Lesson Five (of 52): Whom do you trust?
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INTRODUCTION
A month ago we began this full-year study of the book of Jeremiah. And the YouTube activity is well in gear; thanks to those of you who are joining our class each week through that medium, after we record and post the lecture part of it. Feel free to share what you are watching with your mates and let me remind you, don’t forget to subscribe. And thanks to each of you who is here live in the Zoom room Friday morning in Sydney. I enjoy how you participate in the Q and A session. This is lively and I appreciate each of you.
Today’s lesson: Whom do you trust?
Here’s today’s sermon in a single verse:
“They have lied about the LORD and said, “Not He; misfortune will not come on us, and we will not see sword or famine. The prophets are as wind, and the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!” (.12-13)
I’m writing today’s message while on a trip through Chattanooga Tennessee and Atlanta Georgia. It’s been a great time to catch up with long-time friends and colleagues from years ago, to see my cousin who was like a sister to me when we were youths, and to meet new folks who are Jewish and keen to learn from us. One of the themes I kept hearing from everyone is the question, “Whom do you trust?” It had to do with the deeper question of truth. You know that this is one of the two overarching categories of information we are considering during this year with Jeremiah. There is so much information ‘out there’ and so much mis-information that is designed to confuse… people honestly want to know what’s true; they honestly want to hear truth. I enjoyed meeting with Liberals and Labour. I find value in hearing from the different sides about gun laws and news services. In Messiah, I often say, “there is no Liberal or Labour; no Jew or Gentile; no Georgia Tech or Bulldog; no Blue or Red, no Swans nor Collingwood…” Messiah breaks down the middle walls of our hostility and our dissociation to make of the two—ONE NEW MAN.
Into a very similar situation, between the religious leadership of Judah and Israel, Jeremiah, our Weeping Prophet of 600 BCE or so, speaks. He says that there is a group of people who have been promising a Pain-free, Trouble-free, and seriously God-free life. These religionists have been finding a Bible verse here or there and associating the benefits explained to the activity of listening to them.
Paul the apostle 650 years later would write this to the believers in Greece “While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” (1 Thes. 5.3)
Let’s painfully evaluate the 31 verses of chapter 5 and see what they have to say to us, in our world, today, and maybe to help us navigate this silly season, the dramatic season of Advent, the new variant of Covid-19, the year 2022… let’s listen to what God is saying to us, amen?
Verse one… God says, please, go to the streets, look up and down and see if you can find someone, anyone, who has been listening to the Lord and will represent. If you can find one person, I will pardon the Jewish people. That’s an amazing condition, and a comfort. It’s the assurance of God’s presence. Not as the false prophets and teachers would say, “God is on our side.” And thus we have nothing to worry about, but simply, “If we turn from our sins, God will save us.” That’s another matter altogether.
I so appreciate the discount God seems to be offering in verse 1. Remember in the story of Abraham and Lot, with Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham has a seminal conversation with the Almighty. In that time, the two angels tell our father Abraham that they are going to ‘go down to Sodom
“I will go down now, and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” (Gen. 18.21)
When God comes down to check out the situation, the situation of Sodom and Gomorrah, it’s not going to end well. Abraham knows the life choices and the religion which takes place there and begins a negotiation with his creator.
“Suppose …” I love that. Mel Brooks’ creation of Don Adams as Maxwell Smart couldn’t have sounded it more clearly. What if we find you 50 righteous folks… would that be enough to save the towns? God agrees! “Would you believe 45?....”. then 40, 30, 20, and finally 10.
“Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his place.” (Gen 18.32-33)
That’s from where the notion of the minyan, the religious quorum for prayers of a community, comes. 10 men. You would therefore think Jeremiah would be similarly able to negotiate … maybe if I find you 10 men in Judah, or say, 5 in Jerusalem, would that be enough to stay the execution of your wrath?
God does Jeremiah one better. Mate, if you find ONE who represents me (I’m assuming besides Jeremiah himself), then that will stay my hand. And even if you find one who uses the phrase in verse two “as the Lord lives”, it’s likely fake.
Craigie says, “he may find people superficially orthodox, who use the proper formula of oaths, but their language is false, a hypocritical veneer covering the lies within.”
