Romans 1:18-32 The Sinfulness of the Gentiles

Why humans cannot be saved by works

 

I.                 Four unveilings, revelations, or exposures are mentioned in Chapter 1

A.     The revelation of God’s nature to man vs. 20

B.     The revelation of each human’s sinful heart to the entire world vs. 22

C.     The revelation of God’s wrath against sin and sinners vs. 18

D.     The revelation of the righteousness of God in the Gospel vs. 17

E.      The linchpin verse of the chapter is vs. 17

1.      Introduction to the letter and to the gospel of grace vs. 1-17

2.      The evidence for the sinfulness of the Gentiles vs. 18-32

II.               The Gentiles are sinful and without personal righteousness vs. 18-32

A.     Why God’s wrath, His holy indignation & judgment is continually being revealed

1.      Man, historically rejected God through two sets of genealogies, Adam and Noah and his three sons and their wives vs. 20

2.      Every person alive today had an ancestor who knew the God of the Bible who was followed by a child who was not taught the truth or who deliberately rejected God and the message of his parents vs. 20

3.      Every person alive today has a personal and internal knowledge of God that they nurture or suppress with evolution, relativism, belief in a chance universe, luck, fate, pagan philosophy, or immorality vs. 19

B.     The God of the Bible is revealed through natural, general revelation vs. 20

1.      His general attributes and designs are displayed in the created universe

2.      Therefore, every human is responsible, accountable, and without excuse for his/her rejection of God and His moral law

3.      People intentionally suppress this knowledge; they choose atheism or agnosticism for very practical reasons: their lifestyle

4.      God’s creative supernatural power, design, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, and holiness are seen in the created order

C.     General and personal revelation are both clear. However, humans are blind and spiritually dead, so they are defective receptors of the truth. But because of the clarity of the revelation, they are responsible, accountable, and without excuse

D.     We all had an ancestor who personally knew the Creator God of the Bible

1.      People used to know God: Adam, Eve, Shem, Ham, Japheth vs. 21

2.      The knowledge of God was rejected and held down

3.      This resulted in a loss of the wisdom of God’s revelation vs. 21b-22

4.      The knowledge of God was substituted for idols and false religion vs. 23

E.      Suppression, rejection, and substitution of the truth brought on God’s wrath

1.      God gave them over to sin’s rule in their life vs. 24, 26, 28

2.      The judgment is God removing the restraints and allowing them to follow their desires, loves, and hearts into the worst kind of bondage

3.      These people know they are wrong in what they choose to believe and do, but they willingly go deeper into sin to their own destruction vs. 21

F.      The pagans follow a pattern that is a downward spiral of depravity and degradation that follows three stages vs. 24

1.       Sexual immorality – lusts – ferocious appetites – desires out of control

2.      Sexual abnormality – the principle of diminishing returns vs. 26-27 passions out of control like a raging forest fire (see Gen 19:4-9; Lev 18:22, 20:13; Deut 23:17-18; Judg 19:22-24; 1 Kgs 14:24, 15:12, 22:46; 2 Kgs 23:7; Isa 3:9; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Eph 4:19; 1 Tim 1:10; Heb 13:4; 2 Peter 2:6; and Jude 7; Rev 21:8, 27, 22:15)

3.      Sinful reprobate mind – free moral agency is damaged by constant surrender to the bondage of sin and Satan vs. 28-32

G.     What you worship reveals your moral framework vs. 25

1.      Sinful humans cannot diminish God’s glory

2.      Men’s character reflects what they truly worship

H.     Sample sins of pagans

1.      General heart motivations and specific desires vs. 29 (unrighteousness, evil, greed, wickedness—full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, malice)

2.      Daily conduct of Gentile sinners gossips to unmerciful vs. 29e-30 (gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, inhumane, unforgiving, unmerciful)

I.       The stages of sin and the lists are sins worthy of capital punishment

J.       Man’s inhumanity to man is proof of the doctrine of total depravity

III.            The evidence is clear that humans without special revelation and regeneration will live purposeless, cruel, and wicked lives

A.     The Gentiles do not possess personal righteousness

B.     The Gentiles cannot be delivered from judgment by works

C.     The Gentiles need to get righteousness from somewhere else so they can escape the wrath of the Holy God of the Bible

D.     Jesus is the only way of salvation, deliverance from wrath for pagan Gentile sinners

 

 

  

Psalm 106: Yahweh’s love and Israel’s disobedience

He is strong, I am weak

The author of this psalm is unknown. This psalm is classified as a hymn that celebrates Israel’s history of deliverance in spite of their continual rebellion (also called a narrative or story telling psalm). This psalm’s storyline begins with the nation in exile in Egypt with a focus on their repeated failures and God’s amazing patience and covenantal love. Grace that was greater than all of Israel’s sin. This is the last song in book 4 of the psalms.

