Find A Man (Jeremiah 5:1-13)

Background Time: Just before the Babylonian captivity Tragedy: Failure to learn from Israel’s fate Need: Righteous men and women Blessing: Pardon

Wanted: A Man Type of person, not men only –Honest people who seek justice –People who are “above board” (Ephesians 4:25) –Not those who “push the envelope”

Wanted: A Man Truth seekers –Willing to “come to the light” (John 3:19-21) –Appetite for truth (Matthew 5:6; 1 Peter 2:1, 2) –Lovers of truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) What about us? –Enjoy Bible study? –Support gospel meetings? –Teach others?

Scarcity in Judah Greek philosopher Diogenes –Went through the streets in daytime with a lantern looking for an honest man –This emphasized the scarcity –Would he find you and me? Why are such people desirable? –Leaven of evil (1 Corinthians 5:6) –Leaven for good (2 Corinthians 9:2)

Judah’s Sins Summary and depth of sin –Idolatry (v. 2) –Refused correction (v. 3) –Foolish (v. 4) –Apostates (v. 6) –Adultery (vv. 7, 8) –Priests, prophets, princes, all people (Jeremiah 2:26-30; 5:30; 6:15)

Judah’s Sins They were religious –Jeremiah was not told to find a “religious” man –Conformed to ceremony and rituals (Isaiah 1:10-15; Malachi 1:6-15) –Same in Jesus’ day (Matthew 15:9; 23:23) What about us? –Are we “light” and “salt”? (Matthew 5:13-16) –Judged by our deeds (Matthew 25:41-46)

God’s Love Still loved His people –Would spare them (v. 1; Genesis 18:22-33) –They refused Him (2 Peter 3:9) –Jesus felt that way (Matthew 23:37-39) –God loves us (Romans 5:8, 9) Be what God wants us to be –Power of one (1 Corinthians 12:7, 8, 9, 10, 11) –God will use us (Genesis 45:5-8; Esther 4:14)

Conclusion Men have gone to the moon and back –“Be all that you can be in the Army” –Nice slogan Few discover their real purpose –Do not come to Him who created the moon –What about you? (Ecclesiastes 12:13)