Praying the Jesus Way

Praying the Jesus Way

Matthew 6:5-8

Praying the Jesus Way

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

Sermon Statement

Praying the Jesus way requires us to be real (authentic) pray-ers, totally committed to the act of praying. This act of praying is in communion with God, and in asking Him for our needs.

Sermon Text (Matthew 6:5-8)

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  6 But when you pray, go into your room (closet), close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Introduction

Prayer is a complex yet simple subject. Prayer is complex because there are so many layers of truth about it. There are numerous books on prayers and there are also conferences and workshop you can sign up to learn about prayer. Yet prayer is simple because it is a relationship with God. So simple that even children can do it. So complex that even theologians cannot understand it.

Some disturbing truths about prayers

• Not all prayers is good and pleasing to God

The teaching of the Pharisees includes a prayer with these words: “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast not made me a gentile, … a slave, … a woman” which is quite disturbing on many levels.

• Time spent in prayer is not necessary well spent

Prayers that include telling God what to do, teaching God about himself asking for impossible things such as asking God to reverse time.

• God answers the prayers of Christians and non-Christians
• For a Christian, praying should be as natural as breathing

Reformed and Anglican theologian J.I.Packer writes about this in his book, Growing in Christ:

“It is not too much to say that God made us to pray; that prayer is (not the easiest, but) the most natural activity in which we ever engage; and that prayer is the measure of us all in God’s sight.”

How to Pray the Jesus Way

• He begins by asking us to be real (authentic) pray-er (v.5)
• He describes the place for us to pray (v.6)
• He describes the wrong way to pray (v.7)
• He tells us the way (v.8-13)

Real (authentic) Pray-er (v.5)

• Avoid praying like hypocrites

The word hypocrite is a word taken from the Greek drama. It is an actor who covered his face with a mask as he portrayed a character which is a false character, not like who the character really is. We call it “putting on a false front.” It hides our real character.

Hypocrites in the New Testament often describe a person who makes a pretense of holiness while hiding their true nature.

In true prayer as Jesus is teaching it, we must not be hypocrites because true prayer must be REAL. Hypocrites are not real.

• Hypocrites is always marked by the flesh
• Hypocrites are self-centered

Self-promotion, courting public opinion, condemning others

• Hypocrites glorifies in a reputation of holiness rather than being holy

(Prov.12:22)

The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. 

(Prov. 15:8)

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. 

Closet Praying (v.6)

• In closet prayer we get away from people
• In closet prayer we get away from the world
• In closet prayer we get away from other distractions
• In closet prayer we set aside our mental distractions
• In closet prayer we prepare our hearts for communion

There are two keys to closet praying. One is the preparing our hearts. We need to get away from people, the world, different types of distractions so that we can prepare our hearts.

Ezra is so highly regarded by the Jewish rabbis that they suggest that if God have not given the law to Moses, He would have given it to Ezra. These rabbis ranked Ezra second only to Moses. Why such a high ranking? Ezra 7:10 gives us a clue.

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel (NKJ).

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (NIV).

The second key to closet prayer is also setting time aside to pray. It is so easy not have time to pray because our schedule is so full. We need to make an intentional effort to set aside block of time every day so that we can pray or what is called closet prayer. Martin Luther is well known to have said he was going to have a busy day ahead so he had to set aside three hours to pray!

We must intentionally set aside time for prayer. Abraham, Moses, Daniel and Jesus of Nazareth are all busy people. The biblical record shows that they are also men of prayer.

Genesis 18: 22

The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD

Exodus 3:1-3

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.  3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

Daniel 6:10

 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed

What about the Christians?

• Charles Simeon devoted the hours from four till eight in the morning to God.
• John Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer. He also began at four in the morning.
• Luther said: "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer."

What about Public Prayers?

The teaching here is not against public prayers. It is against hypocrites who make a show of being holiness by their praying. Public or corporate prayer is an important part of  spiritual life of the church as is private prayer an important part of our spiritual life.

o       Jesus called the Temple his “Father’s house” and a “house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13)

o       Jesus prayed in the sight of others (Lk.3:21; 10:21; 11:1)

o       Early church had public meetings (Acts 4:24-31; 12:5-12)

o       Paul talked about his prayers (Col. 2:1; Rom. 15:30; Rom. 9:2)

The Wrong Way to Pray (v.7)

• Avoid praying like pagans

• Use idle, mechanical or “magic” words
• Use of secret or power word
• mantra
• Vain repetitions or long and verbose

True or authentic prayer is often brief. I love this story about John Hyde of India also known as “Praying Hyde.”  John Nelson Hyde (November 9, 1865-February 17, 1912) was an American missionary who preached in the Punjab.

“The American evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman told about meeting John Hyde. Knowing Hyde’s power in prayer, Chapman asked the great prayer warrior to pray for him. For five minutes they knelt together and Hyde did not utter a word. Then he lifted his face to heaven and utters just two words, “O God.” He relapsed into silent meditation for some time and then began to pray. Chapman said that Hyde prayed such a prayer for him as he had never heard before, and that God answered the petitions of that prayer in such a way that permanently changed his ministry. Hyde took time to have the glory of God fill his soul so that when he made his request it was effective because it was a prayer of faith.” (Alan Cairns, The Lord’s Prayer, Belfast: Ambassador Publications, 2004, 67)

• Alteration of consciousness
• Do not empty our mind like Buddhist meditations
• Cause a trance like in 1 Kings 18:25-29 concerning the challenge of Baal priests and Elijah on Mount Carmel.

