I finished Jeremiah this morning. Going through that book slowly was not a lot of fun, though it was edifying. As I finish I want to reflect on a few themes I saw in it.
The biggest one is that God is sovereign. He has a plan and He means to stick to it. Whether part of that plan involves "middle knowledge" is not up for me to say right now, but He clearly knew that His people would mess up the covenant.
God uses means to accomplish His will. We should not feel secure even if we are one of the means He uses. He used the Babylonians and they got the longest section describing their destruction. Short-term success does not necessarily equate to holiness.
On a personal level, I feel for Jeremiah. He had a very bad gig. What's incredible to me is how faithful he remained to his calling. My seminary uses this verse as sort of its foundation:
Jeremiah 3:15
(15) "'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Some of this is a bit of a culture war mentality that we have, but I think that there is a deeper reason. If we are going to be faithful preachers we need to look to Jeremiah as an example of what can happen to us. I don't think any of my classmates or I are going to get thrown in any cisterns, but we are likely to face some scorn and derision if we preach the Word faithfully.
This leads to my last theme. Those of us who call ourselves Christians and "people of the book" need to be faithful to it. Jeremiah was faithful to the Word of the Lord. It brought him great pain and suffering, but we look back thousands of years later and his suffering doesn't seem so great. I have a feeling that it doesn't seem like a big deal to him now either.
Showing posts with label jeremiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jeremiah. Show all posts
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Really Gone
Jeremiah 50:39-40
(39) "Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations.
(40) As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.
Ever seen Babylon on a map? I understand that it is in present-day Iraq. I also have heard that Saddam Hussein intended to rebuild it. That makes a lot of sense for someone who saw himself in the light he did.
However, it never happened. He was overthrown and democracy now more or less rules in Iraq. I am not trying to say that the United States was necessarily acting out of the interest of serving God's will, but it does seem like we were used to keep this prophecy valid. I don't want to make too much of the war in Iraq. I do know that there are a lot of people happy to have seen Saddam fall though.
My point is that God will fulfill His purposes. He will use means to accomplish them. I think that there are plenty of times when the means don't even realize how they are being used. The US invasion of Iraq is probably one of them. The Babylonian attack on Judah was certainly another.
God is bigger than we are. He sees how it all works out. No matter how hard we try we cannot foil His plans. I find that life is just better if we are working with Him rather than against Him.
(39) "Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations.
(40) As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.
Ever seen Babylon on a map? I understand that it is in present-day Iraq. I also have heard that Saddam Hussein intended to rebuild it. That makes a lot of sense for someone who saw himself in the light he did.
However, it never happened. He was overthrown and democracy now more or less rules in Iraq. I am not trying to say that the United States was necessarily acting out of the interest of serving God's will, but it does seem like we were used to keep this prophecy valid. I don't want to make too much of the war in Iraq. I do know that there are a lot of people happy to have seen Saddam fall though.
My point is that God will fulfill His purposes. He will use means to accomplish them. I think that there are plenty of times when the means don't even realize how they are being used. The US invasion of Iraq is probably one of them. The Babylonian attack on Judah was certainly another.
God is bigger than we are. He sees how it all works out. No matter how hard we try we cannot foil His plans. I find that life is just better if we are working with Him rather than against Him.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Destroying the Destroyer
Jeremiah 50:2-3
(2) "Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: 'Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.'
(3) "For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.
The circle finally closes on Babylon. God had used Babylon to punish Israel and Judah, but there still had to be a reckoning for their sin. Their time had come and God was going to use Persia to punish them.
I may have mentioned this before, but I think it bears repeating. Just because someone or some organization seems successful we should not leap to the conclusion that they are doing the right things. If we measured success that way we would be inclined to follow the gods of Babylon. After all, they had the upper hand. Their kingdom was incredibly prosperous.
However, in the end they still had to face the true God's wrath. There had to be justice for how they worshiped. Their success was fleeting only because they were instruments in God's hands.
This is why we must use the Bible as our standard for judging ministry. Obviously it leaves some things up to personal preference. I don't think God cares if we use pianos, organs, or guitars in singing our songs. I don't think he cares if we wear suits or skater jackets. What He does care about is the true proclamation of the gospel done by humble leaders who know Him and love Him. That's the kind of place where I want to worship and where I would want to lead if I end up going the pastoral route.
(2) "Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: 'Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.'
(3) "For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.
The circle finally closes on Babylon. God had used Babylon to punish Israel and Judah, but there still had to be a reckoning for their sin. Their time had come and God was going to use Persia to punish them.
I may have mentioned this before, but I think it bears repeating. Just because someone or some organization seems successful we should not leap to the conclusion that they are doing the right things. If we measured success that way we would be inclined to follow the gods of Babylon. After all, they had the upper hand. Their kingdom was incredibly prosperous.
However, in the end they still had to face the true God's wrath. There had to be justice for how they worshiped. Their success was fleeting only because they were instruments in God's hands.
This is why we must use the Bible as our standard for judging ministry. Obviously it leaves some things up to personal preference. I don't think God cares if we use pianos, organs, or guitars in singing our songs. I don't think he cares if we wear suits or skater jackets. What He does care about is the true proclamation of the gospel done by humble leaders who know Him and love Him. That's the kind of place where I want to worship and where I would want to lead if I end up going the pastoral route.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Working Hard
Jeremiah 48:10
(10) Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
This little proverb appears in a chapter describing the upcoming destruction of Moab. It tells a pretty grisly tale for Moab. Of course, Moab and Israel go way back and they ultimately deserve what they get.
