Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 36 (day one)
Two different men. Two very different hearts. 2 Kings tells the day that the Law was read to King Josiah. He torn his clothes as a symbol of grief. He commanded his servants to inquire of the Lord for the possibility of mercy. “Because great is the wrath of the Lord against us because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book.” (2 Kings 22:13) A different response from Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 36. As his servants read him the same words (the words that he and his nation had systematically ignored) Jehoiakim took a knife and sliced away columns of writing that he then placed in the fire for burning. “The king and all his attendants who heard these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes.” (v 24) “This is the man to whom I will look, to him who is humble and contrite, who trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2) God help us!
Tag: God
Does God punish?
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day seven)
“Behold, I am about to punish them! The young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine.” (11:22) It is an idea often denied in this permissive generation. We do not imagine a God who punishes people for their moral choices. We doubt or deny the certainty of consequences, either positive and negative. Gradually the conviction has eroded away that 1) there is a God, 2) He is morally good, 3) He holds people responsible for their choices. It is not a new problem. People in Jeremiah’s day said, “He will not see our latter end.” (12:4) Like moderns, they imagined a morally absent and generally tolerant God. One who did not judge behavior nor shape outcomes. Jeremiah warns them to turn from such thinking. They refuse and miss the offered mercy. “Vengeance is mine, I WILL repay”, says the Lord. (Romans 12:19) What do you believe, friend? What have you taught your children?
Prayers for justice
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day six)
“O Lord Almighty. . .let me see your vengeance upon them.” (11:20) Jeremiah is not alone. The Bible records MANY prayers for the wicked to be brought to justice, made to experience the vengeance of God. Revelation 6:9-10 is another example. “I saw the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and they cried out, ‘How long , O Lord. . .will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood?’ ” To reconcile these prayers with the prayer of Christ on the cross (“Father, forgive them”) various approaches have been employed. Perhaps the best is to remember that justice is a permanent part of God’s character and righteousness. His anger toward all who are unholy is not unholy. It is not wrong for his people to pray for judgment to come. Higher still for us to pray for mercy which comes through repentance and faith. One prayer is good. The other is even better.
What’s the Point?
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day five)
I am VERY competitive. I keep score. Most times, it really is a huge disservice to my heart and soul. I suspect most of us are that way too. Jeremiah continues to learn a lesson that every human heart has to eventually understand. Keeping score is SO dangerous, because each life has its own unique journey (race) marked out by the Lord. How can you compare? Keeping score often takes our eyes off of the Lord and puts the focus on others or ourselves. Keeping score uses human judgment and perspective to quantify the totals. Keeping score skews the priority. Look at Jeremiah’s focus and perspective… “They grow, they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their mind.3 But You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage!” So, what’s the point? What’s the perspective? God calls us to walk in obedience not victory. Obedience puts our focus on Him.
Why Does Evil Prosper?
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day four) In 12:1, Jeremiah asks the question that has long been on the lips of man…”Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?” Habakkuk, a contemporary of Jeremiah asked the same question, “Why does God allow evil to go unpunished in Judah?” Have you asked it before?…”Why does God allow evil to go unpunished in America?” When we look at the situation with our finite human eyes, the injustice seems overwhelming. Through eyes of faith though, we know that God will hold the unjust and evil accountable. In Jeremiah’s day, God would eventually punish Babylon…evil will be judged, but it will be in God’s timing. Habakkuk voiced the words that became the basis for Paul’s theological position in Romans…”The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) We stand watch on the wall to see what God is doing!
Say
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day three)
“Do not trust them,
though they speak well of you.” Who could blame Jeremiah for wanting a little positive feedback? But God knew that if Jeremiah found contentment in the praise of others, he would use them for his own comfort instead of loving them and speaking honestly to them. There is a difference between receiving encouragement from people, and becoming addicted to the words people say. As Jeremiah withdrew from people from time to time to hear hard words from God, he regained his ability to stand and speak to people in hard, severe, yet merciful ways.
When holy is hard
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 11:18-23; 12:1-6; 17:14-18; 20:7-18 (day one)
“But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (20:9) Jeremiah is “between a rock and a hard place”. His service to God is unwelcome, unsuccessful (by any human measure) and unsatisfying. A hard assignment emotionally, physically and personally! He weeps often from the sheer stress. And when he tries to reduce the stress, the Spirit of God will not allow it. No escape. This cross has to be carried. Will we have similar moments? Moments when our service to Christ does not “pay” in anything but further disappointment? I think so. ” American Dream” Christianity proposes that faithful people will always be satisfied and happy. Biblical Christianity proposes that faithful people will sometimes be called to tasks that are holy and hard.
Reformation – then and now
RE Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-12; 19:1-15 (day seven)
“REFORM your ways and your deeds.” (19:11) We look back on the Reformers with respect and gratitude. 1517. Martin Luther nailing 95 Theses to the door of the All Saints church in Wittenberg, Germany. John Calvin writing the Institutes of the Christian Religion. Such courage! But do we recognize our own responsibility? Each of us is called to reform his own ways and deeds. “If I cannot change the world, I will change my part of it”, says the obedient heart. God calls us to do so. We are not lifeless clay. (This is the place where the analogy of Jeremiah 18 breaks down.) We are humans, created in the image of God, with great capacity for moral thought and action. We are not victims! “Can a man be born (new) when he is old?” (John 3:4) Yes! By the Spirit, through faith (as expressed in obedience) life can be reformed. “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7)
Listening, Looking, Learning
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-12; 19:1-15 (day five)
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal My words to you.” I bet he had seen potters doing their work lots of times. Yet this time, Jeremiah saw and obtained amazing insight and instruction from The Lord. Ever wonder how many times we overlook or pass by opportunities and circumstances that the Lord would use to teach, guide, and encourage us? Maybe a teachable heart begins with humble prayer asking God to help us see and learn throughout the day (about Him and ourselves). “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
Ray Stedman describes this attitude; “It makes every incident in your experience a continual challenge to see God at work. At your office, at your kitchen sink, your desk, your nursing stand at the hospital, your room in the retirement home, your classroom at school you are being continually exposed to situations which are a challenge to God in you in your circumstances.” (commentary on Philippians 2:13).
Clay
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 18:1-12; 19:1-15 (day four)
Jeremiah says that God is looking for clay. (Verse 18:6) Clay has no thoughts, no strengths, no weaknesses, and no will of its own. God is looking for people who are willing to allow Him to create them however He chooses. Have you ever told God what your strengths are so that He can shape a plan for your life using them? Have you ever told Him that particular areas of your life are weaknesses for you so He won’t try to use you in those ministry areas? God can shape and mold your life however He chooses. He is the potter, we are the clay. The sooner we learn that lesson, the sooner we will be effective in His ministry. It is our willingness to submit to Him…not our skills and talents…that makes us useful vessels. Yield your life to the potter’s hand…His skill will bear fruit!