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Text: Jer. 12:1-6
Title: “Running with the Horses.”
Subj: Jeremiah’s complaint about the wicked
Purpose: To consider why the wicked prosper and why the Christian is not to let down his guard in weariness.
Introduction: Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, a priest belonging to the priest-city of Anathoth, situated about 5 miles north of Jerusalem, the Holy City. Jeremiah was called to be a prophet at an early age, and laboured in Jerusalem during Josiah's reign (BC 629) until the fall of the kingdom and the 70 yrs. of captivity by the Babylonians, after this he worked among the remaining Jews of Judah and Egypt.
His message was judgment upon the Nation of Israel for their idolatry. His call was the call to repentance; the forsaking of idols; and to cease from all wickedness. He never tired of holding up the Nation's sins to the view of the people, the priests, the false prophets and the kings and princes. He never saw any fruit for his labours. After 23 years of uncompromising warning, the judgment of God broke upon the people of Israel
in the 70 yrs of captivity.
Jeremiah was steadfast in his message of judgment, yet was easily moved to tears over that which was to befall his beloved people. He had a soft nature, though his hand was raised against his countrymen and their hand was raised against him. But where Jeremiah was weak, God was strong, and no man could silence the crying prophet (1:17-19).
But Jeremiah was still a man, and as many others before him he was grieved over the continued prosperity of the wicked, those that had set themselves against God and against His prophet. We wonder too, don't we, why God allows the blasphemers, adulterers, homosexuals, drunkards and others of that ilk to continue to prosper while the righteous seem to be in need.
Text: Jer. 12:1-6 — "Running With The Horses" — prayer
I. JEREMIAH'S MISCONCEPTION LEADS TO A QUESTION (v1c-2b)
A. Prosperity of the Wicked (v1c-2b)
Note: This was a difficult question for a Jew, since it seemed to contradict a part of their peculiar faith — the doctrine of temporal rewards and punishments. To the Jew, wealth was a sign of God's blessings.
1. The success of wickedness (v1e)
a. We understand how the wicked would plot, but often their schemes bring about success and we wonder why they have been allow to carry it out
2. The security of the wicked (v1d)
a. After they have obtained success, we would expect that they would see the shallowness of it, but they do not seem to. In fact after their bad deeds they are left in undisturbed enjoyment of them
3. The apparent divine blessing on the wicked (v2ab)
a. Not only does their work succeed, but events that they
have no control over seen to work in their favor
Ps 73:12 "Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world: they increase in riches,"
1. They owed their placement to God
a. All outward circumstance favor men when they start
toward evil doing
2. They owe their success to themselves
a. They took root
1) But it was in sand
Ps 52:5 "God shall likewise destroy thee for ever. He shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living."
b. They grow
1) They increase at the expense of others
Prov. 29:6 "In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare:...'
c. They bring forth fruit
1) But it is only tares
Ps. 1:4 "The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away."
3. They credit the blessings of God for their success
a. It is possible to have the Name of God on our lips while the thought of God is absent from our minds
1) Knowing the right words
b. It is possible to have the name of God on our lips while the love of God is absent from our hearts
1) Inward coldness
c. It is possible to have the Name of God an our lips while the Spirit of God is inactive in our lives
1) Carnality, worldliness
Luke 16 "And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”
d. It is possible to have the Name of God on our lips while the power of God is absent from our lives
1) Lack of surrender
e. It is possible to have the Name of God on our lips and to be very wicked
1) Backslidden
f. It is possible to have the Name of God on our lips and to suffer ultimate ruin.
1) Cast aside
4. But they allowed none of God's control in their lives ("reins = inner man of the heart)
5. Why they seem to prosper
a. They are shrewder
b. They are less scrupulous
1) The shortcut of dishonesty provides quick returns
c. Their attention is sore concentrated arid undivided
Matt 6:19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:"
d. The long-suffering of God
2 Pet 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, hut that all should come to repentance and faith.”
e. To test, improve, and declare the faith of the godly, Satan asked God, "Doeth Job serve God for naught?"
B. The Way to Understand This Difficulty of The Wicked Prospering (v1ab)
1. Face it
a. Jer. boldly admits to not understanding this situation
Note: We cannot hold firmly the truths we know until we distinctly separate them from the things we doubt. Doubt must be confronted boldly. We can question circumstances, but not the righteousness of God.
2. Do not charge God foolishly
Note: Jer. is saying that if he accuses God wrongly he knows God will prove Himself in the right. God will set man right not visa versa. God's righteousness does not change because of the accusations of man.
a. Jer. did not charge God falsely. We are not to judge the ways of God, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."
