Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday July 27, 2011

Download | Duration: 00:39:18

    Delayed Repentance

    Jeremiah 27:1-22

1-3  C27 takes place about 14 years after C26.  C26 was dated at the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim/C27 is dated at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, 14 years later.  J continues his prophecies of judgment against Judah, but the message is different in C27 than it was in C26.  Because the people didn’t repent in C26, in C27 J takes the message to another level.  You who are parents know what it’s like to take the message to another level.  I heard a comic talk about taking his kids to a restaurant/learning to yell at the top of his voice in a whisper.   

In C26 there was the possibility of escape from defeat by the Babylonian army, but not so in C27.  They can still repent, but they can’t avoid defeat by Babylon.  They have delayed their repentance.  Delayed repentance increases the intensity of the judgment.  Again, parents, we get this.  If your child continues to disobey you continue to take away privileges.  Companies charge us late fees.

J uses props that all the nations can understand.  The yokes were made of wood/bonds were ropes that bound them to the neck and to one another.  This is the word of the Lord to the nations – bonds/yokes.  UR2 serve the king of Babylon – this is referred to nine times in this C.   

J makes a number of points in this message:

#1  4-5    Everything belongs to God.  Who does your cat belong to?  If everything belongs to God, then I am a steward, not an owner.  Someone else has final say over what’s in my hands.  We think: I earned it/I deserve it/I control it.  God says: I gave it/I control it.   

Satan told Jesus that he can give kingdoms to whomever he chooses.  We are told, by some, that Jesus didn’t dispute this and therefore it’s true.  (Do your children say dumb stuff?  Do you correct every incorrect notion that cones out of your child’s mouth?)  Everything belongs to God and He gives it to whom He will.  The earth is the Lord’s and fullness thereof.  Ps. 75:6-7 exaltation/east-west-desert/God is judge/puts down-exalts.   

#2  6    I have given all nations to Nebuchadnezzar.

Why would God exalt a violent idolater?  To serve His purposes.  When He’s done w/ N, he will be set aside.

#3  7a   All nations will serve Babylon.

The word serve occurs 22 times in J and nine of these are in J27.  For a season you won’t be forwarding your own agenda/advancing your own cause.  What!?  This is quite a judgment.  Yes/no.  Before, they were backsliding – now they’re at a standstill.  This is progress!  Now God has their attention – hopefully.  Judgment isn’t just for punishment, but for the restoration that comes thru repentance.   

#4  7b   Babylon will be enslaved by the nations.

Babylon’s time is coming.  There is an expiration date on the Babylonian Empire.  All the empires of man come w/ an expiration date.  The 20th century saw the rise/fall of Soviet communism/ Nazism.  Hitler put a 1,000 year date on the 3rd Reich – it lasted 12 years.  All of man’s work will curdle like old milk/flake like oxidized paint/grow old and collapse.   

Not only the empires of men, but this planet has an expiration date on it.  Your life has an expiration date.  God/salvation/heaven has no expiration date.  We will never say, “Does heaven smell funny to you?”

#5  8  If you won’t serve Babylon – it will be even worse for you.  You are going to be punished/disciplined because of your sin – there’s no question as to that.  The only question is: will you submit to/learn from your punishment/discipline?  Their 1st problem was that they wouldn’t submit to the prophet and learn from the Word/ 2nd problem is that they won’t submit to their punishment and learn from that.   

To disobey the Word of God is foolish.  To resist the discipline of God makes you a fool.  My parents spanked us using a belt.  My mom said that whenever us boys got in trouble she would tell me to go get the belt and I would dutifully go get it.  She said that this made my brothers mad.  But I figured if I resist my punishment it will only get worse.   

If God is disciplining you, humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you.  If you hear His voice, don’t rebel…

A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.  Pr. 17:10

Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.  Pr. 27:22

How could someone today resist the discipline of the Lord?

#1  Someone who wants a particular position of ministry that has been denied him could go out and make it happen on his own.

#2  You have been disciplined at your job for subpar work/speak evil against your boss behind his back.   

#6  9-10   Don’t listen to the prophets – they tell lies.  Five categories of liars.  One category of truth-teller.  10 – to remove you from the land – this wasn’t the purpose, but it became the result.   

#7  11    If you serve Babylon, the price won’t be so steep.  The Lord longs 2b merciful.  He has 2b pushed to judgment.   

Difference between 26 & 27: There’s no escaping judgment.  In C26, judgment could be avoided, but no more.  They crossed a line they can’t get back over.  You can either make it worse/better, but you can’t escape it.  The discipline of the Lord falls lighter on soft hearts.  David and census – let me fall into the hands of the Lord.   

Summarize 12-22  The king/priests/people told not to listen to the false prophets who were telling lies.

Lie: vessels taken will be returned

Truth: vessels that remain will be taken

Holy things are not restored to unholy people.  You cannot expect the favor/blessing of God while in rebellion to Him.  Holy things are not restored to unholy people.

    Joy is a holy thing
    Peace is a holy thing

Don’t delay your repentance.  Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you.