This is a power encounter. There have been no rain on Samaria (Northern Kingdom) for three and a half year and the challenge is whose God is more powerful. Yahweh or Baal. The more powerful one will of course make rain when called upon by their followers.

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.”  26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”  28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.  29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Praying the Jesus Way (v.8ff)

• Prayer is fellowship with God
• He will gives us what we need
• Prayer is asking
• Asking must be specific
• He will restores what is lost
• He restores our souls
• He restores the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)
• He restores the peace we have lost through sin
• He acknowledges that we are His people
• He gives us a foretaste of the Day of Judgment

David equate God’s refusal to answer his prayer with God’s rejection on Judgment Day (Psalm 28:1) ^

To you I call, O LORD my Rock; Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

Isaiah 3:10

Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

Conclusion

How then shall we pray?

Praying the Jesus way requires us to be real (authentic) pray-ers, totally committed to the act of praying. This act of praying is in communion with God, and in asking Him for our needs.

Soli Deo Gloria

The Rainbow of Prayer

The Rainbow of Prayer

The Dynamic Activities of the Lord’s Prayer

“Pray then like this…”

Text: Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11: 2-4

The rainbow of prayer

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

Sermon Statement

Praying the Lord’s Prayer is approaching God in a direct and intimate way; adoring the Creator and the Almighty; acknowledging His work and worth in praise and worship; accepting from God’s one’s own situation as He has shaped it; admitting sin and seeking pardon; asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others; and adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin.

I.                   The Format of the Lord’s Prayer

The Lord's Prayer is the model of prayer that Jesus taught us, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.  It is presented here in traditional and modern language:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen	Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory. Now and for ever. Amen

We always assume that the doxology is part of the Lord’s Prayer. However reading Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11: 2-4 shows otherwise.

Matthew 6:9-13	Luke 11:2-4
MT 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray:   " `Our Father in heaven,   hallowed be your name,   MT 6:10 your kingdom come,   your will be done     on earth as it is in heaven.   MT 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.   MT 6:12 Forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors.   MT 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,   but deliver us from the evil one. '	LK 11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say:   " `Father,   hallowed be your name,   your kingdom come.   LK 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread.   LK 11:4 Forgive us our sins,     for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.   And lead us not into temptation. ' "

Sermon on the mountain	Sermon on the plains
Audience: Jews	Audience: Gentile
The Righteousness of God supersede our behaviour	The Grace of God to save
“how you should pray” in the Sermon on the Mount	“when you pray” in response to the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray

In some ancient and many later MSS of Mt. 6:13 a doxology follows. In the AV it reads, ‘For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’ Although the most authoritative MSS do not have the doxology, it has been used in the Christian church from the earliest times (cf. the Didache and the Western Text [Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (696). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.]

II.                Comments about the Lord’s Prayer

• the Lord’s Prayer is Jesus’ message of the kingdom of God summarized in prayer form. Tertullian called it the ‘epitome of the whole Gospel’ (breviarium totius evangelii) and St Augustine the source of all other prayers. [Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. (2005). The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed. rev.) (1001). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.]

• It should be noted that our Lord (when teaching his disciples this prayer) did not say, ‘we must pray’ but ‘you pray’. The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer which he taught, not one which he used. He does not appear ever to have used the expression ‘Our Father’ in such a way as to include his disciples with himself  [Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (696). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.]

• It is in a plural form rather than individual. The first person singular pronoun is not used anywhere in the prayer. We say, “Our Father, … give us … .” This prayer is meant for a community. It may profitably be used by an individual, but it is not meant as an aid to private devotion. It is a prayer to be said by God’s people; it is the prayer of the Christian family.

• The Lord’s Prayer seems to be Jesus’ synopsis of various Jewish prayers of the time. The first two sentences: “Hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come,” echo the language of the Jewish prayer, the Kaddish. It begins: “Magnified and hallowed be his great name in the world … And may He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and in your days … quickly and soon.” The third, “Your will be done,” is similar to a prayer of Rabbi Eliezer (about A.D. 100): “Do Thy will in heaven above and give peace to those who fear Thee below” (Babylonian Talmud, Berakoth). The petitions in the Lord’s prayer also echo ancient Jewish prayers.

• The first, “Give us our bread,” is akin to the first benediction of grace at mealtime. “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who feedest the whole world with thy goodness …; thou givest food to all flesh.… Through thy goodness food hath never failed us: O may it not fail us for ever and ever.”
• The second, “Forgive us,” echoes the Eighteen Benedictions, 6: “Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned against thee; blot out our transgressions from before thine eyes. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who forgivest much.” The accompanying phrase, “as we also have forgiven,” reflects the Jewish teaching found in Sirach 28:2: “Forgive the wrong of your neighbor, and then your sins will be forgiven when you pray.”
• The third petition, “Lead us not into temptation,” is similar to a petition in the Jewish Morning and Evening Prayers. “Cause me to go not into the hands of sin, and not into the hands of transgression, and not into the hands of temptation, and “not into the hand of dishonor.”
• The final words, “Hallowed be thy name,” “Thy kingdom come,” and “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” constitute a prayer for the final victory of God over the devil, sin, and death. It is possible that they were also understood by the early Christians to be a petition for God’s rule in their lives in the here and now. [Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (Rev. ed.].) (414–415). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.]

