Problems in Israel

I. Introduction: The prophets condemned Israel for some familiar sins.

II. Israel’s pitiful condition

A. Isaiah 1:1-6 – Backsliding Israel is like a sick body that needs healing

B. Jeremiah 23:9-11 – Jeremiah lamented Israel’s sad condition

C. It caused him physical discomfort to see Israel’s wickedness knowing God’s judgment against such nations.

D. The land was full of adulterers who suffered famine but would not repent of their wickedness. The prophet and the priest were wicked, even bringing evil into the temple where God’s name should be hallowed.

E. Israel frequently dismissed the seriousness of God’s commands and the thought that He would punish them

F. Micah 3:11-12 – Calamity will not come upon us Jeremiah 23:16-17 – Despite their evil, the religious leaders told Israel that no harm would befall them

G. Even today, as in New Testament times, some think little of God’s judgment

H. 2 Peter 3:1-7 – They mock at God’s judgment2 Peter 3:11-13 – God will judge men therefore we must be faithful

III. Symptoms

A. Wise to do evil

B. Israel

C. Jeremiah 4:22 – Foolish and wise in evil Isaiah 5:20 – call evil good Jeremiah 6:13-15 – Cannot blush

D. Modern society

E. Ignorance

F. Many who claim to love God are ignorant of the scriptures but are experts in wickedness. Some cannot tell you some basic stories of the Bible but can describe in detail stories on TV or movies that are filled with lasciviousness, violence, and foul language.

G. Calling evil good

H. Romans 1:24-27 – Homosexuality is called shameful and unnatural; our society calls it an alternative lifestyle Colossians 3:17 – Trying to do all by God’s name is called “Pharisaical” or “legalistic” Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:3-9 – God hates divorce for any reason but modern religious people teach that it does not matter to God. Blushing

I. Through the media we have seen so much extreme immodesty, many sexual situations, and fleshy lust that we may lost our ability to blush at that which is immodest and shameful.

J. Job 31:1-4 – Make a deal with your eyes for God will judge you1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 – God has called us to holiness

K. God’s people must be simple in evil and wise in good, Romans 16:19-20

L. Reject God’s word

M. Israel

N. Jeremiah 6:10 – Do not delight in God’s word Jeremiah 5:30-31 – Religious leaders teach error and the people love it Jeremiah 7:24-27 – They follow their counsels and are stubborn

O. Modern society

P. Claim God’s word is important but in tests and polls (and Jeopardy!) people cannot answer basic questions from the scriptures. If we know little about God’s word we, by default, follow the counsel of our heart sometimes attributing our desires to God’s will.2 Timothy 4:1-5 – Some will not endure sound doctrine and will find false teachers in whom they will delight

Q. We must seek God’s word and obey it

R. Some neglect Bible study because it is not entertaining; it is work.

S. The miner who endures the heat, dust, fatigue, muscle aches, and sweat rejoices when he finds gold. The refreshment we receive from drinking deeply from living waters and filling ourselves with the bread of life is worth any labor. Jeremiah 6:16 – Seek the old paths for it is the path of life Jeremiah 10:23-24 – Seek God’s counsel not your own

T. Claim God’s care when sinning

U. Israel

V. Jeremiah 8:11 – Say “peace, peace” Ezekiel 8:7-18 – Idolatry and violence yet claim God’s care

W. God’s reaction

X. Shall I not avenge Myself on a nation such as this? Jeremiah 5:9, 29 Jeremiah 15:1 – I could not be favorable to these people Jeremiah 23:12 – disaster will come upon them

Y. Modern society

Z. Our nation claims to be “under God” when the airwaves are filled with filth, divorce is rampant, millions of lives are destroyed in the womb, materialism is worshipped, holy living is parodied and ridiculed and “everyone does what is right in his own eyes.”

A. Some feel that since we have many churches, God’s name on our money, and claim to be a Christian nation that God will protect us.

B. Our “Christian nation” living unholy has caused Muslims and some nations, like Japan, to close their ears to Christ’s teaching. Perhaps we should fear that God will “avenge Himself on a nation…” I hope citizens of our nation will repent but we must remain faithful.

IV. What must we do?

A. Be holy in a perverse generation: Philippians 2:14-16; Acts 2:40

B. Recognize God’s absolute rule, Jeremiah 10:23-24

C. Embrace heavenly citizenship, 2 Peter 2:6-9; Hebrews 11:13-16

V. Let us be a holy people of God whether our “one nation under God” serves Him or not.