Every 168 hours the pastor is called to speak a “word from the Lord” to his people. (For most of us with Sunday night and midweek services, it is much more frequent than that.) The question that we should ask is how does God think we are doing with that responsibility?
Through the years He has not always been pleased by the work of the professional proclaimers. For instance, the prophets of Jeremiah’s day have incurred the wrath of God. For one thing, their lives are inconsistent with their alleged calling (v. 11, 13-14). This stirs up the anger of God. As does the fact they speak their own words, not God’s. Even Jeremiah is sternly warned in this passage to only speak God’s words and nothing else. What is most sobering is that in the absence of the good and Godly Word “no one turns from his evil.” The silence is deafening, despite the noise of all the man made messages.
The prophets speak what their hearers want to hear. They steal each other’s words. Why do they offer straw when they could have wheat? Are not His words like fire and a hammer that breaks rocks? God seems to be incredulous that anyone would settle for these words.
Yet these proclaimers could have had a true word – if they had stood in the council of the LORD “to see and hear His word.” If they had stood in the council of the LORD they would have proclaimed His word….and God’s people would have been restored (vv. 18, 22).
Oh, the damage our man made messages have caused. Today is Thursday….and Sunday is coming. May we spend ample time in the council of the LORD!
Through the years He has not always been pleased by the work of the professional proclaimers. For instance, the prophets of Jeremiah’s day have incurred the wrath of God. For one thing, their lives are inconsistent with their alleged calling (v. 11, 13-14). This stirs up the anger of God. As does the fact they speak their own words, not God’s. Even Jeremiah is sternly warned in this passage to only speak God’s words and nothing else. What is most sobering is that in the absence of the good and Godly Word “no one turns from his evil.” The silence is deafening, despite the noise of all the man made messages.
The prophets speak what their hearers want to hear. They steal each other’s words. Why do they offer straw when they could have wheat? Are not His words like fire and a hammer that breaks rocks? God seems to be incredulous that anyone would settle for these words.
Yet these proclaimers could have had a true word – if they had stood in the council of the LORD “to see and hear His word.” If they had stood in the council of the LORD they would have proclaimed His word….and God’s people would have been restored (vv. 18, 22).
Oh, the damage our man made messages have caused. Today is Thursday….and Sunday is coming. May we spend ample time in the council of the LORD!
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4 comments:
Tim, my friend,
You state, "Every 168 hours the pastor is called to speak a “word from the Lord” to his people. (For most of us with Sunday night and midweek services, it is much more frequent than that.)" I cannot help but wonder if you had hoped I would read that. For the record, I, too, am called to bring a word from the Lord 3 times each week. I, of course, speak of the present, not of the future. Once a week is tough enough, and I think we would both agree to that.
Your friend in the fight,
Joel
Yes. But I wonder what the exchange rate is between a Tim sermon and a Joel sermon. How many Tim sermons does it take to equal one of Joel's?
Tim
I'm thinking somewhere around ten, but I may be overstating it (slightly).
JRB
Just what I always dreamed for my blog....to be THE place for ministerial trash talk!
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