The Preaching of Jeremiah

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The Preaching of Jeremiah

By: Jim Crews

 

As the southern nation of Judah rapidly slid into degradation, there was one bright moment before the end that came. That was the reign of Josiah. It was during his reign that God’s covenant was rediscovered.

II Kings 22:8-11

He tore his clothes, because Josiah understood what had happened and where Israel stood.

II Kings 22:12-17

He didn’t despair, though. Instead, he did something about the problem.

II Kings 23:2-3

After listing all the reformations and restorations made by Josiah, and a long list of all the idols he defiled and destroyed, God gives him a praise like He gave no other king.

II Kings 23:25

Josiah was even more godly than King David. This is why God delayed the destruction of Judah until after Josiah’s death.

II Kings 22:18-20
 

 

Today, however, we are going to look at another man who lived in Josiah’s kingdom.

Jeremiah 1:1-3

Jeremiah began teaching God’s word when Josiah was 21 years old.  The finding of the law and Josiah’s campaign to remove idolatry was when he was 26 years old, during his 18th year of his reign. Jeremiah was also a young man at this time.

Jeremiah 1:4-7

Even though Josiah had given himself completely to God, the nation itself was totally given over to evil. Israel had once been holy.

Jeremiah 2:1-3

However,  they had left God’s ways a long time before.

Jeremiah 2:4-5

The religious leaders no longer sought God.

Jeremiah 2:8
 

 

It is no wonder that they “lost” the law in the Temple. Nor can we be surprised that idolatry and homosexuality was being practiced in the temple of the Lord.

II Kings 23:7
 

The call to stand in the old paths was soundly rejected.

Jeremiah 6:16

Let’s consider that we today are faced with a situation that echoes the days of Jeremiah. A major complaint about denominations and churches that have strayed from the truth is the lack of scriptures in the preaching. It is rare to find preachers and teachers citing passages and reading what God has actually said. It is even rarer to find people in the pews looking in their own Bibles to see the scriptures for themselves. In a way, it is our laziness. In a way, it is our conditioning to have information given to us. The light of the world is growing dim.

Matthew 5:13-16

The truth is not being upheld for all to see.

I Timothy 3:15
 

 

Instead of purging out the leaven of sin, it is common to find the denominations welcoming it in.

I Corinthians 5:9-13

I Corinthians 6:9-10

Jeremiah found preaching God’s word to be difficult. His job was to shake things up and to make a change.

Jeremiah 1:9-10

Jeremiah was not allowed to back down. He could not let any personal fears that he might have show.  

Jeremiah 1:17-19

The people would not listen, but the message needed to be given if purification was to result.

Jeremiah 6:27-30

He could not compromise with them at all.

Jeremiah 15:19-21

Like all those who teach the True Word of God, Jeremiah had enemies.

Jeremiah 11:18-23
 

Imagine how it would feel to be undermined by leaders in the church. Imagine how it would be if those you expect to support you are those who are against you.

Rulers sought to discredit Jeremiah,  and they told people not to listen to him.

Jeremiah 18:18
 

He was beaten and put in stocks.

Jeremiah 19:14-20:4

 

The attitude of a lot of people today, even in the Lord’s Church is that if so many people were against him, there must have been something wrong with his teaching.

Just in case you think that Jeremiah was tough, listen to what he had to say.

Jeremiah 20:7-10

If it wasn’t for God, Jeremiah might have failed.

Jeremiah 20:11-13
 

 

He was put on trial, threatened with death.

Jeremiah 26:1-24

Notice that the prophet who ran away in fear lost his protection from God.

Jeremiah was imprisoned.

Jeremiah 38:1-13

Jeremiah was not seeking to be popular with men, and this is what has always been needed.

Galatians 1:10

Jeremiah’s preaching exposed those people who only wanted a convenient religion. He pull down their cherished, but false, traditions.

Too often getting along with people becomes more important than teaching the truth.
Luke 6:26

 

We read or see in the news reports that any contradictory preaching is being called “hate speech”. We are so used to religious freedom, I wonder how we’ll handle a period of religious persecution. We may find out one day, because those periods will come.

Matthew 5:10-12

We haven’t seen the worst,  as those in the past saw.

Hebrews 11:32-12:4

Seeing what Jeremiah endured, we must resolve to give our all. Sin is too small of a matter to spend time being distracted by it. Our daily problems are so trivial. Let’s choose to follow our Lord.
Matthew 10:38