I. A call to worship (vs. 1–2)

    A. Sing praises to Yahweh

    B. Yahweh alone is good

    C. Yahweh’s covenant love is everlasting

    D. Yahweh’s mighty acts of deliverance should be the subject of our praise

II. A prayer for God’s deliverance (vs. 3–5)

    A.  Yahweh standard: perfection brings blessing

    B. We are to always be just in our dealings righteous in our actions

    C. Only the Messiah can meet this standard, we are not good enough

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NKJV)

    D. Thus the sinner prays for grace, forgiveness, and deliverance from sin

    E. The righteous are concerned about the real believers, chosen one, God’s people

III. A confession of sin and declaration of Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 6–12)

      A. We live in community and bear individual and corporate guilt

      B. Miracles do not produce faith, but trials do

      C. The people respond to the ten plaques with complaining and unbelief 

      D. Man’s natural direction is towards unfaithfulness, discontent, rebellion

 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:1 NASB)

       E. God saves sinners in spite of themselves for His own glory and according to His own                     faithfulness to His promises

       F. The contrast between Yahweh and humans could not be greater

      G. Amazing faithful love (hesed) in spite of the failures of sinners

      H. The salvation (yeshua) news goes beyond Israel to result in the salvation of Rahab

       I. The Red Sea: God is able to deliver His people and judge His enemies at the same time

       J. Finally, a little mental assent and half-hearted singing occurred at God’s deliverance

IV. A history of Israel’s unbelief and Yahweh’s judgments (vs. 13–43) 

      A. Israel forgot the truth, complained, lived selfishly and brought God’s judgment

      B. Impatience, lack of trust, dependance, love, and gratitude resulted in diseases

      C. Jealousy and rebellion against God’s appointed leaders resulted in splitting of the ground             and fire (Korah, Dathan, Abiram went into the earth, 250 were consumed by fire, Num 16)

      D. Their idolatry brought them near to total destruction

           1. Man’s heart is an idol factory, and the natural man is quick to forget God’s works

           2. Miracles strengthen the faith of believers, giving evidence to the truth

           3. The deliverance from Egypt was a redemptive saving event 

 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Pet 2:1 ESV)

           4. Idolatry always denies the nature of the God revelation and salvation

           5. Moses stood in prayer for God’s people and caused their judgment to be postponed

           6. Moses was learning to be servant in this trying times

      E. Then the people refused to believe the promise and obey the Word of God = DEATH

           1. The downward spiral of sin, idolatry to unbelief and then to rebellion

           2. At Kadesh Barnea the people rebelled instead of living by faith

           3. Only two spies had faith, the rest of that generation passed away in the next 38 years

           4. Even in this oath God warns them of the coming exile for these same sins

     F. Immorality, fornication, adultery with the idol worshipers lead to further idolatry   

          1. Spiritually mixed marriages resulted in judgment

          2. The priest Phinehas stopped the plaque by dealing with the compromisers (Num 25)

     G. Further rebellion against God’s Word and further idolatry= EXILE

          1. They murdered babies

          2. They worshiped false gods

          3. They became just like all the cultures around them

          4. The innocent blood defiled the land and brought God’s chastisement on them

You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste. (Lev 26:33 NASB)

            5. The covenant curse of exile comes when all the other judgments fail to bring repentance 

          6. The wicked could bring themselves to judgment, but they could force their                                        descendants to remain under it

          7. Once a nation sins enough to bring God’s judgment it will fall

V. A declaration of Yahweh’s covenant love and postponed judgment (vs. 44–46)

      A. God preserved the Jews during the captivity

      B. He postponed (nacham) His severe wrath so they would remain as a people

VI. A prayer for Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 47)

      A. Save us O Yahweh our God and return us from captivity

      B. Let us again bring glory to your name by our worship and faithfulness

VII. A benediction of worship (vs. 48)

        A. The author ends as he began, a command to praise Yahweh

        B. This conclusion is fitting benediction, Praise Yahweh, His covenant love is everlasting

        C. We are un-loyal and unfaithful, He is faithful, and loyal

Lessons to live by:

