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Over the years I have written several "book" or "booklets" and many, many, many newsletter and bulletin articles. Because the book market seeks writings to meet specific needs at specific times, my material has never been accepted. I have a tendency to write what is on my mind and so I am left with self publishing. So, with the encouragement from my wife and others, I am beginning this blog in order to put my "ramblings" "out there"! I hope you enjoy!

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Please note that while my intentions are to use good grammar, because of the way in which some of the material presented here is presented (orally) the grammar and syntax might not always be the best English. Also note that good theology is not always presented in the best English so there may be times when the proper grammar rules are purposely broken.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

To You I Have Committed My Cause - September 23, 2018 - Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20) - Text: Jeremiah 11:18-20

Many people are familiar with the song made famous by Frank Sinatra, “I Did It My Way.” The singer touts as his greatest achievement in life that he lived it his way. I might would ask, how many of us do or would like to tout that same thing about ourselves today? Maybe you have heard the phrase, “it’s my way or the highway.” We are people who often have our own opinions, and sometimes strong opinions, about one thing or another. The questions we might ask about our opinions are, “Is it a helpful or hurtful opinion?” “Is my opinion in line with what God’s Word says, or contrary?” “Is my opinion based on fact or hearsay?” Opinions can be dangerous because, as we know, it was an opinion that put Jesus on the cross.
 
In our text for this morning we will see how Jeremiah was a type of Christ. What it means that Jeremiah was a type of Christ is that he was not Christ, but what happened to him was an example of what was going to happen to Jesus. Our text begins by telling us that the Lord revealed to Jeremiah the plot against him. We read beginning at verse eighteen “18The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds” (v. 18). Jeremiah was not necessarily unaware of what was going on in the world around him. He knew that there were people who had a negative opinions about him, the called prophet of God, but he did not know how bad it was until the Lord revealed it to him in revealing to him their plot to kill him.
 
Jeremiah is like Jesus, he is not Jesus, but is like Jesus, because the Lord revealed to Jesus, from the beginning of time, the plot against Him. Jesus knew what He was doing when He left all the glory that was His in heaven. He knew that He would be coming to a hostile earth and a hostile people. He knew that His own people would be hostile to Him and would be against Him. He knew that He would be coming to give His life for ours on the cross.
 
Our text tells us that Jeremiah was to be lead like a lamb to the slaughter. We pick up at the first part of verse nineteen, “19But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter” (v. 19). A lamb does not really think for itself, it merely follows the leader. Up until this point, that the Lord revealed this plot to him, Jeremiah knew the some people had a negative opinion of him, but he did not know they were plotting to attempt to lead him to his death.
 
Jesus, too, was lead like a lamb to the slaughter. The difference was that Jesus knew before He came to earth that He would die. Jesus knew He was being lead to be crucified. And Jesus went willingly to give His life as a ransom for us.
 
Our text tells us that the plot was to rid the earth of Jeremiah’s name completely. We read the second part of verse nineteen, “I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, ‘Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more’” (v. 19). Not only did the people want to get rid of Jeremiah, they wanted to get rid of him completely. They wanted to remove his name completely from history. They knew he had no family, no children, thus killing him would kill his name completely.
 
In the same way, the plot of the Pharisees was to rid the earth of Jesus’ name. As Isaiah tells us, “By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken” (Is. 53:8). Jesus had no family, no children, no descendants, at least no physical descendants, contrary to what the gnostics, such as Dan Brown and others may propose as scandalous cover-ups. Yes, Jesus had no descendants, but to all who believe on the name of Jesus, they are, we are, the children of God, members of Jesus’ family.
 
Finally, our text tells us that Jeremiah prayed that the Lord would judge righteously and bring about vengeance. We read verse twenty, “20But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause” (v. 20). Jeremiah knows he is not in control. He knows who is in control and so he commits himself to the Lord. Jeremiah also knows that vengeance, that revenge is not something he should seek, rather he is to let the Lord have His vengeance, His righteous judgement be on his enemies.
 
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Lord take this cup from me, not my will, but Your will be done.” Jesus came, not to do it His way, but that the Lord’s righteous justice would prevail. Jesus came to do the will of the Father.
 