3. Bring the difficulty to God
a. Jer. took it to God in prayer
Isa. 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
C. Where to Look For a Solution to this Difficulty
1. The righteousness of God
a. Because we do not understand is no reason to loss faith in God.
b. Christ makes just demands on our faith
2. Judgment of God
a. Sin must be punished
b. Chastisement (trials) from God was always for the purpose of restoration, while trials from Satan are always for the purpose of defeat
Ps 94:14-15 "For the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness; and all the upright in heart shall follow it."
3. Material prosperity is not real prosperity
a. It may be well for a good man to suffer, while prosperity may be a curse
D. Jer. Makes a Strong Confession (v3)
1. Known of God
a. A faithful heart
2. Seen of God
a. A faithful witness
3. Tried of God
a. A faithful follower
Note: Jer. knows the enemies of God, He knows their thoughts, their intents, their hypocrisy, but yet they prosper while Jer. suffers for serving God. He wants God to work out this seeming contradiction, and he has just the cure.
1. Pull then out by the root (destruction)
2. Set then aside for slaughter like the sacrificial animals
a. But though these words are justified and will come to pass, Jer. is not the one to promote judgment
Roms. 12:19-21 (turn) tells us how to deal with the evil
E. Jer. Saw the Evidence of Judgment (v4)
1. Drought
a. On the land, on the beasts, on the birds, on the unrighteous, on the righteous
Matt 5:45 "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
Note: Jer. not only sees the prosperity of the wicked and the trials of the saint, but he sees the beginning of judgment in the drought that has affected the land and he has human compassion for the innocent. The only problem that he sees with this is that it is affecting both the lost and saved! You see judgment on the greater always causes judgment on the lesser. The judgment on Satan caused judgment on mankind. The judgments on mankind always brought judgment on the animals and the plants.
2., But the unrighteous scoffed at judgment
a. They don't expect his prophecies to come to pass!
II. GOD ANSWERS JER. QUESTION (v5-6)
Note: Like Job and like John the Baptist, Jer. is weary hearted and perplexed at God's dealings as he asks God, "wherefore doth..." But God answers that question in different ways. Sometimes He shows us the end of the wicked. Sometimes He reminds us of the superiority of our position (in Christ). Sometimes, by sometimes soothing our ruffled spirits. And sometimes, as here, by a strong rebuke.
A. The Worst is Yet to Come
1. Footmen vs. horses
a. God first puts upon us that which is less, then that which is greater
1) Physical powers, mental powers, morals, business, and in the spiritual realm
Note; Jer., you have been called to run with the footmen so far. Their pace is fast, but not impossible to keep up with. Are you weary already? Yes, the footmen have persecuted you, but what will happen when a greater comes to persecute you? The horsemen! The difference between day and night, rest and war, love and hate!
Rev. 6 (turn)
Note: To fail in the lesser is to fail in the greater, and the opposite is also true; to succeed in the lesser is to have the opportunity to succeed in the greater. Little trials teach us to realize little victories, which lead to greater victories.
2. Peaceful land vs. overflowing Jordan
Note; Jer., if you are persecuted in the relative peace of this land, that you have put trust in, what will happen when the Jordan overflows its banks? (The shores of the Jordan
were the habitat of the lions of that area. When the water rose, the lions were forced inland toward the villages). Jer. 49:19 mentions this, "Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong..."
3. Brethren against brethren
a. Near kin
4. Father against son
a. Those in the same house. Jesus said this.
5. Vain words vs. Truth
Note; It is sad when family members turn against you, but remember that the Word of God grates against the will of the flesh. You may well be tried by the defection and animosity of those closest to you.
Conclusion: The reproof of God toward Jer. not only shows that greater trials and temptations await the servant of God, but also that evil men will wax worse and worse. Faithlessness and wickedness toward God and men will grow still greater until the last days are accomplished. But… but...we say, why must they prosper and why must we suffer? Child, says God, it is part of My plan for you. Rejoice in your salv. Rejoice in the fact of being only a pilgrim and a stranger. Rejoice in the fact, that like Christ, you are counted worthy to suffer the shame of the cross to inherit the joys that are yet before you.
Are you tired in the service of Christ tonight, saint of God? Have the footmen wearied you? You need to run to the "living water" and the "bread of life" for nourishment for your soul! We have lived in a land of peace, but what happens when the Jordan
overflows forcing the lions upon you? Are you ready for tribulation and testing during the last days? Only the rock can shelter you from the wind and rain. Come to the rock!
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