Run with Horses

Run with the HorsesRun with the Horses

Jeremiah 12:5Jeremiah 12:5

Jeremiah 12: 5Jeremiah 12: 5

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (NIV)

Lessons in the Spiritual Formation Lessons in the Spiritual Formation of Prophet Jeremiahof Prophet Jeremiah

Lamentations and the God of Jeremiah (Lam. 3:21-25)The Call to Be (Jer.1:1-19)The Real Thing (Jer. 9: 23, 24)God Substitutes (Jer. 10:11)Run with the Horses (Jer. 12:5)Forming Hands (Jer. 18:3)Heart of Compassion (Jer. 26:13)Spiritual Covenant (Jer. 31:33, 34)A People Apart (Jer. 35:14)Back to Egypt (Jer. 43: 7, 8)Corrupted Womanhood (Jer. 44: 24, 25)

Michelangelo's Jeremiah on Sistine Chapel

MAJOR EVENTS DURING JEREMIAH’ TIMES (BC)

686 Manasseh becomes sole king; Josiah born642 Amon succeeds Manasseh as king640 Josiah becomes king633 Josiah at 16 seeks after God628 Josiah at 20 begins reforms627 Jeremiah at 20 called as prophet621 Mosaic Law found in the temple612 Nineveh destroyed as Nahum prophesied609 Josiah slain in battle at Megiddo;

Jehoiakim becomes king

586 Zedekiah flees July 18; destruction of Jerusalem begins August 14

JEHOVAH times

Keeping you up to date since the Garden of Eden - Since creation-

Rembrandt’s Jeremiah

King Josiah’s ReformsKing Josiah’s Reforms

Jeremiah 11:6

2 Chronicles 34The covenant (Deut.28) is broken

Michelangelo's Jeremiah on Sistine Chapel

Josiah (Judah’s last Godly king)

Jehoiakim (ungodly, scripture burning king)Jehoiachin (a ninety-day wonder judged by God)Zedekiah (Judah’s last king)Nebuchanezzar (Babylon conqueror)Gedaliah (Babylonian appointed governor of occupied Jerusalem)Johanan (successor of Gediah who was assassinated)

Kings during Jeremiah’s TimesKings during Jeremiah’s Times

Jeremiah 12:5



JER 11:18 Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying,

"Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."

JER 11:20 But, O LORD Almighty, you who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.

JER 11:21 "Therefore this is what the LORD says about the men of Anathoth who are seeking your life and saying, `Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands'-- 22 therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: `I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23 Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.' "

JER 12:1 You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

JER 12:2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

JER 12:3 Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

JER 12:4 How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."

JER 12:5 "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

The LORD

JER 12:6 Your brothers, your own family-- even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.

JER 12:7 "I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies.

JER 12:8 My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.

The LORD

ProblemsProblems OppositionOpposition

The plot on Jeremiah’s The plot on Jeremiah’s life (11:18-20)life (11:18-20)

The refusal of the The refusal of the people to listen people to listen to Jeremiah to Jeremiah and repent and repent (11:21-23) and (11:21-23) and “Why does the “Why does the wicked wicked prospers?” prospers?” (12:1-4)(12:1-4)

Idolatry Idolatry

““If you have raced with If you have raced with men on foot and they men on foot and they have worn you out, have worn you out,

If you stumble in safe If you stumble in safe country, country,

Jeremiah’s family and Jeremiah’s family and the men of the men of AnathothAnathoth

The nation of Judah The nation of Judah and the nation and the nation of Judah and of Judah and the surrounding the surrounding nationsnations

Spiritual warfare Spiritual warfare

how can you compete how can you compete with horses? with horses?

how will you manage in how will you manage in the thickets by the the thickets by the Jordan? Jordan?

