Jeremiah “The Weeping Prophet”. Background In Israel, about 690- BC Israel is in significant decline: militarily, economically, and spiritually. New powers

JeremiahJeremiah

““The Weeping Prophet”The Weeping Prophet”

BackgroundBackground

In Israel, about 690- BCIn Israel, about 690- BC

Israel is in significant decline: militarily, Israel is in significant decline: militarily, economically, and spiritually.economically, and spiritually.

New powers have arisen: Assyria and New powers have arisen: Assyria and Neo-BabyloniaNeo-Babylonia

The Creator God: Where is He?The Creator God: Where is He?

God Raises His Own ArmyGod Raises His Own Army

““The Army of the Prophets”The Army of the Prophets”– Threatened all the great powers of their day.Threatened all the great powers of their day.

Such unlikely threatsSuch unlikely threats– Solitary, unarmed, penniless, unimpressiveSolitary, unarmed, penniless, unimpressive

““But they But they continuallycontinually mocked the messengers of God, mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets…” despised His words and scoffed at His prophets…” 2 2 Chronicles 36:16Chronicles 36:16

– Banished, ridiculed, jailed, executed…Banished, ridiculed, jailed, executed… losers!losers!– Yet: with only words, they unleashed a power Yet: with only words, they unleashed a power

that brought down all the kingdoms of their that brought down all the kingdoms of their time!time!

JeremiahJeremiahDemonstrates the veiled supremacy of GodDemonstrates the veiled supremacy of God"See, I have appointed you this day over the "See, I have appointed you this day over the

nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.“ build and to plant.“ Jer. 1:10Jer. 1:10

""Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land.” land.” 1:181:18

JeremiahJeremiahDemonstrates the veiled supremacy of God.Demonstrates the veiled supremacy of God.

Yet, a failure by World System standards.Yet, a failure by World System standards.– Rejected by all, even his Rejected by all, even his friends!friends!

For I have heard the whispering of many, “Terror on For I have heard the whispering of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce every side! Denounce him;him; yes, let us denounce him!” yes, let us denounce him!” All my trusted friends, Watching for my fall, say: All my trusted friends, Watching for my fall, say: “Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail “Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him And take our revenge on him.” against him And take our revenge on him.” Jer. 20:10Jer. 20:10


Yet, a failure by World System standards.Yet, a failure by World System standards.

Ferocious and Ruthless…Ferocious and Ruthless…[To [To KingKing Zedekiah about his great army]: Zedekiah about his great army]: “'I will make them a “'I will make them a

terror terror and anand an evil for all the kingdoms of the earth, as evil for all the kingdoms of the earth, as a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them…places where I will scatter them…

““Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall and rise no more because Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you.” of the sword which I will send among you.” 24:9; 24:9; 25:2725:27



Ferocious and Ruthless…Ferocious and Ruthless…

Yet Agents of God’s Yet Agents of God’s GraceGrace..– This is This is whywhy they suffered: he is a gracious God Who is they suffered: he is a gracious God Who is

reluctantreluctant to execute… to execute…““The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient

toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 2 Pet. 3:9Pet. 3:9

– Jeremiah nearly Jeremiah nearly collapsedcollapsed, waiting…, waiting…““my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I

am weary of holding am weary of holding itit in, And I cannot endure in, And I cannot endure it.it. 20:920:9




Yet Agents of God’s Yet Agents of God’s GraceGrace..

A very A very differentdifferent kind of warrior kind of warrior– Patient and loving:Patient and loving:

““My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart! My heart is pounding in me; I cannot be silent, Because you have pounding in me; I cannot be silent, Because you have heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war.” war.” Jer. 4:19Jer. 4:19





A very A very differentdifferent kind of warrior kind of warrior– Patient and lovingPatient and loving– Yet savagely toughYet savagely tough

The next day, when Pashhur finally released him, Jeremiah said, The next day, when Pashhur finally released him, Jeremiah said, “Pashhur, the Lord has changed your name. From now on you “Pashhur, the Lord has changed your name. From now on you are to be called ‘The Man Who Lives in Terror.’ are to be called ‘The Man Who Lives in Terror.’ Jer. 20:3Jer. 20:3





A very A very differentdifferent kind of warrior kind of warrior

Someone shaped by God’s hand…Someone shaped by God’s hand…It’s called brokenness:It’s called brokenness:

““Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteoustest the righteous, Who see the mind , Who see the mind and the heart…” and the heart…” Jer. 20:12Jer. 20:12

““For the righteous God For the righteous God tries the hearts and mindstries the hearts and minds . . My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart.” My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart.” Ps. 7:9Ps. 7:9





A very A very differentdifferent kind of warrior kind of warrior

Someone shaped by God’s hand…Someone shaped by God’s hand…

Commissioned by God’s Commissioned by God’s authorityauthority

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." have appointed you a prophet to the nations." 1:51:5

What’s It Mean To Me?What’s It Mean To Me?

God no longer raises up these solitary prophetsGod no longer raises up these solitary prophets

But he commissioned a new armyBut he commissioned a new army– ““All authority has been given to Me in heaven and All authority has been given to Me in heaven and

on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” Mat. 28:18-19nations…” Mat. 28:18-19



But he commissioned a new armyBut he commissioned a new army

In the spirit of that Old ArmyIn the spirit of that Old Army"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of

wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” doves.” Matt. 10:16 Matt. 10:16




In the spirit of that Old ArmyIn the spirit of that Old Army

To stand up with all power and authorityTo stand up with all power and authority– But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,‘…But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,‘…

Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you,’…Then the LORD stretched out His hand and you,’…Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. have put My words in your mouth. Jeremiah 1:7-9Jeremiah 1:7-9

I can do all things through Him who I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 Philippians 4:13

““Get up and prepare for action. Go out and Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. foolish in front of them. Jeremiah 1:17 Jeremiah 1:17





To stand up with all power and authorityTo stand up with all power and authority

And discharge a burning coal…And discharge a burning coal…

Then the Lord reached out and touched my Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! in your mouth! Jeremiah 1:9 Jeremiah 1:9

Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces? pieces? Jer. 23:29 Jer. 23:29

But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it! it in! I can’t do it! Jeremiah 20:9 Jeremiah 20:9





To stand up with all power and authorityTo stand up with all power and authority

And discharge a burning coal…And discharge a burning coal…

Someone shaped by God’s hand…Someone shaped by God’s hand…For we are For we are His workmanshipHis workmanship, created in Christ , created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 Ephesians 2:10

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God'sGod's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 1 Peter 2:9 Peter 2:9

Someone Like This…Someone Like This…

Demonstrates the veiled supremacy of God.Demonstrates the veiled supremacy of God.



Yet Agents of God’s Grace.Yet Agents of God’s Grace.

A very different kind of warriorA very different kind of warrior

Someone shaped by God’s hand…Someone shaped by God’s hand…

Commissioned by God’s authorityCommissioned by God’s authority

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt. 10:16Matt. 10:16

Documents

Jeremiah “The Weeping Prophet”. Background In Israel, about 690- BC Israel is in significant decline: militarily, economically, and spiritually. New powers