Jeremiah's Lamentation
A. A RECORD OF SORROW AND MISERY.
1. God's judgment upon the wicked and rebellious of Judah.
2. They were blessed with knowledge, but chose sin.
B. IS THERE A COMPARISON WE MIGHT MAKE BETWEEN THEM AND US?
A. THE FALL OF A ONCE MIGHTY NATION.
1. 600 years before Christ, Israel had fallen, Judah also fell to great sin.
a. Jeremiah's plea to Judah to understand the fate of Israel( Jer. 5:11-17 ).
b. Yet, she would not turn back to God( vs. 3 )
2. God sent Nebuchadnezzar to overthrew Jerusalem( 2 Kings 25:1-7 ).
3. Only the poorest of the land were left( vs. 12 ).
B. WHY DID THIS ALL HAPPEN?
1. Jeremiah sums up Judah's turn of fate ( Lam. 5:15-16 ).
a. Unparalleled splendor turned to unsurpassed affliction ( Lam. 3:18 )
b. Lam. 4:1-5, 8-10.
2. Jeremiah gives the reasons God allowed this tragedy.
a. They had turned against their true ruler, God( Lam. 1:20 ).
b. Judah's leaders gave a false hope in false words( Lam. 4:13; 2:14 ).
c. They were filled with false security( Jer. 6:13-15 ).
d. It was what they wanted( Jer. 5:30-31 ).
3. Jeremiah and the few righteous caught in the middle.
a. Righteousness requires punishment of sin( Rom. 6:23; Ez. 18:20 ).
b. God is righteous( Lam. 1:18; Neh 9:33; Ps 119:75; Rom. 2:5 ).
4. More tolerable for Sodom( Lam. 4:6 ).
C. TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED.
A. THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS( Matt. 25:14-30; 1 Cor. 4:1-2 ).
B. THE JEWS OF JESUS' DAY.
1. They were entrusted with the Law( Rom. 3:1-2; 2:17-21 ).
2. The promises were made to them( Rom. 9:3-5; Acts 3:25-26 ).
3. They were the builders( Matt. 21:42-43 ).
4. The 70 and the Limited Commission( Luke 10:1-11 ).
a. Those who reject worse off than Sodom( vs. 12 ).
b. Sodom had less opportunity, less responsibility( vs. 13 ).
5. The Lamentation of Jesus( Luke 13:34-35 ).
C. TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED.
A. DOES THIS PASSAGE TEACH LEVELS OF HELL?
1. Don't know, some things are not revealed.
2. Best of Hell worse than anything on earth( Mark 9:43-49 ).
3. There is nothing worth going there over( Matt. 16:26 ).
B. IT DOES TEACH RESPONSIBILITY ACCOMPANIES BLESSING.
1. Again, the parable of the talents( Matt. 25 ).
2. The treachery of turning back( Heb. 6:7-8; 2 Pet. 2:20-22 ).
3. We are in a grave position( James 3:1 ).
4. The gospel given to all, therefore all responsible( Acts 17:30-31 ).
5. The tone of Jesus unmistakable( Matt. 18:5-6 )
C. REJECTION BRINGS A FATE SIMILAR TO SODOM( 2 Thess. 1:7-9 ).
C. TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED.
A. GOD OFFERS ESCAPE TO ALL THAT WILL HEAR AND SUBMIT TO HIS
SON.
B. THE GREATEST BLESSINGS ARE SUMMED UP THUS( 1 John 3:-13 ).
C. JESUS PLEADS WITH US AS GOD DID WITH JUDAH( Matt. 11:28-30 ).
D. WILL THERE BE A LAMENT FOR US, OR GLORY?
>From Jeff S Smith in Austin, Texas