When Harshness Is a Blessing

Good Shepherd Barrhaven Sermon Stream

The Bible is full of challenging passages, but the Old Testament prophets seem the most difficult. They often talk of destruction, disaster and judgment. We tend not to like hearing these themes. So what value do we find in the prophets' harsh words, and what good things does it tell us about God? This sermon addresses why harsh words are important for us to hear, and why God's judgment always leaves room for a solid hope.

Scripture Passage: Jeremiah 4:11-28

Preached on the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, the 15th of September, by Rev. Stephen Silverthorne

Sermon Highlights

• Jesus always remains our Good Shepherd, intent on saving us
• OT prophets are hard to listen to because they are harsh and talk about destruction
• We find it hard to hear good news in this because we are too comfortable
• Other communities have held on to these passages because they are oppressed
• Oppressed communities know they can't be free without the intervention of a powerful Saviour
• These passages reveal God's power is sufficient to crush oppression
• Jeremiah shows us that when God destroys, it is so He can rebuild on better foundation
• Jeremiah evokes image of first creation, where God makes order out of chaos
• God is promising to make new order out of Israel's chaos and darkness
• God will do the same with our chaos

Further Reading

The Ebenezer Baptist Church. An African-American church with an historic, central role in the civil rights struggle.

Frederick Douglass. An African-American and former slave, who became an orator, statesman and social reformer.

Martin Luther King, Jr. A Baptist preacher and activist who became one of the most prominent voices in the civil rights movement of the United States

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