‘GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON OUR NATIONAL TRAGEDY’
Preached on September 16th 2001
Text: Jeremiah 18:1-12
Intro: The terrorist attack on our country this past Tuesday has had a profound effect upon our nation. We were shocked when we saw the pictures of that commercial airliner crashing into the Towers of the World Trade Center—it was like watching a Hollywood movie with all the special effects. Our shock turned into a kind of numbness—how could something like this happen to us? Many times, this past week, we have had to hold back our emotions of sadness and restrain our feelings of anger and outrage—we want justice to be done; we want to see those terrorists and the groups or nations that supported them, pay for what they did.
But on the other end of the spectrum of emotion, I think that many of us have felt a renewed sense of patriotism as Americans—especially after seeing the firemen, policemen, and emergency aid workers digging through the rubble desperately looking for survivors. We are particularly happy to see our congressional leaders (conservatives, moderates and liberals) working together—even singing together…God Bless America!
WHERE, DO YOU SUPPOSE, THAT GOD HAS BEEN THIS WEEK? What was He doing on Tuesday when all this happened? Do you think that God was taken by surprise like we were…? Didn’t God know that this horrible tragedy was going to occur, and if He knew, why didn’t He do something to stop it? Could it be, that God was like one of us—a helpless onlooker, unable to do anything? Perhaps, God didn’t realize how this horrible act of violence could ruin our economy?
Well, we can be certain that God knew—because He knows all things! (Is 46:9-10> ‘…For I AM GOD, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ’My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’—The biblical reality, is that there are far greater issues involved here, than our national pride and economy.
This morning, I would like for us to try to see this horrible tragedy from a totally different perspective than what you may have seen or heard on television. I would like for us to see Our National Tragedy from God’s Perspective.
Read; Jeremiah 18:1-11
In this passage, we have what might be called a divine Show and Tell… Some of us remember that when we were in elementary school, the teacher would give us an opportunity (maybe once-a-week), to bring something interesting or unusual from home to show our classmates (an Indian arrowhead, a pet hamster, a shark’s tooth…). This was called, Show and Tell…
In this passage, God SHOWS Jeremiah a very important and profound truth; and after showing him this truth (or object lesson)—God TELLS Jeremiah the meaning of what he has seen, so that the prophet might be able to tell others.
So we have two things here;
1. THE TRUTH OF GOD—SHOWN – v.1-4
2. THE TRUTH OF GOD—KNOWN – v.5-11
I. GOD SHOWS JEREMIAH THE TRUTH - verse 1, tells us that ‘the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah…’ Now, we need to remember, that Jeremiah was a very unique individual—He was a prophet of God. And God, by His Spirit spoke directly to His prophets.
God still speaks to people today—but not directly like He did to Jeremiah. The reason is simple—in our day we have the complete revelation of God’s Word and the full manifestation of His Spirit. So God speaks to us from His written Word, by His Spirit—but only to those who have spiritual ears and a receptive heart.
There is actually another way that God, by His Spirit speaks to us. It is a way that is much more indistinct than the written Word, but not any less real.—God speaks to us through His works of creation and providence.
(1) GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS CREATION – (Ps 19:1> ‘The HEAVENS DECLARE the glory of God…’ (Job 37:2-5> ‘HEAR ATTENTIVELY THE THUNDER OF HIS VOICE, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth… God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.’
(2) GOD SPEAKS BY THE VOICE OF HIS PROVIDENCE – God caused a swarm of locusts to devour every living green thing in the land of Judah during the reign of Joash and the prophet Joel records (2:11> ‘The Lord gives voice before His army… (3:16> ‘The Lord also will roar from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem…’
Matthew Henry - ‘When God’s judgments are abroad they make a great noise; and it is necessary for the awakening of a secure and stupid world that they do so.’ – Commentary (vol. 4, p.1209)
John Owen - ‘It is a part and duty of spiritual wisdom, as also an evidence of a due reverence to God, to take notice of extraordinary occurrences in the dispensations of His providence; for they are instructive warnings, and of great importance in His government of the world. In them, (Micah 6:9> “The LORD’S voice cries to the city...” the last part of that verse reads, ‘HEAR THE ROD!’
