w HEBREW PROPHETS lesson # 5
TIMELY PREACHING: HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDS
Jeremiah 1:11-19.
I. Introduction:
Q What if pastor did a series of sermons against the evils of the “Beatles music and their influence on our kids?”
An = No matter what you think of the moral content of the Beatles, it would not much matter. That group does not have great influence morally on our kids today. We face other problems.
Note: Years ago, one of my friends was a pastor in Visalia, California and in that conservative, rural setting he knew what would please the people as far as sermons go: preach against Homosexuality and Communism. The reason it would be so popular is that those two issues held little temptation for the majority of his town’s church goers. They could go to church and hear invectives against such action and go home feeling quite righteous, and very much at ease.
Q Why is it so important to avoid “easy targets” or “issues that are no longer relevant”?
An = The preacher, priest, bible teacher or youth director or prophet of any age is responsible to help the people see the key issues that concern them and their spiritual well being for their time and circumstances.
Note: A true prophet speaks the right message for the right persons at the right time.
II. Jeremiah’s Time. Jeremiah 1:1-3.
>>>> Have someone read Jeremiah 1:2-3.
The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
Q When and how long did Jeremiah preach?
An = Jeremiah started preaching roughly around 627 B.C. and he preached several years after 587. He preached through at least four decades. He was a true prophet and his messages were the right messages for the right persons at the right time.
Note: To illustrate this principle we are going to look at two short sermons Jeremiah was commanded to give and then a sermon he, himself, heard from God. In looking at these short messages I think we can get a sense of the nature of true prophesy.
IV. Jeremiah’s Time.
Note: To understand Jeremiah’s early sermons let me recite a little background historically to help us understand the dynamics of his early preaching.
THE ASSYRIANS: The Assyrians rose to their greatest extent of power in the middle of the eighth century B. C. (750’s). They were a Semitic people like the Israelites. Their capital was Nineveh, and it became the seat of the largest empire in the history of the Middle East up until that time. They conquered the southern parts of the Mesopotamian valley and eventually, began their conquest of the West or Palestine and therefore Israel and Judah. Show on the Map In 722 BC the Northern Kingdom, Israel, was invaded by the mighty Assyrian army. They terminated the existence of Israel as a nation and subjugated the southern kingdom of Judah.
THEIR DEMISE: By the middle of the seventh century the Assyrians were beginning to weaken and they eventually lost any effective control over Judah in the 630’s. The Assyrian capital was eventually wiped out by the Babylonians and others in 612.
JEREMIAH’S EARLY PREACHING: Jeremiah began preaching sometime in the 620’s. The prophet started his ministry when things were looking up for Judah. The Assyrian conquerors were on the verge of being overthrown, and Israel was feeling nationalistic as they slowly wrestled their freedom from Assyrian power. During this nationalistic period of time the prophets that were popular preached a message of “God and Country”.
In about 640 Josiah was made king of Judah. During Josiah’s reign a spiritual revival gained strength in Judah. Josiah helped by cleaning the temple of pagan, Assyrian influences and began a reform based on the Mosaic Law or the Torah. Josiah is remembered as the greatest spiritually effective king next to David.
It was during the end of the Josianic revival both spiritually and nationally that Jeremiah rises up to preach. Let us see what the early content of his sermons were.
III. The Early Messages. Jeremiah 1:11-19.
>>>> Have someone read Jeremiah 1:11-12
The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”
Q What does this vision or metaphor mean?
An = The word for almond and the word signifying “to watch” are nearly the same word in Hebrew. The rod of an almond tree was a sign of spring, of good times to come, but here the coming of the “rod of an almond” represented not good times, but the watchfulness of God to see that His Word was followed. In other words, was the revival skin deep?
Q Why would God use a “promise” metaphor or a “spring-time” metaphor to emphasize His ability to perform His Word?
An = When times are good and someone has a negative message they have no credibility. No one listens to a prophet of doom when all is going well. Jeremiah is preaching during Josiah’s reign in his early ministry and they were exciting, expanding, and hope-filled times. God is saying the truth of my message is not dependent on public acceptance but on my determination to bring my messages to fruition.
>>>> Have someone read Jeremiah 1:13-16.
The word of the Lord came to me again: What do you see?” I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.” The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah. I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.
Q Is this a happy message?
An = It speaks of evil coming out of the North. Show on the Map. Because of where water was available, all invasions from the population centers of Mesopotamia have to come at Palestine (where Judah is) from the North. At this point in Jeremiah’s career, Judah is in a time of Assyrian decline (a northern threat) and so Jeremiah’s message was not what the population and leadership wanted to hear. In fact, it appeared to be wrong.
Q Why is God going to judge the country of Judah according to verse 16?
An = They have forsaken the Lord and served other gods.
Q Was this a popular message?
An = No! People were feeling good about things, and they did not want to hear about judgment in times of prosperity.
Q What would happen in the American mega-churches if they preached such judgment sermons against the United States for the country being consumed with materialism?
Q Was Jeremiah a tough, hard bitten, character who could care less about what people thought?
An = We will learn more about his character as we go on, but we do know he was young and did not regard his speaking ability as a strong point (1:6) and we know that he struggled with fear because the Lord warned him not to give into it (1:8).
Note: God does not waste messages on his people. He gives the right message for the right person at the right time. Notice what the Lord says to the prophet himself.
>>>> Have someone read Jeremiah 1:17-19.
Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land — against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Q What does the Lord say to Jeremiah?
An = The Lord’s Speech has three main sections:
Commands and prohibitions: Get ready, be bold and do not fear the audience. (1:17)
Declarations: God will enable Jeremiah to hold out against all opposition. (1:18)
Prediction: The opposition will attack him, but he will endure because God is with him (1:19)
A. The Commands.
>>>>Have someone re-read Jeremiah 1:17
Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.
Q What did the Lord tell Jeremiah to do in 1:17?
An = He told Jeremiah to pull himself together and keep preaching.
Q What did the Lord tell Jeremiah not to do?
An = Do not get depressed or be afraid. Notice the Lord threatens Jeremiah. The reason Jeremiah is to choose to not fear men is God will terrify him worse. God tells him if he allows himself to be become terrified of his audience God Himself will be more of a terror to the prophet.
Note: In Luke 12:4-5 Jesus agrees. Jesus tells his disciples that if they fear God it will break the fear of men.
>>>>Have someone read Luke 12:4-5.
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear; Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell, Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Q Does a threat sometimes help us to face things we need to face?
Q Have you seen the fear of God break the fear of men in someone’s life that you know?
B. The Pronouncement.
Note: God knows that we cannot be healthy humans if we move out of fear alone. We need positive encouragement as well. First we should understand the power of the one who commissions us.
>>>> Have someone read Isaiah 55:11
So is my word that goes out of my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Note: What God says will happen, will happen.
>>>> Have someone reread Jeremiah 1:18.
Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.
Q What does the Lord say will happen to Jeremiah’s state of mind and personality in the face of hostility from the highest forms of the power structure and the populace of his day?
An = He will be strong as iron, bronze or stone.
Q Would you want to face opposition from the highest political and major Christian leaders as well as the general population?
Q What would this look like today for someone in our present situation?
C. The Prediction.
>>>>Have someone re-read Jeremiah 1:19.
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Q Why is 1:19 so important to hear?
Q Why will Jeremiah succeed?
An = Because God gave Jeremiah the greatest promise in the Bible: “I am with you”.
>>>> Have someone read what Jesus said last to His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Q Does America have preachers today (especially the mega churches) that would risk alienating their audience and risk angering the nation’s top leaders both in the secular world and religious world?