True Glory: Trusting God Over Human Limitations

 

Summary

In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 9, verses 23 and 24, we find a profound message that speaks directly to the heart of human folly and the true source of glory. The world is in turmoil, much like it was in Jeremiah's time, because humanity places its confidence in wisdom, might, and riches. These are the false expedients that people rely on, believing they can solve life's problems through their own abilities. However, this self-reliance is the root of our troubles. Human nature has not changed since the days of Jeremiah; we still glory in our own wisdom, power, and wealth, thinking they are sufficient to navigate life's challenges.

The prophet Jeremiah warns against this misplaced confidence, urging us to recognize the inadequacy of these things. Wisdom, while valuable, cannot solve the deepest problems of life, such as understanding oneself, knowing God, or facing death. Similarly, might and power are fleeting and ultimately powerless against the forces of illness, aging, and death. Riches, too, are limited; they cannot buy happiness, peace, or love, and they are useless in the face of death.

The true solution lies in knowing and understanding God, who exercises loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness. This is the only thing worth glorying in. God, in His infinite mercy, offers us a way out of our self-imposed troubles through His loving kindness, exemplified in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. By trusting in God and His provision, we gain true wisdom, power, and riches that are eternal and unshakeable.

Key Takeaways:

- The Folly of Self-Reliance: Humanity's greatest mistake is placing ultimate confidence in its own wisdom, might, and riches. These are inadequate to solve life's deepest problems, and this misplaced trust leads to our downfall. True wisdom begins with recognizing our limitations and turning to God. [09:00]

- The Inadequacy of Human Wisdom: While human wisdom can achieve much, it cannot answer life's most profound questions, such as the nature of man, the purpose of life, or the reality of God. True understanding comes from knowing God, who transcends human wisdom. [22:29]

- The Transience of Power and Might: Human strength and power are temporary and ultimately powerless against the inevitability of death and the forces of nature. True power is found in God, who is eternal and unchanging. [30:16]

- The Limitations of Wealth: Wealth cannot buy the most valuable things in life, such as love, peace, and eternal security. True riches are found in a relationship with God, who provides for our deepest needs. [35:27]

- The True Source of Glory: The only thing worth glorying in is knowing and understanding God, who exercises loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness. This relationship with God offers eternal wisdom, power, and riches that cannot be taken away. [38:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Jeremiah's Message
- [01:11] - The Problem of Life and Living
- [02:32] - The Tragic Condition of Humanity
- [04:09] - The Fallacy of False Solutions
- [06:24] - The Unchanging Nature of Man
- [07:15] - The Insecurity of the World
- [09:00] - The Folly of Self-Confidence
- [12:35] - The Misuse of Wisdom
- [15:05] - The Worship of Might
- [17:17] - The Illusion of Riches
- [19:14] - The Inadequacy of Human Solutions
- [22:29] - The Limits of Wisdom
- [30:16] - The Transience of Power
- [35:27] - The Limitations of Wealth
- [38:37] - The True Source of Glory
- [41:00] - Understanding and Knowing God
- [45:11] - The Loving Kindness of God
- [47:28] - The Cross of Christ
- [51:11] - The Wisdom of God
- [52:31] - The Power of God
- [53:14] - The Riches of God
- [56:58] - Eternal Security in God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Jeremiah 9:23-24

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Jeremiah 9:23-24, what are the three things that people are warned not to glory in? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about human reliance on wisdom, might, and riches? [00:32]

2. What does the sermon suggest is the root cause of human folly and the world's troubles, as highlighted in Jeremiah 9:23-24? [09:00]

3. How does the sermon describe the limitations of human wisdom, might, and riches in addressing life's deepest problems? [22:29]

4. What does the sermon identify as the true source of glory, according to Jeremiah 9:24? [38:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does the sermon emphasize the inadequacy of human wisdom in understanding oneself and knowing God? How does this relate to the message in Jeremiah 9:23-24? [22:29]

