Sermon Scriptures: Jer. 23:1-4; Is. 10:20-23 (MSG)
Jer. 23:1-4: “Doom to the shepherd-leaders who butcher and scatter my sheep!” God’s Decree. “So here is what I, God, Israel’s God, say to the shepherd-leaders who misled my people: ‘You’ve scattered my sheep. You’ve driven them off. You haven’t kept your eye on them. Well, let me tell you, I’m keeping my eye on you, keeping track of your criminal behavior. I’ll take over and gather what’s left of my sheep, gather them in from all the lands where I’ve driven them. I’ll bring them back where they belong, and they’ll recover and flourish. I’ll set shepherd-leaders over them who will take good care of them. They won’t live in fear or panic anymore. All the lost sheep rounded up!’ God’s Decree.
Is. 10: And on that Day also, what’s left of Israel, the straggling survivors of Jacob, will no longer be fascinated by abusive, battering Assyria. They’ll lean on God, The Holy—yes, truly. The ragtag remnant—what’s left of Jacob—will come back to the Strong God. Your people Israel were once like the sand on the seashore, but only a scattered few will return. Destruction is ordered, brimming over with righteousness. For the Master, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, will finish here what he started all over the globe.
Introduction- In the two scriptures we read, we have 2 of the major prophets of scripture, Jeremiah and Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied during the time of the divided kingdom under 4 kings of Judah around the eighth century and Jeremiah prophesied during the rise of Assyria, around the 6/7th centuries. We see in these verses that they both declare the rise of a remnant of God’s people.
POINTS:
- God has always resesrved a remnant for Himself ( 2 Kings 19:30-31)
- The remnant is a different breed. Characteristics of the remnant:
- They observe the trials others have endured and who have quit
- They are radically obedient in spite of the ridicule and scorn
- They are small but mighty. They are not mighty in their own selves or strength but because of the Kingdom, they must rely on God alone and the power of his might
3. The remnant has been reserved for such a time as this