A Calling Ignored
Book of Jeremiah • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsGod, through Jeremiah, declares to Judah, I have reached out to you, called to you, and you have ignored me, my reaching, and my calling.
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Introduction
As we come to this portion of Jeremiah, we see three truths: 1) Success and failure defined, God’s patience, and the people’s response as well as the results of their response.
Opening Passage: Jeremiah 25:1-2
1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; 2 The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,
Focus Passage: Jeremiah 25:1-11
Outline
(Background) The year is 605BC. Nabopolassar, Nebuchadrezzar’s father has died. Nebuchadrezzar has ascended to the throne and taken over the Neo-Babylonian empire. Nebuchadrezzar, as crown prince, led the Babylonian empire in war against Egypt under pharaoh Neco, Assyria, and Phoenicia, all of which he was victorious. During his first three years of rule, Nebuchadrezzar would spend his time taking over Judah and her king, Jehoiakin. It was during this time that we find Jeremiah bringing this word to the Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (vv.1-2). As we look at our text, this word being presented to a people who have seen Nebuchadrezzar defeat Egypt, Assyria, and Phoenicia, as well as finding a set back in his war with Egypt and then succeeding in victory once again. He is at the point to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah, that Judah would be taken captive and led into captivity. God’s sovereignty would not be thwarted. If God has declared it, then it is, whether it has been or is to be.
What do we see within our text?
Success and Failure Defined
Jeremiah, a man of God, called and empowered by God to deliver a message (1:5-10), that many perceived as a burden (23:33-40), never saw one convert within his ministry (from evidence provided within the biblical text). Within the economy of man success is based off numeric growth and decline. If we have so much money, so much property, this size of a house, this many vehicles or ATVs, etc., then we are successful. If we do not have all this, then we are considered unsuccessful. This is what society says. This view has infiltrated the church view even. When one goes to the annual meetings of the association, state, or national convention, there is a list of the churches and their giving. There is a list of the churches and their growth or decline throughout the year. There is a list of the top churches in baptisms. If a church is growing more, giving more, and baptizing more, then that church is successful. If the church is declining in all these areas, then that church is failing. While numbers are good marks to observe and can relate to the health of a ministry, God’s economy has a different view on things.
Man looks on the outward appearance, while God looks inward heart
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
As we look at this truth before, we need to understand that while the appearance of something may show healthy and successful, but there may be illness and failure upon deeper look.
For the church to determine success, there must be a deeper look into what is happening. It is within this deeper look, that we see success and failure are defined not by numbers but by another variable of reference within the economy of God.
Success and failure is dependent upon faithfulness (vv.3b, 4a)
Jeremiah was very successful. He did not see converts. He did not see himself become the pastor of a mega church or even a small church for that matter. His success was not based in the response of the people but in his faithfulness to share the word in obedience to the Lord.
Jeremiah was faithful to declare God’s word
Jeremiah 25:3b (KJV) 3b ...the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you...
The prophets before Jeremiah were faithful to declare God’s word
Jeremiah 25:4a (KJV) 4a And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets...
Success and failure is dependent upon commitment - ‘…rising early and speaking...’
God’s Patience
God is patient with us despite us
3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
God’s patience is intentional…it is to bring us to repentance
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Refusal to Listen
God’s word declared
Jeremiah writes, I have spoken to you (v.3). He then writes the prophets has have spoken to you.
5 They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: 6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
When God’s word is declared, we are presented with a crisis of decision
What is meant by this is that we have no choice but to make a decision.
This was similar to the people of Judah as Jeremiah and the prophets declared to them the oracles God gave them to deliver. Each and everyone had to choose whether to listen or not listen, whether to obey or not to obey, whether to take note and act positively or act negatively. They could not remain neutral.
As God stretched his hands out to His people all day long, they did as many are doing today.
2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
The people responded. They chose to ignore the warnings of God. They chose to turn a deaf ear. We find within text before us, ye have not harkened (v.3)…ye have not harkened, nor inclined your ear to hear (v.4)…Yet ye have not harkened unto me (v.7)
Our choices have consequences
God told His people to listen to Him so that he would not have to discipline them.
6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
Chose not to listen and thus were going to have to face the consequences of their choices, God’s discipline
7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
The Result of not Listening to God (vv.8-11)
8 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words, 9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. 10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
God’s judgmental actions are based off of our actions - ‘...because ye have not heard my words, Behold I will...’
God can use whomever He wills to execute judgment (v.9)
God will turn our world upside down and remove all joy to execute His judgment (v.10)
God will execute His judgment for as long as he determines (v.11)
Conclusion
Let us be reminded of a few things that was spoken of tonight: 1) God is patient but His patience is intentional: our repentance. Our success is not determined by numbers but faithfulness and commitment. Anytime we read or hear the word of God, we are a crisis of decision. There is no middle ground. If we choose to ignore or not hear the word, we stand in disobedience of God and willing welcome His judgment.