WORD PICTURES FROM JEREMIAH

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Jeremiah was a strong and faithful prophet of God, and by the
      Holy Spirit, he painted many graphic word pictures for God's
      people.
   B. Jeremiah's work was to call the people back to God.
      1. He encouraged the people to turn from their wickedness and
         idolatry, and return to the true God.
      2. Though Jeremiah lived many years ago, his word pictures
         will help us to live closer to God.

I. Jer. 2:13
   A. "The cisterns of Palestine were usually a bottle or pear-shaped
      reservoir into which water could drain from a roof, tunnel, or
      courtyard." (Homan's Bible Dictionary).
   B. The importance of water for sustaining life is not appreciated 
      by us in this country.
      1. People who come here from other countries, such as Saudi
         Arabia, are amazed to see people watering their lawns. They
         think that it's a great waste.
   C. The problem that concerned Jeremiah was much more serious
      than being without natural water.
      1. There is great folly in leaving "the fountain of living     
         waters" for a broken cistern that holds no water.
   D. Consider the contrast Jesus made when He talked with the
      woman at the well. John 4:10-14
      1. Let us never forsake the Lord, the fountain of living water,
         for things of lesser worth.

II. Jer. 7:23-24
   A. Thus, the people were not going forward in their service to    
      God, but were digressing from it.
   B. In the 1800's, when there was a split in the Lord's church over
      the Missionary Societies, those who promoted the Societies
      called themselves "progressive."
      1. This was supposed to mean that they were the ones
         "progressing" in the Lord's work.
      2. The true Christians began to call them "digressive," because
         in reality that was what they were.
      3. The word "gressive" is from the Latin and means "to walk or
         go," and has many interesting compounds. "Transgressive"
         means "To step or go beyond" "digressive," "to turn aside"
         "retrogressive," "to go back" "progressive," "to go forward"
         "aggressive," "ready to go."
   C. Let us, as in Jeremiah's word picture, have a marked readiness 
      to go forward in the Lord's service, and shun falsehoods and   
      worldly endeavors that take us backward.

III. Jer. 10:3-5
   A. We can easily see in our minds people back then working
      diligently to carve their idols.
      1. They took pieces of wood or metal and carved or fashioned
         gods to meet their own fancy. 
   B. Today, men in their own minds shape and fashion the true God
      into the god they prefer.
      1. They mentally chisel and carve away His wrath and severity,
         making Him a god of love only.
         a. They mold and shape Him into a god that accepts the
            very things He once rejected. 
         b. They have devised Him as a god who accepts worship
            of any kind.
      2. Thus, modern men, in their own minds, have fashioned their
         own god, and are no less guilty of idolatry than the people 
         of long ago.
      3. Let us flee from all gods of our own devising. 1 John 5:21; 
         1 Cor. 10:14

IV. Jer. 17:5-8
   A. Again, we can visualize a tree or bush that is out in the      
      desert, in salty, rocky soil. This is like those who do not    
      serve the Lord.
      1. On the other hand, we can see a tree or bush that is on the
         river bank that thrives because it has plenty of water at   
         all times. This is like the person who serves the Lord.
   B. The Psalmist made the same contrast in the first Psalm. Psalm
      1:1-6
      1. Notice the four tree-like characteristics of a godly life.
         a. Planted - Fortified, stable, rooted, solid, and strong.
         b. Fruitful - Productive, which naturally follows being
            planted and growing.
         c. Unwithered - Even during days of difficulty, the
            tree-like soul is untouched and undaunted.
         d. Prosperous - God blesses him in every good way.
      2. There is a diametric difference from the previous verses,
         highlighted by the phrases "the wicked are not so."
         a. It refers back to the preceding verses describing the
            righteous, godly believer who:
            (1) Happy - Is happy many times over, but it is not so
                with the wicked.
            (2) Delighted - Delights and meditates in the word, but
                it is not so with the wicked.
            (3) Thriving - Is like a thriving tree, but it is not so
                with the wicked.
            (4) Fruitful - Is fruitful and prosperous, but it is not 
                so with the wicked.
   C. Let us delight ourselves in God's word, maintain a pure,
      uncompromising walk with God, and we will grow into a stable,
      reliable "spiritual tree."

