Who is on the Lord’s Side

Jeremiah 11:20 But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

1. The message of God’s man Jeremiah 11:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2. Remember what God has already promised you-you will be cursed if you do not obey the agreement Jeremiah 11:2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,

3. Jeremiah is to remind them of the agreement, covenant, contract, pact that they already had

4. God had warned that they would be cursed if they broke their side of the covenant

5. Remember that there are two types of covenants

6. Conditional, Conditions are placed. God had placed blessing and cursing before them. They were to choose and would get what they chose

7. Unconditional, God’s grace is unconditional, He doesn’t save you based on what you do

8. This covenant was made as they were brought out of Egypt Jeremiah 11:4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

9. If they obeyed they would be blessed

10. He would have a special, personal, intimate relationship with His people

11. God wanted to bring all of His promised blessings on them Jeremiah 11:5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O Lord.

12. His promise was conditional, that I may perform

13. He had fulfilled His promise as it is this day.

14. Jeremiah is to remind the people of God’s promise, the agreement, the covenant, the pact Jeremiah 11:6 Then the Lord said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.

15. They were to hear, to listen, to pay attention but listening to preaching wasn’t enough

16. They were to do, obey

17. God had repeatedly told His people that they were to obey Jeremiah 11:7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.

18. God had sent preachers early and late

19. He had them preach clearly what they were to do

20. The man of God was just reminding God’s people of God’s Word to them, Bible preaching

21. Do we pay attention and put in practice what we learn from the Word of God?

22. The wickedness of God’s people

23. They chose not to obey God Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not,

24. When we love God we obey God

25. They knew what to do but didn’t want to do it

26. They had been warned

27. They refused to listen to God Jeremiah 11:8 nor inclined their ear,

28. They chose to listen to other things

29. They inclined their ear away from God

30. They decided what was best to do with their lives Jeremiah 11:8 but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

31. What did they imagine

32. What did they think up

33. Instead of the Word of God they sat around and though up what they believed would be a good idea

34. They conspired together Jeremiah 11:9 And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

35. They conspired to go back to the same sins their parents had committed Jeremiah 11:10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers,

36. They refused to listen to Jeremiah preach Jeremiah 11:10 which refused to hear my words;

37. They went after other gods Jeremiah 11:10 and they went after other gods to serve them:

38. They knew their God and His story

39. They wanted the pleasing gods of the heathen

40. They broke their promise to God Jeremiah 11:10 the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

41. They had agreed

42. They knew what to do and chose not to do it

43. They broke their promise and that annulled the covenant, the promise

44. Notice this was intentional, a conspiracy

45. They provoked God to anger Jeremiah 11:17 For the Lord of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

46. It was God that had blessed them

47. Now God Himself pronounced evil on them

48. The bad that would come on them was because of the bad that they did

49. They did it to themselves

50. They angered God by their worship of Baal

51. They wanted to get rid of the preacher Jeremiah 11:19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

52. They plotted to kill the man of God

53. To destroy him, his reputation

54. They didn’t like the message so wanted to get rid of the messenger

55. How do we respond to the preached Word of God?

56. God reacts to their sin

57. They had been warned and knew exactly what would happen if they disobeyed Jeremiah 11:8 but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

58. When He made the covenant He told them the good and bad that would be consequences of their decision

59. He now says that He will do all that He had promised in the curse

60. God will punish them, they will not escape, and He will not listen when they cry out to Him Jeremiah 11:11 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

61. Their sin would have consequences

62. They would not be able to escape

63. Even God wouldn’t listen to their prayers

64. God tells Jeremiah not to pray that the people because He will not listen Jeremiah 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

65. God even tells His preacher not to pray

66. He promises Jeremiah that even if he prays God will not listen

67. I pray that our country, our church, and us personally will never go so far

68. God had blessed but now would break Jeremiah 11:16 The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

69. God had loved them and blessed them with a great name and great fruit

70. But their rebellion would have horrible consequences

71. Do you understand that God will deal with our sins, there are consequences

72. What the people do as they suffer and God will not answer

73. They call on their false gods Jeremiah 11:12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

74. They have lots of gods to cry to Jeremiah 11:13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

75. They seem to think that they can come and make a quick sacrifice and it will be ok Jeremiah 11:15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.

76. God loves His people

77. They have committed horrible lewdness, sin, with their false gods

78. Now they seem to think that if they give the holy flesh, the sacrifice that all should be ok

79. What is going on with the preacher

80. God let him know that they were going to hurt him Jeremiah 11:18 And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.

81. Jeremiah wanted to see God punish His people Jeremiah 11:20 But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

82. Jeremiah knows that God does right

83. He is ready to see God’s people punished

84. He has made it clear to God whose side he is on

85. God promised to take care of His man

86. The men hated Jeremiah and wanted him dead, God knows exactly what they are saying Jeremiah 11:21 Therefore thus saith the Lord of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the Lord, that thou die not by our hand:

87. The wicked were threatening the life of Jeremiah

88. God tells Jeremiah what He is going to do

89. God will punish them Jeremiah 11:22 Therefore thus saith 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:

90. God would see to it that the young men were killed by the sword

91. The children would die of hunger and thirst

92. It would be God punishing them

93. God will not leave any of those that hate Jeremiah alive Jeremiah 11:23 And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

94. None of them would escape, no remnant

95. God would come and judge them

96. It would be God not coincidence that was bringing the bad on them

97. The preacher could go out with confidence that he was saying what God wanted said

98. The preacher could be confident that God cared about him and what was happening in his life