• There are two components in the Prayer. One is directed towards God, and the other is directed towards ourselves and others.
• The ‘thou’ petitions of the Lord’s Prayer focus on God and implore God to act so as to achieve his purposes in the world. The first petition (hallowing God’s name) is further explicated by the second (coming of God’s Kingdom) and the third, found only in Matthew (doing God’s will). God’s ‘name’ is synonymous with God himself; the first petition invokes God to make his holiness manifest to the world by ushering in the final day of salvation. To concretize this, the disciples pray, ‘Thy kingdom come,’ and, ‘Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Here, God is called upon, as part and parcel of his holiness, to establish his kingly Rule in splendor over all nations and (in Matthew) to exercise his will here on earth with as much freedom from opposition as he presently exercises it in the sphere of his heavenly abode.
• The ‘we’ petitions focus on the physical and spiritual needs of the disciples. The petition for bread is a request for the necessities of life. Traditionally translated (in Matthew), ‘Give us this day our daily bread,’ it is more accurately rendered, ‘Give us today our bread for the morrow.’ At the basis of this petition is the notion that the disciples pray for the necessities of life that they require ‘today’ in view of the fact that ‘tomorrow’ God’s splendid Kingdom will come. The petition for the forgiveness of debts, or sins, is an appeal that God, as Father of the disciples, will graciously forgive them their sins and so enable them to forgive one another. The final petition in Luke (not being led into temptation), which is supplemented in Matthew by the petition for deliverance from evil, is a plea that God so guide the disciples through life that their relationship to him as Father may never come into jeopardy and that they may be preserved from Satanic evil of every kind. [Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary (1st ed.) (576). San Francisco: Harper & Row.]

• In its original form, the Lord’s Prayer probably comes from the earthly Jesus himself. One indication of this is that the version in Luke essentially reappears in Matthew. Another is the Jewish and Aramaic character of the prayer.
• the Lord’s Prayer parallels in important respects the Kaddish and the Eighteen Benedictions—Jewish prayers apparently in use, in their oldest forms, in the synagogue worship of Jesus’ time
• behind the Greek word for ‘Father’ is the Aramaic abba. Jesus himself apparently addressed God as abba (cf. Mark 14:36), thus establishing a custom that was continued even by Greek-speaking Christians (Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:15).
• behind the Greek for ‘debts’ and ‘sins’ is choba. Choba means ‘debt’ or, in a religious context, ‘sin’ or ‘guilt’; thus, in Aramaic, forgiveness of ‘debts’ (Matt. 6:12) is the same as forgiveness of ‘sins’ (Luke 11:4). [Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary (1st ed.) (575). San Francisco: Harper & Row.]

III.             The Seven Dynamic Activities in the Lord’s Prayer

Jesus meant the Lord’s Prayer to be a template or pattern of all types of prayers. Hence we can learn much from this prayer. J.I.Packer, a well known theologian identifies seven distinctive activities in the prayer.

“As analysis of light requires reference to the seven colors of the spectrum that make it up, so analysis of the Lord’s Prayer requires reference to a spectrum of seven distinct activities: approaching God in adoration and trust; acknowledging his work and his worth, in praise and worship; admitting sin, and seeking pardon; asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others; arguing with God for blessing, as wrestling Jacob did in Genesis 32 (God loves to be argued with); accepting from God one’s own situation as he has shaped it; and adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin. These seven activities together constitute biblical prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer embodies them all.” [Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (157). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

J.I. Packer has suggested seven activities. However I would like to modify them and suggest these distinctive dynamic activities as the seven As of the Lord’s Prayer.

1. approaching
2. adoring
3. acknowledging
4. admitting
5. asking
6. accepting
7. adhering

The Lord’s Prayer	Dynamic Activities
Our Father in heaven, (Matt.6:9b; Lk.11:2b)	approaching God in a direct and intimate way
hallowed be your name. (Matt.6:9c)	adoring Creator and Almighty
Your Kingdom come, (Matt. 6:10a; Lk.11:2c)	acknowledging his work and his worth, in praise and worship
your will be done, on earth as in heaven (Matt. 6:10b)	accepting from God one’s own situation as he has shaped it
Give us today our daily bread. (Matt 611; Lk. 11:3)	asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. (Matt. 6:12; Lk.11:4a)	admitting sin, and seeking pardon
Lead us not into temptation, (Matt. 6:13a; Lk. 11:4b) but deliver us from evil. (Matt. 6:13b)	adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin

1. Approaching God in a direct and intimate way

Some hold that the prayer should be understood in the spirit of Ezekiel 36:23: “I will honor my great name that you defiled, and the people of the world shall know I am the Lord.” In this view God himself is asked to ensure that his name is honored. But it seems more likely that we have here a prayer that men will come to have a proper reverence for God. A change in the attitude of sinners is in mind, rather than an action of God.