• God’s patient covenant love (hesed) is beyond our imagination

• Sin continues to control us and spiral us down deeper and deeper in its grip

• Spiritually mixed dating is the first step toward spiritually mixed marriage

• God always reserves the right to postpone pronounced judgment for repentance (vs. 45 nacham)

Psalm 89:38–52: Faith and the Davidic Covenant (part 3)

Part 3: A Lament over the current state of the Davidic Dynasty (vs. 38–52)

Psalm 89 is a royal psalm by the choir of Ethan the Ezrahite. also called Jeduthun, who was a Levitical worship singer as well as a prophetic seer and a counselor to King David (1 Chr 16:41–42, 25:1–6; 2 Chr 5:12, 35:15). This royal psalm’s first section is that of a hymn to Yahweh for His faithfulness (1–18). The second section is an oracle on the promises and the covenant with David (19–37). The third section is a lament over the current sad state (to the writer) of the Davidic dynasty (38–51). See 2 Sam 7:4–17 for the prophecy on which this psalm is reflecting. 

The Preface to the NASB states: “One of the titles for God is Lord, a translation of Adonai. There is yet another name which is particularly assigned to God as His special or proper name, that is, the four letters YHWH (Exodus 3:14 and Isaiah 42:8). This name has not been pronounced by the Jews because of reverence for the great sacredness of the divine name. Therefore, it has been consistently translated LORD.” See the preface of your Bible version on the proper name of God in the Old Testament. Every time you read “Lord,” think adonai  (Master, divine one) and every time you read LORD, think Yahweh (pronounced Yahveh, the eternally present covenant keeping God). The author is deliberately emphasizing something by his choice of each name, so you do not want to ignore the difference.

  I. The Davidic Covenant is invisible (vs. 38–45)

      A. Notice the “But You” of verse 38, there is a contrast from the oracle and hymn

      B. David’s sons, starting with Solomon strayed from covenant faithfulness

      C. The covenant relationship is broken, but not by God

      D. But this author wants God to intervene and restore what the kings broke

      E. This lament prayer has powerful and emotional verbs: cast off, rejected, spurned, full of                  wrath, renounced, defiled, broken down, brought to ruin, put an end to, cast to the ground, cut short, covered with shame  

      F. This language is so strong, many Bible students think this was written during the exile             when King Jehoiachin was deported and wore prison garments for 37 years (2 Kgs 24:8,                 25:27, 29; Lam 1:10–12, 2:8)

      G. God’s full wrath is for unbelievers, unrepentant, unsubmissive, rebels and His Son in the                 place of sinners who will believe, repent, and submit

      H. The anointed one, High priest, prophet, or King. Here it is clearly the King, David’s son Anointed One in Hebrew is masiach which we transliterate also as Messiah. In Greek it is               christos which we transliterate as Christ. So, when the NT says, “Jesus Christ” it is the                   same as the Hebrew Yesh’ua ha masiach, Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One. His name           Yesh’ua means salvation, his name/title Messiah or Christ means “anointed one.” His title                     Lord shows that He is God and he is the Master.

Is this man Coniah [Jehoiachin] a despised, broken pot, a vessel no one cares for? Why are he and his children hurled and cast into a land that they do not know? O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the LORD: "Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah." (Jer 22:28–30 ESV)

In what sense is he childless if he has children taken to captivity? No direct descendant will rule as king over Judah or Israel. 

Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel . . .  Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah (Mat 1:10–12, 16 NASB).

Joseph had royal blood through Solomon but could not rule nor his biological sons.

Mary genealogy was from David through his son Nathan, whose line was not cursed                            the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David (Luke 3:31 NASB)

The coming Messiah needed to be a son of David, but not through the cursed line of Jehoiachin, but the right to rule came through the cursed line. So, when Joseph adopted him as his son, as an adopted son He earned the right to rule without the genetic passing of the curse, as his blood line was under David through Nathan by His biological mother, Mariam’s genealogy. As the Son of God, He also retained the right to rule, as He did before His human birth in Bethlehem.

