"IS THERE A WORD FROM THE LORD?"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte



JEREMIAH 37:11-17



It was 1942 and he was just 18 years old. He got drafted, and this newly trained, highly equipped, but inexperienced boy from the farm become soldier was off to war. He wrote when he could, but he couldn't be specific about things - the censors saw to that and national security disallowed it. All his mother knew was that he was going to Europe somewhere to help "Whup old Hitler" as he put it. That was news she hated to hear; almost any news would be better! Better that he had flat-feet or a heart murmur and was 4-F than that he was going to combat. Sometimes that's how it is; sometimes news is adverse, undesirable and not what we want to hear. Sometimes that's how it is with God's Word, too! In our text we see Zedekiah, king of Judah, calling for the prophet Jeremiah and asking, "Is there a word from the Lord?" and the news he got was not favorable to him. We still need a word from the Lord and it isn't always what we want it to be.
  1. GOD'S WORD IS SOMETIMES UNPOPULAR AND UNPALATABLE:
    1. Zedekiah didn't like what Jeremiah said! "You're taking a trip! Pack your bags and prepare to shuffle off to Babylon! You are given into the hand of the enemy!" That kind of news will just ruin your day! That isn't exactly the inspirational verse of the morning.
    2. Because God's Word doesn't always tally with our desires or desires, it is sometimes resented, repressed and rejected.
      1. Balak resented it when he wanted Balaam to curse Israel but ended up getting the word that he was cursed himself. Numbers 22.
      2. The rich young ruler rejected it when Jesus said to sell his goods and give to the poor and instead he went away sad. Mark 10.
      3. The Pharisees rejected Jesus' word spoken against them.
      4. Many today resent the word when it declares that
        1. We can't go on sinning and be saved.
        2. There is a Biblical order for marriage: wives are to be submissive, hubbies are to love sacrificially as Christ did the church.
        3. Sex outside of marriage is fornication.
        4. If you hate someone you are a murderer.
        5. If you remain unforgiving, you remain unforgiven.
    3. The word is not always pleasant, easy, popular or palatable
      1. It doesn't always tell us "You're okay! There are no needed changes in your life."
      2. Sometimes it cuts, penetrates, rebukes, corrects and unsettles us.
      3. Sometimes it slices right across our opinions and wills.
    4. But any Gospel that doesn't include
      1. A warning of judgment is not the Gospel at all!
      2. A requirement for repentance is not Gospel!
      3. A demand for obedience isn't Gospel!
      4. A call to commitment of all of life is no Gospel in any way shape or form!

God's Word is not always palatable! Neither was it good news that this mother's son was going off to war. After the boy was engaged in battle, he'd still write home as often as he could. His mother's prayers ascended daily, her letters went off regularly, and from time to time she heard. And every note was a gift from heaven! At least she had some word from her son. And it seemed that his letters came just when she needed them most and said what she needed to hear. They touched her heart and mind and emotions at the point of keenest need. So does God's Word. He who created us knows what we need to hear and when we need it. "Is there a word from the Lord?" Yes, there is, and

  1. GOD'S WORD SPEAKS TO OUR SITUATION, AND ADDRESSES OUR NEED:
    1. Zedekiah was in big trouble with the enemy and with God; Jeremiah spoke to his need; Zedekiah needed to repent and turn back to God. At any rate Jeremiah had surely spoken God's Word to Zedekiah often before because he needed to hear it.
    2. God's Word still speaks to our situation and our need! It is relevant, it is fitting, it is timely, it is appropriate!
    3. It speaks to us when
      1. We are in sin and need correction.
      2. We are in pain and suffering and our health is falling apart.
      3. We are in marital stress and our hopes, and dreams, and marriages are dying.
      4. When our children are rebelling and doing bizarre things that hurt and bewilder us.
      5. We are out of work and although there is no income, the bills keep piling up.
      6. We feel like utter failures, and our self-worth has slipped into the scale of negative numbers.
    4. Where are you hurting? God has a word for you! Where are you failing? God speaks to that! What is your need? God has an answer for you! There is a word from the Lord, but we need to be ready to hear.

The boy's mother was always ready to hear. She would daily watch the mail-box; "Would she get a letter? Would there be any word?" One day she waited at the box but no letter came; the next day, no letter. A week, and two weeks went by with no letter! She was worried and fretful; what had happened; what about her boy? Was he okay? Was he injured? The silence was deafening! Sometimes we feel like that, too!

  1. GOD'S WORD SOMETIMES SEEMS SILENT:
    1. Not that Zedekiah hadn't heard from God; not that no true prophet had spoken lately; he just wasn't listening and asked, "Is there a word?" Maybe He was hoping for a different word than he had heard.
    2. We pray but it seems to be a monologue! It's us talking to God and waiting for an answer. We read the Bible and still don't seem to hear His voice.
    3. "Is there a word from the Lord?" We ask that because God may seem silent. It seems so when
      1. We are most lonely and forlorn.
      2. We are most desperate and hopeless.
      3. We long for Him most and sense Him least.
      4. We know we are not living His way and hope somehow He will just overlook that and speak to us anyhow.
    4. But God does speak; in a still, small voice, He speaks; in His word, He speaks! We need to be still and know that He is God and that He does have a word for our time and situation.

It seemed this mother would never hear, but, at long last, after she prayed and cried and waited, a letter came. It said, "Mamma, I've been wounded but I'm okay; I'm coming home!" Coming home! Great! Wonderful! Even though he was wounded - through teary eyes she read those words again and again: "Mama, I'm coming home!" And he did! His word didn't fail. Nor does God's Word! What He says, He will do!

  1. GOD'S WORD IS SURE AND TRUE:
    1. What Jeremiah said to Zedekiah happened! He was blinded and led into captivity!
    2. Know for sure that His word is absolute, fixed and certain! He says what He means, He means what He says.
      1. His word will not return void: Isaiah 55:11 (NASB) "so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
      2. His promises will not fail: "Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise." Hebrews 10:23 (NLT).
    3. He speaks, it stands! He utters, it happens! He commands, it comes to pass!
    4. His faithfulness is higher than the skies. His faithfulness is to all generations. His word will not fail!

God spoke to ancient Israel about a promised rest. "But it did them no good because they didn't believe what God told them. For only we who believe can enter His place of rest." Hebrews 4:2 (NLT). God has spoken to you today; will it profit you? Is your hearing united with faith? If you are an unbeliever His word calls you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; if you are in sin His word demands repentance and forsaking of known sin; if you are unimmersed His word calls for obedience in the water of baptism; if you are not living for Him His word calls for faithfulness both in His body the church and in this world! He speaks to you at some point of your life; He speaks softly and tenderly amid the clamor of the world's loud voices. He speaks to us. If you are listening, He stands ready to work in your life through His living Word Jesus. And He stands ready to fill your life with His presence and power as God's Word working in you. Let Him have all there is of you, so you can have all there is of Him. As our worship team comes to lead our song, I will stand ready to receive you on His behalf. Yes! There is a word from the Lord; He says, "Come." Will you?

Return To Old Testament Sermons

Return To Archive

Return To Home Page