[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fcrushed":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fcrushed-surround":86},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":16,"columnName":67,"date":68,"description":69,"extension":70,"image":71,"meta":72,"minRead":73,"navigation":74,"path":75,"postType":76,"publication":77,"publicationUrl":71,"seo":78,"stem":79,"topics":80,"__hash__":85},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fcrushed.md","Crushed",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9,10,11,12,13,14,15],"Jeremiah","Micah","Habakkuk","John","Isaiah","2 Corinthians","Romans",{"type":17,"value":18,"toc":63},"minimark",[19,27,30,33,36,39,42,45,48,51,54,57,60],[20,21,22,26],"p",{},[23,24,25],"em",{},"\"Since my people are crushed, I am crushed\""," (Jeremiah 8:21).",[20,28,29],{},"It's a word with many nuances. You can crush a paper cup, or crush a person's dreams.",[20,31,32],{},"You can crush ice cubes for a glass of lemonade, and you can crush a child's self-image with cruel remarks.",[20,34,35],{},"In baseball, the cleanup hitter crushes a fastball over the centerfield fence, crushing the chances of the other team.",[20,37,38],{},"In romance, a young man has a crush on his beloved until she crushes his heart by breaking up with him.",[20,40,41],{},"Jeremiah knew a different kind of crush—a burden so heavy he could hardly bear it. He lamented, \"Since my people are crushed, I am crushed\" (8:21). He felt a deep love for his people mingled with disgust for their sin and degradation.",[20,43,44],{},"Such a crushing emotional burden was common among God's prophets. No wonder Jonah tried to run! Micah foresaw God's coming judgment and said, \"Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked\" (Micah 1:8). Habakkuk complained, \"How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?\" (Habakkuk 1:2).",[20,46,47],{},"Standing for righteousness has always been a tough assignment, and the level of difficulty seems especially high today. Ethical issues are complex. Hypocrisy abounds. God's standards are widely ignored and openly mocked. Bloggers and radio commentators stir up conflict and controversy. The trust level granted to leaders continues to decline in a cynical culture that's skeptical of any truth-claims. It's assumed that the preacher doesn't practice what he preaches, so why give him a hearing at all?",[20,49,50],{},"We have much to learn from the Old Testament prophets. They steadfastly spoke the truth in a difficult cultural climate, no matter how unpopular their message sounded. At the same time, they consistently loved the people even when it was necessary to rebuke their sin. If the prophets' words sound harsh, the harshness comes from a broken and caring heart. At times, a loving parent or a faithful preacher must speak difficult truths, just as a potter may have to crush a lump of clay before he can shape it into a beautiful vase. When necessary a godly leader must risk causing pain in order to help others grow.",[20,52,53],{},"After rising from the dead Jesus repeatedly asked Peter to reaffirm his love, and \"Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?'\" (John 21:17). Does it seem strange that Jesus would hurt his friend? It had to be so. Peter was a hard rock that needed to be crushed so the Lord could shape him into a building-block for the church.",[20,55,56],{},"The Lord himself knew how it felt to be crushed. As the prophet foretold, Christ was the Suffering Servant \"crushed for our iniquities,\" for \"it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer\" (Isaiah 53:5, 10).",[20,58,59],{},"There are times when we must carry crushing responsibilities and bear heavy burdens. And yet, God's grace is sufficient. That's why the apostle Paul could say he was \"hard pressed on every side, but not crushed,\" and he could triumphantly observe, \"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet\" (2 Corinthians 4:8; Romans 16:20).",[20,61,62],{},"It's the marvel of grace: Christ was punished to spare us the punishment we deserve. He was crushed, so ultimately we won't have to be.",{"title":64,"searchDepth":65,"depth":65,"links":66},"",2,[],"First Look","2008-07-20","*\"Since my people are crushed, I am crushed\"* (Jeremiah 8:21).","md",null,{},3,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fcrushed","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":69},"articles\u002Fcrushed",[81,82,83,84],"Biblical Theology","Church Leadership","Perseverance in Suffering","Christian Unity","6EZLbmXYAgvo4QawIipfT_aNZ4LzKh7hsDl8_2F7H_M",[87,91],{"title":88,"path":89,"stem":90,"description":88,"children":-1},"Crumbs in the Jelly Jar","\u002Farticles\u002Fcrumbs-in-the-jelly-jar","articles\u002Fcrumbs-in-the-jelly-jar",{"title":92,"path":93,"stem":94,"description":95,"children":-1},"Cry Room","\u002Farticles\u002Fcry-room","articles\u002Fcry-room","In the past, many church buildings had “cry rooms.” Moms and dads corralled their squirming kids during church services while preachers tried to speak above the babies’ noisy cries and listeners struggled to pay attention (or secretly welcomed the distraction). Frazzled parents tried to cajole their noisy babies into silence, and when unsuccessful, removed them to the cry room for the rest of the service."]