Repentance: The Path to God’s Favor Jeremiah 3:11-18, 6:13-17

Repentance: The Path to God’s Favor Mercy for the Contrite Heart (Jer 3:11-14) Jerusalem, the Throne of God (Jer 3:15-18) Ask for the Old Paths (Jer 6:13-17)

Jer 3:11-12 (ESV) And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. *

Jer 3:13-14 (ESV) Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. 14 Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. *

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. *

Jer 3:17-18 (ESV) At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage. *

Jer 6:13-15 (ESV) “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. 14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” *

Jer 6:16-17 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ *

Prov 13:15 (ESV) Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. Have you ever seen this play out IRL (in real life)?

Prov 13:15 (ESV) Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. Have you ever seen this play out IRL (in real life)? Does it always?

Prov 13:15 (ESV) Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. The people of Judah watched the decimation of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians. They also heard from God’s prophets about why this punishment was administered.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah

2 Kings 17:14-15 (ESV) But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. This is a description of the behavior of the people of Israel leading to the destruction of their nation. Given the vantage point of Judah, would you have expected the people of Judah to turn to God in repentance rather than continue in idolatry?

Jer 3:11 (ESV) And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. “Although Israel had been apostate and had suffered the consequences, she could argue that she had no example to follow. But Judah, warned by the events in the northern kingdom, stood condemned for not changing her ways.” - J.A. Thompson, The Book of Jeremiah (NICOT)

Jer 3:11 (ESV) And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. “Although Israel had been apostate and had suffered the consequences, she could argue that she had no example to follow. But Judah, warned by the events in the northern kingdom, stood condemned for not changing her ways.” - J.A. Thompson, The Book of Jeremiah (NICOT) Why do you think we fail to learn from the mistakes and bad choices of others?

Jer 3:12 (ESV) Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Despite Judah’s status as being even less righteous that the decimated nation of Israel, what hope did God offer the people through the prophet Jeremiah?

Jer 3:12 (ESV) Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Despite Judah’s status as being even less righteous that the decimated nation of Israel, what hope did God offer the people through the prophet Jeremiah? What condition did God hold on His offer of relief?

Jer 3:13 (ESV) Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. What is the repentance that God demands from the nation of Judah?

Jer 3:13 (ESV) Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. What is the repentance that God demands from the nation of Judah? Is this what true repentance is? Is there something implied but not directly stated?

Jer 3:13 (ESV) Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. “The people of Judah would have been angered that the Lord would consider them less righteous than the people of Israel, and the Lord’s appeal to Israel would have added to that irritation. But then it also shows the Lord offering forgiveness to a people whom Jeremiah’s listeners deemed to be beyond hope. If the Lord could extend forgiveness to those people, then they would believe that forgiveness was truly possible for themselves.” -Timothy M. Willis, The College Press NIV Commentary

Jer 3:14 (ESV) Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. Would all who heard God’s gracious offer accept it? Would any?

Jer 31:7-9 (ESV) For thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9 With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Jer 3:14 (ESV) Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. What analogy did God choose to drive home His point? Do you think this is a good analogy?

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. Does the Lord’s offer of mercy imply regaining political prominence for Israel?

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. Does the Lord’s offer of mercy imply regaining political prominence for Israel? What does this promise and prophecy ultimately point to?

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. “The once for all time sacrifice on Calvary would make unnecessary and superfluous the ‘mercy seat’ upon which blood was sprinkled annually for the sins of the people.” - James E. Smith, Jeremiah and Lamentations

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. Who comes to mind when you read “shepherds after my own heart”?

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. God promised David’s throne would be established forever. 2 Sam 7:12-13 (ESV) When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. Who is the King of kings? Rev 17:14 (ESV) They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Jer 3:15-16 (ESV) “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. Who is the shepherd after His own heart? John 10:14-15 (ESV) I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jer 3:17-18 (ESV) At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage. Like many prophecies, this one has a short and a long fulfillment. What do you think it prophesies in the short term?

Jer 3:17-18 (ESV) At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage. Like many prophecies, this one has a short and a long fulfillment. What do you think it prophesies in the short term? What do you think it prophesies in the long term?

Jer 6:13-14 (ESV) “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. 14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Despite the Lord’s offer, the people didn’t change their behavior. Rather than turn TO the Lord, they turned AWAY. How widespread was this behavior?

Jer 6:15 (ESV) Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord. Despite the Lord’s offer, the people didn’t change their behavior. Rather than turn TO the Lord, they turned AWAY. How widespread was this behavior?

Jer 6:16-17 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ Nevertheless, did God still offer the people hope?

Jer 6:16-17 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ Nevertheless, did God still offer the people hope? How did they respond?

Jer 6:16-17 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ What can we do to ensure that we are not desensitized to sinful actions?

Jer 6:16-17 (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ What can our congregation do to ensure we walk in “ancient paths, where the good way is”?

The Lord’s description of Judah as being more wicked than Israel was certainly startling to the people to whom Jeremiah spoke. No doubt they asked, “How could this be true?” After all, Israel had been punished for their sins, yet Judah remained a sovereign nation. Nevertheless, the fact remained that they did not change their behavior after Israel was punished.

If we continue to engage in wicked behavior when we know that such will receive punishment, we too should be rebuked. God calls us to repent in order to stop serving our own desires. Thankfully, He is willing to forgive any who truly turn to Him. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Just as it was possible for the people of Judah to know God’s will, we can also know God’s plan. Like them, we can know the truth, practice it, and experience the rest God promises through Jesus. Jeremiah 6:16a (ESV) Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. Matt 11:28-30 (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

God does not force us to do this. If we choose, we can reject God’s plan and refuse to listen to His Will. Jeremiah 6:16b-17 (ESV) But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’

The Temple Sermon Jeremiah 7:3-15, 7:27-32 Next Week