The Lord told Jeremiah, ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house…’ and in verses 3 and 4, we are given a very cursory account of what it was that God wanted Jeremiah to see:
1. THE ACTIVITY OF THE POTTER - (v.3> ‘There he was, MAKING SOMETHING at the wheel(s).’ There were really two wheels—the potter would spin the larger, heavier wheel with his foot. And this wheel was connected by a shaft to a smaller wheel upon which the potter would shape and fashion the clay.
2. THE AUTONOMY OF THE POTTER (v.4) – in other words, the potter has absolute power and freedom to work and shape the clay any way he wants to. He can make that wet, sticky blob of brown dirt into a candleholder or a water pitcher or a coffee mug. He can even change the color of the clay if he chooses to. If something happens while he is in the process of making a water pitcher, and it is marred or flawed in some way, the potter may choose to start all over and make the same lump of clay into anything else. THE POINT is—that the potter has the right to make the lump of clay into anything he chooses.
II. GOD TELLS JEREMIAH THE TRUTH (v.5-11) – this same fundamental truth is found in the very first verse of the Bible – (Gen 1:1> ‘IN THE BEGINNING GOD——-created the heavens and the earth.’ In the beginning there was nothing—until God called it into being! Out of nothing, God made all the countless galaxies and solar systems that make up the heavens; and He made the earth out of tiny, little microscopic galaxies and solar-like systems called molecules and atoms. And all perfectly detailed and ordered.
God made everything out of nothing—Everything, except man. The record in Genesis tells us that ‘The Lord GOD FORMED MAN out of the dust of the ground…’ The biblical reality is that we are all little globs of clay—clumps of refined dust—and God, as our Potter, has shaped and fashioned us as it pleased Him. Think about it—the color of your eyes, the pigmentation of your skin, your unique personality and IQ and cultural background; the detailed code of your DNA—was all predetermined by God. (Ps 100:3> ‘KNOW that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves…’
However, the primary focus of this passage is not upon individuals, but upon NATIONS, specifically the nation of Israel. God loved Israel in a way that He never loved any other nation of people; He blessed them over and over again; He made a covenant with them, but they broke His covenant; they despised and disobeyed His law; they worshipped and served false gods. So God complains (v.14-15). So what does God do?
1st ... HE INSTRUCTS THEM IN THE PRINCIPLES OF DIVINE POTTERY (v.5-6) – it’s as if God were saying, ‘O My people, do you not know who I am?—I am your Potter, the One who made you. Do you not know that you are still in My hand—and that I can do whatever I want to do with you?’ – The fact is, that God has far greater power over the nations of men, than a potter ever had over a lump of clay—God has all power and authority ‘to kill and make alive; to bring down to the grave and bring up; to make the poor and make the rich…’
2nd ... HE WARNS THEM ABOUT IMPENDING DISASTER (v.11)
(1) WHAT A SOBERING WORD THIS IS! - If the terrorists had warned our government in advance of their diabolical plot to hijack four airliners and crash them into buildings, we would have stopped them! But who can stop God? Who can frustrate God’s plans? (Job 23:13> “…He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.”
Does this sound strange to you?—that God would fashion calamities and disasters… Isaiah 45:5-7,9-10. (Lam 3:37-38> ‘Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it? IS IT NOT FROM THE MOUTH OF THE MOST HIGH THAT WOE AND WELL-BEING PROCEED?’
‘OK—but Why would God use Islamic terrorists?’—Why not?...God used the Assyrians to conquer His people Israel. In (Is 10:5> God calls the Assyrians ‘…the ROD OF MY ANGER…the staff in whose hand is My indignation.’ The Lord used the idolatrous Babylonians to destroy His holy city Jerusalem. Read the book of Job—God used Sabeans and Chaldeans to prove His servant Job—He used the Devil to test Job and David! … Is it any wonder then, that God would raise up groups of terrorists who follow Mohammed to fight against us?—it could be worse…
But also;
(2) WHAT A GRACIOUS WORD THIS IS! - God warned Israel over and over again so that they might repent of their national sins and turn back to Him. He warns and threatens individuals and nations because He desires to show them mercy. (Ezek 33:11> “Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I HAVE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die…?’”
