Jeremiah – The Magnificent Failure

How do you measure success? By accomplishments, meeting certain goals, popularity, getting the most out of life, etc.

By almost any standard you might use – Jeremiah was a failure – he was a magnificent failure!

I. Jeremiah’s Challenge

Jeremiah’s call (1:4-10) His message -He started in the days of King Josiah -He called God’s people to repent -He preached for over 40 years

Jer. 3:12, 13, 22 Jer. 8:5 Jer. 4:4 Jer. 26:3

Some familiar passages Jer. 6:16 Jer. 10:23 Jer. 17:9

As time went on he warned them more and more that God’s patience had run out and punishment was sure to come

2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

When the Babylonian army came – their only hope was surrender Jer. 38:2, 17 He presented God’s message by preaching, writing, object lessons

II. Jeremiah’s Failure

Did the people repent? Did he save their lives and the city? NO

After over 40 years of preaching, all he had to show for it was the smoking ruins of a once beautiful city

2 Chronicles 36:18-19 And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon…

And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

NO Was he appreciated for what he tried to do? He was opposed by the people, the priests, the false prophets and the princes

They threatened him They mocked him They hit him They restricted where he could go

They burned his messages They put him in stocks They put him in prison for years They put him in the dungeon to die

Was he happy? NO He did not want to preach in the first place and he did not want to continue

At least five times he complained to the Lord He is known as “the weeping prophet”

Jer. 9:1, 10 Lamentations 1-5

III. The Magnificent Failure

“In spite of it all, he did not quit “In spite of it all, he did not quit. He was faithful to his charge for over forty years.” Jer. 20:9

We need this message today – we must not quit no matter what happens

Rev. 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Conclusion “God does not measure success by happiness or popularity, but by faithful service to Him.”