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Jeremiah 2 11-13 Gods Over Men and Nations Jeremiah 2:11-13 This week as I was reading Scripture (One Year Bible) I came across Jeremiah 2 In it I came to three verses I have read and underlined many times But as I was reading I wrote down some notes to myself As I was writing them I felt urged by the Spirit that I was to share them with you, God’s people, the Sheep of His pasture In Jeremiah 2 the Lord is presenting His case against His people They were the Lord’s Bride Jeremiah 2:2 (ESV) 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel had become an unfaithful bride, running after other gods Even though the Lord had been good to them and cared for them, and brought them into a plentiful land, they had forsaken Him They had committed spiritual adultery! In the midst of the Lord’s case against His Bride He says, … Jeremiah 2:11–13 (ESV) 11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. 12 Be appalled, O 13 heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. In this the Lord tells us some important truths 1. Nations have GODS Jeremiah 2:11–13 (ESV) 11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Rulers… ἄρχων – To rule, chief, prince Matthew 9:34 (ESV) 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” John 12:31 (ESV) 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. Ephesians 2:2 (ESV) 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— A derivative from this word is… ἀρχάγγελος – Which means “archangel” In Jude 9, Michael is called an “archangel” A ruling angel Daniel 12:1a (ESV) 1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. Daniel 10:12–13 (ESV) 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia The Hebrew word used here for “prince” is also the word used for “ruler” Notice in this passage that the Messenger Angel sent to bring a message to Daniel was detained by a Ruler Angel over Persia… These gods, however, are not really gods… 1 Corinthians 10:18–20 (ESV) 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or 20 that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. Next in the Ephesians 6:12 list is … Authorities… ἐξουσία – Authority, permission, right, power to do something Cosmic Powers… Κοσµοκράτωρ – The world powers, world influencers Spiritual Forces… τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας – The spiritual forces of evil 2. Nations do not CHANGE GODS Jeremiah 2:11–13 (ESV) 11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? The way in which this question is asked, it is asked for the purpose of answering the obvious “NO” There is a connection between nations and those nations gods… Deuteronomy 32:8 (ESV) 8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. Daniel 10:13 (ESV) 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, Daniel 10:20 (ESV) 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. Nations and territories have rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil directing and ruling over them… 1 John 5:19 (ESV) 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 3. God’s Kingdom INVADES and OVERCOMES these GODS Jeremiah 2:11–13 (ESV) 11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Notice that the Lord declares the following of these demons profitless We invade because Jesus invaded! 1 John 3:8 (ESV) 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. We overcome because Jesus overcame! Matthew 16:16–19 (ESV) 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Colossians 2:14–15 (NLT) 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. In Jeremiah… Moabites… Jeremiah 48:7 (NLT) 7 Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive. Your god Chemosh, with his priests and officials, will be hauled off to distant lands! Ammonites… Jeremiah 49:3 (NLT) 3 “Cry out, O Heshbon, for the town of Ai is destroyed. Weep, O people of Rabbah! Put on your clothes of mourning. Weep and wail, hiding in the hedges, for your god Molech, with his priests and officials, will be hauled off to distant lands. Babylonians… Jeremiah 51:44 (NLT) 44 And I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon, and make him vomit up all he has eaten. The nations will no longer come and worship him. The wall of Babylon has fallen! All the plagues of Egypt were the Lord’s judgment against the Egyptian gods… Numbers 33:4 (ESV) 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments. Because of Jesus victory He has defeated the ruler of this world… John 12:31 (ESV) 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. John 16:8–11 (ESV) 8 And when he [the Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 1 Corinthians 15:24–26 (ESV) 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 4. God’s People are SUSCEPTIBLE to ABANDONING the LORD Jeremiah 2:11–13 (ESV) 11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. 12 Be appalled, O 13 heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. There is within each of us as believers a susceptibility to the sinful nature… We are prone to go our own way, to be lured and enticed to follow after sin James 1:14–15 (ESV) 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
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