2. In what ways does the sermon illustrate the transience of power and might? How does this connect to the biblical warning against glorying in might? [30:16]

3. How does the sermon explain the limitations of wealth in providing true happiness and security? What biblical principles support this view? [35:27]

4. What does the sermon suggest is the significance of knowing and understanding God, as mentioned in Jeremiah 9:24? How does this knowledge provide a solution to human folly? [38:37]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own wisdom, might, or riches to solve a problem. What was the outcome, and how might trusting in God have changed the situation? [09:00]

2. The sermon highlights the limitations of human wisdom in answering life's profound questions. How can you seek a deeper understanding of God in your daily life to address these questions? [22:29]

3. Consider the areas in your life where you might be placing too much confidence in your own strength or abilities. How can you shift your focus to rely more on God's eternal power? [30:16]

4. Wealth is often seen as a source of security. How can you cultivate a mindset that values spiritual riches over material wealth? What steps can you take to prioritize your relationship with God? [35:27]

5. The sermon calls for glorying in the knowledge and understanding of God. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God and experience His loving kindness? [38:37]

6. How can you apply the message of Jeremiah 9:23-24 in your interactions with others, especially in a world that often values wisdom, might, and riches? [38:37]

7. Reflect on the concept of God's loving kindness as presented in the sermon. How can you demonstrate this attribute in your relationships and community? [45:11]

Devotional

Day 1: The Folly of Self-Reliance
Humanity often falls into the trap of self-reliance, believing that wisdom, might, and riches are sufficient to solve life's deepest problems. This misplaced confidence leads to our downfall, as these human attributes are inadequate in addressing the core issues of existence. True wisdom begins with recognizing our limitations and turning to God, who offers a way out of our self-imposed troubles through His loving kindness. By acknowledging our dependence on God, we open ourselves to His eternal wisdom and strength, which are unshakeable and enduring. [09:00]

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying solely on your own abilities? How can you begin to trust God more in these areas today?


Day 2: The Inadequacy of Human Wisdom
While human wisdom can achieve much, it falls short when it comes to answering life's most profound questions, such as the nature of man, the purpose of life, or the reality of God. True understanding comes from knowing God, who transcends human wisdom. By seeking a relationship with God, we gain insights that surpass human comprehension and find answers to the questions that truly matter. This divine wisdom is not only enlightening but also transformative, guiding us to live lives that are aligned with God's purpose. [22:29]

1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV): "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Reflection: What is one question about life or faith that you have been trying to answer on your own? How can you seek God's wisdom for clarity and understanding?


Day 3: The Transience of Power and Might
Human strength and power are temporary and ultimately powerless against the inevitability of death and the forces of nature. True power is found in God, who is eternal and unchanging. By placing our trust in God's power, we find a source of strength that is not only enduring but also capable of overcoming the challenges and adversities we face. This divine power empowers us to live with confidence and hope, knowing that we are supported by an unshakeable foundation. [30:16]

Psalm 62:11-12 (ESV): "Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work."

Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on your own strength to face life's challenges? How can you begin to rely on God's power instead?


Day 4: The Limitations of Wealth
Wealth cannot buy the most valuable things in life, such as love, peace, and eternal security. True riches are found in a relationship with God, who provides for our deepest needs. By focusing on spiritual wealth, we discover a richness that transcends material possessions and brings lasting fulfillment and joy. This shift in perspective allows us to prioritize what truly matters and to live lives that reflect God's values and priorities. [35:27]

Proverbs 11:28 (ESV): "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf."

Reflection: How have you been measuring your worth or success by material wealth? What steps can you take to focus on spiritual riches instead?


Day 5: The True Source of Glory
The only thing worth glorying in is knowing and understanding God, who exercises loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness. This relationship with God offers eternal wisdom, power, and riches that cannot be taken away. By seeking to know God more deeply, we align ourselves with His purposes and experience the fullness of life that He intends for us. This pursuit of divine knowledge and understanding transforms our lives and brings us into a closer relationship with our Creator. [38:37]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your understanding and knowledge of God? How can this pursuit change the way you live your life?

