“And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey,” Jeremiah 21:8-9.
Let us continue the study we commenced this morning.
I. GOD’S JUDGMENTS WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE SINS OF THE NATION
“But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD,” verse 14. God is JUST!
1. The judgments that befell Judah were most terrible indeed. In his lamentations over the terrible fate of Jerusalem, see Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 1:8. Her judgment was in keeping with her sin!
2. It had been the constant lie of the false prophets that all was well and that no judgment was coming.
Jeremiah 2:23, 27, 6:14-15. That was repeated in 8.11. How great was that lie when it set forth the very opposite to what the Lord said!
“Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart,” Jeremiah 14:13-14.
3. Jeremiah’s warnings against these lies caused him to be persecuted. Jeremiah was most caring for his people, 9:1-2.
Yet despite his tenderness of heart, he was much hated, 26:8-9.
It is an honour to be hated for speaking the truth. In that, you follow the Saviour. “For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil,” John 7:5-7.
II. YET, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE APOSTASY, GOD’S MERCY IS STILL PROCLAIMED
As our text says: “And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.”
1. Please note the ‘tense’ of these words. ‘I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.” It is not ‘I have set’ but there was still a setting before the people ‘the way of life, and the way of death.’ Jeremiah was required to point out the way of deliverance for those who would obey. At the beginning of his ministry he called for repentance and a turning from the sins that they engaged in, 4:3-4. Here is the way of life set forth and the death that will follow sin warned of!
Some years before the events in 21:1-2, and the warning given to Zechariah, mercy was still on offer. See 22:1-9.
2. There are two elements to God’s message to mankind. Life and death. Life comes first and death is warned of as a means of pressing life upon sinners.
A. Please learn that only the DEAD need life! Such is the state of all men. “And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;” Ephesians 2:1.
B. The state of death is seen in the ways of men. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others,” Ephesians 2:2-3.
C. The supreme requirement of all men is that they be ‘born again’. In John 3, the Saviour repeated that truth three times to a religious man, Nicodemus, verses 3, 5, 7. No one resists this truth as does a religious person!
3. The lost sinner will have no excuse for his being lost and condemned. Romans 1:18-20.
* There is a setting forth of the glory and power of God in creation. Psalm 19:1-3.
* There is a displaying in nature of man’s lost condition and his deserving of judgment.
* Furthermore, there is revealed the worthlessness of man’s works to save. The emptiness of man’s religion to save and sanctify is everywhere evident. Nothing but darkness and depravity dwell in the lands of the heathen!
I seek to warn of the judgment which is already beginning to fall upon our nation and yet, I must also point to Christ, even in the midst of today’s wickedness, as the means of salvation.
Right to the end of this age, the gospel, despite the apostasy, will be preached and sinners will be saved. Revelation 20:4.
The gospel witness will be alive and vigorous, even in the days of the Antichrist.
4. There is a special message of mercy for Israel. It is largely overlooked that the Lord repeatedly emphasises the mercy which will come upon Israel at His return. Zechariah 12:4, 8-10, 13:1-2.
The DAY referred to is the day of the Lord’s return in glory, Zechariah 14:1-4.
This must also be preached by the man who would be faithful to God and His Word.