1 Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin [a] son of Jehoiakim. 2 Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.
3 King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: "Please pray to the LORD our God for us."
COMMENT:
Typical person, Zedekiah. He doesn't pay any attention to the words the Lord spoke through Jeremiah, but yet he wants Jeremiah to pray for him. Does he even believe in God really, or is he just hedging his bets? This is another stellar example of human nature. We want God's favor, but we don't want to pay attention to God's words. We want the 'good stuff', but we want it all for free, with no obligation or effort on our own part.
TANGENT:
Now, I might think "Well, salvation IS free!
Eph 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Yes it is a gift, and God made it that way because earning it is impossible since the wages of sin are death. We will never deserve salvation because of our own righteous actions, because we are already stained by sin.
However --- there is nevertheless an obligation involved. Our obligation is not to our sinful self, but to the Lord who has saved us.
Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Following God, putting to death the misdeeds of the body, shows -- AFTER the fact, AFTER being saved -- that we ARE saved. This does not entail perfection, but it does entail gradual changes toward obeying God in some areas of our lives.
Why, then, is it that Christians often don't seem like they are better people than anyone else? Some non-Christian people seem more 'good' than some Christians I know. I think this may be because we don't realize the depths of our sinfulness, and we don't start to discover the depths of our sinfulness until we start trying to follow Christ and we are in the process of sanctification. And as we discover the depth of our sinfulness, we discover in parallel the depth of the God's mercy. The phrase "The more I know, the more I realize how much I don't know" comes to mind here. As I start to learn what following Christ means, the contrast between what God created me to be and what I am in my day-to-day actions and attitudes becomes more and more stark. The more I try, the more I fail. I am thrown again into despair and awareness of my extreme need for Christ alone. I again bow at the foot of the cross. Gradually, Jesus makes the fruits of the spirit develop in my life but, apace with that 'progress' is my awareness of the depth of my sinfulness so that I will continue to be dependent on Him rather that stray into thinking that I can now live a godly life on my own, in my own power.
BACK TO ZEDEKIAH:
God isn't fooled. God does not relent. God does insist that we bow down to him and honor him and recognize that he is the one true God. Jeremiah lets Zedekiah know that the Babylonians will be back, and Zedekiah tosses him in the dungeon. Guess he didn't like that answer.
Neither do we, sometimes.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Jeremiah 36: Burning up the scroll
22 It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. 23 Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.
27 After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 28 "Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up.
32 So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.
COMMENTS:
What parts of my life are like burning up the scroll? When I hear or read God's word and refuse to heed it, it is essentially burning it up -- putting it out of my mind, ignoring it, rejecting it. Are there areas in which I am doing this?
God simply has Jeremiah write another one. He also intensifies and reaffirms the consequences that the Jehoiakim will experience as a result of his willful ingore-ance of God's word. God will not be thwarted.
27 After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 28 "Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up.
32 So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.
COMMENTS:
What parts of my life are like burning up the scroll? When I hear or read God's word and refuse to heed it, it is essentially burning it up -- putting it out of my mind, ignoring it, rejecting it. Are there areas in which I am doing this?
God simply has Jeremiah write another one. He also intensifies and reaffirms the consequences that the Jehoiakim will experience as a result of his willful ingore-ance of God's word. God will not be thwarted.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Serve God
Jeremiah 35
Serve God. It is as simple as that.
Some people do what they are told to do, and others ignore it. But it's clear that we are to serve God, and that God pays attention to whether we are doing so or not.
Serve God. It is as simple as that.
Some people do what they are told to do, and others ignore it. But it's clear that we are to serve God, and that God pays attention to whether we are doing so or not.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Jer. 33
14 " 'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
15 " 'In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it [c] will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.'
17 For this is what the LORD says: 'David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.' "
19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 20 "This is what the LORD says: 'If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.
Comment:
Here are the wonderful promises that we so cling to today, the promises we see fulfilled in Jesus. He is on the throne of the house of Israel, and he also consistently offers his sacrifice in front of the Lord for our forgiveness. And the illustration of God's covenant with the day and night tells us how rock-solid is God's commitment to this plan.
Jeremiah 34
8 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. 9 Everyone was to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Jew in bondage. 10 So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. 11 But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.
Comment: This little story is dishearteningly like me. Sigh. Thank God for his provision of forgiveness, because people haven't changed. Our only help is in his provision for mercy.
14 " 'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
15 " 'In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it [c] will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.'
17 For this is what the LORD says: 'David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.' "
19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 20 "This is what the LORD says: 'If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.
Comment:
Here are the wonderful promises that we so cling to today, the promises we see fulfilled in Jesus. He is on the throne of the house of Israel, and he also consistently offers his sacrifice in front of the Lord for our forgiveness. And the illustration of God's covenant with the day and night tells us how rock-solid is God's commitment to this plan.
Jeremiah 34
8 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. 9 Everyone was to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Jew in bondage. 10 So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. 11 But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.
