Jeremiah 13
Gospelcom Bible Gateway

INTRODUCTION

A. The nation of Judah hated their pastor Jeremiah. Jeremiah was the pastor that God sent to them. He spoke to the people over and over again and they would not listen. Jeremiah did not have any outward fruit to speak of. Billy Graham has preached the word of God for over 55 years and thousands have come to know Christ through his preaching. 2600 years ago Jeremiah preached the word God sent him to speak and none listened to him. Sometimes God has to use the dramatic because people won't listen any other way. God is very dramatic in these verses.

B.God asks Jeremiah to put on some ancient underwear. It was a costly garment because it was a linen waist coat, because it was close to the skin it was symbolic in that it was like God being close to his people. Then God asks Jeremiah to take the waist coat and bury in a hole by the Euphrates river. It was a long trip, 500 miles from Jerusalem. Some don't believe that Jeremiah made the journey all the way to the Euphrates. He did it because God told him to do it. Later God asks Jeremiah to dig up the waist coat and Jeremiah does so only to find that it was ruined. This was a word picture for the prophet. The picture had a purpose and a goal that was thwarted by their idolatry. God tells Jeremiah that he will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.

C. The people were forsaking God and leaning on the dictates of their own hearts. We live in a country filled with idolaters. People have a picture painted in their minds dictated by their own hearts.

I. The illustration

A.Is your life like a dirty sash or is your life like a waist sash clinging to the Lord? God created us for intimacy with him.

B.Every bottle shall be filled with wine... This was a description of prosperity during these times, an expression of confidence. God told Jeremiah that the city would be drunk, reeling in pandamonium, bewilderment, fear. Psalm 60:3 You have shown your people hard things

C.Mens hearts will be failing them for fear and the expectation... v14 I will dash them one against the other ... The core of their issue was their pride. Does God resist the proud? What's the quickest way to have God turn from you? What threw Satan off of the throne? Does this happen to God's annointed?

II. What is the solution? (v16)

A. Give glory to the Lord your God...

B.It was Satan that decided not to give glory to God. God told Satan that he will be brought down to Sheol. Jesus said I'll go down and God exhalted him.

C.The point is if you go down then God will take you up. God says give glory to God.

D.Pride goes before destruction. v18) This is the scripture that describes how the Babylonians would shut up the city of Jerusalem. It was another 70 years before a remnant returned to Jerusalem.

E. The judgment is going to be like a woman in labor, it is going to come because of the iniquity of the people. If you sow to the flesh what will you reap?

III. We are sinners by nature

A. Can an Ethiopian change his skin color? We have a nature that is bound by sin. All mankind are sinners. Why do we have a sin nature? What is this sin nature called? How does Paul refer to us in his letter to the Corinthians?

B. It is a dogs nature to bark, just as it is mans nature to sin. How is a stone being skipped across a placid lake like Adam and what he did?

C.The solution to our sin is 2 Corinthians 5, and that is to become a new creation in Christ.

D.Does the punishment fit the crime in verse?

E. Deut 11 God says, you obey me and it will rain, you disobey me and I'll cause a draught. (v14) There is mourning.

IV. God's description of His people and His decision to judge

A. They have loved to wander and not restrained their feet

B. Pray for people's repentance as it is this that invites God's blessing

APPLICATION:

1. Pray for the repentance for both yourself and others

2. Bring the Good News to those that have not heard.

3. Ask God to give you His heart to weep over the sin of God's people. Ask Him for His compassion.

4.If you are broken ask God to fix it. He can fix it.

MEMORY VERSE - Jeremiah 13:15-16