2. Adoring of the Creator and Almighty

3. Acknowledging his work and his worth, in praise and worship

4. Accepting from God one’s own situation as he has shaped it

5. Admitting sin, and seeking pardon

The petition about forgiveness differs slightly in the two accounts. In Matthew it is “Forgive us our debts,” while Luke has “Forgive us our sins.” Without question it is the forgiveness of sins that is in mind, but the Matthean form sees sin as an indebtedness. We owe it to God to live uprightly. He has provided all we need to do this. So when we sin, we become debtors. The sinner has failed to fulfill his obligations, what he “owes.” Matthew goes on to say, “as we also have forgiven our debtors,” and Luke, “for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” The tense in Matthew indicates that the person praying is not only ready to forgive but has already forgiven those who have sinned against him; in Luke, that he habitually forgives. Further, he does so in the case of every debtor

6. Asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others

The traditional understanding, “daily,” seems most probable. But however we translate it, the prayer is for the simple and present necessities of life. Jesus is counseling his followers to pray for necessities, not luxuries, and for what is needed now, not a great store for many days to come. By confining the petition to present needs Jesus teaches a day-by-day dependence on God.

7. Adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin

IV.             Lessons for us

1. Prayer depends on a relationship with God

We need to have a knowledge and attitude about God if we are to pray to Him. If we do not believe that He exists or that He is not good, why should we pray to Him? If we do not believe that He listens and answers, why bother to pray?

Prayer develops out of intimacy with God. As Teresa of Avila has shown us in her book, The Interior Castle, each level of intimacy with God brings on a deeper intimacy of prayer.

J.I.Packer writes,

“Say …” Did Jesus just intend that they should repeat the words, parrot fashion? No; but that they should enter into the sense. “Say,” we might say, means “mean!” This prayer is a pattern for all Christian praying; Jesus is teaching that prayer will be acceptable when, and only when, the attitudes, thoughts, and desires expressed fit the pattern. That is to say: every prayer of ours should be a praying of the Lord’s Prayer in some shape or form.

[Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (156). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

2. Prayer is a ‘natural’ action

Prayer should be as natural to us as breathing. Every breath we take brings in life saving oxygen into our bodies. Our bodies need oxygen if we are to survive. We not need to think about breathing because it is so natural to us. Prayer should be like breathing. It should be so natural to us that we do not even think about praying. We just do it.

J.I. Packer again comments:

“It is not too much to say that God made us to pray; that prayer is (not the easiest, but) the most natural activity in which we ever engage; and that prayer is the measure of us all in God’s sight.” [Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (156). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

3. The Lord’s Prayer is a useful template for our prayer life

There will not be much development in our prayer life unless we understand the Lord’s Prayer. Until we understand each lines of the prayer, we will not be able to make progress. J.I.Packer urges:

“So the Lord’s Prayer should be put to service to direct and spur on our praying constantly. To pray in terms of it is the sure way to keep our prayers within God’s will; to pray through it, expanding the clauses as you go along, is the sure way to prime the pump when prayer dries up and you find yourself stuck. We never get beyond this prayer; not only is it the Lord’s first lesson in praying, it is all the other lessons too. Lord, teach us to pray.” [Packer, J. I. (1996). Growing in Christ (157–158). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.]

V.                Conclusion

To pray the Lord’s Prayer is approaching God in a direct and intimate way, adoring the Creator and Almighty, acknowledging his work and worth in praise and worship, accepting from God’s one’s own situation as he has shaped it; admitting sin and seeking pardon, asking that needs be met, for ourselves and others, and adhering to God in faithfulness through thick and thin.

Soli Deo Gloria

A People Apart

A People Apart

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

A People Apart (Jer. 35:14)

Sermon Statement

Christians are a people called apart for God because they are a people who are saved by God, who knows the Word of God, who loves the people of God, who loves those who do not know God, who lives their lives with integrity, who experiences joy, and who are free.

Text (Jeremiah 35:14)

Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. (NIV)

Background (Jeremiah 35:1- 18)

JER 35:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 "Go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD and give them wine to drink."

    JER 35:3 So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons--the whole family of the Recabites. 4 I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the men of the Recabite family and said to them, "Drink some wine."

    JER 35:6 But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: `Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.' 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, `Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' So we have remained in Jerusalem."

    JER 35:12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, `Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?' declares the LORD. 14 `Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers." But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16 The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.'

    JER 35:17 "Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.' "

JER 35:18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Recabites, "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' 19 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.' "

Note: Who also has the Lord promise will never fail to have a man to serve him? David

The obedience of the Recabites is held in contrast to that of the Judeans (v. 12-16). An object lesson was shown to the Judeans of a people who stand apart from other people because of their obedience. Wine is a common drink of that period.

I.     The test of the Rechabites (vv 1–11)

A.     The Lord’s command (vv 1–2)

B.     Jeremiah’s obedient response (vv 3–4)

C.     The test (v 5)

D.     The testimony of the Rechabite lifestyle (vv 6–10)

E.     The reason for the Rechabite presence in Jerusalem (v 11)

II.   Prose oracle against the Israelites (vv 12–17)

A.     Contrast between the Rechabites and faithless Judah (vv 12–16)

B.     The word of judgment (v 17)

III.  An oracle of promise for the Rechabites (vv 18–19)

(Keown, G. L. (2002). Vol. 27: Word Biblical Commentary : Jeremiah 26-52. Word Biblical Commentary (194). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.)

Who are the Recabites?

