Speaker: 00:00:00

This is a Dwelling Place

from Entrusted Ministries.

2

: 00:00:03

Steph: I'm Stephanie Hickox,

3

: 00:00:04

today we're concluding the Book of

Jeremiah and focusing on chapters

4

: 00:00:07

forty-seven through fifty-two.

5

: 00:00:09

Jeremiah doesn't get wrapped up with

a pretty bow, Nor does this prophet's

6

: 00:00:13

life itself, but the sovereignty and

purposes of the Lord are elevated in

7

: 00:00:18

these chapters, and we are reminded

that God is the judge of the earth.

8

: 00:00:22

this reality encourages us to teach

our kids patience and forgo retaliation

9

: 00:00:27

A message very consistent

with our Savior's mission

10

: 00:00:30

God's judgment upon the

nations begins in chapter 46.

11

: 00:00:33

For today, I'm going to highlight some

key verses in these judgments instead

12

: 00:00:37

of having a longer portion of reading

13

: 00:00:39

chapter 46 contains God's

rebuke against Egypt.

14

: 00:00:42

And even though we read yesterday that God

said, " Don't even call on me anymore,"

15

: 00:00:47

if you take refuge in the land of Pharaoh

16

: 00:00:50

We can be astounded by

God's mercy in: 46:27

17

: 00:00:55

But fear not, O Jacob, my servant, nor

be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will

18

: 00:01:00

save you from far away and your offspring

from the land of their captivity.

19

: 00:01:04

Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease

20

: 00:01:07

And none shall make him afraid.

21

: 00:01:09

Fear not, O Jacob, my servant,

declares the Lord, for I am with you.

22

: 00:01:13

I will make a full end of all the

nations to which I have driven you.

23

: 00:01:17

But of you, I will not make a full end.

24

: 00:01:20

I will discipline you in just measure, and

I will by no means leave you unpunished

25

: 00:01:25

As Joni Eareckson Tada says in her

book, The God I Love, " Sometimes

26

: 00:01:29

God allows what He hates to

accomplish what He loves."

27

: 00:01:32

He preferred a different way

for Judah, but because of their

28

: 00:01:36

hard-heartedness, they required His

discipline, and He will faithfully

29

: 00:01:40

use it to bring about their good.

30

: 00:01:42

In chapter forty-seven, the

Philistines receive a much shorter

31

: 00:01:45

rebuke than the Egyptians did.

32

: 00:01:47

But it will be thorough as verse

six says, " Ah, sword of the

33

: 00:01:51

Lord, how long till you are quiet?

34

: 00:01:53

Put yourself into your

scabbard, rest and be still."

35

: 00:01:56

As the prophet Habakkuk observed

and questioned, God was patient, but

36

: 00:02:01

he would not endure the wickedness

of the Philistines forever, and

37

: 00:02:04

there was a day when he did rise

up in judgment against them.

38

: 00:02:07

In Chapter forty-eight contains a

lengthy rebuke against the Moabites.

39

: 00:02:11

Remember, the Moabites came through Lot.

40

: 00:02:13

Though they were near relatives of

the Israelites, they were inhospitable

41

: 00:02:17

and multiple times teamed up with

Israel's enemies to fight against them.

42

: 00:02:21

Our God of hospitality and loyalty and

honor is certainly not okay with that.

43

: 00:02:27

And in verse seven, he rebukes the nation,

" For because you trusted in your works and

44

: 00:02:31

your treasures, you also shall be taken.

45

: 00:02:34

and Shamash shall go into exile

with his priests and his officials.

46

: 00:02:38

Chamash was their false god

who required wicked sacrifices

47

: 00:02:42

Yahweh is so determined in his

efforts against Moab that he says,

48

: 00:02:46

"Whoever I send to destroy Moab,

I will curse you if you're slack

49

: 00:02:50

with your discipline against them."

50

: 00:02:51

This basically means you better

go after them full throttle,

51

: 00:02:55

or I'll come after you.

52

: 00:02:56

There are a couple times in this

chapter where we read, "Declares the

53

: 00:03:00

King, whose name is the Lord of Hosts."

54

: 00:03:02

Think about the power of that

name The Lord of hosts, is Yahweh

55

: 00:03:06

Sabaoth, which means the God of all

the armies of the hosts of heaven

56

: 00:03:10

Saying our God is King and Yahweh and the

host of heaven, that is a powerful title

57

: 00:03:16

In verse 35

58

: 00:03:17

God continues to bring

clarity and consistency

59

: 00:03:20

When he says, and I will bring to an end

in Moab him who offers sacrifices in the

60

: 00:03:25

high places and makes offerings to his God

61

: 00:03:27

But 48:31 is surprising

62

: 00:03:30

Therefore I wail for Moab,

I cry out for all Moab.

