Gary Gleans

Change is very hard for us to accept, especially when that change is a negative one from our perspective.  The nation of Israel finds itself in a state of transition and really does not know what the future holds.  They had wrongly assumed they could live in their sin and not suffer any consequences but now they are being besieged by Babylon and Jeremiah is letting them know they will be taken captive and Jerusalem would fall.  However in the midst of all this chaos, Jeremiah is told to purchase a field and put the dead to the field in a clay pot.  This was God means of illustrating the future change He would make in Israel’s plight.  There is hope for the future and God has not forgotten His promises to His people. THE PURCHASE OF A FIELD: The city is under siege.  Jeremiah has been imprisoned by the king of Judah for having prophesied the fall of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem as well as the king’s impending meeting with Nebuchadnezzar.  In the midst of all this chaos, J

The everlasting love of God is hard for us to comprehend.  The children of Israel have been disobedient, idolatrous, complaining and unfaithful for so many generations and yet God has continued to affirm His love for them.  Even though they are in captivity now and have suffered many difficulties along the way; God continues to affirm His love for them.  The same is true of every man.  We have all sinned against the Lord and walked in disobedience but He continues to love us and longs to have us restored to a right relationship with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.  His love is everlasting and unconditional and our sin causes Him great pain because it separates us from Him. GOD WILL TURN MOURNING INTO LAUGHTER: Sin has brought Israel and Judah into captivity and turned their land into a desolate wasteland.  Their cities have been destroyed.  Their fields have been made unproductive.  They have lost their freedom and many of them have lost their lives or the lives of their family m

God is faithful to His children and to His own Word.  When God makes a promise we can be assured that He will keep it.  From our perspective there will be times where it looks like God has forgotten us or failed to do what He promised to do; but this is only a temporary perception and only from our perspective.  God will do things in ways we do not understand and cannot comprehend but we must never allow this to cause our faith to flounder or lose hope.  Finally Jeremiah is allowed to give a message of good news.  Even though Judah and Israel have been disobedient and are now in a long captivity and exile, Jeremiah is able to deliver a message of hope and assurance that they will be set free and God’s promises to them through their forefathers will be fulfilled. THE LORD WILL RESTORE ISRAEL AND JUDAH: God has made unconditional promises to the nation of Israel.  He promised to give them a land in which they would dwell in peace forever.  He promised a King that would rule with jus

Some messages are easier to give than others.  Jeremiah constantly finds himself having to deliver difficult messages.  As a prophet of the Lord he does not have the authority to give the message of his liking.  His job is to proclaim the message the Lord has given; no more and no less.  When those who proclaim the Word of God begin making up their own messages, then bring great harm to themselves and to their hearers.  All of us will be held accountable before the Lord for the messages we have given.  God’s expectation is that we be faithful to His Word no matter what the response of our hearers might be.  Jeremiah’s message was not an easy one to give but it was true and represented God’s will completely. THE EXILE WOULD BE LONG BUT END WELL: Jeremiah writes a letter to the exiles in Babylon.  The basic content of the message was for the people to make themselves comfortable in the land of Babylon because they were going to be there for a long time.  Jeremiah tells them to build

Wishful thinking is a very dangerous thing for a prophet to do.  Hananiah was a prophet who claimed to speak the Word of the Lord, but in reality he only shared wishful thinking.  Our desires and God’s will are not always the same thing.  In fact, they can often be in direct opposition to one another.  By nature, we will always want that which is most comfortable for us. God, on the other hand, desires that which is best for us in light of eternity.  God knows that we will experience the greatest joy through conformity to the image of Christ.  However, the path to conformity with Christ is one of suffering.  Hananiah, like many of us, was far more concerned with his own comfort than he was with being made to be like the Lord. A FALSE PROPHECY OF RESTORATION: Jeremiah has been carrying a yoke on his back to illustrate the yoke of bondage under which Judah would serve Nebuchadnezzar.  Jeremiah had clearly stated the captivity would last for seventy years.  Hananiah comes into the ho

God’s sovereign control over the nations is a very evident reality demonstrated very clearly in this chapter of Scripture.  God told Jeremiah His plan to bring a multitude of nations under the rule of Babylon for three generations and then God would judge Babylon and rise up another nation to judge her.  This was God’s determination and history shows us that is exactly what happened.  We can take great comfort in this fact as we see the history of the world taking shape.  There are wars and tragedies all around us but we know God is in control and He will work all of things out according to His sovereign plan. WE CAN REST IN GOD’S PLANS: God made it very clear that Israel and the surrounding nations would be conquered by Nebuchadnezzar.  Jeremiah called the rulers of these nations together and simply informed them of this fact and warned them not to try to thwart this reality.  Those nations who would not surrender would end up being destroyed by war and disease.  When God’s Word

