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JEREMIAH 33, 34 Jeremiah Is Still in Prison in the Tenth Year of Zedekiah J

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JEREMIAH 33, 34 Jeremiah Is Still in Prison in the Tenth Year of Zedekiah J JEREMIAH 33, 34 Jeremiah is still in prison in the tenth year of Zedekiah’s reign, the last king of Judah. Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonian army. Jeremiah was imprisoned because Zedekiah did not like the prophet’s prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the king’s kingdom, (32:3-5). Here is chapter 33 the Lord speaks a second time to Jeremiah in prison. (v.1-5) Judgment is coming upon the city of Jerusalem; in the midst of this impending destruction and hopelessness God declares “Call to Me!” (v.6-11) in His Judgment God remembers “mercy,” there is a promise of “restoration” for Jerusalem. APPLICATION: Notice – trouble is coming and yet “will” come; yet the Lord says call upon Me! There are times when we see devastation on the horizon; our thought is “God the train of devastation is coming and we need to pray against it; that it will never arrive…but it does.” Have you ever been in such a situation? You “know” things are going to get ugly, you pray and fast that it will not go there…but it does anyway. Yet in the midst of what you have feared the most God says, “Call to Me!” In other words He’s not done yet; there is more He is able to accomplish, beyond human comprehension and expectation. This passage gives hope to anyone who has Faced a Failed marriage, ministry, personal moral Failure, death of a vision, etc. 1. Only God can truly restore us. (v.2) He has made, formed, and established us. He knows our inner workings, our under carriage. You would not take a Mercedes to a Ford dealership. We must take our broken hearts/souls to the “manufacture,” God! 2. God cannot restore until we call. Restoration begins with a call. I can’t expect the car dealership to do anything for me just because I “drive by” the dealership – no more than God can do anything for me by simply sitting in a church service; I have to make a call! Our Father declares, (v.3). (Ephesians 3:20) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. 3. God’s restoration is complete. (v.6) spiritual “health,” “healing,” an abundance of “peace” and “truth”; there is “cleansing” (v.8) - (1 John 1:9); There is “joy” and “praise” (v.9-11). (v.12, 13) Metaphorically speaking, where there is restoration you will find “shepherds” feeding and caring for the flock of God, His church. (v.14-18) Here we have a “prophetic promise” regarding not only Israel, but also the church. “The Lord Our Righteousness” a phrase assigned to “she” representative of the church, the bride of Christ. But it is also the “title” assigned to our Lord, (23:6); which makes sense because the church is the “body of Christ.” (v.17, 18) speaks of the everlasting priesthood of Christ, (Hebrews 10). (v.19-22) The assurance of God’s promise can be seen in the heavens, His covenant with “day” and “night.” (v.23-26) (v.24) “the two Families” – a reference to Israel and Judah. The phrase “these people” – is a reference to the Chaldeans, the Babylonians. We have Chaldeans in our own lives; people who have seen you go through something and conclude God has “abandoned” you! But (v.26) reiterates the fact; God’s purpose to extend mercy and to “restore” His people is a “sure” thing! Our “devastation” does not place a “limitation” on God’s ability to restore! (Micah 7:8-9) Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I Fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice For me. He will bring me Forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. CHAPTER 34 (v.1-5) In July 586 B.C. the walls of Jerusalem were breeched and Zedekiah fled the city. In (ttt) 2 Kings 25:1-7 we find details related to Zedekiah’s fall. His life would end in relative “peace,” but not without consequences. (v.6-11) Zedekiah (v.8) was proclaiming “liberty” at a time when God’s word had prophesied “captivity.” Like the children of Israel in the days of Eli the prophet (1 Sam. 4) – when Israel fought against the Philistines and were losing, due to their disobedience toward God; they decided at one point to bring the Ark of the Covenant into their camp – when the Ark was brought into the camp the soldiers shouted loudly and stomped the ground so hard with their feet that the ground shook, it sent fear throughout the camp of the Philistine camp; still the Philistines “defeated” Israel. The “positive confession” prophets of Zedekiah’s day must have preached great messages of patriotism, recalling as well the past exploits of the Lord; but “patriotism” and past “divine exploits” are no substitute for “obedience!” Despite their “zeal” judgment still came. Notice: they were willing to obey, until “obedience” meant “personal discomfort,” then they reneged on the “deal.” Our rededication to the Lord often vanishes a few days later when we start to feel the uncomfortableness of consecration. (v.12-22) Up until the “last” minute, it appears God was willing to deliver His people. He chastises them here for “proclaiming liberty” and the reversing their decision. There is a lesson here regarding relationships between brothers and sisters in Christ. When we mentally “release” people from the prisons of un-forgiveness, we must truly release them. But more often than not, many of us “release” those we have enslaved in our minds mentally, cutting them off from our heart, and forbidding them the Love Christ so freely has given to us; only to “re-arrest” them when they mess up again or offend us! The rate of spiritual recidivism, (un-forgiveness) is “high” in the church! (Ephesians 4:31-32) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away From you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ Forgave you. As with Judah, their refusal to follow through on their proclamation of “liberty” would come back upon them, (v.17). God says, you will experience another kind of “liberty” a relentless supply of famine, sword, and pestilence. A curse will replace the “blessing” God has in-store for us, when we renege on our commitment to “liberate,” Forgive others. (Luke 6:37-38) "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." To “judge not” does not mean to not have discernment, (1 Cor. 5:12) reminds us we are to have discernment in the church. Jesus is speaking of judgment in the “final” sense. The point, however, is to “forgive” so we can be “forgiven,” lest our un- forgiveness hinders our own “liberation” in Christ! CHAPTER 35 Here God instructs Jeremiah during the reign of Jehoiakim to summon the house of the Rechabites; to illustrate a point regarding the disobedience of Judah. (Easton’s Bible Dictionary). He was Zedekiah’s brother and reigned sometime before Zedekiah (2 Chron.36:5-12). Jehoiakim; his name means: he whom Jehovah has set up. Satan’s goal is to tear down those whom God has “set up” – Jehoiakim did “evil” in the sight of the Lord. RECHABITES — The Rechabites was a Jewish tribe convinced it was easier to live a godly liFe as nomads than in the settled life of the cities, where they would be tempted to compromise with idolatry and immorality. They did not drink wine or any other intoxicating drink; they chose to live in tents rather than houses; and they reFused to plant crops or own vineyards. This strict life-style was similar to the law oF the NAZIRITE (Numbers 6:1-21). (Nelson's Illustrative Bible Dictionary). (v.1-19) What is the overall lesson we have learned tonight? 1. When we “Call to God” we are moved - From devastation to celebration - if we will “Call to Him.” (ttt) Psalm 32:9-24. 2. Obedience to God’s word is essential to our deliverance. .
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