• The Recabites were a nomadic clan (35:7-10) descended from “Jonadab [or Jehonadab] son of Recab” (v. 6)
• assisted Jehu in exterminating Baal worship from Israel (2 Kings 10:15-27).
• They were related to the Kenites (1 Chron. 2:54-55) who descended from Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro (Judg. 1:16).
• Evidently Jonadab rejected a settled way of life for the life of a nomad, and his lifestyle became the norm for his clan (Jer. 35:6-10).
• The four prohibitions of the Recabites
• shall not drink vine
• shall not build a house
• shall not sow a seed
• shall not plant or own a vineyard
• They traveled in the wilderness of the Negev (Judg. 1:16; 1 Sam. 15:6)
• Some scholars suggest that they were iron-monger, artisans dealing with iron or even makers of chariots
• They possess the ‘family secrets’ of iron making and to keep this secret within the family, they are forbidden to drink vine and become nomadic.
• They were forced to move to Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar threatened Judah in 598 BC. (Jer. 35:11).
• They are a people apart yet forced to live in urban Jerusalem.

Jeremiah invited the Recabites, including Jaazaniah, into one of the side rooms in the temple. These rooms surrounded the temple court and were used for meetings, storage, and as priests’ residences (1 Kings 6:5; 1 Chron. 28:12; 2 Chron. 31:11; Neh. 13:7-9).

The particular room Jeremiah entered belonged to the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah. Nothing is known about Igdaliah except that he was a man of God- a term usually used to describe a prophet (cf. 1 Kings 12:22; 2 Kings 1:9-13; 4:21-22). The room occupied a prominent position, next to the room of the officials and over the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. Maaseiah was one of three ”doorkeepers“ for the temple. This was evidently a high position because those holding it were singled out by the Babylonians for judgment along with the chief priests (cf. 2 Kings 25:18-21; Jer. 52:24-27). Into this august company Jeremiah brought the rough, nomadic Recabites.

(Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1179). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

A People Apart

Jeremiah knew that the Recabites do not drink wine but purpose invited them to an important function room and in front of the religious authorities of Judah, offered the Recabites wine! Of course they refused.

The Recabites were then used as an object lesson to the Judeans of a people who are faithful in obeying their founders as contrasted with the Judeans who are not faithful in obeying their God.

Eugene Peterson, writing in his excellent book, Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at its Best (Downers Grove IL: InterVarsity Press, 1983 p. 142) notes,

The essence of Jeremiah’s message is this; “You also have a father who has commanded you to live in total relationship to him. You know that he has set you apart to a live of love. Why don’t you live in response to it? If you think it is because ordinary, mortal human beings can’t do it, think again. The Recabites are ordinary, mortal human beings and they have been doing it for 250 years. You also have a way of life that requires a certain disciplines to maintain its character. The disciplines involve you in making specific decisions about the way you live: regular worship, faithful prayer, tithing and caring for the poor, moral conduct and the pursuit of righteousness. Now, why don’t you do it? If you think that it is too rigorous a life for ordinary mortal human beings, think again. The Recabites are ordinary mortal humans, and they have been doing it for 250 years.

Christians are also a people apart. Christians are called to be faithful to their God. The characteristics of the Recabites are that (1) they do not drink wine, (2) do not build houses, (3) do not sow a seed, and (4) do not plant or own a vineyard. What about Christians? What set Christians apart from the other people? The Recabites are so named because they followed the teaching of Recah, their founders. Christians are son  named because they follow Christ.

Here are seven characteristics that set Christians as a people apart. Unlike the Recabites whose distinguishing characteristics are negative and consists in “Thou shall not,” Christians as a people are full of positive features. Christians are

1.      people who are saved, worshipful and prayerful

2.      people who knows the Word of God

3.      people who loves the people of God

4.      people who loves those people who do not know God

5.      people who lives their lives with integrity

6.      people who experience joy

7.      people who are free

1.      People who are saved, worshipful and prayerful

John 3:17-21

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

(a) People are saved by the work of Christ on the cross

Christians are people who have come into the light and have seen the truth. That Jesus Christ, God himself can into the world to die for our sins so that we can be forgiven by God. That is why the Holy Communion is so meaningful. Each time we partake of the bread and wine, we are reminded that God has saved us though the death of his son.

(b) People who are saved by Christ are a worshipping people.

Christians worship because we know how awesome our God is. It is beyond our finite minds to understand him. This God we worship is beyond time; that is why the past, present and future is open to him. This God we worship knows every particle in the know universe and yet even aspect of our lives. I used to have discussions with my friends that because of the quantum theory which things exist in two states, God cannot be all knowing. My also is to ask why not? Why can he know the existence of both states?

(c) People who are saved by Christ are a praying people.

The all powerful, self-sufficient God wants us to talk to him. Prayer is our conversation to him. We really need to move beyond our ‘shopping list’ type of prayers to contemplative prayers where we can learn to contemplate on his holiness.

2.      People who knows the Word of God

Matt. 4:4

MT 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

Jesus mentioned that in response to the temptations of Satan. Not too long again, Christians are known as people of the Book. You know who called us that. The Muslim. Unfortunately, Bible literacy has gone down so much that many still times the sentences “God helps those who help themselves” come from the Bible. The Reformation started the trend of translating the Bible into the people’s own language so that people can read and understand the Bible themselves, not just the clergy and the scholars. We shall be celebrating the 400 years anniversary of the King James Bible next year.