Quotes



"Thus say the Lord let not the wise men glory in his wisdom neither let the Mighty Men glory in his might let not the rich men glory in his riches but let him that glory glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness judgment and righteousness in the Earth for in these things I Delight sayth the Lord." [00:25:00]

"Man does not change at all human nature is night what it was in the days of Jeremiah what it has always been ever since the fall of men from the very dawn of History man doesn't change there he was then trusting to these three things he's trusting to the same three things even at this very moment man doesn't change but thank God the message doesn't change either and of course it doesn't need to as the problem of men is the same so he needs the same message and the message of God in this old book is as up toate and as relevant this evening as it was so many long centuries ago." [06:24:00]

"The first cause of all this according to the prophet here is that man glories in and places his ultimate confidence in himself that's the first cause of the trouble that man glories in himself and puts his final confidence in himself and in his own powers now you notice that Jeremiah says let not the wise men glory in his wisdom yes but you notice it is his wisdom he's not so much gloring in the wisdom or in the might or in the riches as the fact that they're his that they belong to him that they're a part of him that he possesses them in other words the radical trouble and the cause of all our ills is this fatal self-confidence of men." [08:56:00]

"Man has always believed since he went wrong and departed from God that he could deal with the problems of life and of his well he's quite confident that he needs no help this is according to the Bible man's essential trouble he feels that he is autonomous doesn't need anything outside himself doesn't need a God doesn't need a lawgiver he's autonomous he is self-sufficient and because he feels that he's autonomous and self-sufficient he is always self-satisfied in other words he believes that by the exercise of his own powers and his own abilities he can cope for the situation he can deal with the problem and he can solve it in a satisfactory manner." [09:43:00]

"Wisdom in and of itself wisdom stands for knowledge and for learning the ability to think and all these things wisdom in and of itself is a most noble and the most excellent thing God has given men the gift of reason it's a part of God's self it's a part of God's image in men that he has this ability to think and to reason and to sift evidence and to weigh and to measure and so on and to arrive at decisions and to consider himself wisdom is a the most wonderful thing and the most excellent thing and of course the whole story of civilization is in a sense the story of the men using and implying this gift of wisdom which God has given him." [12:35:00]

"Instead of using wisdom in that way as our servant and as something that can give us many benefits and help us in so many ways man has turned wisdom into a kind of God he puts his faith in wisdom he worships wisdom he glories in wisdom he says my wisdom is enough he's dominated by his own wisdom he bows down before it he glor isn't it in other words he has turned what was meant to be a servant into something that has become a master." [14:33:00]

"Money is a very powerful and a very useful commodity but it can't buy happiness it can't buy peace it can't even buy Health it can't buy wisdom it can't buy love it can't buy true life have you read the confessions of of the other book about the wealthiest men in the world tonight the wealthiest man in the world but what a poor man he can't find love he's been married five times he can't find married love he says he admits it glorying in your might what's in your money what's the point of it it can't buy the most precious the most wonderful thing in life apart from this gospel the love of a person married Bliss the enjoyment of a home life to be surrounded by your family it knows nothing about it it can't purchase it and the same I say with peace and with health and all these things." [35:27:00]

"Let him that glory glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness judgment and righteousness in the Earth for in these things I Delight sayth the Lord oh I say here is men's real trouble that he doesn't know God that he doesn't rely on God my dear friend this is the whole cause of the tragedy of human history it started like this didn't it you see the world was not always like this the world was once perfect and Men was perfect and he was living a life of bliss and of joy and of peace and of Happiness well what's gone wrong this is what's gone wrong that man ceased to glory in God and began to glory in himself." [38:37:00]