Comment: This little story is dishearteningly like me. Sigh. Thank God for his provision of forgiveness, because people haven't changed. Our only help is in his provision for mercy.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Big Time Out -- Jeremiah 32
The period of exile makes me think of a great big time out for the people of God. They are behaving inappropriately and ungratefully and disobediently, not appreciating the Lord and the favor he has bestowed on him. So -- they must be removed from the situation in order to get their priorities straight. They will be made to long for the God and the land that they now take for granted and so abuse. Then, when they have ordered their minds and repented of their sins, they will be welcomed back to live a life that gives to God the worship and obedience that is due him and that will make them happy and prosperous in their lives.
A succinct description of the whole scenario is found in this chapter, as the Lord speaks to Jeremiah to explain why he had him buy a field:
(the Lord speaking)
33 They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline. 34 They set up their abominable idols in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. 35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters [c] to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.
37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
42 "This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.
The phrase "they turned their backs on me and not their faces" is a great summary, and great description of what our position before God can be. It makes me think of Adam and Eve, hiding and unable to 'face' God after they sinned. It makes me think of Vic standing and turning his back when John Meyer stood at the pulpit talking about the need for abortion. It is a strong statement to turn your back on someone, and that is what Israel and Judah have done.
God desires to see our faces, not our backs. He desires also 'singleness of heart and action' and for us to 'fear' him for our own good and the good of our children.
A succinct description of the whole scenario is found in this chapter, as the Lord speaks to Jeremiah to explain why he had him buy a field:
(the Lord speaking)
33 They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline. 34 They set up their abominable idols in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. 35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters [c] to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.
37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
42 "This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.
The phrase "they turned their backs on me and not their faces" is a great summary, and great description of what our position before God can be. It makes me think of Adam and Eve, hiding and unable to 'face' God after they sinned. It makes me think of Vic standing and turning his back when John Meyer stood at the pulpit talking about the need for abortion. It is a strong statement to turn your back on someone, and that is what Israel and Judah have done.
God desires to see our faces, not our backs. He desires also 'singleness of heart and action' and for us to 'fear' him for our own good and the good of our children.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Jeremiah 31
This is an amazing chapter, so joyful and full of relief after the constant chastisement, wrath and grief of the earlier parts of the book. As I read it, I both take it at face value and wonder what the deeper meanings are, in terms of the cultural context in which it is written. The 'new covenant' is the covenant of Jesus' sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins and the giving of the Holy Spirit to teach us and remind us of the Word. That seems pretty plain. But there are other things I wonder about, and a few sections that I will comment on here.
FIRST: The following passage is so energetic and visual, I want to make a song out of it.
4 I will build you up again
and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.
Again you will take up your tambourines
and go out to dance with the joyful.
10 "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
'He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'
(Song idea: Hear the word of the Lord, O nations
Tell it to distant lands, O nations:
He who scattered will gather his people,
Watch over them like a shepherd.
Dance! I will build you up again!
Dance! You'll be rebuilt, O Israel!
Dance! Take up your tam-bor-ine and
Go out to dance with the joyful..
(tune: very rhythmic and similar to What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor)
SECOND: I have been mulling over the horrific number of abortions and the existence of frozen embryos in today's world, ever since I read the earlier passage where God chastises Israel for sacrificing their children to false gods. Again I think about this, as I read the following passage. Who are the children that the Lord is referring to here? What is Ramah? I have always applied this passage to the slaughter of infants when Moses and Jesus were babies, although I suppose that the 'face value' of the passage is the sacrificed infants and those that died while Israel was in exile. And -- could it have yet another application, in reference to our modern infanticide? In any case, God tells 'Rachel' to stop weeping. Her work will be rewarded. The children will return from the land of the enemy to their own land. It is hard to get my head around the significance of return to the land, but I know it was huge in that culture. But obviously those exact children did not return from exile with their families. So it must have a symbolic meaning of some sort. Is it correct to read it with this meaning?: God will take care of those children, they do still exist and will in fact be a part of the coming Kingdom. There is no further need to mourn for them -- just repent and continue in your repentance, and you will be rewarded by being with those precious children once again.
15 This is what the LORD says:
"A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because her children are no more."
16 This is what the LORD says:
"Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for your work will be rewarded,"
declares the LORD.
"They will return from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope for your future,"
declares the LORD.
"Your children will return to their own land.
THIRD: What does the second half of this verse refer to? The footnote gives alternates of 'will go about seeking' or 'will protect', but none of the options seem to mean very much to me. Could it possibly refer to Mary giving birth to the Savior?
22 How long will you wander,
O unfaithful daughter?
The LORD will create a new thing on earth—
a woman will surround [b] a man."
FOURTH: I've always wondered what exactly is the substance of the idea that God will 'put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts', and 'they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest'. Surely it doesn't mean we no longer need the Bible to tell us about God, because God has given a general revelation to all people... So what exactly does this mean? Has it already happened? Will in happen in the future, when Jesus returns? Is this what it is like in heaven, or is there some current phenomena that this refers to? After all, the new covenant is now in place. Did this come about when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and does it occur when each person becomes a believer and the HS enters them?
