then carefully, strategically begins to map out a plan of action? Do you take bad news in stride and say, “This is the hand we are dealt – let’s deal with it?” Or would you say Chicken Little has nothing on you? For you bad news brings on full panic? Or maybe you’re the type that quietly retreats inwardly thinking, “if I ignore it – it might just go away.” Whether you are the type to wither at the first sign of trouble or you’re the type that would charge hell with a water pistol – given enough bad news we all have a breaking point. It could not have been worse than it already was for Judah. Jeremiah had warned them for 4 decades. He told them repeatedly their sin would find them out. God will not be mocked. You cannot ignore Him and not experience His judgment. Unless you repent His judgment will come and it will be devastating. But his preaching fell on deaf ears. Now the time of judgment had come. Nebuchadnezzar’s army had surrounded the city. Siege walls were built. Jeremiah is in jail. After 3 years under siege the citizens of Jerusalem have resorted to tearing down their own houses in order to reinforce the city walls. Not even the palace of the king was spared. Times were tough. They were about to enter into 70 years of exile. Jerusalem would be destroyed. The temple would be burned – its treasures taken to Babylon. The holy city would be a wasteland. Broken, demoralized and disheartened the people were ready to lay down and die when they received an extraordinary word from God. Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapter 33 beginning with verse 10.

Text: Jeremiah 33:10-16
We are in the “good news” section of Jeremiah’s prophecy. That section that tells of the “new covenant” that God is going to make with His people. In the opening verses we find some of that “new math.” You know – that math that doesn’t exactly add up. 33:5-9 – what? The things in 33:5 do not seem to go with the “Behold…” of verse 6.

Just when you are expecting the “finishing blow” God speaks of grace and mercy. This is not in response to repentance and faith – this is God’s choosing to be merciful. This is unmerited favor in the ultimate sense. This is God’s being faithful to His promise even when Judah was unfaithful to hers.

Thesis: Jeremiah 33:10-16 provides a powerful reminder of God’s gracious dealings with His wayward children. Let me point out just two things quickly from this text.

I. To downtrodden, discouraged and defeated followers God promises an amazing reversal of fortunes. (33:10-13)
This is an amazing thing because God promises to reverse the reversal in verse 11. “I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.” He is going to put things back as they once were. Before He brought this judgment on them. This is not cheap grace. This is not an immediate fix. They are going into exile. They will stay 70 years – but they will be kept as a people and restored to their land.

God will be gracious but there is a price to pay – look at how Judah and Jerusalem are described in verse 10 – “a waste without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast…”

The same thing is repeated in verse 12.

• There will be an end to joy and laughter.
• There will be an end to the joy of weddings and celebrations.
• There will be an end to economic prosperity.

But he promises three things in this passage:

• He promised to turn sorrow and mourning into gladness and joy – 33:10-11.
• Further He promises to bring praise and thanksgiving out of bitterness and loss – 33:11.
• Finally God promised that out of economic chaos and depression would come a thriving economy – 33:12-13

II. To a demoralized and shepherdless people God promises a good and righteous king. (33:14-16) Jeremiah joins the other prophets in telling of the coming of the Lord’s Christ or the Messiah. This is the basis for all those other promises. The blessings of God are yes and amen in Christ.

This will come about in those days of peace and prosperity. Not in the midst of hardship and struggle. Interestingly – in a time when shepherds are in the fields about Jerusalem and the land of Benjamin.

A righteous Branch will spring up for David and note “he” shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

This is in keeping with the other promises:

• “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 23:5
• In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. Isaiah 4:2
• There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1
• Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. Zechariah 3:8
• And say to him, Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. Zechariah 6:12

Jeremiah 33:10-16 provides a powerful reminder of God’s gracious dealings with His wayward children.