ASTONISHMENT

Lesson: Jer 2:1-13

2:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Text: Jer 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

Intro: God reminds Israel of the things He has done for them in the wilderness. He has led them through pits, drouths, and death, but woe, they have forsaken Him! Truly this is cause for astonishment.

Consider the conduct of men today; is it too, not astonishing?


I. That vast multitudes have not heard the Gospel.
A. That 2,000 years have passed since Christ spoke the words;


Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.


B. Gospel = Good News. Men cry for news and spend millions of dollars for its transmission, and yet turn a deaf ear to the greatest news of all!


II. That multitudes living in so-called Christian nations are so Christless. [Indifferent, irreverent and brazenly against God]

II Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.


III. That men take such risks regarding eternity, considering:
A. The brevity of life.


Job 9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
Job 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.


1.Like a dream;

Psa 73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Psa 73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.


2.As Grass;

1 Pet 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:


B The consequences of sin .

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


IV. That so many are deceived as to the plan of salvation and the savior.
A. "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere--"


Prov 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.


The Hindu is sincere; sun-worshipers are sincere!

I Jno 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.


Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.


B. "Just Live a good life--" [How good?]
1. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.


2. Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

V. That any child of God should ever backslide!

A. Consider what God has done for us and marvel!
1.He has shown us mercy and grace.
II Thess 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

1 Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

2.Sacrificed His Son.
Jno. 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.


3. Places peace, hope and joy in the formerly sin filled, despairing heart of man.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

4.Yet men forsake the fountain of living waters--

Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.


VI. That Christians should be so unconcerned for the lost, yet;
A. We risk our lives to save a person from a burning house--
B. Spread gossip with gusto and without hesitation.


VII. That men should treat Jesus with such disrespect. 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock-" What wonderful patience and amazing love. With arms loaded with blessings he stands outside while men have no room in their lives for him!