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November 7, 2004
20th Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 26:1-6
Pastor Ben Berger

The LORD Announces Judgement

We're in a time of transition. Beginning with Reformation Sunday the last four weeks of the church year direct our attention to the end of this present world and the new beginning of the coming world. This week also marks a time of transition for our nation; the President will begin a new four-year term to govern our nation. Today through the prophet Jeremiah the LORD speaks to a people and nation in a time of transition. Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD (1). The word from the LORD was judgement. As the LORD announced judgement to the nation of Israel under a new king so the LORD announces judgement to us. The LORD announces judgement to prepare us for this time of transition. The LORD Announces Judgement 1) to turn us from evil and 2) to spare us from evil.

Be assured: it is the LORD who speaks to you, who announces judgement this day. This is what the LORD says (2a). In Hebrew it's "Coh amar adonai," "Thus says the LORD." Over and over again Jeremiah, the prophets and the other spokesmen for God assured the people that they spoke the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD! So also the LORD speaks to us today.

Also realize that when the LORD announces judgement today, he is speaking to believers. The LORD commanded Jeremiah, "Stand in the courtyard of the LORD's house and speak to all the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD" (2b). The LORD announced judgement to those who came to worship. He wasn't talking to unbelievers or heathen nations; he was talking to his people. The LORD announces judgement to his people today, to you who have come to worship in the house of the LORD.

Finally, understand that the LORD tells his people all they need to know through his representatives. The LORD communicates to by other humans: prophets and apostles, pastors and teachers, but also parents and friends and all believers. You are God's representative. And he commands us: Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word (2c).

The LORD speaks, but we don't listen. The LORD announces judgement BECAUSE we don't listen. Look at verse four, Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city (country) an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth (4-6).

We don't listen when we don't hear. Every week over half of our own members, believers, God's people, do not come to hear the LORD speak. They don't listen. Some of us are here every week, but we're not listening. Some of us listen on Sunday, but that's it; we don't hear the word of the LORD any other time.

We don't listen when we don't obey. We hear God's word, but we don't put it into practice. We read, but we don't understand. We don't take the time to apply God's word to ourselves. We don't think about it, meditate upon it or pour over it until it becomes a part of us. When we do understand God's word, we struggle to live according to it. We don't listen.

Because we don't listen, the LORD announces judgement. He warns that we are in danger of losing God's word. He says, I will make this house like Shiloh (6a). Shiloh was once the location of the temple of the LORD. Because God's people refused to listen, the temple was destroyed. It's a basic principle: When God's people don't listen to his Word, he takes it away. Look at the nation of Israel. The LORD carried out the judgement he announced. The people were exiled to Babylon and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. God's word was lost. How about Germany, the heart of the reformation? Only 500 years ago Germany was the only place that had God's word; Luther made sure of it. But now? Many Germans don't even celebrate the reformation. God announced to the new king, Jehoiakim, that if he didn't lead his people to listen to the word, they would lose it.

The LORD announces the same judgement to us today. As we prepare for the second coming of Jesus, as we transition to a new term for the President, we do not want to lose God's word. We cannot take for granted the freedoms granted by our nation: freedom to worship our God and listen to his word, freedom to share his word with others, freedom to live as God's people. We cannot take for granted the word that God has given us. We cannot pass up opportunities to listen to that word, to hear it and live according to it. If we do not listen, we are in danger of losing God's word.

Then we will become an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth (6b). Many nations already hate the United States and want to curse us. If we lose God's word, our nation will crumble like so many before it. Then the other nations will have reason to ridicule and curse us.

Fellow believers, God's people, protect God's word. Take every opportunity to hear it. Hear God's word regularly at his house as you are today. Hear God's word regularly at home with your family. Hear God's word as you meditate on it and think about it all day long. And then obey it, live according to it. Ask for God's help to guide and direct your life and all your doings. Trust God's promise, Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it (Luke 11:28).

The LORD announces judgement to turn us from evil, to keep us from rejecting and losing his word. The LORD also announces judgement to spare us from evil.

"Koh amar adonai," Thus says the LORD. Again and again the LORD speaks to us. He never tires of repeating his word to us. The LORD is not like the frustrated parent who says, "How many times do I have to tell you?" He is happy to repeat his Word to us. He wants us to hear his word often and to listen to his servants the prophets, whom he has sent to us again and again (5). The LORD is happy to speak to us as often as we'll listen.

The LORD also speaks to us in various ways. He speaks to us first and foremost through our parents. He has given them the primary responsibility to teach us his word. He speaks to us through other family and friends. What a blessing it is to have family and friends who share our faith and are able to offer us comfort and support through God's word! He speaks to us through pastors, teachers and other church people. He even speaks to us through our own minds. When we learn Bible or hymn verses, the creed or other parts of the catechism, we can recall God's word anytime we want.

The LORD speaks to us so often and in so many ways because he wants us to listen. When the LORD announces judgement, he never wants to carry it out. He only wants us to realize the serious consequences of our actions, especially of rejecting his Word. When the LORD announces judgement, he hopes it turns us from evil so that he can spare us from evil. Thus says the LORD in verse three, Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.

The LORD wants us to listen so that we can know him better. Our God wants us to know who he is. He is our dear Father and we are his dear children. He created us, taking time to knit us together in our mother's womb. As our dear Father he wants nothing but the best for us. A father tells his son to look both ways before crossing the road to keep him safe. A mother warns her daughter not to touch the hot stove so she won't get burned. So also our heavenly Father announces judgement to protect us. He gives us his Word to protect our bodies, property and good names. More importantly, he gives us his Word to protect our souls.

The LORD also wants us to listen so that we know what he's done for us. We already know what we've done to him. We have rejected his word. We have lived according to our own selfish ways. We have endangered our own souls and the souls of future generations. Nevertheless, our heavenly Father still loves us. He sent his only Son to do what we couldn't. Jesus heard and obeyed God's word perfectly. He fulfilled every command and every promise. He offered his blood to cover our sins and his life to give us life. Then he sent his Spirit to make sure we would know how much he loves us. Every time we listen to God's word, the Spirit works more faith to believe that God loves us and has offered us forgiveness and salvation.

The LORD announces judgement so that he can announce salvation. When the impending judgement leads us to confess our sins and look to God for help, he spares us from evil. He relents; he does not carry out the judgement. Rather, he has better plans for us. He promises to forgive our sins and to take us to heaven. Those are the plans he has for us, plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a future. Listen to the LORD to hear him announce salvation!

As you listen to the LORD speak often and in many ways, share his word with others. You are now the prophet. It's up to you to warn your family, friends and fellow citizens about the LORD's judgement. It's up to you to tell them who God is and what he's done for them so that they can turn from evil and receive God's salvation instead. I received more emails and other encouragement to vote than I can remember. The voting's done, but now there's another message to spread. Use the same enthusiasm and concern for your country to speak the word of the LORD. Remember that the LORD wants us to turn from evil so that he can spare us from evil. The LORD announces judgement so that he can announce salvation!