      I. Yeshua the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ) took the Father’s full wrath in your place

      J. God’s promise was that David’s lineage would survive any circumstances

On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant, declares the LORD, and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts. (Hag 2:23 NASB) 

          Zerubbabel survived the Babylonian exile and returned to Jerusalem as a governor and was            in the line of Joseph of Nazareth (Matt 1:12–17). God's mercy displayed

      K. God promised to bring the covenantal curses on any Jew who was not loyally devoted to                 Him, faithfulness matters

     L. God kept both of these promises by removing the wicked kings while simultaneously                         preserving the family line

     M. If God would allow the enemies of Israel to destroy the Davidic covenant, what hope would            Israel have of them not also violating the Abrahamic covenant to the people?

     N. Periods of chastisement are confusing and fearful times

 II. A Prayer for restoration of the Davidic Dynasty (vs. 46 –51)

      A. These questions for God reveal the intensity of the authors pain and fear

      B. This author wants the promises of the Davidic Covenant to be visibly restored during 

           his lifetime

      C. The people are perishing under the persecution

      D. The kingdom of God’s disarray brings dishonor to God among the pagans

      E. The pagans are mocking the King of the Jews

      F. Remember, things are not always what they appear to be or “feel” like

III. The Doxology of praise to Yahweh (vs. 52)

      A. This verse concludes the 3rd book of Psalms

      B. This lament also ends in faith and praise to Yahweh for who He is

Lessons to live by:

• Don’t ever let liberal propaganda steal the substitutionary atonement from you. Jesus offered himself as a wrath bearing sacrifice (a propitiation to God) in our place

• Sometimes it may not “feel” or “appear” like God is keeping His promises because we can’t see behind the scenes. This is where faith come in beyond what we see

• Honesty with God in our prayers should lead us to end in praise and adoration of His greatness as revealed in the Bible

• We too will suffer persecution, though we are heirs of the promises (1 Pet 4:4)

Psalm 85: Salvation is Coming

This psalm is a community (national) lament. Like Psalm 84, this one was also written by the sons of Korah. This shows God’s grace, as Korah was a Levite that rebelled against Moses (Numbers 16) and the adult males in his family were punished by death. But the children grew up to be temple guards between the court of the men of Israel and the Holy place where only the Levites and Priests could enter (1 Chron 9:19). The timing of this psalm could be connected with a national victory like recorded in the book of Judges or in 1 Samuel over the foreign powers such as the Philistines. It could also be connected with national disasters like the locusts plague in Joel 1 or the Assyrian army of Joel 2. Many modern Bible students think this was written after the Babylonian captivity during the days of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The wording does imply that the author was once out of the land of Promise and is now back in it during a difficult time. Salvation means both deliverance and preservation in the Bible, not just the “conversion” experience.

  I. The believer should tell of God’s past saving acts (vs. 1–3)

      A. Notice the word “You” in vs. 1–3

      B. God delivered Israel from the Egyptians and Midianites in the past. Any of God’s acts in            redemptive history can be used in prayer

      C. It appears that confession and repentance has already been done by this group

      D. The restoration has already started

Let the priests, the LORD's ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say: "Have pity on Your people, LORD, and do not make Your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" 18 Then the LORD became jealous for His land and spared His people. 19 The LORD answered His people: Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and olive oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. 20 I will drive the northerner far from you and banish him to a dry and desolate land, his front ranks into the Dead Sea, and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea. His stench will rise; yes, his rotten smell will rise, for he has done catastrophic things. 21 Don't be afraid, land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things. (Joe 2:17 HCSB)

      E. Restoration is a sovereign act of grace from God. It is not earned or deserved (Jer 30:3)

Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and take them to the Valley of Yaheshaphat (Yahweh Judges). I will enter into judgment with them there because of My people, My inheritance Israel. The nations have scattered the Israelites in foreign countries and divided up My land. (Joel 3:1)

      F. The covenantal warnings for disobedience promised them exile if they rebelled

Yet if in spite of this you do not obey Me, but act with hostility against Me, then I will act with wrathful hostility against you, and I, even I, will punish you seven times for your sins. Further, you will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters you will eat. I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you. I will lay waste your cities as well and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas.  I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled over it.  You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste.  Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. (Lev 26:27–34 NASB)

