Ugly Scenes of Utter Humiliation, Part 3

In Lamentations chapter 4 we see Jeremiah grousing over the condition of his city, Jerusalem was left in ruins by the Babylonians. He was not only discourage Jeremiah wanted to give up on the city he loved today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll draws a fascinating parallel between Jeremiah's despondent in our own. It's hard to watch the violence consuming our urban centers today. Most of us feel resigned, hopeless in this study, Chuck urges us to face the realities of our times and to embrace a healthier response, Chuck titled today's message ugly scenes of utter humiliation. Lamentations chapter 4 about her Jerusalem I could insert other names there.

You could to sit is out of control.

Cities were people who worked hard to build her shops now walk back to ruins racial issue.

There is lawlessness that's breaking the wall and getting away with what he saw there he saw the results of people that just released controls. We are trusted and are in those days there were the prophets and the priests who were the leaders and and and he says in verse 13 it happened because of the sins of these false prophets in these phony priests who defile the city by shedding innocent blood in that it pictures them as lepers look at this, the words of this may wander blindly through the streets only filed by blood. None dared touch the way they say, why even shout the people shouted at them.

Your your defilement.

Cha-cha's and there's anarchy right here in the city that was once the jewel of the Jews, and he walks in the midst of it, never doubted without protection. No city is safe without providing for the protection, there is no way to sleep comfortably through the night. That isn't simply the words of the preacher listened to Proverbs 2141 the horse is prepared for the day of battle safety is of the Lord listen to Psalm 127 verse one unless the Lord protects city guarding it with centuries will do no good. The Lord must be in charge. He must be the preeminent one. What is happened. This is why it fell those who were given responsibilities of leadership. Let the people they lied to them they misrepresented the true and the call to lie true.

By the way, this is a good time to show you a passage of Scripture. Turn to Romans 13 just the first few verses of Romans 13, I would imagine it's been a while since many of us have read this passage, so allow me to do that for you from the new living translation. Listen and reflect. Put your mind thing here.

Don't wander remember the news of recent week and listen to this, everyone must submit to governing authorities, for all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority had been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished for the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right. But in those who were doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear. Fear the authorities will then do what is right and they will honor you. The authorities are God's servants. This God's servants sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course, you should be afraid, for they have power to punish you.

They are God's servants sent for the very purpose punishing those who do what is wrong, so you must submit to them. Not only to avoid punishment but also to keep a clear conscience's MSA all authority or right are you kidding you. Remember Nero, who was Emperor. Toward the end of Paul's life nothing right about Nero.

Paul still wrote Romans 13 because there are a few wrong doesn't mean all wrong. May we please remember that when it comes to those who watch over our safety. We need those who minister protection otherwise.

The city builds itself in vain. Since Psalm 27, one now back to Lamentations chapter 4 go back there would Jeremiah's heartbroken when he comes for the end of the chapter he writes what he does because he so concerned about the city he loved, and now he tells everyone in verse 17 we looked in vain for our allies to come and save us. There were no allies. We used to have allies with a ball turned against us.

We were looking to nations that could not help us we couldn't go into the streets without danger to our lives. This is 2600 years ago. Those words were written. Think of our end was near. Our days were numbered.

We were doomed. When our enemies were so swift they were faster than eagles. We couldn't escape treacherous times not even arcane could save us in those days the king represented the nation and when they counted on the king they couldn't rely on him.

But there are those that laughed among them were the Edomites so Gerard Jeremiah's a few words for the people of Edom. Verse 21 are you rejoicing in the land of us all people of Edom, you two must drink from the cup of the Lord's anger. By the way, your turn is next.

You would be laughing now, but the way you're living the same result will happen to you.

You will be stripped naked in your drunkenness and Edom, you will escape your punishment.

It's just beginning. Soon your many sins will be exposed to courage to say that for the Edomites were still in power. They were still strong. They were in their own power, not over Jerusalem, but they were powerful nation when I get to reading his fourth chapter I come up with a couple of traits that were true of Jeremiah Linda get to number one, regardless of how others responded to him. Jeremiah always told the truth he said again, regardless of how others responded to him. Jeremiah always told the truth that took commitment prophets had commitment. He was looking to be popular. He wasn't looking to be accepted. He wasn't expecting a pay raise.

He wasn't waiting for applause. His job was to hear the truth believe the truth declare the truth so that others might do the same and live it out takes commitment is the second trait on notice. Regardless of what others did to him.

Jeremiah retreated never ran scared of the pain that took courage prophets had courage, commitment. Encourage further to get that when did that start how you rear children with commitment and courage. That's what I want to know when I read this and so much for Jeremiah and I admire him, but I am not dealing today with Jeremiah's I'm dealing with today's people and you are to so what can we find from this. Jeremiah's life that might have prompted such commitment and courage. I'm glad you asked, looking Jeremiah chapter 12 verse 5K go back before the Lamentations go to Jeremiah 12. I'm here many pages turning Jeremiah 12 take Jeremiah 12 verse five God give me another week of either funded. Here I am, you will know something is a first verse in Jeremiah I ever memorized first one I was Charles when I was a part of the navigator organization by the navigator representative take this verse and committed to memory. If you have run with the footman. The man queried you. How would you contend with horses and if in the land of peace worried you trusted they will redo how would you do in the swelling of the Jordan reads the King James which is what we memorized back when the Earth's crust was just cooling and I was memorizing verses of Scripture were the navigators.

Now it resumes differently. Look at it. Look at what God says to the prophet early in his life.

He's maybe about 20 years old. Listen to this counsel, we start with the name Jeremiah Jeremiah if racing against mere man makes you tired. How would you race against horses. Paul's right there Jeremiah if you can keep up with the foot soldiers don't don't read on no say with.