ProblemsProblems OppositionOpposition



Idolatry Idolatry






more sufferings for more sufferings for Jeremiah as he Jeremiah as he continue to continue to propheciesprophecies

God’s judgment on God’s judgment on Judah (12:7-Judah (12:7-13) and God’s 13) and God’s judgment on judgment on the surrounding the surrounding nations (12:14-nations (12:14-17)17)



Jeremiah’s family and Jeremiah’s family and the men of the men of Anathoth, the Anathoth, the royal royal household, the household, the nation of Judah nation of Judah (12:6)(12:6)

The nation of Judah The nation of Judah and and Chaldeans, Chaldeans, Arameans, Arameans, Moabites, Moabites, Ammonites, Ammonites, BabyloniansBabylonians

Future challenges for JeremiahFuture challenges for Jeremiah

– conflicts with false prophetsconflicts with false prophets– into the stocks by priest Pashhurinto the stocks by priest Pashhur– threat of death (cistern) and imprisonment by King threat of death (cistern) and imprisonment by King

Zedekiah’s officialsZedekiah’s officials– taken to Egypttaken to Egypt– acting out prophetic parablesacting out prophetic parables

buying and burying a linen belt – how God wishes to ruin buying and burying a linen belt – how God wishes to ruin Judah’s prideJudah’s pridebuying a jar of clay and smashing it – how God will smash buying a jar of clay and smashing it – how God will smash JudahJudahmake and wear a yoke of wood – Babylonians will enslave make and wear a yoke of wood – Babylonians will enslave JudahJudah

Is God angry with Jeremiah?Is God angry with Jeremiah?

JER 1:17 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Reverend Doctor George Reverend Doctor George Campbell Morgan D.D. (9 Campbell Morgan D.D. (9 December 1863 – 16 May 1945)December 1863 – 16 May 1945)evangelist, preacher and a evangelist, preacher and a leading Bible scholarleading Bible scholarpastor of Westminster Chapel in pastor of Westminster Chapel in London from 1904 to 1919, and London from 1904 to 1919, and from 1933 to 1943from 1933 to 1943Known as prince of expositors, Known as prince of expositors, Preaching MagazinePreaching Magazine ranked him ranked him among the ten greatest among the ten greatest preachers of the 20th century. preachers of the 20th century.

“God never calls a man to content with horses until He has practiced him with footmen; that God has never yet send a man into the wilds of Jordan until He has trained him in the land of peace…

It is a great principle, always obtaining in God’s method with His servants, and in all His dealings with His people”

ProblemsProblems OppositionOpposition Lessons for usLessons for us



Idolatry Idolatry






God has helped us in God has helped us in our struggle our struggle with our with our problems in problems in the past and the past and is helping us is helping us in the presentin the present

God has his own God has his own timingtiming

God is with usGod is with us more sufferings for more sufferings for

Jeremiah as he Jeremiah as he continue to continue to propheciesprophecies






In spiritual warfare Satan uses

WMD

In spiritual warfare Satan uses

WMD

Weapons of Mass Discouragement

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Eph. 6:12-18

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

ProblemsProblems OppositionOpposition Lessons for usLessons for us



Idolatry Idolatry






God has helped us in God has helped us in our struggle our struggle with our with our problems in problems in the past and the past and is helping us is helping us in the presentin the present

God has his own God has his own timingtiming

God is with usGod is with us more sufferings for more sufferings for

Jeremiah as he Jeremiah as he continue to continue to propheciesprophecies






God will help us in God will help us in our struggle with our our struggle with our problems in the futureproblems in the future

God’s judgment is justGod’s judgment is just

Lessons for usLessons for us

God has helped us in our struggle with God has helped us in our struggle with our problems in the past and is helping our problems in the past and is helping us in the presentus in the presentGod is sovereign (God has his own God is sovereign (God has his own timing)timing)God is with usGod is with usGod will help us in our struggle with our God will help us in our struggle with our problems in the futureproblems in the futureGod’s judgment is justGod’s judgment is just



If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?

Morgan:

“In my contending with horses, I shall also and again be weary; but I shall win, for I have already won by Thy strength in running with footmen”

G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93

If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

Morgan:

“that He is God, though in the wilds I shall oftentimes be assaulted by fear, yet I shall win, as I have won in the land of peace”

G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah, 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93

God is with you, will give you strength and will not let you face problems more than you are able to overcome

sermon statement

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