3.      People who Loves the People of God

One of the observations made by many people is how Christians ‘love on another.’ Of course, I am aware that there are problems in the church and Christians are suing each other in the courts. However, one of the distinguishing marks of Christians is their love for one another. I am privileged to be in a church where there is this Christian love. Often it is not apparent, but anything, should anyone in this church get into trouble, people are mobilized into service, counseling, giving aids, giving money, visitations and prayers. I am very impressed by the Ladies Fellowship and the Cell Groups in this. I am also impressed by individual Christians who will go out of the way to help others.

John 13: 34 Jesus said

  JN 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

People will know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ if we love one another. Love for one another is the mark of being a Christian.

4.      People who Loves Others

Matt. 5:43

MT 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

5.      People Who Lives with Integrity

Matt. 5:33-37

MT 5:33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your`No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Here Jesus is teaching his disciples to keep their words. Deliver what you promise. No need to talk too much. Walk your talk. Christians are always aware that they are living in the world but they are not part of the world. That’s because their perspective is different. The world wants Money, Power, and Sex. Christians want in Faith, Love, and Hope. This is the straight and narrow path Jesus talked about. Christians have always sought to live lives of honesty, integrity, and according to their conscience.

6.      People Who Experiences Joy

John 15: 9-11

JN 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Jesus was teaching his disciples. If we remain in Jesus’ love, then we shall have joy. Joy is different from happiness. Happiness is transient. I remember the happiness I feel when I bought my first BMW 520. The sleek design and the smell of new leather. Wow. It is heavenly. There is a special feeling when you drive around in a new BMW. You feel that everyone is looking at you. After a few days, it is just another car.

I remember the joy when I married almost 30 years ago. Despite all the up and downs in a marriage the joy is still there. How much so is the joy of Jesus who said that his “joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

7.      People Who are Free

John 8: 32-35

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

    JN 8:33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

    JN 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

(a)   New Covenant

Unlike the Israelites who are under the Mosaic covenant, we Christians are under the new covenant. The prophet Jeremiah taught a lot about this covenant. This new covenant is not about obeying a set of eternal rules and regulation. God has now written his laws into our hearts and conscience. We know what is right or wrong

(b)   Choices

a.      Reject God

God has allowed us to choose to obey him or not, as he has allowed us to choose to be saved or not. Imagine a being with all the power in all creation allowing his creatures free-will! Imagine such a being allow his creatures the choice to reject him. And even when they have accepted him, he still allows the choice to disobey him. It is a high sign of respect to be allowed freedom.

Most of us who are working know that there is a hierarchy of authority in any company and the lower you are in that hierarchy, the less freedom you have. The reverse is true. The higher you are in the hierarchy the more freedom. God has turned it upside down. All levels of the hierarchy have equal freedom. The cleaners have equal freedom as the executives.

b.      Choose God

Choosing God is a choice. Choosing God is privilege given to us and nobody can take that away from us. They can take away our status, our properties, or dignity but they cannot take away our freedom to choose God.

I am often touched by this story that I have heard but I cannot confirm whether this is a true story or not. It was about group of Christians in Africa that was captured by a regime that hated Christians. These Christian are placed in the middle of a stadium to starve to death as a lesson to others who want to become Christians. There a young man among the Christians who is a musician. He decided to lead the captured Christians to sing hymns to praise God. All day and night, sounds of singing can be heard from the compound. The captors were upset about the singing and ordered the young man not to sing. The young man disobeyed and continued to sing. The captors decided to cut off the young man’s tongue. They observe closely to see what the young man will do. They say the young man mimic playing a guitar and singing though there was no sound from his mouth. The captors were upset and decided to cut off both his forearms above the elbow. They then watched what the young man will do. The young man stood up in the centre of the group and swayed his body as if he is singing in worship of the Lord. The captors were so furious that they cut off the young man’s head and throw it into the crowd of captive Christians to discourage them. Instead the next day, they find the Christians singing even more enthusiastically. When they we to investigate found the young man’s head. The expression on the face of the young man at the time of his death was that of a man full of joy and expressing this joy by singing to God. Not even death can rub this young man of his choice to follow God.

Lessons for us

We need to be a people apart. The Recabites followed the 250 years old commands of their founder, a man, their forefather – Jonadab Ben Recab. We follow the eternal commands of Jesus who is more than a man. He is also a God. We become a people apart by

(1)   Saved, worshipful and prayerful

a.       Set time for personal prayer

b.      Read a devotional book

(2)   Study the Word of God

a.       Read the Bible

b.      Read books about books of the Bible

c.       Memorise parts of the Bible

(3)   Learn to love one other Christians

a.       Do something for one Christian

(4)   Learn to love one other non-Christians

a.       Do something for one non-Christian

(5)   Live each day with integrity

(6)   Receive joy in our lives

(7)   Exercise your freedom to Please God

Soli Deo Gloria

Run with the Horses

Run with Horses

View more presentations from Alex Tang.

Run with the Horses

Text: Jeremiah 12:5

Text

5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (NIV)

Sermon Statement

God is with you, will give you strength and will not let you face problems more than you are able to overcome

Context

Translation[1]

Jeremiah:

18 The Lord made it known to me, and so I knew; then You showed me their evil deeds.

19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I had not known that they devised plots against me:

“Let us destroy the tree with its sap, and let us cut him off from the land of the living,

that his name be remembered no more.”

