Who can God use?
Jeremiah 24-26/Matthew 12-13
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OT
25:4-11 Again and again, the LORD has sent you his prophets, but you have not listened or even tried to hear. Each time the message was this: “Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the LORD gave to you and your ancestors forever. Do not make me angry by worshiping the idols you have made. Then I will not harm you. But you would not listen to me,” says the LORD. “You made me furious by worshiping your idols, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer.” And now the LORD Almighty says: “Because you have not listened to me, I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the other nations near you. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever. I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your businesses will fail, and all your homes will stand silent and dark. This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.”
NT
12:18 “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”
OT Flash Points
Good & spoiled figs
Blessing will dwell with wrath – selective wrath
God anoints pagans to wield His sword
NT Flash Points
Public response to Jesus
Just like their response to Jeremiah
They plotted to kill Him
Evil = the plot to kill righteousness
The seeds of righteousness die
But by dying, they bring forth a great harvest
Always frustrating the evil plot
Perspective
When sin has reigned, captivity is God’s favor to preserve those who will repent