If you can't do this with the foot soldiers and the terrain is pretty plainly done have many obstacles.

What are you going to do in the cavalry comes over the hill and the horses are bearing down on you. If you can't stay up when the foot soldiers are fighting hi got a handle. The cavalry now the next board use stumble and fall on open ground. What would you do in the thicket near the Jordan here about Israel you want to visit.

Of course the river Jordan, you often find tickets longer banks of the Jordan River.

In some places so thick you can hardly get to the water. What are you going to do when you have well when you're let's call it what it is when you're involved in jungle fighting when you're dealing with guerrilla warfare you got nothing but obstacles to deal with Jeremiah toughen up. I never promised you a Rose Garden. You got a tough calling Jeremiah and I want to say to everyone of us so that we live is not a bed of roses.

Some of you know that better than others. You are older know it well. Life was not a bed of roses is full of pain hardship disappointment obstacles difficult people.

Resistance those I don't want to hear truth listen to the way one man handles. This is really a reprimand.

I can feel the Lord's index finger if you will, pushing against Jeremiah's sternum get this Jeremiah get it straight early in life as you're in for a lifetime.

Tough stuff is the way one man writes life is difficult. Jeremiah, you recorded the first wave of opposition take this personally.

By the way men and women. This is for all of us are you going to quit at the first phase or wave of opposition are you going to retreat when you find theirs more to life than finding three meals a day and dry place to sleep at night.

Are you going to run home the minute you find that the mass of men and women are more interested in keeping their feet warm. Then, in living at risk to the glory of God. Jeremiah you want to live cautiously or courageously. I called you to live it your best to pursue righteousness to sustain a drive toward excellence is easier. I know to be parasitic. It is easier to relax in the embracing alarms of the average easier, but not better, easier, but not more fulfilling. Jeremiah I called you to a life of purpose far beyond what you think yourself capable of living in our promised you adequate strength to fulfill your destiny. Now at the first sign of difficulty ready to quit before I read on. That's a question for you to consider. Are you quitting or backing off. You're going on are you cannot just turn off the TV at 8 o'clock turning in early at night and forgetting. Pour your heart out for your country. Are you still shrugging his shoulders and stuff you're seeing. Are you doing that. The Lord says Jeremiah if you're fatigued by this run-of-the-mill crowd of mediocrities.

What will you do when the real race starts the race with the swift and the determined horses. What is it you really want Jeremiah you want to shuffle along with this crowd. What you want to run with the horses.

He weighed the options he counted the cost. His response when it came was not verbal it was biographical along that line wasn't verbal it was biographical, his life became his answer all run with the horses and for the rest of his life.

He ran with horses.

Everyone of us must answer the same question I answered in my ministry every week of my life before every Sunday service.

I review my life.

I take a close inventory in my backing off a little because I'm this age or because I'm tired because I like to have a break backing off. Let's not tackle each one of us has a sphere of influence that we touch yours. Maybe a precious child that you're sleeping. Yours may be an individual who is infirmed and you're there to help along be there for them. You may have a marvelous job and you're in charge of a number of people your leadership speaks volumes to others, you certainly have a family circle in your relationship with those so important.

We all have neighbors.

The only people around us.

They're all scared. If you're not scared.

There, on the other side that got it confused the truth will awaken you to the fact there's a big drop to be done in time short and energy for doing it is essential, commitment and courage or the fuel for that energy go strong after what you believe in. Don't just go on your way through another week go after it. Give it all you've got promise you I will do the same. Now with me.

Would you just sit quietly there at your place and listen closely, you may have never trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. You may have never come to the cross, the one true cross of the one true Savior who provided the one true sacrifice for your sins, today is the day to come to him. Pour out your heart to him and let him know you mean business. You want your life to count for eternity.

You're tired of living for yourself. You want to turn your life around and by the grace of God reach other people and help them turn their lives around.

You want to begin to speak kindly rather than partially to others. You will be known for patience and grace and mercy and understanding, compassion and love that will make you so unique. Others will want to know how in the world that happen in your life come to Christ. That's the way he lived his life that's available to you as well. Most of you know the Lord Jesus. And this is a wonderful time for you to evaluate yourself in the commitment to pray every day that my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways out here from heaven will forgive their sins heal their land will heal their land. If you pray, make a commitment today that you will become a person of genuine consistent prayer start today. The father, we thank you for this place were able to speak the truth of thank you for the opportunity to do so today and for those willing to hear. May they be known as those also willing to do what they've heard those without Christ. I pray that you bring them to yourself, those who have become well mediocre passive nonchalant in their lifestyle break that habit Lord and bring from among us, people of commitment and courage, willing to take a stand and to represent the Savior in this broken in this immediately these things. I asked through Christ our Savior.

Everyone said Chuck Swindoll's closing prayer we complete message number seven in the eight part study of Lamentations and let me suggest that you listen to Insight for living again tomorrow because Jeremiah takes a positive turn in the fifth chapter of his Journal of woes to learn more about this ministry would invite you to go online to our website.

You'll find us@insightworld.org. In light of today's heavy subject, let me point you to an uplifting book. Chuck is written it will remind you that even in dark seasons of discouragement we can rise above the pain of our broken world trucks book is called encourage me carrying words for heavy hearts is book contains two parts. The first section is for those who need encouragement and the second part urges us to be encouragers and to purchase a copy of encourage me just go to Insight.org/offer. Remember that when you give voluntary donations to Insight for living ministries. You're becoming an extension of his grace to people around the world who desperately need encouragement. While many churches have been required to curtail their indoor services. This daily program is continued without interruption, and in fact were reaching more listeners than ever before as people access trucks teaching through the radio.

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