Tuesday August 4, 2015

Read Jeremiah 50:4-7

While the world may sit somewhat incensed and upset at talk about judging the nations, Jeremiah 50:4-7 shows that the judgement has far reaching and positive implications for the people of God.

In vs 4-5 we read of that impact:

“4 In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.”

Through the judgement of Babylon and presumably through the return of the exiles, the people of God would be united together and in tears would seek the Lord. The enormity of this turn around can be seen by studying two verses back to back.

In Jeremiah 25:3 we read

“For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon King of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.”

In 25:4 we also read

“And though the Lord has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.”

Midway through his ministry, Jeremiah had proclaimed the call to repent for 23 years and the nation had remained hard hearted and stiff necked. They would remain stiff necked and rebellious for another 17 years before the Babylonians would devastate and judge the land. But well before Jeremiah’s ministry the nation had rejected the Lord’s prophets again and again. Even as far back as the Exodus, we see the nation turning its back on God and rejecting Him.

But through the judgement and the exile the people of God would unite and come back to God in tears. These tears are tears of repentance and tears of joy for the salvation of the Lord.

The change would come through the instilling of a new heart as predicted by Ezekiel in exile in Babylon.

In Ezekiel 36:26–27 we see the prophesy most clearly expressed.

“26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

Jesus Christ is the one who brings those tears of joy and repentance as He instils a new heart in all who turn to Him in repentance and faith. He is the one who breaks down the dividing wall and binds people together in love and unity.

Prayer:

Using today’s Bible passage and notes write down points for

Adoration:

Confession

Thanks

Supplication:

· Uphold the PIM (Presbyterian Inland Mission) in prayer. Ask the Lord to guide each of the padres to community groups that need gospel input. Ask that He protect the padres on their travels and that He would use them powerfully to grow the Kingdom in distant rural areas.

· Pray for the work of the Marshes in Japan as they support children of missionaries in the region. Pray that God would provide for them and use them powerfully to raise up strong passionate children who desire to serve the Lord as well.

 

 Discussion Questions

1. What does the Bible mean when it talks about getting a new heart?

2. If a new heart is the work of the Spirit indwelling in believers, how did an OT believer get a new heart?

3. How is a person given a new heart in the NT?

4. Jacqueline comes to you after the sermon this week and says, ‘I don’t think I have a new heart because I keep falling into sin.’ How do you proceed with this conversation.?