63

: 00:03:34

For the men of Kir Hareseth I mourn

64

: 00:03:36

Even when punishment is deserved, it

doesn't mean that God delights in it

65

: 00:03:41

It's a commonly quoted verse, but

for good reason, as the New Testament

66

: 00:03:44

tells us that the Lord is patient,

not willing that any should perish.

67

: 00:03:49

And He truly has been

patient with these nations

68

: 00:03:52

and yet His patience and mercy

and love has not produced

69

: 00:03:56

the affection and devotion he

deserves and rightfully requires.

70

: 00:04:00

At the conclusion of the chapter, God

promises to restore the fortunes of

71

: 00:04:04

Moab in the latter days In chapter 49,

he rebukes multiple nations, including

72

: 00:04:09

the Ammonites and the Edomites.

73

: 00:04:11

The Ammonites were also descendants

of Lot And they receive a similar

74

: 00:04:15

promise in verse six, " But afterward,

I will restore the fortunes of

75

: 00:04:19

the Ammonites," declares the Lord

76

: 00:04:20

God also promises that their

false God will go into exile,

77

: 00:04:24

which of course just means that

God will prove him false as well.

78

: 00:04:27

Next, we have the Edomites

who descended from Esau.

79

: 00:04:29

In verse 10, " But I have stripped Esau

bare; I have uncovered his hiding places,

80

: 00:04:34

and he is not able to conceal himself."

81

: 00:04:37

When we studied Obadiah, we

talked about the Edomites

82

: 00:04:39

hiding in the cleft of the rock.

83

: 00:04:41

But God is certainly sovereign

over geology, and even hiding

84

: 00:04:45

in the clefts of the rock is not

secure if God wants you found.

85

: 00:04:48

In verse 16, " The horror you inspire

has deceived you, and the pride of your

86

: 00:04:52

heart, you who live in the clefts of the

rock, who hold the height of the hill.

87

: 00:04:57

Though you make your nest as high as the

eagles, I will bring you down from there."

88

: 00:05:01

God opposes the proud and gives

grace to the humble, and the

89

: 00:05:04

Edomites have been arrogant.

90

: 00:05:06

Their ruin will be similar to

that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

91

: 00:05:09

But mercifully

92

: 00:05:10

God's kindness and protection is

still available Because in verse

93

: 00:05:14

11 he says, " Leave your fatherless

children, I will keep them alive,

94

: 00:05:19

and let your widows trust in me."

95

: 00:05:21

though the Babylonians, also

known as the Chaldeans, have been

96

: 00:05:24

God's instrument of judgment,

97

: 00:05:26

Their ruin is imminent as well.

98

: 00:05:28

We read of it in chapters

fifty and fifty-one.

99

: 00:05:30

Beginning in fifty, verse three, " For

out of the north a nation has come up

100

: 00:05:34

against her, which shall make her land a

desolation, and none shall dwell in it.

101

: 00:05:39

Both man and beast shall flee away.

102

: 00:05:41

In those days and in that time,

declares the Lord, the people of Israel

103

: 00:05:46

and the people of Judah shall come

together, weeping as they come, and

104

: 00:05:50

they shall seek the Lord their God.

105

: 00:05:51

They shall ask the way to Zion with

faces turned toward it, saying,

106

: 00:05:55

'Come, let us join ourselves to

the Lord in an everlasting covenant

107

: 00:05:59

that will never be forgotten.'

108

: 00:06:01

My people have been lost sheep.

109

: 00:06:03

Their shepherds have led them astray,

turning them away on the mountains.

110

: 00:06:07

From mountain to hill they have gone.

111

: 00:06:09

They have forgotten their fold.

112

: 00:06:10

All who found them have devoured them,

and their enemies have said, ' We are not

113

: 00:06:14

guilty, for they have sinned against the

Lord, their habitation of righteousness,

114

: 00:06:19

the Lord, the hope of their fathers.'

115

: 00:06:21

Yet another prophetic promise that God

will redeem a remnant of His people.

116

: 00:06:26

It's incredible how suffering

refines us, isn't it?

117

: 00:06:29

God knows that that captivity

and discipline and judgment

118

: 00:06:32

will purify His people

119

: 00:06:33

And so he faithfully brings it about.

120

: 00:06:35

And wasn't that such a

beautiful title in verse seven?

121

: 00:06:38

" The Lord their habitation

of righteousness, the Lord,

122

: 00:06:41

the hope of their fathers."

