Peter Barnes | Jeremiah 12
SERMON NOTES
WHY DO THE WICKED PROSPER?
Jeremiah 11:18-12:17; Revelation 6:9-17
1. Jeremiah and his persecutors.
-11:18-23; his home village of Anathoth is hostile to him (see 1:1). His was a priestly family but they were not godly (12:6).
– similar sentiments in the New Testament – Rev.6:9-10; God punishes sinners. So Christ had to die for sinners to be saved.
2. Jeremiah complains to God.
– 12:1; Job 21:7-14; Ps.73:1-3, 12-13; Hab.1:2-4.
– Everything is back to front and upside down. Psalm 1 is turned on its head, so it appears – 12:2.
– Jeremiah knows God is sovereign; he struggles to understand how He is also good (12:3-4). Things will get worse! (12:5)
3. God judges Judah.
– 12:7-13; see how He describes His people (12:7, 9, 10). Yet ‘I hate her’! (12:8) They will reap what have sown (12:13).
4. God offers compassion even to Gentiles who repent.
– 12:14-17; an offer of compassion to Judah but even to the Gentile nations around Judah; ‘In wrath, remember mercy’ (Hab.3:2).