V. Jer. 20:7b-9
   A. We see the picture. They had persecuted and discouraged
      Jeremiah so much so that he said he was not going to say       
      another word.
      1. However, as he tried to hold back, the word became like a
         burning fire within him and he couldn't help but speak it
         forth.
   B. We, likewise, need to share the good news of the gospel.
      1. When God's word is within us like a burning fire, we cannot
         hold it back.
      2. Let us be like the two on the road to Emmaus who had to
         return to Jerusalem and tell the others of the good news.
         Luke 24:32-35
      3. Let us be like the early Christians who were on fire with   
         the gospel and went everywhere preaching the word. Acts 8:4
   C. Because of the intense competition in the automobile industry, 
      car makers try to keep their design breakthroughs secret. A    
      company that can offer a new and desirable feature on its cars 
      gains a coveted selling edge in a tough market. That's why it  
      was surprising when a Mercedes-Benz ad showed one of their cars
      being crashed into a brick wall during a safety test. The way  
      it withstood the impact revealed that its energy-absorbing
      construction could save lives. Even though Mercedes-Benz holds
      the patent on the safety design, competitors were free to use  
      it because the company does not enforce its claim. When asked
      why, the automaker's spokesman replied, "Because some things in
      life are too important not to share."
      1. Likewise, the good news of the gospel is too important not
         to share. 
      2. Let it be within us a burning fire which we cannot hold     
         back.

VI. Jer. 44:2-5
   A. The picture of God "rising early" to send His prophets shows   
      that He was diligent in trying to persuade, warn, and encourage
      His people to return to Him.
   B. At first, it seemed as though the remnant (those who remained
      after Jerusalem was destroyed) wanted to do the will of God.   
      Jer. 42:5-6
      1. However, when Jeremiah tells them what to do, to stay in the
         land, they did not want it. Jer. 42:9-12
      2. They were hypocrites when they said they wanted to follow
         God. Jer. 42:20; 43:1-4
      3. They didn't want to do what God required, but wanted to do
         what they thought was best. Jer. 44:16-18
      4. Thus, they were hypocrites when they said they wanted to do
         the will of God.
   C. There are many modern-day hypocrites.
      1. Andrea Miller in her book, "The Single Woman," wrote an
         interesting confession that describes a modern-day          
         hypocrite. She said that she realized she was in reality    
         living several lives. One was that of a young executive in a
         company, wearing professional clothes that made her look    
         like a business woman. In the evenings and on the weekends, 
         she redid her hair and dressed to get a "swinging singles"  
         look. She would go to the singles' bars, and do the things  
         the "swinging singles" were doing. However, when she would
         write home to her parents, she took on another personality.
         To them she was still the good little girl, being nice, and
         working hard.
      2. The question is, "Who are you?" Will the real "you" please
         stand up?
         a. Remember, we might be able to deceive other people,
            but not God.

Concl.
   A. We can learn much from Jeremiah's word pictures.
      1. It is the very height of foolishness to turn away from God,
         the fountain of living waters, to broken cisterns, to things
         which have no true value.
      2. Let us not be digressive, but progressive in the Lord's
         service.
      3. Let us grow into stable, reliable, spiritual trees, and not 
         be like unfruitful bushes in a dry and salty wilderness.
      4. May the word of God be within us as burning fire and we
         can't hold it back.
      5. Let us serve God with all of our being, for He knows our
         hearts, and will punish and destroy all hypocrites.

Chart #1
The Tree - Like Characteristics Of A Godly Life:

Planted - Fortified, stable, rooted, solid, and strong.

Fruitful - Productive, which naturally follows being planted and
growing.

Unwithered - Even during days of difficulty, the tree-like soul is
untouched and undaunted.

Prosperous - God blesses him in every good way.

Chart #2
Contrasting The Righteous Soul Who Is:

Happy - Is happy many times over; but, it is not
so with the wicked.

Delighted - Delights and meditates in the word;
but, it is not so with the wicked.

Thriving - Is like a thriving tree; but, it is not
so with the wicked.

Fruitful - Is fruitful and prosperous; but, it is
not so with the wicked.