      G. Restoration involves the removal of wrath, the forgiveness of sin, the removal of guilt

      H. Return from captivity, the chastisement, and be in God’s favor, blessings again

       I. Sins are hidden, covered over and God returns to close fellowship with us

         

 II. The believer should grieve over sin and pray for restoration (vs. 4–7)

      A. Notice the word “us” in vs. 4 and 7, showing the community is praying

      B. The lament and prayer begin after the interlude of praise (vs. 1–3)

      C. Prayer: restore us to fellowship and be pleased with us again

      D. Questions: The chastisement has worked, is not this a good time for them to end?

      E. Prayer: return covenantal love (hesed) grant us salvation

      F. God’s judgments are His “disturbing” works, a task He does not delight in (Isa 28:21;                         Ezek 18:32), but God delights in and is active in the salvation of His people

      G. Salvation “sandwich” this section begins and ends with salvation

III. The believer has a hope that leads to assurance of salvation (vs. 8)

      A. Notice the word “I” in vs. 8, where a prophet or the psalmist is speaking 

      B. When God speaks peace (shalom) [wholeness of body and soul) He creates it 

           (Isa 57:18–21) It includes relief from grief

      C. Peace is a gift from God and a way of life

      D. The saints, holy ones, are God’s loyal people

So, then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, (Eph 2:19 NASB)

       E. God’s people are two in some way, one in other senses in the Bible

      F. The holy ones are those who do not return to foolish living, as if God does not exist or             cannot enforce His covenant

IV. The believer’s future promise of Christ’s victory on earth (vs. 9–13)

      A. Notice the “he” and “his” in this section

      B. Salvation is not for everyone, everyone will not be saved

      C. Deliverance comes to those who fear, reverence, worship, and serve God

      D. The future promise of God’s glory dwelling in the land of promise

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Joh 1:14 CSB)

Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. (Act 2:3 CJB)

Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.  (Lev 26:11–13 NASB)

The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts, and in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.  (Hag 2:1 NASB)

      E. Glory in the land, part 1, Jesus, part 2 Pentecost, part 3 Jesus millennial reign

      F. These attributes of God are prevalent on the earth during Jesus’ reign on the earth

Lessons to live by:

• Use the Bible when you pray. Honor God for His mighty acts that are recorded in Scripture. Verbally ascribe the glory that is due God name and person

• Warn others to flee from the wrath to come. Remind others that there is forgiveness found in the Messiah, Jesus

• Repent over and confess sins quickly. God delights in our deliverance and perseveration

• Love and righteousness, mercy and truth met on the Messiah’s cross outside the city wall

A hymn that restates these truths is:

WHEN HE SPEAKS PEACE

OFTENTIMES I’VE WONDERED

EVEN IN MY DARKEST HOUR,

WILL HIS FAITHFUL EARS STILL HEARKEN

TO MY NEEDS AND MY DESIRES.

THEN I HEAR HIS VOICE SO TENDER

SPEAKING SOFTLY IN MY EAR,

THEN I KNEEL TO PRAY IN MY SECRET PLACE

I KNOW HE WILL HEAR,

HE’S ALWAYS THERE.

Chorus

WHEN HE SPEAKS PEACE,

THE RAGING STORMS MUST DIE,

NEW HOPE BECOMES NEW LIFE,

WHEN HE WHISPERS EVERYTHING

WILL BE ALRIGHT.

WHEN HE SPEAKS PEACE,

THE DARK NIGHT SLIPS AWAY

LIKE THE BREAKING OF A DAY,

WHEN JESUS SPEAKS PEACE.

WHEN MY FRIENDS HAVE FAILED ME

AND I’M STANDING ALL ALONE,

WHEN I BECOME DISCOURAGED

AND I FEEL ALL HOPE IS GONE,

THERE’S NO NEED TO BE DISHEARTENED

FOR I HAVE A FRIEND WHO CARES.

WHEN MY FAITH BECOMES WEAK

I CAN KNEEL AT HIS FEET

MY BURDENS HE WILL SHARE.

HE’S ALWAYS THERE. 

Psalm 79: How Long will Your Chastisement Continue, Oh Lord?