Responses are not our responsibility.  God has called us to proclaim His Word to all the nations of the world.  Our responsibility is to faithfully perform that task to the very best of our ability.  In some instances the preaching of God’s Word is met with repentance and faith; at other times indifference, scoffing and persecution.  Too often we become discouraged by the responses to our preaching.  We must be careful not to become weary in the face of undesired results.  Jeremiah was called to proclaim God’s Word to a rebellious people and they responded by threatening his life.  Jeremiah was ready to die but would not stop preaching.  We must demonstrate this same disposition to proclaim God’s Word at any cost and simply trust the Lord with whatever response might come our way. JEREMIAH PROCLAIMS GOD’S WORD: God called Jeremiah to go to the house of the Lord and warn the people of Judah of God’s impending judgment.  God’s instructions were very clear.  He wanted Jeremiah to pro

Bad news is hard to give and the Lord called Jeremiah to give a ton of it.  His message to Judah was one of destruction and captivity and then his message to the nations was of complete annihilation.  We all enjoy delivering good news but bad news is a very difficult thing for all of us.  Jeremiah was given a very difficult message but he delivered it with faithfulness and integrity.  In many ways we too have been given a message that is hard to deliver.  The majority of the people with whom we come in contact and share this planet are not believes in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are called to deliver the bad news about their condemnation before God and the horror of their eternal plight.  However, we also have the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which grants forgiveness to all who believe on the Lord Jesus. THE BAD NEWS FOR ISRAEL: Jeremiah had been warning the nation of Israel for 23 years about the coming judgment from God.  Two decades is a long period of ministry and fo

It is not always fully evident to us exactly what God is doing in His dealings with men on the earth.  When things we consider bad happen God may be working through suffering to mold us into His image and make us more like Christ.  When things seem to be going well, it may simply be that God has become displeased and turned His back on us.  Time and eternity will reveal the truth about how God is using the circumstances of our lives to accomplish His will.  God reveals His perspective on the children of Israel and their circumstances to Jeremiah.  The first wave of captives has been taken to Babylon by king Nebuchadnezzar but a large group of people remain in the land.  From our perspective the captives are the unfortunate and those who remain in the land are being blessed by God.  Jeremiah reveals that just the opposite is true. GOOD FIGS: God shows Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs.  One basket is good the other rotten.  The good figs are beautiful, delicious and healthy.

We all have a job to do and are expected to do that job to the best of our abilities.  Jeremiah is called in this passage to confront shepherds and prophets who are not doing their job.  When God establishes authority, whether it be political or spiritual, He has expectations of these leaders.  He expects them to serve the people under them with integrity and justice.  He expects them to be His representatives on the earth.  God grants great responsibilities to leaders and desires that they perform those tasks in a way that reflects His character and standards.  The leaders in Israel were not doing this so they were about to experience the judgment of God on their lives. THE POLITICAL LEADERS ARE REPLACED: When God established leaders in Israel, His intention was that they provide for the people as a shepherd provides for his sheep.  They were to lead them in the path of God’s Word.  They were to provide for their physical needs with food and protection.  They were to discipline t

Many things about our lives in obedience to the Word of God do not make sense from the human perspective.  Men like to be able to evaluate a situation, decide a course of action and then feel like the outcome depends on their effort.  We like to think that we are the masters of our own destinies.  God’s perspective is much different than this.  He has established rules He wants us to follow and He determines the success or failure of men’s efforts based on His sovereign will.  In reality, God is the Master of our destiny.  When we understand this truth it will be great motivation to walk in accordance with His Word. JEREMIAH POINTS TO THE WAY UP: Jeremiah is told to go to the king of Judah.  This instruction is easy for us to simply read over and consider this to be a normal function for Jeremiah.  It is important to remember that Jeremiah was not a priest or a political officer; he was simply a prophet appointed by God but unrecognized by the people and leaders of the nation.  It

In times of trouble it is very common for people to turn to God and seek for His assistance.  People who have cursed and disobeyed all their lives will suddenly cry out to God in the face of tragedy or difficult circumstances.  God may graciously respond to these prayers on some occasions but we must never allow this to become an excuse or justification for rebelliousness.  The king of Judah sends to inquire of the priest if God will deliver the people from the attack of Babylon.  It is ironic that he has not been concerned with seeking the Lord prior to this circumstance but now he is desperate because his city is under siege.  God wants us to call on Him at all times as we seek to live in obedience to His Word not just when we face judgment for our disobedience. JEREMIAH INFORMS THE KING OF GOD’S JUDGMENT: The armies of Babylon are breathing down the necks of the city of Jerusalem.  The king is suddenly desirous of knowing God’s will and hope his inquiry will somehow bring God t

