Is He Worthy?
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Jeremiah 2
Jeremiah 2
1 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the Lord.”
4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
6 They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?’
7 And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.
8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.
Introduction
Introduction
Illustration about my childhood when we were watching TV and listed to the fortune teller. (Footage - children watching TV)
Transition to youth question during First Connection.
What’s going on?
Jeremiah makes a contrasts of Judah’s former devotion the Lord (Verse 1-3), versus her present departure from God (verse 4-3:5).
At one time the Lord was their priority, but they lost interest in their relationship with the Lord.
1. Return to your first love.
1. Return to your first love.
2 “I remember the devotion of your youth”… — Jeremiah 2:2
The Lord is bringing to memory the love these people used to have, but is no longer there.
Happen to us all the time: young couples being in love.
Couple in love (Footage - couple in love)
Couple arguing (Footage - couple arguing)
They used to love the Lord ↓↓↓
“2 ...you followed me in the wilderness...” — Jeremiah 2.2
They followed the Lord through a desert… translated to very difficult times.
“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.” — Deuteronomy 2:7
Something happened to the people… they got tired of following the Lord. ↓
“5 What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me…?” — Jeremiah 2.5
Parents went far away.
While verse 2 said that they used to follow him, now in verse 5 we see a departure from God.
The parents went far from the Lord.
The children followed “their” example, instead of following the Lord.
Lacked nothing.... third world country.
Abundance = departure.
I believe we live in a nation that lacks nothing as well.
You would think they should be the first ones following the Lord.
I come from a third world country, where the most basic needs sometimes can’t be met.
Example of Cuban lady who used to go to Church. (Footage - Walking Barefoot)
“4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” — Revelation 2:4 (NASB)
What could be more important than our Lord?
Busy - Work - debts - expenses.
2. Return to a relationship not a religion.
2. Return to a relationship not a religion.
“8a The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me.” — Jeremiah 2:8a
They are supposed to know the Lord.
They are the ones looking for the Lord in their daily lives.
Sadly they don’t even know him.
“For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” — Malachi 2.7
“8b the shepherds [pastors] transgressed against me.” — Jeremiah 2:8b
Those who were supposed to tend the need of their people.
“8c The prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.” — Jeremiah 2:8c
The Prophets: those who instead of declaring God’s word, rebuking and correcting people, preached false and worldly teaching.
They led the people to worship false idols.
The prophesied lies to the nation, making them believe those idols were real.
You are the priest, shepherd and prophet of your own house and family.
Footage - Mom Child Praying.
3. Return to the Gospel.
3. Return to the Gospel.
“… [they] went after things that do not profit.” — Jeremiah 2.8
Note the phrase “went after.”
That’s where the heart goes.
The thing that you look forward to everyday.
But is that God’s will?
“The word of the Lord came to me...” — Jeremiah 2.1
The “word” came to Jeremiah.
That same word came to us.
“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1
“14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14
For Israel he wasn’t worth it… he wasn’t enough.
For Israel he wasn’t worth it… he wasn’t enough.
They were freed from slavery, but that was not enough.
They had a cloud that protected them from the sun, but that was not enough.
They had a column of fire that protected them at night, but that was not enough.
They were fed in the desert, but that was not enough.
They were given a country where they would lack nothing, and yet, but that was not enough.
They were the only nation who had a personal relationship with the Lord, but that was not enough.
Is He worthy to you?
Is He worthy to you?
The Lord has blessed you with abundance, is He worthy to you?
The Lord has blessed you with children, is He worthy to you?
He died in the cross to pay for your sins, is He worthy to you?
is He worthy of your time, and energy, and love? - Footage - woman praying
Are you invested in things that do not profit?
Are you after things that are worthless?