Message Notes

23 November 2014

Text: Jeremiah 9

IN THESE I DELIGHT

(I) WHEN PEOPLE FORSAKE GOD’S LOVE

1. God had given His love and many practical ramifications to Israel

a) His protection

b) His provision

c) His power

2. But they end up forsaking His love

3. They desert His love for other things (Jeremiah 9:23)

a) In place of God’s wisdom, their own human wisdom

b) In place of God’s might, their human might

c) In place of God’s blessings, their physical riches

4. They glory in these things

5. They were so loved yet they forsake His love for the things of the world

(II) HIGHLIGHTING THE DANGERS OF FORSAKING THE LOVE OF GOD

“And the Lord said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it, but they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts and after the Baals, which their fathers taught them,” Jeremiah 9:13, 14

1. Forsaking of God’s law

2. Disobedience against God

3. Living according to the dictates of their hearts…what they delight in

4. A perpetual problem that is passed from one generation to another

(III) WHEN GOD SEEKS TO LOVINGLY DRAW US BACK

1. God will give another chance…to return to Him

2. He will lovingly chastise us

“Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will refine them and try them; for how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?” Jeremiah 9:7

3. There may even be grave consequences

“I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a den of jackals. I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.” Jeremiah 9:11

4. We should be drawn back to the love of the Lord

(IV) RE-ENTERING INTO THE DELIGHTS OF HIS LOVE

1. Can we come back into the fellowship of His love? Yes

2. Do not delight in the things that God does not delight in

“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches;” Jeremiah 9:23

a) No longer human wisdom but God’s wisdom (Cf. Psalm 19)

b) No longer human might but God’s might

c) No longer physical riches but God’s blessings…both physical and spiritual

3. Delight in the things that He delights in… the place of His love

a) Our glory to know the fullness of God

“But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me,” Jeremiah 9:24

b) Appreciating what the Lord delights in

“That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth for in these I delight,” says the Lord,” Jeremiah 9:24

i) Exercising lovingkindness

“Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.” Psalm 108:43

ii) Justice

“The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.” Psalm 25:9

iii) Righteousness

“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.” Psalm 112:1-3

c) This is the nature of God’s love for us…the things that He delights in

d) We should have the same delights and to be in His love.