20 O Lord of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tries the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.

The Lord:

21Therefore thus said the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, “Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord or you will die by our hand,” 22Therefore thus says the Lord of Hosts, “Behold, I will punish them; the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; 23 and none of them shall be left, for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment.”

Jeremiah:

12:1 Righteous are you, O Lord, even when I contend with you, nevertheless I would present my case to you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? 2 You plant them and they take root; they grow and bring forth fruit; You are near in their mouth but far from their heart.

3 But you, O Lord, have known me; you see me; and you try my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for slaughter; and set them apart for the day of slaughter. 4 How long will the land mourn? And the grass and every field wither? Because of those who dwell in it, the beasts and birds are swept away. Because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”

The Lord:

5 “If you have raced on foot and they have wearied you, How will you compete with horses? And if you trust in a safe land, How will you do in the jungle of Jordan?

6 For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you. They are in full cry after you; do not believe them, even though they speak good words to you.”

Introduction

Jeremiah’s Times

686 Manasseh becomes sole king

648 Josiah born

642 Amon succeeds Manasseh as king

640 Josiah becomes king

633 Josiah at 16 seeks after God

628 Josiah at 20 begins reforms

627 Jeremiah at 20 called as prophet

621 Mosaic Law found in the temple

612 Nineveh destroyed as Nahum prophesied

609 Josiah slain in battle at Megiddo; Jehoiakim becomes king

605 Babylon defeats Egypt at Carchemish;

Daniel, others taken hostage to Babylon;

Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of Babylon

604 Nebuchadnezzar receives tribute in Palestine

601 Nebuchadnezzar defeated near Egypt

598 Jehoiakim set aside; Jehoiachin rules from December 9 to March 16, 597 and is deported April 22 to Babylon

597 Zedekiah becomes king in Judah

588 Babylon lays sedge to Jerusalem on January 15

587 Jeremiah imprisoned (Jer. 32:1–2)

586 Zedekiah flees July 18; destruction of city begins August 14; Gedaliah killed and Jews migrate to Egypt against God’s command October

Today passage involves Jeremiah’s fourth message focused on Judah’s broken covenant with her God. Though the message itself is undated, several markers help date the passage to 621 BC., six years after Jeremiah began his ministry around the time of King Josiah death by Pharoah Neco. Prior to that the temple was being repaired as part of King Josiah’s reforms, and a copy of the Law was discovered in the renovation (2 Chron. 34:14-33). Several of Jeremiah’s references seem to allude to this discovery of God’s Law and the realization of the broken covenant. Jeremiah called on the people to heed the words of the covenant that Josiah read to them (11:6; 2 Chron. 34:19-32). The specific portion of the covenant God mentioned was the terms that regarded obedience and disobedience to His Law (cf. Deut. 28).

Though King Josiah forced an outer conformity to the covenant, his reform did not penetrate the hearts of the people in a lasting way. Thus, under Josiah, the ancient feasts and worship were reinstituted. Thus too Habakkuk, the troubled Levite whose thoughts are recorded in the book that bears his name, came to Jerusalem and took a leading role in the revival of public worship. But Habakkuk was a worried, deeply concerned man. In spite of the outward signs of revival under Josiah, Habakkuk sensed the deep-seated evil which still revealed itself on the hills of Judah and in the injustices which marred his society. There were even rumours of royal child sacrifice to Chemosh.

After Josiah died the people returned to their idolatrous ways. Among the people was a conspiracy to abandon the covenant. Instead of heeding the warning of Jeremiah they returned to the sins of their ancestors to serve false gods. The people responded to Jeremiah’s rebuke by trying to kill him. This is the first episode in their continuing opposition to his ministry.

Challenges			People	Lessons for us
(a) The plot on Jeremiah’s life (11:18-20) (b) The refusal of the people to listen to Jeremiah and repent (11:21-23) and “Why does the wicked prospers?” (12:1-4) (c) Idolatry	“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out,	If you stumble in safe country,	(a) Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth (b) The nation of Judah and the nation of Judah and the surrounding nations (c) Spiritual warfare
(a) more suffering for Jeremiah as he continue to prophecies (b) God’s judgment on Judah (12:7-13) and God’s judgment on the surrounding nations (12:14-17) (c) Idolatry	how can you compete with horses?	how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?	(a) Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth, the royal household, the nation of Judah (12:6) (b) The nation of Judah and Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, Babylonians (c) Satan

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out,

how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

Jeremiah was tired and burnt out. Ministry during the peaceful reign of King Josiah and the state support of religion has worn him out. He is not seeing fruits in his ministry. People are not repenting but making a great show of religiosity.

Jeremiah is worn out by contenting or racing with men and stumbling in a safe country.

He is tired and he started complaining to God.

What is God’s response?

“Poor Jeremiah, working so hard, you need a break.”

“Don’t worry, things will be easier than now on.”

“It’s okay, just do your job.”

Actually God said,

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out,

how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (Jer.12:5)

“Jeremiah, you think what you have suffered is bad, wait till you experience what will be coming for you!”

What is next is that you will be racing with horses and walking through the thickets of Jordan.

