Sunday Sermons
Fire in the Belly
Jeremiah 20:7 “O Lord, You have deceived me and I was deceived”: Some see Jeremiah as complaining that God had "forced" him or enticed him to become a prophet, but God had not deceived Jeremiah. God had been very up-front concerning what Jeremiah would face (1:18). “I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me”: Jeremiah might have thought that the word of God revealed through him would bring the people to repentance. “It was a shock to him that his message brought only calumny and abuse” (Thompson p. 459). Like many young preachers and new Christians, Jeremiah might have been very optimistic, after all, “Who couldn't see the truth?” “Jeremiah could face physical torture without flinching but he seems to cringe before the barbs of ridicule” (Smith p. 377). Whoever came up with the expression, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me”, missed the point. Words do hurt.
20:8 “For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim violence and destruction”:
Jeremiah seems to be complaining that he must always be the bearer of bad news, and this message of doom had only brought upon him ridicule. Speaking the Word of God had not brought him any honor or appreciation among God's people. Unfortunately, Jeremiah had forgotten the wonderful promises mingled in with the message of destruction. “Forgotten was God's word that He was also to build and to plant” (1:10) (Laetsch p. 176)
20:9 “But if I say, ‘I will not remember Him or speak anyone in His name’”: “In the face of persecution the simplest solution was to withdraw and remain silent and thus abandon his vocation” (Thompson p. 460). Apparently there were times that the thought of giving up crossed the mind of the prophet. “Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it”: This "fire" is not something that overrides his freewill, for it did not stop him from complaining. Rather, here we find a man, despite the consequences, still sold on the message that God was revealing through him. The fire of obligation to God, a true love for the people of God, of standing for and loving God's truth. If we are going to survive spiritually, then we must have a motivation that comes from within. The encouragement from others is needed and always appreciated (1 Thessalonians 5:14), but in the final analysis, I must have a love for God in my heart (Matthew 22:37-39). We see the same type of “fire” in other passages:
John 2:17 “Zeal for Your house will consume me”: This is a quotation from Psalm 69:9. Obviously Jesus was “consumed” with zeal for the things of God, and this consuming zeal for God moved Him to cleanse the temple. The Psalm also infers that the person being consumed by such zeal often ends up being persecuted for their zeal (69:7-9). Some believe that the disciples were afraid that Jesus’ zeal would end up getting Him into trouble. That is probably only a secondary application. It appears that the “consuming” of the above passage is the inward zeal of Jesus that moves Him to speak out when His Father or the things associated with God are being abused and treated with disrespect. “This zeal was so strong that he could claim that it had consumed him” (Leupold p. 503). Do we have a zeal that consumes us for God and are we consumed by something else? This type of zeal moved Jesus to remove from God’s house that which was corrupting it. Those who have a zeal for God cannot tolerate error or the misuse of that which is holy. This type of zeal moves one to remove all human additions and restore the true faith. It also moves one to remove all sinful attitudes and actions from one’s own life. This is zeal that will not compromise with evil. David and Jesus were both willing to bear insults that were directed at God. Are we willing to stand with God and endure the world’s bitterness and wrath? Are we willing to take some of the insults directed at Him and bear them ourselves?
Acts 17:16 “His spirit was being provoked within him”: The term “provoked” here means to stir, exasperate, and irritate. Paul was neither intimidated nor awed to the point of silence by the artistic beauty and higher learning of Athens. Paul sees Athens of the first century for what it was, an incredible waste of the human mind. It is tragic that a city with such intellectual potential is wholly given to idolatry and superstition. Paul was clearly upset when he saw men who were created in the image of God giving their devotion and worship to objects created by the hands of man. We need an equal zeal for God’s honor; we need to be provoked when people pour their energies and talents into the devotion of material things or false objects of worship. We need to be stirred when we see people wasting their lives in the service of that which is false. In addition, Paul did not see any artistic merit in the objects of idolatry! Acts 17:17 “So he was reasoning”: Like Jeremiah, he had to speak out. Please note that a stirred man is not one who is out of control. “Though a lonely stranger, who might have been awed into silence by the magnificence with which sin had fortified itself in this great city, his soul was stirred to make a mighty struggle for the triumph of the gospel even here” (McGarvey p. 119). “Paul's reaction to the city's idolatry was not negative only (horror and dismay) but also positive and constructive. He did not merely throw up his hands in despair, or weep helplessly, or curse and swear at the Athenians” (Stott p. 280). A provoked man does not rant and rave, but he reasons and speaks confidently and logically. Acts 17:30-31 “Because he has fixed a day in which He will judge the world”: Right here I am impressed that even though Paul had not persuaded the vast majority who heard him on this day (17:32), Paul does not hesitate to remind them of biblical truths. At times unbelievers and skeptics have the attitude, “You can’t talk to me about that, because I don’t believe it in the first place”, “Or do not quote Scripture to me because I don’t even believe in the Bible”. Such an attitude did not stop Paul from quoting Scripture. He realized that Scripture itself is a powerful weapon (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12).