123

: 00:06:43

I can't help but think about our dwelling

place theme because we do want the Lord to

124

: 00:06:47

be our habitation, and certainly we want

His presence to help us be transformed

125

: 00:06:51

in righteousness continuing God's words

in verse seventeen, he explains, " Israel

126

: 00:06:56

is a hunted sheep driven away by lions.

127

: 00:06:59

First, the king of Assyria devoured him,

and now at last Nebuchadnezzar, king

128

: 00:07:03

of Babylon, has gnawed at his bones.

129

: 00:07:06

Therefore, thus says the Lord

of hosts, the God of Israel,

130

: 00:07:10

' Behold, I am bringing judgment.

131

: 00:07:12

I am bringing punishment on the

king of Babylon and his land as

132

: 00:07:16

I punished the king of Assyria.

133

: 00:07:17

I will restore Israel to his pasture, and

he shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan,

134

: 00:07:22

and his desire shall be satisfied on

the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.'

135

: 00:07:27

In those days and in that time,"

declares the Lord, " iniquity shall

136

: 00:07:31

be sought in Israel, and there shall

be none, and sin in Judah, and none

137

: 00:07:35

shall be found, for I will pardon

those whom I leave as a remnant."

138

: 00:07:39

There are more promises for the

people of God found in 33 and 34.

139

: 00:07:44

thus says the Lord of hosts, " The

people of Israel are oppressed, and

140

: 00:07:48

the people of Judah are with them.

141

: 00:07:50

All who took them captive have held

them fast; they refuse to let them go.

142

: 00:07:54

Their Redeemer is strong— the

Lord of hosts is his name— he will

143

: 00:07:58

surely plead their cause that he may

give rest to the earth, but unrest

144

: 00:08:02

to the inhabitants of Babylon.

145

: 00:08:04

Let's think about this

in a judicial sense.

146

: 00:08:07

the people are imprisoned without

bail And what is God's response?

147

: 00:08:10

The- their Redeemer is strong.

148

: 00:08:13

Whatever the punishment, whatever

the price, your Jesus and His blood

149

: 00:08:18

are able to redeem you, and He has.

150

: 00:08:21

He was fully able to rescue His

people from whatever enemy they faced.

151

: 00:08:26

and verse 11 reveals who will defeat them

152

: 00:08:28

The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the

kings of the Medes, because his purpose

153

: 00:08:32

concerning Babylon is to destroy it.

154

: 00:08:34

For that is the vengeance of the

Lord, the vengeance of his temple.

155

: 00:08:38

We'll learn more about the Meads later

156

: 00:08:40

God denounces Babylon's idolatry

beginning in fifty-one seventeen.

157

: 00:08:44

Every man is stupid and without knowledge.

158

: 00:08:47

Every goldsmith is put to shame by

his idols, for his images are false,

159

: 00:08:51

and there is no breath in them.

160

: 00:08:52

They are worthless, a work of delusion.

161

: 00:08:55

At the time of their

punishment, they shall perish.

162

: 00:08:57

Not like these is he who is the

portion of Jacob, for he is the one

163

: 00:09:02

who formed all things, and Israel

is a tribe of his inheritance.

164

: 00:09:06

The Lord of Hosts is his name

165

: 00:09:07

This passage makes it clear.

166

: 00:09:09

You may worship a God that is formed

by a goldsmith, or you may worship

167

: 00:09:14

the God who formed all things.

168

: 00:09:15

He is our portion and our inheritance

And the choice seems clear as can be

169

: 00:09:21

And God plainly says, " If you can't

understand how obvious this choice

170

: 00:09:25

is, you are a fool and you're stupid."

171

: 00:09:27

Because I love that idea of the

Lord fighting for us so much,

172

: 00:09:31

I wanted to point out 51:36.

173

: 00:09:33

"Therefore thus says the Lord,

'Behold, I will plead your cause

174

: 00:09:37

and take vengeance for you.'"

175

: 00:09:39

At the end of chapter 51, we hear

our final words from Jeremiah as he

176

: 00:09:43

directs Seraiah to read the words of

the scroll when they reach Babylon

177

: 00:09:47

The end of chapter 51 concludes,

"Thus far are the words of Jeremiah."

178

: 00:09:51

Like many other prophets, we don't

get to read about Jeremiah's death

179

: 00:09:55

in scripture, but his ministry was

widespread, so there are several

180

: 00:09:58

historical accounts of what occurred but

before I share any of that, I'd like to

181

: 00:10:02

read a list from my MacArthur commentary

of the major trials of Jeremiah.

182

: 00:10:07

First, he had a trial by death

threats in chapter 11, then a

183

: 00:10:10

trial by isolation in chapter 15.

