God s Definition of a Good Man (1) Jer. 5

Transcription

1 God s Definition of a Good Man (1) Jer. 5 1

2 Jer. 5:1 2 [1] Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment (that doeth justly) that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it

3 3 He was sent to search in great detail for a man, a real man, an ethically honest man. (Robert R. Taylor, Jr.) NOTE it is God s description and not man s description that the reader must consider

4 2 Cor. 10:18 4 [18] For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth

5 1 Cor. 16:13 5 [13] Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong 3 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong (ASV)

6 6 I. One who doeth justly

7 Jer. 5:1 7 [1] Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment (that doeth justly) that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it

8 Executeth judgment (that doeth justly) one who does right not by what is right in his own eyes but by following God s Word 8 This person is a doer of righteousness he keeps God s commandments To execute judgment means to discern the things of life as they were taught in God s word

9 Gen. 18:19 10 (God speaking of Abraham) [19] For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

10 Ps. 119:7 11 [7] I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments

11 Ps. 119:66 12 [66] Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments

12 Ps. 119: [102] I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me

13 Ps. 119: [106] I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments

14 Ps. 119: [160] Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever

15 Ps. 119: [172] My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness

16 17 II. Committed to seeking The Truth

17 Jer. 5:1 18 [1] Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment (that doeth justly) that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it

18 A good man is one who places a high value upon the truth Jn. 8:32 [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free 20

19 1 Cor. 13:6 21 [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth

20 1 Tim. 3:15 22 [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

21 2 Tim. 2:15 23 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

22 1 Pet. 1:22 24 [22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth

23 25 III. Careful in his speech - -- dependable in his words

24 Jer. 5:2 26 [2] And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely The words of the people could not be trusted

25 27 A good man is careful in his speech A good man s speech is consistent with his lifestyle A good man is one who speaks the truth. A good man is one who keeps his word, never making promises he cannot keep or has no intentions of keeping

26 Deut. 23:23 28 [23] That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth

27 Mt. 5: [33] Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself (swear falsely) but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: [34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: [35] Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

28 30 [36] Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. [37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil

29 Js. 5:12 31 [12] But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

30 Look at the example of Boaz a man of integrity Ruth 3:13 [13] Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. 32

31 Ruth 3: [16] And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. [17] And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. [18] Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.