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JEREMIAH 50:6

"THE PLACE OF REST"

Intro: Jeremiah is prophesying the destruction of Babylon, and the return of Israel and Judah
       to the land. They will ask directions to Zion and will seek to renew their covenant
       with God. God says, "My people are lost sheep, they have gone astray - they have
       forgotten their resting place."

I. THE NEED OF A RESTING PLACE.
        A. Our lives are assaulted with constant pressures.
                1. Social pressure.
                        a. Home.
                                1. When William was three, he wanted to move in with grandpa.
                                2. It is tough living at home.
                        b. Job.
                                1. Pressure to perform well - but you don't always know what
                                   is expected.
                                2. Pressure to show a profit.
                        c. School.
                                1. To complete assignments.
                                2. To pass the tests.
                                3. To get good grades.
                                4. To be accepted.
                2. Financial pressures.
                        a. How to cope with inflation.
                        b. How to pay all the bills.
                        c. The lack of money can create horrible pressure.
                3. Emotional pressures.
                        a. Death of friend or loved one.
                        b. Misunderstandings.
                        c. Someone is out to get you.
                4. Physical pressure.
                        a. Weakness.
                        b. Pain.
                5. Anyone of these can sink your ship - but they often come in
                        combinations.
        B. Forced to reach out beyond ourselves.
                1. Where do I reach?
                        a. This is so critical. Some of the things people reach for only 
                           compound the problem.
                                1. The bottle.
                                2. The pills.
                        b. You may reach out to your friends.
                                1. They have their own problems.
                                2. Reach out too often - no friends. When you drive up, the
                                   lights go out.
                2. God wants us to reach out to Him.
                        a. He has promised to help us.
                        b. He will be our shelter from the storm. 
                        c. He is our resting place.

II. THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THEIR RESTING PLACE.
        A. They were in captivity for years.
                1. They had forgotten how good it was to rest.
                2. Remember those old days when your love for the Lord was so great, that
                   nothing else seemed to matter.
        B. They had been lost sheep.
                1. Notice God still claims them.
                        a. "My people."
                        b. God still has His claim on your life.
                2. What a pitiful sight - a little lost lamb.
                        a. No sense of direction - wandering aimlessly.
                        b. Prey for the wolves.
                        c. Crying on the hillside.

III. THE WAY BACK TO THE RESTING PLACE.
        A. "Going and weeping."
        B. "They shall seek the Lord their God."
        C. Set their face toward Zion.