Yesterday I preached my last sermon at Blue Water Free Methodist being on staff before I move on to what is next. (More to come on this in the near future). I felt to write down, and expand on what I spoke on in a blog post. You can listen to the sermon HERE.
Jeremiah 31:10-14 NET, Listen to the Lord’s message, O nations. Proclaim it in the faraway lands along the sea. Say, “The one who scattered Israel will regather them. He will watch over his people like a shepherd watches over his flock.” For the Lord will rescue the descendants of Jacob. He will secure their release from those who had overpowered them. They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion. They will be radiant with joy over the good things the Lord provides, the grain, the fresh wine, the olive oil, the young sheep, and the calves he has given to them. They will be like a well-watered garden and will not grow faint or weary any more. The Lord says, “At that time young women will dance and be glad. Young men and old men will rejoice. I will turn their grief into gladness. I will give them comfort and joy in place of their sorrow. I will provide the priests with abundant provisions. My people will be filled to the full with the good things I provide.”
The prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the nation of Judah just before they go into exile because of their idolatry. The Northern Kingdom of Israel has already been dispersed and destroyed as every since they split from Judah their legacy was filled with idolatry, oppression and evil. And while Judah had some high moments, they also trended towards idolatry and worshiping the demonic gods of their pagan neighbors, forsaking the worship of the One True God.
This was quickly heading for Judah to be judged, and sent into exile. And Jeremiah had the distinct honor of proclaiming the coming judgment to a people who refused to listen. Amidst the declarations of judgment, Jeremiah 30 starts what’s called the “Book of Consolation”. Contained in it are words of encouragement. That despite the coming judgment, God’s plans were not done for His people, and that there was hope in future restoration of both Judah and of Israel, who make up the descendants of Jacob.
But the question must be asked, how can a loving God judge? How can one who;s most know attribute is love do something like send His special people into exile?
We must first start with what does love mean. The best definition I have found for love is “willing the best for the other”, or “the desire for the other to be” When we separate the word love from the emotionally charged, sexually explicit usage our current culture often associates with this word, we begin the see the deep abiding will for the best of that other person when we use the word love.
When God called Abraham in Genesis 12, it was for his descendants to represent, or image who God was to the nations of the earth. This role became more defined as the generations continued on, ultimately launching in earnest with Moses and the establishment of the law. Now, God’s people had well defined boundaries and knew how to represent the One True God.By not imaging the fallen spiritual powers that ruled over the surrounding nations, there was hope that creation could be restored through God’s people working in the world.
But most of us know the story. This began a continual cycle of obedience and rebellion. One generation following God, and then seemingly the next choosing to worship and participate in the demonic pagan idolatry of the surrounding Ancient Near East. This then brings us back to Jeremiah, prophesying about judgment, but also hope of future regathering.
So why does God judge?
It is ultimately to bring us back to Him. Everything is for our repentance.
All of us, like Israel are predisposed because of the fall to reject God. In fact Scripture says we are at enmity (or opposed) to God (Romans 8). Between that and the influence of the “spirits of the air”, who are solely concerned with the destruction of humanity, we all in different ways opposed God and work for the other side. It is because God loves us that exile happens. You see, God plays the long game. He ultimately knows what will show us that we cannot do it in an of ourselves, and what it will take to have us realize it is only through Him that things will be different.
And then there’s a catch. None of us can ever bring ourselves back from exile. The hopeful future that Jeremiah spoke of was not going to just happen if Israel got their act together. We have the story up to that point showing that no matter how hard they tried, they could never cut it. And we are the same. No matter how hard or intentionally we try, none of us are able to order our lives as God wants us to.
And just as Israel would never return from exile without someone else, the same is for us as well. Thankfully the answer to returning from exile is Jesus.
John 1:14-18 NET, Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
The law that none of us can keep was fulfilled and completed through Christ. What we are never able to do for ourselves was accomplished by Jesus. And while we may all be in exile in different ways, it is Jesus who brings us back from that exile, into the land that He intended for us. For each of us personally that means His Holy Spirit begin the work of transforming us into His image, and making us the people He originally created us to be.
The Gospel message is what affirms to us that we cannot do it, and because of Christ He already has. When we place our faith (allegiance) in Him, His Spirit does the work that we can never do.
So do you feel like you are in exile? You are in the perfect place to experience the love and transformation of the Gospel, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Make Jesus the true King of your life. OR if you are already a Christian and still feel you are in exile, actually let go, and let Him do the work you have been trying to do.