How do we relate? Quite frankly as a pastor, and I am sure it is not just me, but all pastors probably sometimes feel like Jeremiah. I happen to be a sinful human being like the rest of the world and I do not always do the right things at least not according to the opinion of some people. Fortunately, unlike Jeremiah, I do not believe that anyone is out to have me slaughtered, but even if that were the case, I would be like Jeremiah, gently lead to that slaughter. Yes, friends, the same things that went on in Jeremiah’s day are still going on in our world and even in our own churches today. We still live in a sin filled world in which we still like to knock others down in order to raise ourselves up. We still like to not put the best construction and explain everything in the kindest and best way. We still like to gossip. And we do not like to be told we are wrong. If we disagree with what the pastor is preaching or teaching, rather than be as the Bereans and search the Scriptures, we just avoid divine service and Bible Class. If we disagree with how things are going we just decide to not participate. We act like a child who pouts because he does not get his own way. And we spend our time speaking to others about our “concern” that things are not being done the way we believe they should be done.
 
I believe our Gospel lesson shows us what is actually going on in our churches today. Here, Jesus has been with His disciples and they, sort of, know who He is, yet, their concern is about what’s in it for them. Even in our Epistle lesson, James makes us look in the mirror and see that, even though we are saved by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus, faith given to us by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace, we continue to live lives as sinners. So, as we look at ourselves as members of this congregation perhaps we would do well to ask ourselves, “Am I contributing to the tearing down or the uplifting of this congregation?” Of course we would all like to think that we are a part of the solution . . .  if only they would do it my way. How do you know if you are a part of the tearing down or a part of the lifting up. You can know you are a part of lifting up by being in the Word and by taking it to the Lord in prayer. By volunteering to serve on a board or committee. By offering words of encouragement. By offering to help in any way.
 
God’s desire for us and our lives is what I have been telling you almost every Sunday, that we make regular and diligent use of the means of grace. God’s desire is that we are in the Word, that we remember our baptism, that we confess our sins and hear His most wonderful words of sins forgiven, and that we partake of His body and blood in His holy Supper. God cannot help us when we stay away from the very place where He comes to gives us help, His Holy Word and His sacraments. God’s desire is that we make regular and diligent use of His means of grace so that He might pour out on us and lavish us with all the good gifts and blessings He has to give.
 
It is God’s Word which gives us both direction and forgiveness. God’s Word reminds us that we are not to bear false witness against our neighbor. And we are not even to bear witness of the truth if that truth does not seek the best for the other person. This word reminds us that we are not to be the ones who are speaking and spreading anything that is not uplifting and that we are to lift up those who are being put down by others. Even if doing that, speaking good and lift up others, makes us unpopular as well.
 
More importantly, God’s Word and His Sacraments give us God’s grace, forgiveness, faith, strengthening of faith, life and salvation. To absent ourselves from His Word and means of Grace is tantamount to refusing the gifts He has to give. To make regular and diligent use of His Word and means of Grace is to be strengthened and kept in faith.
 
There may be times in our life when we all feel like Jeremiah, that the world is out to get us. There may be times when we feel like we need to get our own revenge. We want to tell them a thing or two.
 
What has happened is that we have forgotten that we are not the ones who are in charge and that we do not do things our way, rather it is God who is in charge. When we think we are in charge and do things “our way,” that is when we become just like those we believe are against us, and then we too are in rebellion against God. And more often than not, when we do it “our way,” we only make a bigger mess of the situation.
 
Fortunately for us, we have a great God who loves us and even more we have a great God who loves His Church and because of His great love for us and for His Church He continues to keep an eye out for us. So, even when we barrel ahead and mess up, even when we do things “our way,” the Lord comes to the rescue. The Lord comes through and “fixes” what we mess up.
 
The ultimate “fixing” was Christ’s death on the cross. Let us face it, we are sinful human beings. We are sinful from our conception. We are conceived and born in sin and by ourselves there is no way we can save ourselves. Left to do things our way, we would be destined to eternal spiritual death in hell, for eternity. Praise the Lord that Jesus did not do it His way. Jesus willingly gave up the glory that was His in heaven. Jesus willingly took on human flesh and blood, being conceived and born as a human being. Jesus willingly was born humble and lowly, in a manger. Jesus willingly took our sins upon Himself. He who knew no sin became sin for us. Jesus willingly gave in to the will of the Father who sent Him to give His life for ours. Jesus’ death paid the price for the eternal punishment for our sins, all our sins, especially and including our sins of speaking not the best about others and not uplifting others. Jesus has and continues to be the ultimate fix for us in our lives.
 
I believe our church has so much to offer our members as well as our community. We are a church in which the scripture permeates our worship and in which we hear quite clearly, that we are sinners and so we do need a Savior, but even more we hear quite clearly that your sins are forgiven, go in peace. Our Lord has so much to give to us through His Word and His Sacraments. He can and does work through these means to help us give up “our way,” and follow His way. He can and He does work through His Word and Sacraments to lavish us with all the good gifts and blessings He has to give. And He works in us to respond to all that He gives by rejoicing and saying, to Him be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

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