“Pashhur: A Prophet of Lies”

Jeremiah 19:1-20:6

Quest for Best - Living on basis of faith
(sorting out the real from the false)

INTRODUCTION:

Readers' Digest quotes an Irish proverb: If you get a reputation as an early riser, you can get away with sleeping till noon. That proverb is a good commentary on the nature of our times. Image over substance, perception over reality.

Charles Colson God of Stones & Spiders = word > image-oriented society - same as in Jeremiah’s day - potter’s jar! - People refused words of God - He moved to images - pots, potter, etc.

If continue theme thru Jeremiah Quest for Best - ch. 20 brings us today to the understanding “we must live in accordance with truth” - Any Quest for the Best in life must involve sorting out the real from the false - the true from the false - the good from the bad, and THEN living in the light of what we find.

We look today - man whose whole life was a lie - not pretty, not much hope. His name is Pashhur - but also - Major Miss--?-- 2 names - one represents the false - one the true. one is real one is a cover-up.

Look at our text - Chapter 20

I. The Situation - Scene - Setting
A. Pashhur as Pashhur
(3) items of interest
1) chief officer - 1st blush - so what?
further study - title critical element to text (see in a moment)
2) heard Jeremiah’s prophecy - ch 19 - sequel to Potter’s House message chapter 18 clay jar from Potter - elders/priests proclaim judgment.

See some aspects of that sermon in a moment - suffice to say at this point - prophecy infuriated Pashhur.
3) (point of interest) - had Jeremiah thrown in stocks (not pictures from Am. History; “to distort” growing pain - blooded, cramped.

To understand Pashhur and his violence against Jeremiah, look back to Jeremiah’s prophecy Chapter 19.

(sins) 19:4 1) forsaken me - 2) foreign gods - 3) filled this place with blood of the innocent - “proven innocent from specific charges, whether those charges are brought by God or man. Offenses, if committed, were punishable; but when they had not been committed, if that innocence can be made clear, the person against whom the charge is made goes off free from blame and punishment.”

Jeremiah’s day - charges being brought; innocence being made clear; defendant still killed = justice perverted - Roe V Wade has done to 25,000,000 American babies

4) Fired up Baal-worship furnace and burned their sons
never commanded, mentioned, entered God’s mind! Jephthad (Judges 11) didn’t burn his daughter

5) vs. 13 - burned incense on the roofs to all the starry hosts. took the heavenly bodies - sun, moon, stars, which owe their structure, order, and continuance to God and which will one day be dissolved by His hands (Is. 34:4) and worshipped and served them. The penalty - death by stoning (Deut. 17:3, 5)
Innocent die - guilty thrive

6) vs. 15 - “stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.”
lit. “to be harsh”
(foundation) picture - many opportunities and constant neglect . moral impressions -- weaker & weaker. At last, heart become altogether callous.

stiff-necked - to be harsh - marks the restlessness, impatience, petulance, and irritability one expresses while resisting urgent appeals.

Jeremiah’s prophecy concluded with announcement of judgment (10) (11) They, like potter’s jar, smashed, broken, destroyed, beyond repair. (7) plans ruined, defeat by enemies (8) devastate the city, (9) stress of siege >> eat flesh of children!! (13) houses defiled (15) every disaster imaginable.

That is why Pashhur became so angry and Jeremiah reveals 2nd name --

B. Pashhur get a new name - “Major Missabil” (3)
1) “Terror on every side” - one day - terrified to death; on every front from every direction, on every side, - stark, heart-stopping, terror

Because

2) Prophet of Lies (6) Deceiver of his friends, intimate, deep affection (Arnold Glasgow - “A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.”)

Results

3) Grandfather of Sinners - Ezra 10:22


II. Meaning?? (Lot to be learned from negative example) found in terms (don’t have to be Hebrew scholar) PAQID-NAGID (noun form of verb - appoint) “appointee” same word 1:10 of Jeremiah the prophet

Both men - to be rep. of God Pashhur - chief officer in temple of the Lord
Pashhur - a sham, a parody, a cheap imitation of Jeremiah. His life was the corruption of life that Jeremiah lived with integrity. His life was false, phony, unreal, wasted. He lived a lie and sadly influenced many others to disaster - from close intimate friends -- common man of street.

Jeremiah preach impending judgment - suffered painfully for it - at hands of a hypocrite, one who should have been in deed what he was in name - appointee of God.


III. Our Challenge
No one here like unto Pashhur in all his phoniness - But we all forfeit life at its best when we play with truth.

TRUTH - fundamental
Gospel
Hearing His words
Honesty
Honoring commitments
Robbing God
Preacher - nose in other people’s business

?? live in accordance with truth ??
(I could pick out portions from throughout the Bible that would convict us to varying degrees - some might think I was picking on them - any clue in context?
Several
Pashhur’s life of lies - founded on spirit exhibited by Pharisees - what others will say - lived for applause/recognition of what men think - lived for preservation of status quo - tried to silence Jeremiah, lived for self, even to disaster of friends, lived without regard, concern for God’s words, lover of foreign gods (idolatry)

busily religious - often in church (temple) but lived for influence and security.

Bottom line - Pashhur forgot who he was and to whom he belonged! Living in accordance with truth means we know who we are and to whom we belong.

CONCLUSION:

Pashhur - Major Missabil - not pretty picture - bankruptcy of life, lived lies every day - our challenge is to live according to the truth


DISCLAIMER: These messages are offered for your personal enrichment. There is no legal copyright on this material. You have my full permission to use any of this material as long as you cite the source for any substantial amount used. Enjoy!