What a comprehensive and sad moment in Jewish history. Not one (other) man is righteous and listens to Scripture. Not one Jewish man lives out the Kingdom as described in Tenach. This may be hyperbole, but it’s clear as crystal. The Jewish people were living godlessly, and the rest of the chapter, actually the rest of the book, continues to unpack this reality.
If that be so, then what hope do we have? If we are without any guarantee of salvation, why do we go on? Where do we look for a better day tomorrow?
That’s where you have to get. Until you as a person, until you as a prayer team, until you as a community recognize your comprehensive lostness, you can never look up and find true hope.
In our day, in our age, we are consumed with deservedness, with entitlements and self-reliance. Until you get to the place where self-reliance is found to be empty, you will never find true hope and salvation. “Unto the hills I will lift up mine eyes, … wait, from whence does my help come?” Until you ask that question, you will never get to the true answer: “My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.”
God seriously wants to help our people.
God seriously wants to help you.
Listen to what prevents his helping us.
Verse two and three: “O LORD, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, But they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.
The Lord is active in getting our attention. But we knock him back. He has stricken us. We didn’t grieve. In the NASB we read, “we did not weaken.” The Hebrew word is ‘challah’, yes, the same as our Sabbath bread.
“to be ill, be weak, be faint, become diseased, be wounded; [N] to be made sick, be incurable; [P] to afflict; [Pu] to become weak; [H] to make ill, to cause to suffer; [Ho] to be wounded; [Ht] to pretend to be ill, to feel sick, to entreat, implore, seek favor, intercede”
By the way, the Sabbath bread was coined as challah in Austria / Southern Germany around the 15th century. It was the traditional SUNDAY bread of the locals (without the twists), We failed to notice the natural failures of our society and to give credit to the Lord, and to look up.We hardened ourselves instead of softened to the plans and the presence of God.
Friends, when I began in faith in 1971, I thought that this religion in which I newly found myself would require similar actions as my previous Orthodox Jewish ways and mindset. I thought I had to tough it out. This week a friend and I were discussing his father’s views on sin and addictions and such, and as a military man, he said, “Just stop sinning.” Almost the Nike advert “Just do it.” And maybe for some that works.
But the longer I remain in the Lord, the more I think about weakening AS MY STRENGTH. Admitting I cannot is the only way to gain the strength of God to assist me.
No wonder we read in verse 3: “You have smitten them, but they did not weaken; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.”
The apostle said, 2Cor. 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Messiah’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Check out the same word for justice in verses 1, 4, and 5. Mishpat. What is just? That’s what God wants you to perform. Bring his justice to your neighbourhood, to your neighbours, to your family, etc. Micah said that. Yeshua said that.
When?
Matt. 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Verse six. Then he says the wild animals are coming. Lion, wolf and leopard. All symbols of enemy nations in their power and slyness, or perhaps of wild animals themselves (compare the animals who would assist Israel in the conquest). Either way, destroyers are coming and we disregard them.
How many ways and how many times does God have to attempt to intervene before we stop, acknowledge both him and our sins, and turn to do what he says?
Verse 7. God lists adultery, in both physical and spiritual thinking. What is adultery, by the way? It’s not the sexual act itself; it’s the act with the wrong person! It’s not staying within the bounds assigned by God, and it’s usually due to a lack of heart-felt compliance.
I ponder the four specific outlined sins or especially categories of the people of God in this chapter, and maybe this will help you codify them in your life as well.
Verses 1-6 The people rejected the Lord
Verses 7-9 The people were ingrates, unthankful. Deserving
Verses 10-19 The people DID believe, but not God; they trusted the voice of the false prophets. They were without wisdom; they trusted in horses and chariots. They were self-centered and thus without faith in God. We say, “unfaithful.”
Finally, verse 20-31 The people were complacent and disregarded the voice, the correction, the involvement of the Almighty. Look at verse 31:
“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?
Our sin involves substitution of one deity for the Only Deity. But then don’t miss this phrase. “My people love it so!” Ouch, this is the sharpest and deepest criticism. We love wrongly. We have wrong lovers he told us in earlier chapters. (3.1, 3.20, 4.30, 30.14 (later)) We don’t love God with our whole hearts. We do not love our neighbours as ourselves. The chief commandment is to love the Lord; all else springs from that action and enterprise.
CONCLUSION
God is calling each of us to know him and to walk with him, today and throughout our days. Have you received Yeshua as your messiah and Lord? Have you renounced your sin, your idolatry, your forsaking God and given him First Place in your life? If not, please, do so now, just now, as we pray together. Use your own words, if you want, but yield, surrender, to the Lord of life.