This psalm is a national lament after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 A.D. It does not appear to have been written personally by Asaph, but for his choir that continued in the temple long after his death. New generations of Levites were recruited and trained to provide music in the temple. It appears that this author was one that was allowed to stay in the land and was not deported with the leaders and merchants.

  I. Lamentation over Jerusalem’s destruction (vs. 1–4)

     A. Pagans have destroyed the city and the temple

     B. Pagans have annihilated the covenant people of God

     C. Even though the people’s idolatry caused God to send the Babylonians in His sovereignty,             they are still fully responsible for their cruelty, desecration, and theft

     D. When the people are faithful to Yahveh and their covenant commitment to Him, He blesses           them beyond measure (Lev 26:1–13)

     E. When the people rebel, are disloyal and unbelieving and give their hearts to false gods,                 Yahveh sends chastisements so they will repent (Lev 26:14–39)

     F. One of the covenantal curses is to not be buried after death, a final humiliation to be                        unloved and insignificant (like a deer carcass along a highway)

NKJV Deuteronomy 28:26 Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away.

ESV Jeremiah 16:4 They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth.

(See also Jer 34:20; Lam 4:14–20)

    G. The siege and the exile kept their relatives from being able to treat them as image bearer’s               of God with dignity and value

    H. Some of the righteous died, but blood flowed like water at the cruelty of the pagans

    I. Those remaining are starving and being ridiculed by foreign peoples

    J. The curses of the covenant are not pleasant (Deut. 28:15–68; 1 Kings 9:6–9)

 II. Question: How long will the discipline last? (vs. 5)

      A. The author acknowledges that God kept His promise to send chastisement

      B. They know why God’s judgment fell on the wicked, He is holy and hates sin

      C. They know they got exactly what they asked for by their national rebellion

      D. The question is, how much longer will we be in exile and Jerusalem in ruins?

NAU Zechariah 8:2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.'"

ESV Jeremiah 25:11–12 This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the LORD, making the land an everlasting waste.

III. Prayer for vindication and forgiveness (vs. 6–9)

      A. Bring justice to the pagans that have denied Yahveh’s existence and power

      B. They have used the exile to dishonor God

      C. Why would God judge His own people and delay the judgment of Babylon?

NIV Amos 3:2 You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your sins.

     D. The pagans have destroyed God’s land, temple, and people and appear to be getting away                with it to others. God’s glory is at stake

     E. The remnant in exile prays for themselves for forgiveness

     F. Yahveh has spared them for a reason, so they call on Him for deliverance, salvation                     (See Dan. 9:1–19)

     G. Even in chastisement, hope remains for God will never abandon His plan of redemption

IV. Question: How long will the pagans be able to deny God exists? (vs. 10a)

    A. The pagans have asked, “Where is the God of the Jews? Why is He not powerful enough to             protect them?

    B. The remnant calls on God to glorify His name by judging the pagans for their war crimes

    C. They want God to step in soon rather than later

ESV Joel 2:17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

 V. Prayer for vindication and restoration (vs. 10b–13)

      A. A needy a suffering slave in a foreign land full of idols calls on God to judge justly

      B. Their hope is that those who saw the blood shed will also see justice rendered

      C. Like the Jews in Egypt their prayers are coming before God for salvation

      D. The sevenfold fold restitution is requesting God’s full justice

      E. Leviticus 26 show the Jews had reached the fifth level of God’s seven-fold punishment

      F. The judgment needs to be equal to the blasphemy of God’s name

     G. The prayer looks in hope to restoration and worship 

      H. Yahveh is still the remnant, the real believer’s shepherd, they are his sheep

       I. The national lament ends in hope because it is a prayer to the Creator God who sustains                  the universe, is sovereign, powerful, loving, and answers His people's prayer

Lessons to live by:

• It always pays to obey God, once we have a relationship with Him. We don’t have the power to obey in ourselves, so we must be born from above first.

• Sin is not worth it for the believer. It costs too much.

• God’s spanking when we sin is not proof that we have lost our salvation, it is proof we were saved to start with, and God is bringing us to repentance (Heb 12:3–14)

• What is it about human nature to never be satisfied with God’s timing? Confess this as sin and wait on the LORD

• God hears our prays when we are suffering. He is still our Shepherd when He allows us to suffer

• Hope in God! Have faith in God. Believe Him, trust Him, love Him, repent and obey Him