Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 36 (Day Six)
“So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch. . .and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire.” (v 32) I like Jeremiah. Respect him for his tenacity. Even with the Lord’s warning that he would be ignored (chapter 1) it still must have been difficult for this very sensitive man to press through the disappointments so regularly and ruthlessly hurled his direction. He was, however, undiscouraged. (In his choices and obedience, if not his emotions.) When they ignored his preaching, he wrote the message on a scroll. When he was restricted from the temple, he sent Baruch to read the words. When the King burned the scroll, he patiently and resolutely produced a second copy. What does it take to discourage you, friend? Do disappointments cause you to cease your service or look for an easier path?
Tag: Lord
The Word of the Lord
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 36 (Day Five)
How many times have we read “The Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah (me)” so far in this book of the bible? My calculations are 26. What great comfort it must have been to Jeremiah for the Lord to continually guide and shape His thoughts, ministry, and message. How clearly, during these moments of chapter 36, he must have understood where the real strength and power of “The Word of the Lord” resides.
“The Bible is the written word of God, and because it is written it is confined and limited by the necessities of ink and paper and leather. The Voice of God, however, is alive and free as the sovereign God is free. ‘The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.’ The life is in the speaking words. God’s word in the Bible can have power only because it corresponds to God’s word in the universe. It is the present Voice which makes the written Word all-powerful.- A.W. Tozer
Word of God, Across the Ages
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 36 (day two)
The power of the written Word has always been a great strength of our faith. In this chapter we read of the Lord commanding Jeremiah to write it all down. The Lord knew that these words would have great impact on those who read them, then and now. The prophet Isaiah writes: “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Is. 55:11) It is troubling then to read of the king’s reaction upon hearing the scroll read back to him. Ultimately, however, whose name do you know better the Prophet Jeremiah who was obedient to the Lord, or King Jehoiakim the irreverent man who burned the scrolls? God’s Word is a powerful tool. Perhaps this is also a motivation to use to continue to write down the things the Lord speaks to us. We may never share them as the prophets or apostles did, but we can gain strength from re-reading how God continues to speak into our lives.
Different responses to the Word of God
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!
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?
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.
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).
Hard and long assignment
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 1 (day one)
“The words of Jeremiah. . .The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year. . .of Josiah. . .and through the reign of Jehoiakim. . .down to the. . .eleventh year of Zekekiah. . .when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.” (v 1-3) 40 years. That is how long Jeremiah labored with the people of Judah. Kings came and went. Three of them. He stayed at the task. Courageously communicated the word of the Lord. There were times (many) when it was unpopular to do so. Times it was dangerous. Times when he complained to God at the difficult and thankless task that was his. One thing, however. Jeremiah remained faithful. Even when there was no success to point to. No encouragement from others. For the next 12 weeks it will be our privilege to study the life and message of this brave man (and another like him named Ezekiel). They were faithful to hard and long assignments. You?
How majestic
Re:Verse reading–Psalm 8 (day one)
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (vs 1) Fill in the blanks. “For purple mountain_________above the fruited plain.” (think song) “Her ________, the Queen!” (think England) When David says that God’s name is majestic, He used a word (addir) which meant, “glorious, mighty, huge or wide”. It was a word of scope, scale and size. Name meant “reputation or character”. It is an insight that came to David as he watched the stillness and beauty of the nighttime sky. How could the creator of such beauty not be beautiful, Himself? How could He be small? There is great benefit for those who gain this perspective. Whenever we are overwhelmed it is usually because our problems have gotten large and our God has gotten small (in our eyes, at least). To recover this vision is to experience peace. “Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is STRONG!”