Three Sermons

Read Jeremiah 23:1-8, 33:14-26, 31:27-40
 
Jeremiah 23:8 “Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”
 
Jeremiah 33:14-15 “The day will come, says the LORD, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them. 15 “In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
 
Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
 
WHAT would you think if you went to church and the LORD God was in the pulpit? Would you be afraid? Would you be excited? Would you wonder how long the sermon would last? (This is always the first question when a new preacher comes, isn’t it?) Perhaps God answers your questions from these three discourses.
   A discourse is a sermon. Today’s Living Bible has divided the three referenced passages into the First, Second and Third Discourse. After so much judgment language and image upon image of God’s broken people suffering under the LORD’s justice, these brief sermons are truly a joy to the heart! How good it is to know that within the Old Covenant, God is promising a New Covenant of complete forgiveness and renewal!
   Yes, I AM’s sermons are brief. This is his pattern. He says what he needs to at the moment. Then he awaits our response. We should have fear in our hearts to worship his words. Joy must come to our souls when we know his redemptive promises.
   A new day is coming: “As surely as the LORD lives.” is Israel’s confession their God is alive and active. He brought them home. He’s given them land. They will live there fulfilling God’s other promises of renewed abundance in Israel. What a glorious sermon!
   The Almighty’s next sermon tells us he will raise a “righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.” The Preacher reaffirms his Messiah covenant through David’s line. The Righteous One will do what is right in the new land.
   The third sermon reaffirms the congregation will go to their homes with each word of the sermon on their lips and on their hearts. God’s Word will give them a permanent and true relationship with the Holy God. There will be no other gods before them. He will be their God, and they will be his people.
   The Living Word proclaims this to you today. Live in his truth. Follow the Righteous One. Know his Word is for you right now and forever. Amen.