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Notes: March 3, 2009 – Outside the gate

The sermon before the sermon

2 Kings 23

  • v 31. Josiah’s son Jehoahaz ascended to the throne after his father’s death in battle.
  • v 32. Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the Lord; not at all like his pious father.
  • v 33. The Egyptian king alongside whom Josiah fought, dethroned Jehoahaz and imprisoned him.
  • v 34. Another son of Josiah was installed as (puppet) king of Judah.
  • v 35. Jehoiakim did evil in the Lord’s sight, too.

2 Chronicles 36

  • v 1. Remember that the people chose Jehoahaz, and the Pharaoh Neco chose Jehoiakim. And God wasn’t pleased with either one of them.

Jeremiah 26

  • v 1. Only 3 years after the death of Josiah, the land of Judah had become openly and widely corrupt again. How soon men fall back into their sin.
  • v 2. Jeremiah was not the opening act for a big name performer. He was the big name. Yet nobody seemed to care what he said.

Jeremiah 7

  • v 8. Ecclesiastes teaches us to beware vain pursuits. Jeremiah teaches us to beware unprofitable advice/lectures/sermons.
  • v 11. Can you imagine the house of the Lord being a den of robbers? Yet, isn’t this a complaint that all to many people make about the large, organized religions?
  • v 16. There are some people for whom you are forbidden to pray.
  • v 24. Progress. Not regress.
  • v 27. If results are based upon the number of people who accept your message, then Jeremiah was a failure from the beginning.
  • v 31. Why do some religions put so much emphasis on things that God never commanded?

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Note: March 2, 2009 – Josiah’s Revival

Removing sinful traditions

2 Chronicles 34

  • v 9-11. Rebuilding costs money
  • v 14. When the Bible gathers dust.
  • v 21. Reading the Bible and realizing your sins.
  • v 22. Not all prophets were men.
  • v 30. Sharing the word of God with others.

2 Kings 22

  • v 1. Josiah died when he was 39 years old, after 38 years as king.
  • v 4. In times of economic turmoil, governments often engage in public works projects. Josiah began a "pious work project" of rebuilding the temple.
  • v 7. Imagine contractors so honest that you didn’t need a full-time accountant.

2 Kings 23

  • v 4. Had they not cleansed the land earlier in Josiah’s reign? Where did all of this pagan paraphernalia come from?
  • v 7. A church sewing circle.
  • v 9. They won’t work, but they’ll eat.
  • v 10-12. Trying to undo all the evil that your grandfather did.
  • v 16-18. It’s not desecration, it’s purification.
  • v 21. Follow the instructions.
  • v 22-23. The best passover ever!
  • v 25. The best king ever!
  • v 29. In the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people.

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Notes: March 1, 2009 – Jeremiah 5 & 6

You’ve been warned

Jeremiah 5

  • v 1-2. Looking for a righteous man and not finding one.
  • v 3-9. Though disciplined by God, yet they would not repent
  • v 10-14. They who will not live by the Word will die by the sword
  • v 15-31. How low will they go?

Jeremiah 6

  • v 1-8. The Babylonians are coming. the Babylonians are coming.
  • v 9-18. One invasion is all that is required.
  • v 19-30. Yet unrepentant, many will call on God for help.

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Notes: February 28, 2009 – Jeremiah 3 & 4

What more could be said?

Jeremiah 3

  • v 1-5. Repent or perish.
  • v 6-11. Privileged Judah was worse than Israel.
  • v 12-20. Always hope of forgiveness.
  • v 21-25. Will their repentance endure?

Jeremiah 4

  • v 1-2. If…
  • v 3-6. Prepare for battle
  • v 7-10. Would men blame God?
  • v 11-18. Nebuchadnezzar’s violence will not be excused.
  • v 19-22. Judgment is coming; yet they will not repent.
  • v 23-31. No description can convey what is about to happen to Jerusalem.

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