Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 8:18-22
Wisdom from Sad Words
Intro.
1. Words convey our thoughts, emotions, desires, expectations, values, goals, motives, and so much more.
2. Words can be practical and imaginary, powerful and ineffective, comforting and destructive, sad and joyful, sorrowful and jubilant.
3. The Bible contains many words of sadness and sorrow (Eccl. 3:4).
a. Too much sorrow is harmful, Prov. 15:13 (2 Cor. 2:7).
b. Sorrow brings us wisdom when motivated by it to examine and correct ourselves before God, Eccl. 7:3 (wisdom); 2 Cor. 13:5.
4. Some sad words in the Bible. (Sad: gloomy; Sorrow: grief-stricken)
I. SAD WORDS ABOUT DEATH.
A. Jacob’s Grief over the Supposed Death of Joseph, Gen. 37:34-35.
-Grief of death is about loss, separation, finality, regrets… (Eccl. 7:2)
B. Christians’ Sorrow over the Death of Christians is Unlike the World’s Sorrow, 1 Thess. 4:13 (Acts 8:39).
1. We are saddened, but comforted with hope in the Lord, 1 Thess. 4:18; 1 Cor. 15:19-20; Jno. 11:25.
2. Predicated on our faithfulness to the Lord, 2 Pet. 2:20-22.
II. SAD WORDS ABOUT SUFFERING.
A. Hopelessness: “Curse God and die!” Job 2:9 (Job’s wife)
1. Many lose faith when suffering comes – Many do not, Job 2:10.
2. The day of adversity is the day for renewing of faith, Job 1:21-22.
-Requires the perspective of faith before/during/after, Jas. 1:2-4.
III. SAD WORDS OF SPIRITUAL SORROW.
A. Due to Sinful Choices, Mark 10:21-22 (Matt. 16:26).
1. Covetousness, Lk. 12:15, 21. God: “Fool! This night your soul…?”
2. Gehazi’s greed and lies, 2 Kgs. 5:20-27. “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you?” (2 Kgs. 5:26) cf. The heart of parents over fallen children, etc.
B. Punishment Due to Unrepented Sins, Jer. 8:20. “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” 8:21-22; 9:1-2
1. Judah looked in vain to idols to deliver them, to false prophets for comforting assurance, and to the nations for relief.
2. Yet, they rejected God and His word, Jer. 8:9, 11-12.
C. Religious Faith and Deeds Without Divine Law, Matt. 7:21-23. “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
D. Unprepared for Christ’s Return, Matt. 25:11-12. “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”
1. “I was afraid, and went and hid my talent in the ground.” Matt. 25:25
2. “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” Matt. 25:41.
Conclusion
1. We have freewill to change our lives, and by God’s grace replace sadness with joy, Matt. 25:21, 23; Acts 8:39.
2. Our sin angers and grieves God, and it will be punished. But, His anger gives way to His merciful forgiveness in Christ, Matt. 11:28-30.
3. Words of joy from Psalm 30:5: “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
By: Joe R. Price
Posted October 22, 2019