31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to [d] them, [e] "
declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
FIRST: The following passage is so energetic and visual, I want to make a song out of it.
4 I will build you up again
and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.
Again you will take up your tambourines
and go out to dance with the joyful.
10 "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
'He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'
(Song idea: Hear the word of the Lord, O nations
Tell it to distant lands, O nations:
He who scattered will gather his people,
Watch over them like a shepherd.
Dance! I will build you up again!
Dance! You'll be rebuilt, O Israel!
Dance! Take up your tam-bor-ine and
Go out to dance with the joyful..
(tune: very rhythmic and similar to What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor)
SECOND: I have been mulling over the horrific number of abortions and the existence of frozen embryos in today's world, ever since I read the earlier passage where God chastises Israel for sacrificing their children to false gods. Again I think about this, as I read the following passage. Who are the children that the Lord is referring to here? What is Ramah? I have always applied this passage to the slaughter of infants when Moses and Jesus were babies, although I suppose that the 'face value' of the passage is the sacrificed infants and those that died while Israel was in exile. And -- could it have yet another application, in reference to our modern infanticide? In any case, God tells 'Rachel' to stop weeping. Her work will be rewarded. The children will return from the land of the enemy to their own land. It is hard to get my head around the significance of return to the land, but I know it was huge in that culture. But obviously those exact children did not return from exile with their families. So it must have a symbolic meaning of some sort. Is it correct to read it with this meaning?: God will take care of those children, they do still exist and will in fact be a part of the coming Kingdom. There is no further need to mourn for them -- just repent and continue in your repentance, and you will be rewarded by being with those precious children once again.
15 This is what the LORD says:
"A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because her children are no more."
16 This is what the LORD says:
"Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for your work will be rewarded,"
declares the LORD.
"They will return from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope for your future,"
declares the LORD.
"Your children will return to their own land.
THIRD: What does the second half of this verse refer to? The footnote gives alternates of 'will go about seeking' or 'will protect', but none of the options seem to mean very much to me. Could it possibly refer to Mary giving birth to the Savior?
22 How long will you wander,
O unfaithful daughter?
The LORD will create a new thing on earth—
a woman will surround [b] a man."
FOURTH: I've always wondered what exactly is the substance of the idea that God will 'put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts', and 'they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest'. Surely it doesn't mean we no longer need the Bible to tell us about God, because God has given a general revelation to all people... So what exactly does this mean? Has it already happened? Will in happen in the future, when Jesus returns? Is this what it is like in heaven, or is there some current phenomena that this refers to? After all, the new covenant is now in place. Did this come about when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and does it occur when each person becomes a believer and the HS enters them?
31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to [d] them, [e] "
declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Jeremiah 30
3 The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity [a] and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,' says the LORD."
8 " 'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
9 Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
11 I am with you and will save you,'
declares the LORD.
'Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only with justice;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.'
24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand this.
I know that I love the 'restoration' and 'forgiveness' passages in the Bible and shy away from the 'fierce anger' wrathful ones. But God is both. I can't choose one or the other. Here is a passage that combines both -- that really shows God's anger and wrath toward his unfaithful people but yet reiterates his commitment, his compassion, his commitment to fully accomplish 'the purposes of his heart.' And it ends "In days to come you will understand this." Lord, give me the beginnings of understanding now. I want to have a full picture of you so that I will rejoice in your forgiveness and mercy, but not presume upon it by continuing in sin. I want to see you as my heavenly father who is approachable through Jesus Christ, but I want to remember that you are wholly other, just and righteous, awesome in your glory, fearsome in your righteous wrath, demanding of complete loyalty. I am aware that I take any opportunity to cut myself slack by making excuses. You do not do this. Your mercy is not the same thing as excusing my sin -- your mercy paid for my sin in the most costly of ways, and I should abhor the thought that I would go on sinning after receiving your costly mercy.
8 " 'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
9 Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
11 I am with you and will save you,'
declares the LORD.
'Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only with justice;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.'
24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand this.
I know that I love the 'restoration' and 'forgiveness' passages in the Bible and shy away from the 'fierce anger' wrathful ones. But God is both. I can't choose one or the other. Here is a passage that combines both -- that really shows God's anger and wrath toward his unfaithful people but yet reiterates his commitment, his compassion, his commitment to fully accomplish 'the purposes of his heart.' And it ends "In days to come you will understand this." Lord, give me the beginnings of understanding now. I want to have a full picture of you so that I will rejoice in your forgiveness and mercy, but not presume upon it by continuing in sin. I want to see you as my heavenly father who is approachable through Jesus Christ, but I want to remember that you are wholly other, just and righteous, awesome in your glory, fearsome in your righteous wrath, demanding of complete loyalty. I am aware that I take any opportunity to cut myself slack by making excuses. You do not do this. Your mercy is not the same thing as excusing my sin -- your mercy paid for my sin in the most costly of ways, and I should abhor the thought that I would go on sinning after receiving your costly mercy.
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