Future challenges for Jeremiah

(1) conflicts with false prophets

(2) into the stocks by priest Pashhur

(3) threat of death (cistern) and imprisonment by King Zedekiah’s officials

(4) taken to Egypt

(5) acting out prophetic parables

i. buying and burying a linen belt – how God wishes to ruin Judah’s pride

ii. buying a jar of clay and smashing it – how God will smash Judah

iii. make and wear a yoke of wood – Babylonians will enslave Judah

Is God being nasty to Jeremiah?

Reverend Doctor George Campbell Morgan D.D. (9 December 1863 – 16 May 1945) was an evangelist, preacher and a leading Bible scholar. Morgan was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London from 1904 to 1919, and from 1933 to 1943. His preaching and weekly Friday night Bible classes were attended by thousands. Known as prince of expositors, Preaching Magazine ranked him among the ten greatest preachers of the 20th century. His paramount contribution to the Christian faith lay in teaching the Bible and showing people how to study it for themselves. Superbly gifted, he dedicated his insight and eloquence to a single objective: communicating God's truth with scholarly integrity, rhetorical lucidity, and arresting relevance. Morgan published over 60 books and booklets, many of which are still available today.

G. Campbell Morgan notes,

“God never calls a man to content with horses until He has practiced him with footmen; that God has never yet send a man into the wilds of Jordan until He has trained him in the land of peace. It is a great principle, always obtaining in God’s method with His servants, and in all His dealings with His people” (G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 91).

Lessons for us

1. God has helped we in our struggle with our problems in the past and is helping us in the present

“God is with you, will give you strength and will not let you face problems more than you are able to overcome”

At the beginning of his ministry, God has promised to make Jeremiah a fortress, an iron pillar and a wall of bronze. Jer. 1:18, 19

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. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

Morgan proclaims,

“Victories won where they seem impossible, are assurances that they will be won where they seem impossible” (G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93).

“The one thing no man can take away from us is our victory of yesterday, and its prophecy of victory tomorrow” (G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93).

2. God is sovereign (God has his own timing ) (12:7-17)

“Can God suffers?”

“Can God feels pain?”

The divine lament portrays God as also suffering because of evil, evil from the hand of his own people. This passage gives us a rare glimpse into the consternation and anguish that evil causes God. The anguish is especially acute for him when his own people are responsible for it. In these verses the Lord expresses both love and hate for his people, emotions we usually consider mutually exclusive, at least for God. When the Lord opened himself up to his people in love, he also opened himself to the possibility of hurt.

These verses present an image of God as passionately involved with his world and his people. It is amazing to think that evil can cause God the same anguish that it causes man. Passages such as this forever discredit the image of God as dispassionate and removed from his world.

God would forsake and abandon Judah and turn her over to her enemies. By describing the nation as His house, His inheritance, and the one He loved, God was indicating that the judgment was not coming from the hardened heart of a capricious king. Though He wanted to do just the opposite, God was forced to judge because of the people’s sin. The nation had become like a lion who had raised her voice (roars) in opposition to Him.

3. God is with us

We are involved in spiritual warfare. One of the most powerful weapons the Enemy has against us is discouragement and despair. It is his WMD (weapon of mass discouragement). Paul writes to the Ephesians,

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

(Eph. 6:12-18)

4. God will help us in our struggle with our problems in the future

“God is with you, will give you strength and will not let you face problems more than you are able to overcome”

5. God’s judgment is just

A note about the destruction of the men of Anathoth: The account of the return from exile recorded in Ezra-Nehemiah states that 128 men of Anathoth returned with the exiles (Ezra 2:23; Neh 7:27), so the destruction was not complete[2]

Issues			People	Lessons for us
(a) The plot on Jeremiah’s life (11:18-20) (b) The refusal of the people to listen to Jeremiah and repent (11:21-23) and “Why does the wicked prospers?” (12:1-4) (c) Idolatry	“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out,	If you stumble in safe country,	(a) Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth (b) The nation of Judah and the surrounding nations (c) Spiritual warfare	(a) God has helped we in our struggle with our problems in the past and is helping us in the present (b) God is sovereign (God has his own timing) (c) God is with us
(a) more sufferings for Jeremiah as he continue to prophecies (b) God’s judgment on Judah (12:7-13) and God’s judgment on the surrounding nations (12:14-17)	how can you compete with horses?	how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?	(a) Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth, the royal household, the nation of Judah (12:6) (b) The nation of Judah and Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, Babylonians	(d)God will help us in our struggle with our problems in the future (e)God’s judgment is just

Conclusion

“God is with you, will give you strength and will not let you face problems more than you are able to overcome”

If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?

Morgan:

“In my contending with horses, I shall also and again be weary; but I shall win, for I have already won by Thy strength in running with footmen” (G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93).

If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

Morgan:

“that He is God, though in the wilds I shall oftentimes be assaulted by fear, yet I shall win, as I have won in the land of peace” (G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93).

Soli Deo Gloria

---

[1] Craigie, P. C. (2002). Vol. 26: Word Biblical Commentary : Jeremiah 1-25. Word Biblical Commentary (174). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

[2] Craigie, P. C. (2002). Vol. 26: Word Biblical Commentary : Jeremiah 1-25. Word Biblical Commentary (179). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.