184

: 00:10:12

Next, a trial of stocks in 19 and 20,

a trial by arrest in chapter 26, a

185

: 00:10:18

trial by challenge in 28, a trial by

destruction in chapter 36, a trial

186

: 00:10:24

by violence and imprisonment in 37,

and a trial of starvation in 38.

187

: 00:10:30

A trial by chains in 40, and a

trial by rejection in 42 and 43.

188

: 00:10:35

This is a difficult list, but

it's also evidence that God spared

189

: 00:10:39

Jeremiah many times from death.

190

: 00:10:41

He reminds me of the

Apostle Paul in this way

191

: 00:10:43

The New Testament preacher often

lived to preach another day.

192

: 00:10:46

Though he endured much for the

Lord, he regretted none of it.

193

: 00:10:50

Paul got to see a lot more fruit in

his ministry than Jeremiah did, but I'm

194

: 00:10:54

confident that despite the trials and

tribulation that each of these men faced,

195

: 00:10:59

neither regretted their service to the

King, whose name is the Lord of Hosts.

196

: 00:11:03

To learn a little bit more

about Jeremiah's death, I

197

: 00:11:06

referred to gotquestions.com.

198

: 00:11:08

It's a website I found to be

really biblically faithful

199

: 00:11:11

Regarding Jeremiah's death, they

write, " After the Babylonians

200

: 00:11:15

carried Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar

gave orders not to harm Jeremiah.

201

: 00:11:19

The prophet was released

and allowed to go to Mizpah.

202

: 00:11:21

Our last glimpse of Jeremiah in

scripture is when he is forcibly

203

: 00:11:25

taken by a band of Jewish rebels

who left Judah to live in Egypt."

204

: 00:11:29

According to the early church

father Tertullian, the Jews stoned

205

: 00:11:33

Jeremiah to death in Daphne, Egypt,

jeremiah's crime was telling them

206

: 00:11:37

truths that they did not want to hear.

207

: 00:11:40

The tradition of Jeremiah's martyrdom

is backed by other first century

208

: 00:11:44

extra-biblical writings, including Jerome.

209

: 00:11:46

In Hebrews 11:37, when we read, "Some

died by stoning," it's quite possibly

210

: 00:11:52

an allusion to Jeremiah's death

211

: 00:11:53

Yet if this was the end of God's

faithful prophet Jeremiah, we

212

: 00:11:57

know that his eternity was and is

filled with an abundance of rewards

213

: 00:12:02

You may also wonder how

the prophet Isaiah died.

214

: 00:12:04

Scripture didn't tell us about his

death either, but tradition says that

215

: 00:12:08

he was martyred by wicked King Manasseh.

216

: 00:12:10

he was placed in the hollow of a tree

trunk and sawn, and sawed in two.

217

: 00:12:15

it's believed that the Hebrews

reference to some being sawn in

218

: 00:12:18

half, that it refers to Isaiah.

219

: 00:12:20

In chapter 52, we encounter yet another

telling of the fall of Jerusalem

220

: 00:12:25

We can grieve when God's people's lives

are cut short and when places of worship

221

: 00:12:30

come to ruin because we grieve with hope.

222

: 00:12:33

Heavenly Father, We thank You that

You, our Redeemer, are strong.

223

: 00:12:37

No bail can be set upon

us that You have not paid.

224

: 00:12:41

Thank You that we are no longer captive

to the bondage of our sin, and that we are

225

: 00:12:45

no longer declared guilty for an eternal

punishment and separation from You.

226

: 00:12:49

We also rejoice that we can be patient

because You are not only faithful to

227

: 00:12:54

redeem, You are faithful to judge.

228

: 00:12:57

Help us to be patient when we are wronged

and mistreated we pray that we could trust

229

: 00:13:01

that vengeance is yours and honor you in

that we are not to return evil for evil

230

: 00:13:07

We pray we would have a deep

trust that vengeance is yours

231

: 00:13:10

It's something we can only

accomplish through your Spirit,

232

: 00:13:13

And we pray that as our kids watch

us patiently entrust justice to you,

233

: 00:13:17

that they would also learn to walk in

patience, not allowing themselves to

234

: 00:13:21

be pushovers, but to become peacemakers

235

: 00:13:23

Thank you, Jesus, that your way is so

radically different from the world,

236

: 00:13:27

and thank you for the joy that we can

have as we follow in your footsteps.

237

: 00:13:31

I pray we would be faithful

to follow wherever you lead.

238

: 00:13:35

It's in your worthwhile,

beautiful name we pray, Jesus.

239

: 00:13:38

Amen