Plea Bargains (a study in Jeremiah)
“Making the Best of It!” Jeremiah 38 
November 16, 2008

ME Election behind us; Thanksgiving, Christmas, a new year is ahead of us

      Lots of anxiety: economy, war, weather, freedom to worship and stand for scriptural principles in question, sin (rejection of God) on rise, only faith you can’t practice in USAmerica;

WE Pessimism, fear, insecurity, hopelessness to make any sort of change; “what can I/we do?” easy, even reasonable to say, “Nothing!” It’s all too late, isn’t that the message of Jeremiah?

      Transition: What is the message of Jeremiah? 

► CONTEXT: The more things change, the more they stay the same. (Jer. 1:16 …because of (1) their wickedness in forsaking me, (2) in burning incense to other gods and (3) in worshiping what their hands have made. Our contemporary western civilization 

►  1) Nothing will change until we change what we care about” Jer. 7 (Topheth)

Conceived in sin; controlled by the consequences: not the way it’s supposed to be

Change myself (Psalm 51:6-12) Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Change my culture: Psalm 51:13 THEN I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.  

► 2) What we can’t change, God can exchange (Jeremiah 23:5, 6) "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.

1 Cor 1:30 …Jesus has become ... our righteousness, holiness, redemption” 

► 3) God takes full responsibility for the life fully devoted to Him” Jeremiah 24 “I will give them a heart to know me…”

            a “righteous remnant” I regard as good the exiles from Judah

            assured of God’s care regardless of circumstances “My eyes will watch over them for their

            good”,

            occupying the place where my faith insects with God’s faithfulness “I will bring them back…”

                  The place where I can see God at work

                  When I see God working, my faith gets stronger 

►  4) With God all news is good news (Jeremiah 25)

        Jesus drank the Cup of God’s wrath so we could drink the Cup of Redemption

            In all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His             purpose 

► 5) If we live in holy fear of God we have no need to fear the future! (Jer. 32)

            1) I WILL surely bring them back and let them live in safety

            2) I WILL be their God and they will be my people

            3) I WILL give them singleness of heart and action SO THAT they will ALWAYS fear me     for their good and the good of their children

            4) I WILL MAKE an EVERLASTING covenant with them

            5) I WILL never stop doing good to them

            6) I WILL inspire them to fear me SO THAT they will never turn away from me

            7) I WILL rejoice in doing good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart 
 
 TRANSITION: The summary of all God is doing and will do is in Jeremiah’s time and even in ours (The more things change…!) 

►The Message of Jeremiah: The Battle Belongs to the Lord GOD

Jeremiah 38:1-5 Shephatiah …, Gedaliah …, Jehucal …, and Pashhur  heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, 2 "This is what the Lord says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.' 3 And this is what the Lord says: 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.'"

4 Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."

5 "He is in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing to oppose you."  

Our contemporary situation: Accused of ruining everybody’s fun, “discouraging “all the people, not seeking the good of these people but their ruin. “This is what the Lord says…”

Jeremiah condemned to the cistern; Ebed-Melech pleads for his release

The sensitive person says, "I feel for you down there." 
The reflective person might say, "It makes perfect sense that someone would fall into that pit." 
The aesthetic person would suggest ideas on how to decorate the pit. 
The judgmental person claims, "Only bad people fall into pits!”

The IRS Agent wants to know if you’re paying taxes on the pit. 
Most people these days would say, "You should have seen my pit." 
The optimist says, "Cheer up! Things could be worse." 
The pessimist says, "I cheered up and, sure enough: things got worse." 

Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the miserable pit. 

YOU  Jeremiah had Ebed-Melech the Cushite (Egyptian) – We have Jesus 

ULTIMATELY: “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” 

WE  What’s our part, what role do we play in what God is doing?

            Vision: Ephesians 4 culture – Acts 2 church

            Mission: (Join God in what He’s doing) Famous, Extend, Reconcile

            Strategy: Come, Follow; Love each other; Go, make disciples

            Values: Biblical, Spirit-led, and Consensus-tested 

      In John 16: 33 Jesus says, "In the world you have tribulations; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (“The Battle Belongs to the Lord”) 

The chorus says, “Go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live.”