PRAYER
Then please write us (admin@jewsforjesus.org.au) to tell us what you have just done, and we will send you literature and encourage you. You are part of our family; we love and appreciate you. And we want you to enjoy the presence of the Lord who calls, who knows, who blesses and builds us up.
We hope to see you again next week as we study chapter 6, and until then Shabbat shalom!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Barnes, Albert, Albert Barnes’ Commentary on the Old Testament,
Craigie, Peter; Kelley, Page; Drinkard, Joel. Word Biblical Commentary. Book of Jeremiah. 1991.
Henry, Matthew, Commentary.
Weirsbe, Warren. Be Decisive. David Cook Publishers, Colorado Springs 1991.
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ACTUAL TEXT
Jer. 5:1 “Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,
And look now and take note.
And seek in her open squares,
If you can find a man,
If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,
Then I will pardon her.
2 “And although they say, ‘As the LORD lives,’
Surely they swear falsely.”
3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth?
You have smitten them,
But they did not weaken;
You have consumed them,
But they refused to take correction.
They have made their faces harder than rock;
They have refused to repent.
Jer. 5:4 Then I said, “They are only the poor,
They are foolish;
For they do not know the way of the LORD
Or the ordinance of their God.
5 “I will go to the great
And will speak to them,
For they know the way of the LORD
And the ordinance of their God.”
But they too, with one accord, have broken the yoke
And burst the bonds.
6 Therefore a lion from the forest will slay them,
A wolf of the deserts will destroy them,
A leopard is watching their cities.
Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces,
Because their transgressions are many,
Their apostasies are numerous.
Jer. 5:7 “Why should I pardon you?
Your sons have forsaken Me
And sworn by those who are not gods.
When I had fed them to the full,
They committed adultery
And trooped to the harlot’s house.
8 “They were well-fed lusty horses,
Each one neighing after his neighbour’s wife.
9 “Shall I not punish these people,” declares the LORD,
“And on a nation such as this
Shall I not avenge Myself?
Jer. 5:10 “Go up through her vine rows and destroy,
But do not execute a complete destruction;
Strip away her branches,
For they are not the LORD’S.
11 “For the house of Israel and the house of Judah
Have dealt very treacherously with Me,” declares the LORD.
12 They have lied about the LORD
And said, “Not He;
Misfortune will not come on us,
And we will not see sword or famine.
13 “The prophets are as wind,
And the word is not in them.
Thus it will be done to them!”
Jer. 5:14 Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts,
“Because you have spoken this word,
Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire
And this people wood, and it will consume them.
15 “Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.
“It is an enduring nation,
It is an ancient nation,
A nation whose language you do not know,
Nor can you understand what they say.
16 “Their aquiver is like an open grave,
All of them are mighty men.
17 “They will adevour your harvest and your food;
They will devour your sons and your daughters;
They will devour your flocks and your herds;
They will devour your vines and your fig trees;
They will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.
Jer. 5:18 “Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make you a complete destruction. 19 “It shall come about when they say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’
Jer. 5:20 “Declare this in the house of Jacob
And proclaim it in Judah, saying,
21 ‘Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people,
Who have eyes but do not see;
Who have ears but do not hear.
22 ‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the LORD.
‘Do you not tremble in My presence?
For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea,
An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.
Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.
23 ‘But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart;
They have turned aside and departed.
24 ‘They do not say in their heart,
“Let us now fear the LORD our God,
Who gives rain in its season,
Both the autumn rain and the spring rain,
Who keeps for us
The appointed weeks of the harvest.”
25 ‘Your iniquities have turned these away,
And your sins have withheld good from you.
26 ‘For wicked men are found among My people,
They watch like fowlers lying in wait;
They set a trap,
They catch men.
27 ‘Like a cage full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit;
Therefore they have become great and rich.
28 ‘They are fat, they are sleek,
They also excel in deeds of wickedness;
They do not plead the cause,
The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper;
And they do not defend the rights of the poor.
29 ‘Shall I not punish these people?’ declares the LORD,
‘On a nation such as this
Shall I not avenge Myself?’
Jer. 5:30 “An appalling and horrible thing
Has happened in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule on their own authority;
And My people love it so!
But what will you do at the end of it?
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