There is an old song called: “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.”  Too often believers and ministers of God’s Word believe or act as if they believe that God has promised us that our lives on this earth will be like a bed of roses.  What they fail to remember is that a rose is not only made up of sweet smelling and beautiful, velvet petals but also many sharp thorns.  Jeremiah faces great opposition to the message he proclaims and his task is far from easy.  His example gives us some insight into what the minister of the Gospel will often face as well as how should respond when we discover the thorns on the rose. PREPARE FOR PERSECUTION FROM MEN: Jeremiah’s message was not received well.  In fact, as a response to what he said the leader of the priest beat him and threw him in stocks for the night.  After what must have been an excruciating night, he was release and told to stop saying such terrible things about the future of the nation.  Besides this form of persecution, he was

One of the laws of physics is that for every action, there is a corresponding reaction.  God works in similar ways with His people.  His treatment of people is in accordance to their actions.  In physics, the reaction is immediate but with God it can take many years or even generations because of His great mercy and long-suffering.  The time of God’s wrath is approaching and Jeremiah has been given the task of proclaiming that fact to the people and their leaders.  God tells him to go purchase a clay pot and then to take representatives of the people and priests to Topheth where he was to proclaim the Lord’s will to the people.  Just as the pot was shattered on the rocks so would the inhabitants of Jerusalem be broken and shattered in this place. THE CAUSE: God is faithful to not only let His people know what is going to happen to them but He tells them very clearly why His judgment was coming down upon them.  The people who hear this message will have tingling ears because of its

God is in control.  This is one of the most basic and important truths for us to keep in mind as we face the realities of this life.  The reason it is so important for us to remember this truth is because His control is not always very evident in the circumstances of life we must often face.  God rarely controls things in the way we expect Him to but that does not mean He has lost control.  It simply means HE is God and WE are not.  He sees things and knows things about which we are completely ignorant.  We simply must learn to trust Him, be assured of His control and then tell Him about our confusions and desires. GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER THE NATIONS: God uses an illustration of a potter to show communicate this truth to Jeremiah.  Just like a potter can make whatever he wants with the clay in his hands; God can do whatever He wants with the nations of the world.  When a potter in displeased with the way the pot is shaping on the wheel he will squish the clay down and start over.  W

Disappointment is one of the saddest feelings we will ever experience.  As much as we might try to curb our expectations in life; we all end up having certain expectations we hope will be realized.  All too often we find ourselves falling far short of those expectations and being overcome with disappointment.  As believers we can be assured that disappointment will not our final feeling because our eternal dwelling will far exceed any of our expectations.  However, while we are on earth we run the risk of feeling bitter disappointment because are sinful hearts can easily expect and desire that which is not best for the kingdom of God.  The greatest sorrow is the reality of all who do not trust the Lord and place all their hope in false gods who only lead to earthly disappointment and eternal destruction. DECEITFUL HEARTS WILL DISAPPOINT US: When our trust is misplaced disappointment will inevitably follow.  Judah had placed her trust in idols.  The heritage of idolatry was passed

The promises of God are sure.  God will always do exactly what He promises.  However, it is important to realize that not all of God’s promises are according to our liking.  God has not only promised things we would interpret as “good” or to our liking; He has also promised things we may call and consider to be “bad” or not according to our desires.  Jeremiah has been given the task of revealing both of these types of promises.  Some are good news, some are bad news but both of them are sure news.  When God promises something it will always come to pass. GOD PROMISES RETRIBUTION: God told Jeremiah not to get married and have children because the children born in this land as well as their parents were destined for destruction.  Some would be stricken with disease, others by war and others would starve to death.  No matter how they died; they would not even be buried or mourned.  Their bodies would simply be left to decompose and be consumed by wild beasts and birds.  This is the k

There are times in life and ministry when we feel as though we are beating our heads up against a very hard wall for a very hard time.  If we, sinful ministers of the Lord, feel this way; imagine how God must feel.  There comes a time where we just feel like giving up, moving on or trying something different all together.  I guess we can be comforted by the fact that the Lord also comes to this point in dealing with sinful men, in particular the children of Judah.  God opens His heart and shares with Jeremiah how He is feeling and what He has decided to do as a result of these feeling.  Then Jeremiah opens up His heart and shares what He is feeling and begins a dialogue with God about His struggles in ministry.  These are good reminders for ministers who want to beat their heads up against a wall. GOD WILL NOT RELENT: God has made a firm determination about His decision to discipline the nation of Judah and send them into captivity.  Even if Moses and Samuel were to both intercede