17 July 2001

Jeremiah 9
GLORYING IN THE RIGHT THINGS

A. Review
1. Understanding the promise of the glory of God. Israel and the temple would reflect His glory.

2. This is the earthly glory that reflected a greater glory…the eternal glory.

B. The glory of man
1. The glory of a young man is his strength. Prov 20:29

2. The glory of an old man is his gray hair. Prov 20:29

3. The glory is also seen in the Lord's Word that is given to man. Deut 4:8

C. The problem of glorying in that which God has given
1. Through the Lord's blessings, the glory of God is revealed in us.

2. But when we seek to glory ourselves in the things that God has given, we take away the glory of God. Jeremiah highlights 3 areas.

a. Glorying in our own wisdom
"Let not the wise man glory in his own wisdom," Jer 9:23
i. Wisdom as a blessing from God. Prov 2:6

ii. Human wisdom takes pre-eminence by setting aside the word of God. Jer 8:8-9

b. Glorying in our own might
"Let not the mighty man glory in his might," Jer 9:23

i. Might as a blessing from God. Isa 40:29

ii. They rely on their own might and set side the power of God.

c. Glorying in our own wealth
"Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;" Jer 9:23

i. Wealth as a blessing from God. Deut 8:7, 18

ii. Taking the credit for gaining our wealth. Deut 8:17

When we glory in these things, we take away the glory of God.

D. Glorying in the right things
1. Glorying in the knowledge of God
"But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me," Jer 9:24

a. Those who knew God's Word could glory in knowing God
i. Isaiah
"Then the word of the Lord came to me…" Jer 1:4
ii. The great men
"I will go to the great men and speak to them, for they have known the way of the Lord, the judgment of the Lord." Jer 5:5

b. But there was the widespread problem of people not knowing the Lord
i. The leaders
"The priests did not say, 'Where is the Lord?' And those who handle the law did not know Me." Jer 2:9
ii. The people
"For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good, they have no knowledge." Jer 4:22

2. Glorying in our understanding of what God delights
"That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth." Jer 9:24

a. God's Lovingkindness
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you." Deut 7:6-8

b. God's Judgment
"And you shall swear, 'The LORD lives,' in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." Jer 4:2

c. God's Righteousness
"And you shall swear, 'The LORD lives,' in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." Jer 4:2

Let's learn to avoid glorying in the wrong things. Let's be challenged to glory in that we understand and know God.