III. WHAT IS GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON THIS NATIONAL TRAGEDY? - it is;
1st ... THE PERSPECTIVE OF OUR DIVINE POTTER (v.6) – God has made us as individuals and as a nation. He has made us a great nation; we are the most prosperous; most privileged nation on the face of the earth; it is God who has made us to excel in technology; it is God who has made us secure. He has kept foreign armies and enemies from attacking our United States of America—until this past Tuesday.
But, WHY DID GOD ALLOW THESE MUSLIM TERRORISTS TO COMMIT SUCH OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR GREAT NATION?
(1) TO GET OUR ATTENTION – it’s not easy to get the attention of someone who is busy and preoccupied with other things; or someone who doesn’t care and doesn’t want to listen. But God knows how to get anyone’s attention.
Illus: When David’s son, Absalom wanted Joab to help set up a meeting between Absalom and the king, Joab ignored Absalom requests—not once but twice. So Absalom’s servants set fire to Joab’s field—and immediately Joab came to meet with Absalom!
(2) TO SHOW US WE ARE NOT SO GREAT WITHOUT GOD – was it the well thought-out plan of a mad Muslim millionaire hiding in the desert of Afghanistan to hit us in the citadels of our money and might; or was it God’s plan to humble us as a nation?
(Amos 3:6> ‘If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?’
(3) BECAUSE WE DESERVED IT – as horrible as the tragedy on Tuesday was—it could have been worse! Be assured—that God has punished us far less than our sins deserved. Because we have treated God, the way that Israel treated Him. God has blessed us with unparalleled prosperity and security—and yet no generation of people has ever sinned so grievously and outrageously against our Potter and Provider and Protector (v.7-10).
‘Here is a sure rule given us of the interpretation of severe providences (such as plague, fire and blood)… First, that they are warnings of God… Secondly, that their voice and language is a call to repentance and reformation (Lk 13:1-5)… Thirdly, when they are neglected as warnings, calling to repentance, they change their nature, and become certain signs of approaching destruction.’ – Works of John Owen (vol. 8, p.604)
(4) FOR OUR GOOD AS A NATION – God is not driven by holy anger and vengeance; He is driven by goodness and mercy. Dear ones, (Lam 3:22-23,32-33> ‘IT IS OF THE LORD’S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness… Though He causes grief, Yet He will show compassion According to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, Nor grieve the children of men.’
Jerry Bridges, Trusting God (p.119) - ‘…the wisdom of God is displayed when He brings good to us and glory to Himself out of confusion and calamity rather than out of pleasant times.’
C.H. Spurgeon, The Infallibility Of God’s Purpose, (Vol. 7, #406) - ‘…the calamities of earthquake, the devastations of storm, the extirpations of war, and all the terrible catastrophes of plague, have only been co-workers with God — slaves compelled to tug the galley of the divine purpose across the sea of time. From every evil good has come, and the more the evil has accumulated the more hath God glorified himself in bringing out at last His grand, His everlasting design… — in every event of Providence, God has a purpose… one purpose, for all history… There are many scenes, but it is one drama; there are many pages, but it is one book; there are many leaves, but it is one tree, there are many provinces, yea, and there be lords many and rulers many, yet is there but one empire, and God the only Potentate. “O come let us worship and bow down before him: for the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods!”
(5) FOR THE SALVATION OF SINNERS – the purpose of God is to be glorified in the salvation of sinners. That’s why He sent His only Son, instead of an angel to rescue us from our sins. That’s why He gives the Holy Spirit.
(Jn 16:8-11> ‘And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.’
(Lk 13:4-5> ‘Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but UNLESS YOU REPENT YOU WILL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.’
