In Jer 5:1 the Lord said, “see now… if ye can find a man”. It just takes a man. Israel had transgressed. The prophets prophesied lies. The whole nation had turned against God. But the Lord said that if they could just find one man the executed judgment and sought the truth, he would pardon it.
We preach much on the body of Christ and the local church. But today we want to preach on men. God looks for men who will do his work and through whom he can do his work.
He has given you a man to pastor this church. And a man to help. He has a man going to Réunion Island. He has a man in Kingsville. He has a man preaching to Spanish speaking people.
Men have to stand up at some point against all that’s going on in their lives and all that’s going on in the world around them and say, I will be that man. Here am I, send me.
The Lord said, “see now… if ye can find a man”. These men become apparent because they first get themselves right with God and then they look for opportunities to devote their lives to serve him. They’re not out to make a name for themselves. They’re not trying to elevate their status among other believers. Instead, they want to do what God wants them to do.
There is a need and God is looking for someone he can use to fill that need. In Jer 5:1 he was looking for a man who would execute judgment and seek the truth. These were the things that Jerusalem needed. And God would pardon Jerusalem for that one man.
Jer 49:19, 50:44. Who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? For who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before me? Jesus, of course.
It took this one man, Jesus, for God to pardon and eventually fulfill his covenant with Israel. It took just one man to reconcile us to God. Jn 14:6. There is no other way. He stood between God’s wrath and our sin to save us from wrath and to bring us to God.
See now… if ye can find a man…
To Stand Up For God’s People
Moses did this for Israel many times, Ps 106:23. Yet, in Ezek 22:30 I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Israel had polluted the land and trespassed against every law of God. He couldn’t find one man. God needs men to stand up to lead and protect and pray for his people. Sheep are hard to handle and must be protected.
To Stand Up Against Sin
Phinehas did, Ps 106:30. Ps 94:16 who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Paul did with the Corinthians. Men have to say about sin, “That’s enough”!!
A Man To Stand Up Against the Devil
David did. Goliath said, 1 Sam 17:10-11, give me a man. The world does this to Christians to try to dismay and scare us. No man of the world is a match for any man who fights in the name of the Lord God. The devil wants to infiltrate and a man has to stand against all attempts of the devil to stop the work of God.
Will you be this man? Can we find a man?