Jeremiah Buys a Field

 I.)  The Setting:  Jerusalem under seige (1 1/2 - 2 1/2 years) - Babylonians surround the city and sacking outlying towns.

II.)  Jeremiah's situation:  been preaching roughly 40 years!  Message started out "Repent and Return or else."
Message Now = "repent and return to the Lord, BUT too late to avoid exile!"

Therefore:  He's been:
(1) accused of treason, sedition - Jer. 38:4 - accused of turning his people against the nation,
even heresy!  Jer. 26:11

(2)  put in stocks, publicly humiliated - Jer. 20:1-2 - very public area

(3)  his scrolls burned BY the King! - Jer. 36:22-23

(4)  beaten and imprisonee - Jer. 37:16 - (dungeon = below ground/no light)

(5)  lowered into a cistern - Jer. 38:6 - sank into the mud - now can't prophecy

Today's text ... he is rescued from the cistern and placed "under house arrest" in the courtyard of the royal guard (stockade) 

This is where the story begins:  Jer. 32:1-2, 6-29, 36-44 (understand - Anathoth totally under Babylonian control)

Question:  the tone of Vs. 25?  IF = awe, confusion, amazement, wonder.... etc, Then: 

#1)  This is Jeremiah being human
"prophet" does not cancel "human" (fallen, frail)
Compare:  Moses ... post Exodus
                  Elijah ... post Mt. Carmel
  John the Baptist... post Jesus' miracles - "are you really the one".
IF this happened to them, what can we expect from you and me? - Mark 9:24

Salvation does not erase (frail) humanity!
Confidence in Christ does not lead to perfection (in this life)

#2.  This is Jeremiah being honest
A.  with himself!  Admitting to imperfect faith
B.  with God not afraid to air complaints, confusion, disappointments, etc. 
Compare: Moses, Elijah, Job
Compare the Laments. Roughly 1/3 of Psalms are laments  - Psm. 13:1-2 - people being honest with God.
Note:  this is not irreverance!!  Is great reverance in the midst of problems, tragedy, etc.  God corrects, but never condemns.

But... #3.  This is Jeremiah ACTING in faith! - internal struggles vs.external obedience - does exactly what told to do.  Compare Heb. 11:1-2 with list of Actions that follow!!! Is no reference to how they felt, just what they did!   By in large, the prophets were doing what they were supposed to do in public, questioning God in private.

#4.  This is Jeremiah modeling the faith ... for us!  A visible example for us to follow!

SOME OBSERVATIONS FROM THIS:

(1)  Your faith will never be perfect (in this life - post conversion) - you are human

(2)  That doesn't mean it's ineffective.

(3)  Tehre is no need to deny your (faith) imperfections.

(4)  There is no need to flaunt them either!!!  Note:  prophet's complaints with God vs. in Public!!
Example:  antinomians - against the law.  Believed doesn't make any difference what we do.

(5)  Having doubts doesn't make you less Christian.

(6)  But... having doubts doesn't excuse sinful behavior.  We know we're supposed to do what we're supposed to do.

(7)  Ultimately ... your faith is measured by your actions, not your feelings.  "faith" only found 1 time in the Old Testament.  "faithful", or "faithfulness" - all over the place

Closing Scripture:  2 Tim. 4:3-5