A Purchase of Hope

Introduction:

“Hope is a good thing.” Andy tells Red in the movie, Shawshank Redemption. The prophet Jeremiah declared, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Even though he is often called “The Weeping Prophet,” he still had a message of hope for the people of his day. (Jeremiah 30:2-3) The 32nd Chapter of Jeremiah tells that God told him to buy a field which turned out to be a “purchase of hope.”

Text: Jeremiah 32:1-44

Body:

I.  Jeremiah Buys a Field (Verses 1-15)

·  Verses 1-5 Date: About 587 B.C. Two groups of Israelite captives had already been taken to Babylon. Jerusalem would be taken in a few months. The siege had already begun. Jeremiah was a prisoner of Zedekiah, King of Judah. The reason was that Jeremiah had preached the truth about Israel’s future. Jerusalem would be captured by Babylonians as well as Zedekiah himself. God would “visit” Zedekiah. He had also prophesied the captivity would last seventy years. (Jeremiah 29:10-11) But his message was also one of hope. (Jeremiah 30:10, 18, Jeremiah 31:7-9, 16-17)

·  Verses 6-15 Anathoth was Jeremiah’s hometown in the territory of Benjamin. (Jeremiah 1:1) He is told by the Lord to redeem a field from his cousin. This was in accordance with Leviticus 25:23-28. In the event of poverty or debt, the next of kin had the right to purchase the property in order to keep it in the family. Buying this field showed Jeremiah’s faith that God would eventually bring Israel back to the land. It was a “purchase of hope.” The land purchase was finalized with two deeds, one sealed and one open. They were put in an earthen vessel so they would be preserved for a long time. [Reason: Because houses and fields and vineyards would be possessed again in the land.]

II.  Jeremiah Prays to God (Verses 16-25)

·  “nothing too hard” (Genesis 18:13-14)

·  “loving kindness” (Exodus 20:16)

·  “eyes are open…” (Jeremiah 16:17, Jeremiah 17:10)

·  “calamity. . .” (Jeremiah 23:25) God was behind the Babylonians taking Israel captive. (Jeremiah 21:10)

III.  Jeremiah Listens to God (Verses 26-44)

·  Israel provoked Jehovah to anger. They did not listen to receive instruction. They had been influenced by nations around them and followed abominable practices. God then made a series of promises about bringing Israel back to the land. (Jeremiah 24:7) God would also make a new covenant one day. (Jeremiah 31:31-34) The captives would one day return and buy fields for money. Jehovah would bring them back. (Jeremiah 32:42-44)

Conclusion:

Hope is truly a good thing. Listen to Titus 3:4-7. “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” NKJV

Bobby Stafford September 22, 2013