Title: Words of January 23rd
Contents
Jeremiah bought a field (Jeremiah 32:6-15)
No one was pleased with Zedekiah, king of Judea, to hear this prophecy. The prophet Jeremiah was hated by King Zedekiah and was put into prison. At this time, Hanamel, the cousin of the prophet Jeremiah, comes to Jeremiah while he is in prison and buys his field in Anathoth. It is recorded in the text that the prophet Jeremiah bought a field for Hanamel with silver. This morning, I want to share grace with you under the title of “Jeremiah, who bought a field,” as we study the text of the text.
I. obedience to God's word
① Jeremiah always listened to the word of God. "The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was still in prison in the court of the guard" (Jeremiah 33:1). I heard the word.
Everyone! There are times when we face difficulties in life in this world. You may fail in business. There are times when I am in trouble at home. Sometimes health is difficult. There are times when things really get dark. But what is the blessing of the children of God? It is being able to hear the word of God. In the midst of tribulation, when everyone was trembling with anxiety and discouraged, Jeremiah heard the word of God. Dear all! I pray that you will become such saints who can hear the word of God in difficult times.
② Jeremiah obeyed God's word. Is Jeremiah an idiot? I'm not stupid. Jeremiah is the one who knows better than anyone that the Jewish kingdom will soon fall and all will be taken captive to Babylon. Jeremiah did not want to buy the field and the real estate.
But Jeremiah obeyed God's word and bought the field. Conceptually, it doesn't make sense. In reality, it is a loss. But Jeremiah obeyed "because he knew that these were the words of the Lord" (verse 8). Absolute obedience to God's word This was Jeremiah's faith. So did Abraham. When I was called, I didn't question, measure, calculate, and then do that. When God speaks, he just says Amen. Unconditional obedience, obedience even if you do not understand it, even if it is a loss right now This is faith.
Dear all! Like Jeremiah, I pray that you will become spiritual saints who always hear the word of God and have fellowship with God. Like Jeremiah, I pray that you will become a saint who absolutely obeys the word of God, even if it seems that you do not understand it and cause immediate damage.
II. fulfill one's obligations
Jeremiah was faithful to his duty, despite the fact that the enemy had invaded and the country was ruined, and he was imprisoned and in extreme agony. I did my best to fulfill my duties. The city of Pompeii was buried in the ash of the Vesuvius volcano on August 24, 79 AD. In the 18th century, excavations were carried out, and you can see the horrors of that time. You can tell that it was a living hell, people who ran away to live, people who couldn't find their way and were entangled with each other.
However, a soldier guarding the gate was found standing still without moving. Everyone is running around and running around trying to survive. At this time, the soldier did not move and kept his position. You have fulfilled your duties and responsibilities until the very end. Dear all! I hope that you will become a saint who fulfills your duties and responsibilities.
Ⅲ. Invest for tomorrow
So when is this restoration time? How many months later? Or how many years later? God says 70 years have passed. So, Jeremiah made an investment looking forward at least 70 years. Wouldn't it be 70 years later when Jeremiah passed away? But he bought a field for that time. It was an investment for the future generations.
Everyone! We try to pick the fruit too quickly. So everyone is in a hurry today. I can't think of tomorrow. You should be able to look a little further and invest. Even if we do not get the fruit today, we should be able to invest for tomorrow. Saints are people who live in the hope of tomorrow. These are people who sell the present and buy the next. Hanamel is a person who sold tomorrow for today, whereas Jeremiah is a true believer who sold today for tomorrow. Hanamel is a foolish realist, and Jeremiah is a wise altruist. A wise saint invests for tomorrow.
Dear all! How do we live? I pray that you will become wise saints who don't rush only today, look forward to tomorrow, have hope for tomorrow, and invest for tomorrow.