Sermons on Jeremiah 9:23-24
The various sermons below interpret Jeremiah 9:23-24 by emphasizing the importance of knowing God beyond mere intellectual understanding. They highlight the relational aspect of this knowledge, suggesting that it is a covenantal relationship rather than just adherence to a creed. Both sermons stress the futility of relying on human wisdom, strength, and riches, which can become problematic when idolized. They use analogies to illustrate their points: one sermon contrasts superficial understanding with deep, relational knowledge using the phrase "yada, yada, yada," while another uses the analogy of fire as a good servant but a bad master to show how human attributes should serve rather than dominate. These interpretations collectively underscore the call to recognize the limitations of human attributes and to find true glory in knowing and understanding God.
While both sermons share common themes, they also present distinct theological nuances. One sermon emphasizes shifting from self-reliance to God-reliance, particularly in times of chaos and crisis, and introduces the concept of "hesed," highlighting the importance of embodying God's kindness, justice, and righteousness. In contrast, another sermon focuses on the historical continuity of human folly, arguing that human self-sufficiency is a fundamental flaw that persists from Jeremiah's time to today. This sermon stresses that human attributes should be servants, not masters, and warns against turning them into objects of worship, which leads to societal and personal downfall.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Interpretation:
Deepening Our Relationship with God in 2025 (Rexdale Alliance Church) interprets Jeremiah 9:23-24 by focusing on the Hebrew word "yada," which means to know. The sermon emphasizes that knowing God is not just intellectual awareness but an intimate familiarity and the highest form of knowing. This interpretation highlights the relational aspect of knowing God, suggesting that it is a covenantal relationship rather than just a creed. The sermon uses the analogy of "yada, yada, yada" to contrast superficial understanding with deep, relational knowledge of God.
True Glory: Trusting God Over Human Limitations (MLJTrust) interprets Jeremiah 9:23-24 by emphasizing the futility of relying on human wisdom, strength, and riches. The sermon highlights that these attributes, while valuable, become problematic when they are turned into absolutes or worshipped as gods. The preacher uses the original Hebrew context to stress that the passage is a call to recognize the limitations of human attributes and to understand that true glory comes from knowing and understanding God. The sermon uses the analogy of fire as a good servant but a bad master to illustrate how wisdom, might, and riches should serve humanity rather than dominate it.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Theological Themes:
Deepening Our Relationship with God in 2025 (Rexdale Alliance Church) presents the theme of shifting from self-reliance to God-reliance. The sermon suggests that in times of chaos and crisis, believers should not rely on their wisdom, strength, or riches but should boast in their relationship with God. This theme is distinct in its emphasis on the relational aspect of knowing God as a source of strength and wisdom.
The sermon also introduces the concept of "hesed," a Hebrew word for kindness, which encompasses loving-kindness, loyalty, mercy, and grace. This theme highlights the importance of embodying God's kindness, justice, and righteousness in the world, suggesting that these attributes should be the focus of a believer's life.
True Glory: Trusting God Over Human Limitations (MLJTrust) presents the theme that human self-sufficiency is a fundamental flaw. The sermon argues that human nature has not changed since the time of Jeremiah, and the same reliance on wisdom, might, and riches persists today. The preacher introduces the idea that human attributes should be servants, not masters, and that turning them into objects of worship leads to societal and personal downfall. This theme is distinct in its focus on the historical continuity of human folly and the need for divine reliance.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Deepening Our Relationship with God in 2025 (Rexdale Alliance Church) provides historical context by explaining that Israel was chosen as God's treasured possession to reveal God's character to the world. The sermon discusses how Israel's history of wavering in their covenant with God led to the need for prophets like Jeremiah to call them back to faithfulness. This context helps to understand the significance of Jeremiah's message in calling people to boast in their knowledge of God rather than their own achievements.
True Glory: Trusting God Over Human Limitations (MLJTrust) provides historical context by explaining that Jeremiah's message was delivered during a time of great insecurity in Israel, with the threat of Babylonian invasion. The sermon highlights that the Israelites were relying on their wisdom, might, and riches to save them, which parallels modern reliance on similar attributes. The preacher emphasizes that human nature and the tendency to rely on these attributes have remained unchanged since Jeremiah's time.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Cross-References in the Bible:
Deepening Our Relationship with God in 2025 (Rexdale Alliance Church) references Proverbs 3:5-6, which advises believers to trust in the Lord rather than their own understanding. This cross-reference supports the sermon’s message of relying on God rather than self-reliance.
The sermon also references 2 Timothy 1:12, where Paul expresses confidence in God's ability to guard what he has entrusted to Him. This passage is used to illustrate the importance of knowing whom one believes in, reinforcing the theme of relational knowledge of God.
True Glory: Trusting God Over Human Limitations (MLJTrust) references the story of David and Goliath to illustrate the triumph of divine wisdom over human might. The sermon uses this story to show that true strength comes from God, not human power. Additionally, the preacher references the Apostle Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians, where Paul critiques the wisdom of the world and emphasizes the wisdom of God. These references support the sermon's message that human attributes are insufficient without divine understanding.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Christian References outside the Bible:
Deepening Our Relationship with God in 2025 (Rexdale Alliance Church) references German theologian Johannes Hartl, who emphasizes the gap between finite human understanding and the infinite nature of God. This reference is used to highlight the importance of pursuing a deep, relational knowledge of God.
The sermon also mentions Rich Valotas and his book "Deeply Formed Life," which discusses the importance of knowing oneself in relationship with others as part of knowing God. This reference adds depth to the theme of relational knowledge by suggesting that self-awareness and community are integral to understanding God.
True Glory: Trusting God Over Human Limitations (MLJTrust) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Deepening Our Relationship with God in 2025 (Rexdale Alliance Church) uses the story of Tom Holland, a historian and agnostic, who recognized the influence of Judeo-Christian principles in the Western world, particularly in the context of the Me Too movement. This illustration is used to encourage Christians to be proud of their faith and its impact on society, reinforcing the message of boasting in the knowledge of God.
True Glory: Trusting God Over Human Limitations (MLJTrust) uses the analogy of fire as a good servant but a bad master to illustrate how wisdom, might, and riches should serve humanity rather than dominate it. The sermon also references the modern context of nuclear power and the potential for global destruction to highlight the limitations of human might and the need for divine reliance.