1. The verdict must clearly be the Lord’s.(Jer. 45:1-5)
A. Self-centeredness is not acceptable. (Jer. 45:5)
B. The verdict is confirmed to others.
– Jeremiah & Baruch. Both were told.
– Elijah wasn’t alone after all. 1 Kings 19:10,14
– Your temptation is not unique. 1 Cor. 10:13
– Elijah and (Enoch or Moses) Zech. 4:12-14, Rev. 11:13
2. Believers must yield to the verdict.
A. Israel to the Babylonians. (Jer. 38:19-21)
B. Believer’s to be creative in the world’s apostasy to continue doing God’s work.
Dan. 11:32 *(Heb. “Exploits”=”creative working”)
3. Reactions will be varied. (according to type of verdict, and personal yieldedness
to God)
**Baruch thought he would be personally benefited from it. “A rising spiritual
star” ??
A. There can be rebellion to it.
– Thinking the verdict can be changed.
– Thinking it isn’t as important as other matters (like Saul’s “image”)
1 Sam. 16:24-28
B. There can be overwhelming fear (paranoia) to it.
– Worse than any horror story. Amos 5:19
C. There can be relief to it. Psalm 97:8, 119:52
D. There can be apathy to it. 2 Kings 20:17-19
E. There can be hope and satisfaction to it. Luke 21:28