Jeremiah 42:9-12 - Homiletics

The blessedness of patient endurance.

In answer to the appeal of the people for guidance, Jeremiah has to tell them that good will attend them so long as they stay in their land, but curses if they flee to Egypt. Hardships crowd upon them at present, and dangers threaten for the future. But if they will but endure these patiently, God will save and prosper them.

I. WHY THE PEOPLE WERE REQUIRED TO REMAIN IN THEIR LAND .

1 . It was the will of God. When we know his will, if we know nothing more, that alone should be a final answer to all questions. Because he is our King we are bound to obey, and because he is our Father his will must be for our good.

2 . It was the course of faith. Flight to Egypt was always regarded as a sign of distrust in God and reliance upon the arm of flesh. Repeatedly had the people been warned not to trust "upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh King of Egypt unto all that trust on him" ( 2 Kings 18:21 ). When Pharaoh takes the place of Jehovah, when any earthly judge is trusted rather than God, it will surely betray us.

3 . It was a safeguard for purity. Egypt was a heathen power. An asylum in Egypt would bring temptations to immorality and unfaithfulness to the God of Israel. It is always unwise and wrong to run into temptation in order to escape from trouble.

4 . It was a sign of contentment. It is happiest for a man to do his duty in that state of life into which it has pleased God to call him, though if God calls him out of one state to a more prosperous one, he may enjoy the greater comfort thus gained.

II. WHAT PROMISES WERE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO REMAINED IN THEIR LAND .

1 . Prosperity would be restored. The troubles of God's people are transitory. Patient endurance will see the end of all of them. Then God will bring, not bare deliverance, but happiness and prosperity. The Jew looked for this in temporal concerns; the Christian expects it in eternal things.

2 . The people would be delivered from danger. God would save them from the King of Babylon. And if this salvation was possible, shall we not believe that all other deliverances are possible, and rest calmly assured that to those who patiently and obediently submit to God no real harm can come? Nebuchadnezzar may triumph insolently; but God can cast him down to the level of the brutes. The lions may roar, but they are chained, or God wilt send an angel to shut their mouths.

III. WHAT ASSURANCES THE PEOPLE HAD THAT IT WOULD BE THUS WELL WITH THEM IF THEY REMAINED IN THEIR LAND .

1 . They were assured of the presence of God. "I am with you" (verse 11). If God is with us, we can dispense with the patronage of a Pharaoh, even though a Nebuchadnezzar is thundering at our gates.

2 . They were assured of the active help of God. "I am with you—to save you." The very object of God's presence is his people's good. When present he does not only observe; he acts, saves, delivers.

3 . They were assured of the continued mercy of God. "I will procure you mercy" (verse 12).

4 . They were assured that God would overrule their enemy and convert him into their friend. Nebuchadnezzar should be made to have mercy upon the people. Thus what we most fear is led by God to work our good when we are obedient and submissive.