2 Peter 2:7 “Oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men”: The word “oppressed” means “to tire down with toil, hence to afflict, oppress” (Vine p. 325); “torment, wear out” (Arndt p. 416); “shocked by the dissolute habits of lawless society” (NEB); “wearied out”(ABUV) “It is customary for Christians today, living in a secularized society, no longer to be shocked by sinful things which they see and hear. They will, for example, without protest, sit through a television program presenting material, which a generation ago they would never have contemplated watching at a theater or cinema. But when a man’s conscience becomes dulled to sin, and apathetic about moral standards, he is no longer willing to look to the Lord for deliverance” (Green p. 101). Notice how a righteous man responds to an ungodly culture. He does not become comfortable with it, rather he must speak out (Genesis 19:7). Lot was politically incorrect. He did not rejoice in the diversity in Sodom, rather it tormented him. Now back to Jeremiah:
20:10 “For I have heard the whispering of many”: Jeremiah knew what people were saying about him, and the accusations were made publicly. “All who had to do with his welfare were watching for him to make a false step. The total social and psychological support of his fellow villagers and kinsmen was denied to him. It was a devastating experience” (Thompson p. 460). “Even his familiars, men of his welfare, men who greet him with familiar greeting of friendship, Peace be with you! Even they are anxiously watching for his downfall” (Laetsch p. 177). This is still one of the favorite tactics of the world to silence those who are bothering their consciences. If they can observe simply one misstep in the life of a righteous man--then they think that such negates everything that individual proclaimed. Funny how we think that the sin of someone else-excuses us! Or, hypocrisy found in a godly man, excuses my ungodliness, that righteous man’s sin is their hope.
20:11 “But the Lord is with me like a dread champion”: Even though the whole of Jewish society was against Jeremiah, the prophet still has tremendous trust in God. He may hit a moment of despair, but then he bounces back to the realm of trust and absolute faith. “As a formidable warrior”(P.P. Comm. p. 464). “The Lord, a fearsome warrior, will fight the battles of His prophet”(Smith p. 378). Do we view God with such confidence? Or, do the power; influence, resources, and boastfulness of the unbelieving world intimidate us? Note the statement “with an everlasting disgrace”. The Final Judgment will reveal who was credible, who had the facts, and who stood for the truth. Those who oppose God and His people will suffer an eternal disgrace.
20:12 “Yet, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous”: Jeremiah is suffering but this does not mean that God does not love him or that somehow Jeremiah is on the wrong side of the issue. God allows suffering to come upon the faithful to test them for their own good. “Let me see Your vengeance on them”: Jeremiah's accusers have been trying to collect evidence against him (10), but God has been collecting evidence against Jeremiah's enemies. Jeremiah is not asking for permission to exercise his own vengeance, but rather if people are joining to remain obstinate, if they are going to persecute the faithful, then let God’s justice arrive. Here is a desire that any righteous person would have, the desire for vindication. After hearing for a lifetime from so many how we are so wrong, the godly person earnestly desires a time of vindication when the world will see that he or she was right!
20:13 “Sing to the Lord”: Again, note how the righteous man bounces back. The Christian may find himself or herself in the midst of despair, and yet the faithful Christian does not dwell in despair, he or she quickly comes back to God, and in spite of all the problems, praises God. Consider the term “needy”: Here the term is not in the primary sense of financially poor. “It refers to the pious man, poor in the sense that he is the client of Yahweh, dependent on Yahweh for the support of his spiritual life. In the face of persecutors it is not wealth that a man needs but spiritual strength” (Thompson p. 462).
20:14 “Cursed be the day when I was born”: Considering the fact that God permitted this section to be written, it is clear that the Bible does not have anything to hide. We must reject the idea that if you serve God then God will override your freewill and force upon you a positive and happy attitude everyday of your life. Notice how this graphic description of despair immediately follows the heights of rejoicing (20:13). What it demonstrates is that the Christian can find himself or herself immediately in self-pity if they take their minds off the Lord, even for a minute. Carefully note that Jeremiah does not curse his parents for having him. And, neither does he curse God. Be impressed how despair, depression, and self-pity confine one to this life and the things of this life. Jeremiah at this moment is only thinking about "this life", yet when we consider the big-picture, Jeremiah's father should have rejoiced regardless--for Jeremiah would be a prophet of God! 20:18 “Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow, so that my days have been spent in shame?” The shame and trouble that preoccupies the mind of Jeremiah, is the trouble and disgrace he has suffered in being God’s spokesman. His mind is focused in the present, and when that happens even prophets and inspired men can lose their perspective. Job would say the same thing, and then later admit that what he had said was foolish (Compare Job 3:1 with 42:3-6). God allows this section to be written that we might learn from it (Romans 15:4). Look at the pain and suffering that the world can bring upon the godly person. Take a good look at how continual confrontation with the world can even wear a prophet down. Are we prepared for the long haul? We will continue to speak out even when no one wants to hear what we are saying? Will we give up if all our attempts to save people are not appreciated? Will we abandon the truth if it does not attract a large audience? Are we into numbers, popularity, and comfort, or are we into God? Let no one tell you that being a Christian is easy or that all the things that the world will say about you and do to you somehow will just roll off your back (Luke 6:22). Yet, Jeremiah does not give up