"God In His Infinite Mercy still calls us to listen thus placed as we are at this moment thus SE the Lord he hasn't given us up he hasn't turned his back upon us he's still pleading with us listen he says listen don't trust in your wisdom don't trust in your might don't trust in your riches if you want to trust if you want to Glory if you want to boast glory in this well what is it well the first thing is that he understandeth me if you want something to glory in says the Lord God himself it is this glory in the fact that you understand me well what does that mean well that I am the Lord here's the thing to glory in that over and above our troubled tragic world tonight is the one who originally made it we are not left to ourselves God is over all I am the Lord from eternity to Eternity all powerful the Everlasting God The God Who made everything the universe man himself and he's above he's over all he's not involved in these tensions and strivings and strains he's above it all he dwelleth in a light that is unapproachable in in eternity in that high and lofty place he's there." [41:00:00]

"Get to know this he says and then you'll have a new view of life not only that and thank God for this other word let him glory in this that he understandeth and knowth that I am the Lord which exercise judgment and righteousness in the earth yes and loving kindness also loving kindness I wouldn't have preached to this point if I didn't know that I was coming to the world word loving kindness all I've said as need been negative it's all condemnation I wouldn't have started if I didn't know that this glorious word was coming loving kindness get to know this says God in your trouble in your Agony in your pain get to know that I am the Lord to exercise loving kindness in the earth." [45:11:00]

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life that though we all deserve the punishment of hell and deserve it richly that God has made a way to forgive us and to restore us it's because of his loving kindness it's nothing in us we've defied him we've rebelled against him we've criticized him we've deliberately gone our own way we've brought ourselves into trouble and our whole world with us and we deserve nothing but he offers to forgive us freely his loving kindness was so great that he sent his only son from Heaven into this world not only to live and teach and to give an example but especially to die on the death of the Cross and what was he doing there taking the burden of your sins and mine upon himself taking our guilt upon himself bearing its punishment its shame its suffering its Agony dying that we might be forgiven that we might live that we might become the children of God God's loving kindness God s oh love that's it it's the only hope this is the thing to glory in my wisdom can't save me I'm involved in the world death is coming I know not when I can do nothing my wisdom doesn't save me my might doesn't save me my money doesn't save me I can do nothing I'm guilty before God what can I do well here's the thing this is the thing to glory in in the Cross of Christ I Glory towering all the wrecks of time all the light of sacred story gathers round its head Sublime God forbid that I should Glory says Paul Sav in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ by which the world has been crucified unto me and I unto the world the loving kindness of God you needn't be lost you needn't go to that condemnation that perishing it's offered you as a free gift you only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and that he died for you and your sins and we are freely forgiven my dear friend this is the thing to glory in." [47:28:00]

"Listen to the Son of God speaking lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust do corrupt and where thieves cannot break through and steal Bank in the bank of heaven and your treasure is secure lay up for yourselves Treasures there no bums can touch them no Inferno can make any difference to them why my friend listen again to Paul writing to the Corinthians what do you want he says are you out for riches all things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or sephus or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christ's and Christ is God are you out for riches well listen to the Son of God again blessed are the meek why well for they shall inherit the earth the whole universe your little bank balance is a flea bite it's nothing blessed are the meat for they shall inherit the earth if you believe this message you become a child of God and if children then HS HS of God and Joint hes with Christ who is the heir of all things the whole universe all things are yours this is the thing to glory in you get the wisdom you long for you're given the might and the power and the strength that you CET and you become the air of riches that can be measured only in terms of the imitable wealth and power and character of God himself and yes you glory in this for this reason that you've not only got it now but you'll always have it let them send off all their bombs in all countries at the same time let the universe be blown to nothing it won't have the slightest effect upon this this is the thing to glor him not in that Earthly human wisdom that fails when you need it most of all not in that might and strength which are waning and disappearing and finally are defeated by the S of death not in riches which moth and rust can destroy and the thieves can take from you finally again the Hand of Death let him that glor glory in this that he understandeth and knowth me that I am the Lord the lord of the universe if you're in his hands come what may you're everlastingly and eternally safe you can face life you can face death you can face all things quietly calmly triumphantly and confidently you say if God be us who can be against us." [52:31:00]

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Transcript
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