"NO REMEDY"
Intro: In Chapter 36 we have recorded for us the tragic story of the death of a nation. A nation that was at one time nourished by God.
I. THEIR DEADLY ILLNESS.
A. They had removed God from the heart and center of their national life.
1. At the birth of the nation, completely centered around God.
a. The Tabernacle was at the center of the camp.
b. Each man was conscious of his own responsibility and relationship to God.
2. "They had forsaken the fountain of living water and had hewn out cisterns..."
B. The symptoms of their illness.
1. A proliferation of false gods. They sought for truth and peace apart from Jehovah.
a. Astrology became popularized.
b. T.M. swept the country.
c. Altars were built to the false gods.
2. There was continual international strife.
(with God a. "And Jehovah gave them rest from their enemies round about." at center)
II. GOD'S ATTEMPTS TO CURE THEIR ILLS.
A. He sent unto them His prophets.
1. They called unto the people to turn back to Jehovah.
a. They assured them of God's mercy and forgiveness.
2. They warned of the impending judgments if they refused to return to God.
a. They warned of the impending invasion and destruction of the land.
3. The prophets were mocked. Their messages were rejected.
4. The prophets themselves were abused.
a. Imprisoned, stoned, Isaiah was sawed in two.
B. God was patient and longsuffering.
1. He gave them chance after chance.
III. GOD'S DIAGNOSIS "NO REMEDY."
A. The people failing to respond to every effort of God to bring them back to himself, chose their own course of destruction.
1. They would not trust in God, but chose rather to trust in themselves.
2. They refused God's strength and chose to rely on their own.
3. They closed their ears to the prophets of God and chose to listen to the soothing words of the lying prophets.
4. The results were predictable.
B. God had warned them in His word, "He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed.
1. They took that fatal last step where they went beyond the point of no return.
a. They mistake the patience of God as approval. His longsuffering as weakness.
b. Their rationale was "how could a God of love punish us?"
c. To the heartbreak of God their destruction came.
1. "God is not willing that any should perish...."
2. He cried to them "Turn ye, turn ye for why will you die."
3. "As I live saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked."
2. Each man who was ever lost one day took that step beyond the point of no return where God declared "no remedy."
THREE STATEMENTS OF FACT
I. "THE LORD IS WITH YOU."
A. What a wonderful assurance.
1. Eliminating fears.
a. "Ye, walk through the valley."
2. Giving confidence.
a. David's speech to Goliath.
b. Elijah's contest with prophets of Baal.
3. Bringing joy.
Ps. 16:11 - "In His presence is fullness of joy."
B. Conditional - "While ye be with Him."
1. Notice - man breaks fellowship (Adam hid himself...)
II. "HE WILL BE FOUND OF YOU."
A. Possible to know Him in vital personal relationship.
1. "In that day ye shall know that I am in thee."
B. Some seeking to find God in works.
C. Condition - "If ye seek Him."
1. Some waiting for God to knock them over.
2. God does not force His love.
III. WARNING - "IF YE FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL FORSAKE YOU" - "FORSAKEN OF GOD."
A. In life.
1. "Spirit of Lord departed from Samson."
2. "I am sore distressed for the Philistines make war against all and God is departed from me."
B. In death.
1. Death without hope.
2. "Seek the Lord while he may be found."
C. At the Judgment.
1. "If ye deny me before men, I will deny you."
a. "God with my problems."
b. "I don't believe in asking God for anything for myself."
c. "God bless"
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
Abbreviate Books
Use SBL Abbrev.
