God’s Definition of a Good Man (3) Jer. 5

The Christian: 1. Does justly – does what is right 2. Is committed to seeking the truth 3. Is careful in his speech – dependable in his words 4. Receives correction 5. Is aware of danger 6. Is morally pure

VII. Places confidence in God

Jer. 5:17 [17] And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.

The people of Jeremiah’s day foolishly placed their confidence in their walled cities Of all the characteristics mentioned in this chapter – this one stands out as one of the most important

Ps. 18:2 [2] The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust…

Material things had become their substitute for God They were walking by sight and not by faith Materialism is a constant foe of Christians

Prov. 11:28 [28] He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch

Prov. 28:26 [26] He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered

Jer. 48:7 [7] For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together

Jer. 5:24 [24] Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Prov. 3:5-7 [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. [7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil

Jer. 5:23-24 [23] But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. [24] Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest

VIII. Knows the importance of declaring the truth

Jer. 5:20 [20] Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,

1 Pet. 3:15 [15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear

Jer. 5:19-21 [19] And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours. [20] Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, [21] Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

The one approved of God is the one who knows that he is to declare the word of God to others in word and deed

IX. Concerned with the welfare of others

Jer. 5:28 [28] They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge

The people of Jeremiah’s day were concerned with satisfying their own desires They were indifferent toward the needs of those who did not have even the necessities of life

As Christians, we must be concerned with those who are less fortunate than ourselves

Prov. 31:20 [20] She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy

Job 29:11-13 [11] When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: [12] Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. [13] The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy

Js. 1:27 [27] Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world

Eph. 4:28 [28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth

Jer. 5:31 [31] The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? We will live for God and demonstrate in our lives these qualities that should be found in every faithful Christian

The faithful Christian: 1. Does justly – does what is right 2. Is committed to seeking the truth 3. Is careful in his speech – dependable in his words 4. Receives correction 5. Is aware of danger 6. Is morally pure 7. Places confidence in God 8. Knows the importance of declaring the truth 9. Is concerned with the welfare of others