The Beautiful Sash (Jeremiah 13:1-11)

"Thus the LORD said to me: 'Go and get yourself a linen sash, and put it around your waist.'" (Jer. 13:1)

These are notes from this evening's sermon by Teddy Donnelly. Mary couldn't go tonight, so she got to type this up instead. "It was almost like being there," she said.

Reading: Jeremiah 13:1-23 (esp. 1-11)

• Supporters of drama in worship would quote Jeremiah as providing Scriptural warrant for their practice (chapters 13, 19, 27, 28, etc.)
• Jeremiah performs his symbolic acts by specific command from God.
• We have no general or specific command to use symbolic acts.
• Also note that his symbolic acts are not detached from his very detailed sermons but are rather preparatory to them.
• A fundamental question that needs answered before interpreting the passage is whether the garment is a loin cloth worn underneath the clothing, or a sash or belt worn over the clothing.
• Teddy thinks it is a sash or belt because it is described as beautiful. He may have other reasons.

1. The Sash Renowned

• Jeremiah was told to get a beautiful sash and wear it.
• It would draw attention to him and to itself.
• He didn't want its beauty ruined with water.
• God's people were to bring glory to God, but they didn't.
• He gave them the land, the Temple, the priesthood, and the Davidic kingship.
  

2. The Sash Removed

• Jeremiah was told to go to the Euphrates and bury the sash there.
• The Euphrates was 350 miles from Anathoth, which was a round trip of 3 months.
• It was to be taken away to Babylon, just as the people were to be.
• It was to be hidden and forgotten there, just as Judah would be.
• They would no longer have their land, their identity, or their own kings.
  

3. The Sash Ruined

• The sash was buried in the hot, damp soil by the river.
• Mildew and rot decomposed the beautiful sash and it was completely useless.
• What is God saying? Were the people ruined in exile?
• No, God did good to them in exile.
• Their pride was ruined in exile (v. 9).
• They were arguing that God was obliged to bless them regardless of their behavior because He bound them to Him by covenant. "You can't remove us!" (TJD: The covenant had curses too!)
• No, He will remove them to another land and take away their glory. He will take away the land, the Temple, the priesthood, and the Davidic kingship.

Application

There is a warning to the professing church

• What dignity and honour is attached to the Church? It is glorious (Eph. 5:25).
• The Church has more renown than the whole universe. It is the one body in the world that God has promised to dwell in and Christ has promised to build up.
• But if a church becomes unfaithful, then God will remove her until she is completely useless.
• Huge sections of the professing Church do not hear the gospel and deny the Bible and its morals.
• The mainstream church has become useless and the nation no longer listens when the ecclesiastics speak.

There is a warning to the professing, nominal believer

• Many are proud of being church goers, but do not know God, are not cleansed by the blood of Christ, and are not worshipping God daily.
• How pathetic is the nominal believer: he is not comfortable to be completely commited to Christ; but he knows enough to be uncomfortable in the world.
• If we don't trust completely in Christ and repent of our sins, we will be cast off, whether we are a church goer or not.
  

There is a warning to all men

• "We are all immortal splendours or everlasting horrors." - C.S. Lewis
• All men have glory and are made in the image of God.
• What happens if we reject God? Look at what people become without God. They become worse than animals. What a tragedy!
• Will you be utterly ruined for all eternity? What a warning this is to come to Christ.
  

The Bride of Christ shall be arrayed in fine linen

• "And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Rev. 19:8)
• Christians have all been to Babylon, but we are all cleansed and we will all be glorified. Praise God!