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"Blessed is the Man Who Trusts"
Jeremiah 16:1-17:18

Wednesday AM Bible Study
December 1, 2004

The key verse is 17:7. The great theme of this section is the blessedness of those who do not forsake a trust in the Lord.

I. THE PUNISHMENT THAT WAS COMING UPON THOSE WHO WOULD NOT TRUST (16:1-13).

A. Jeremiah is prohibited from becoming established in the land of Judah because of the coming judgment upon the land (vv. 1-9).

1. Don't establish a family (vv. 1-4).

2. Don't go to the house of mourning (vv. 5-7).

3. Don't go to the house of feasting (vv. 8-9).

B. The reason for the judgment is given (vv. 10-13).

1. Their fathers forsook the Lord (vv. 10-11); that is,

a. They walked after other gods (v. 11).

b. They did not keep God's laws (v. 11).

c. They followed the dictates of their own heart to the point of no longer listening to God (v. 12).

2. Therefore God, as it were, gave them what they wanted (v. 13).

a. He casts them out to a land that they did not know.

b. He allows them to serve the gods of other lands.

c. God Himself ceases to show them favor.

II. THE PROMISES GIVEN BY THE GOD WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRUSTED (16:14-21).

A. A new "praise" was coming (vv. 14-15).

1. Formerly, the exodus was how God was recognized (v. 14).

2. But soon, the glorious return of the exiles from Babylon would be how He would be recognized (v. 15).

B. The exiles would be sought out (vv. 16-18).

1. The would be fished out (v. 16).

2. They would be hunted for (v. 16).

3. Because those who forsook the Lord are still precious to Him (vv.17-18).

a. His eyes are on all their ways (v. 17).

b. He would repay double (completely) for their sin (v. 18).

C. His mercy to them would be a witness to the Gentiles (vv. 19-21).

1. The Gentiles would forsake their idols (vv. 19-20).

2. The Lord would cause them to know Him (v. 21).

III. THE PRINCIPLES TO BE LEARNED BY ALL (17:1-14).

A. That judgment will come on those who forsake Him (vv. 1-4).

1. The sin of idolatry testifies to an unfaithful heart (vv. 1-2).

2. It's because of that unfaithfulness that judgment comes (vv. 3-4).

a. All their wealth will be given as plunder.

b. All their high places (that is, of idolatry) will be given to the enemy.

c. They will leave their heritage.

d. They will serve their enemies in a foreign land.

B. That the forsaken is cursed and the faithful is blessed (vv. 5-8).

1. The cursed one (vv. 5-6):

a. Trusts in man.

b. Makes flesh his strength.

c. Shall be like a shrub in the desert (weak).

d. Shall not see good.

e. Shall inhabit the uninhabitable places (misery).

2. The blessed one (vv. 7-8):

a. Trusts in the Lord.

b. Makes the Lord his hope.

c. Shall be like a tree by a river (flourishing).

d. Shall not be anxious in a time of trouble.

e. Shall not cease to bear fruit (satisfaction).

C. That God knows the heart (vv. 9-10).

1. That it is deceitful and wicked.

2. That God alone knows its true condition.

D. That ill-gotten riches do not last (v. 11).

1. Those who get rich by wrong will not find satisfaction.

2. He will, in the end, prove to be a fool.

E. That all who forsake the Lord will be ashamed (vv. 12-13).

1. God is a solid hope from the beginning.

a. A glorious throne (authority).

b. A sanctuary (security).

c. The hope of Israel (prospect for the future).

d. The fountain of living water (refreshment to the soul).

2. All who forsake Him will be a testimony of shame.

IV. THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL (17:14-18).

A. Jeremiah expresses his trust in God (vv. 14-17).

1. That the Lord will heal him.

2. That the Lord would save him.

3. That the Lord is his praise.

4. That he would ignore the doubters and not run ahead of the Lord.

5. That he has not desired the Lord's judgment on others in a sinful way.

6. That he was careful with his words.

7. That the Lord was his hope in the day of doom.

B. Jeremiah prays to the God in whom he trusts (17-18).

1. That the Lord will not be a terror to him.

2. That he will not be put to shame.

3. That he will not be dismayed.

4. That those who forsake Him will suffer the consequences.