I just found it interesting that this proverb popped out in the middle of this chapter. According to the notes in my ESV Study Bible, this refers to the work that the Babylonians are going to do in Moab. God appointed them to destroy Moab and this proverb explains that it is important to do God's work with zeal.
I don't want to go all Prayer of Jabez on this verse. I don't think that it holds any mystical significance beyond the obvious. However, I do think that the obvious is plenty to chew on. We are to do God's work zealously. We are not to shrink back from the difficult things He calls on us to do. This is a dire warning for anyone who plans to go into any kind of ministry. Frankly, it's a dire warning for any Christian because we are all called to do the Lord's work.
(10) Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
This little proverb appears in a chapter describing the upcoming destruction of Moab. It tells a pretty grisly tale for Moab. Of course, Moab and Israel go way back and they ultimately deserve what they get.
I just found it interesting that this proverb popped out in the middle of this chapter. According to the notes in my ESV Study Bible, this refers to the work that the Babylonians are going to do in Moab. God appointed them to destroy Moab and this proverb explains that it is important to do God's work with zeal.
I don't want to go all Prayer of Jabez on this verse. I don't think that it holds any mystical significance beyond the obvious. However, I do think that the obvious is plenty to chew on. We are to do God's work zealously. We are not to shrink back from the difficult things He calls on us to do. This is a dire warning for anyone who plans to go into any kind of ministry. Frankly, it's a dire warning for any Christian because we are all called to do the Lord's work.
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Philistines
Jeremiah 47:6-7
(6) Ah, sword of the LORD! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still!
(7) How can it be quiet when the LORD has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it."
The rest of Jeremiah covers the upcoming destruction of the nations. Here we see Jeremiah's plea for the Lord to stop the destruction. However, the Lord will destroy whom He will.
I'm still not sure exactly how to read Revelation and other apocalyptic literature, but I am pretty well settled on at least one matter. Christ will come back in glory to reign. It is not going to be a good day for His enemies. There is no fence-sitting with Christ. Either you're His friend or His enemy. How will it be for you when He returns?
(6) Ah, sword of the LORD! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still!
(7) How can it be quiet when the LORD has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore he has appointed it."
The rest of Jeremiah covers the upcoming destruction of the nations. Here we see Jeremiah's plea for the Lord to stop the destruction. However, the Lord will destroy whom He will.
I'm still not sure exactly how to read Revelation and other apocalyptic literature, but I am pretty well settled on at least one matter. Christ will come back in glory to reign. It is not going to be a good day for His enemies. There is no fence-sitting with Christ. Either you're His friend or His enemy. How will it be for you when He returns?
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Cause and Effect
Jeremiah 44:20-23
(20) Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who had given him this answer:
(21) "As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them? Did it not come into his mind?
(22) The LORD could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day.
(23) It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day."
In the previous verses the people lamented how badly their lives had gone since they stopped making offerings to the queen of heaven. They figured that all the calamity had come upon them because of this. Jeremiah had to straighten them out.
I think that it is easy for us to get into the mindset of God as a cosmic traffic cop. We think that we can make Him do what we want based on how we perform. We also think that we can escape consequences of sin if we just stop sinning. These people lived in wanton idolatry and stopped when they began to be consumed by the Babylonians. They figured that stopping the idolatry would make the Babylonians go away. What they failed to consider is that the exile was the consequence of their idolatry.
For us on this side of the cross we must remember that there are consequences to sin. Yes, there is grace and forgiveness at the cross. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. However, there are still consequences we must deal with. Maybe it's an unwanted pregnancy. Maybe it's bankruptcy from poor stewardship. Maybe it's a loss of health from gluttony or drunkenness. Ultimately we will enjoy salvation, but we still need to deal with the consequences.
The good news is that it is never too late to start doing the right thing. We must repent and believe.
(20) Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who had given him this answer:
(21) "As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them? Did it not come into his mind?
(22) The LORD could no longer bear your evil deeds and the abominations that you committed. Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day.
(23) It is because you made offerings and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his testimonies that this disaster has happened to you, as at this day."
In the previous verses the people lamented how badly their lives had gone since they stopped making offerings to the queen of heaven. They figured that all the calamity had come upon them because of this. Jeremiah had to straighten them out.
I think that it is easy for us to get into the mindset of God as a cosmic traffic cop. We think that we can make Him do what we want based on how we perform. We also think that we can escape consequences of sin if we just stop sinning. These people lived in wanton idolatry and stopped when they began to be consumed by the Babylonians. They figured that stopping the idolatry would make the Babylonians go away. What they failed to consider is that the exile was the consequence of their idolatry.
For us on this side of the cross we must remember that there are consequences to sin. Yes, there is grace and forgiveness at the cross. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. However, there are still consequences we must deal with. Maybe it's an unwanted pregnancy. Maybe it's bankruptcy from poor stewardship. Maybe it's a loss of health from gluttony or drunkenness. Ultimately we will enjoy salvation, but we still need to deal with the consequences.
The good news is that it is never too late to start doing the right thing. We must repent and believe.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Intrigue
Jeremiah 41:6-7
(6) And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, "Come in to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam."
(7) When they came into the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and cast them into a cistern.
I think the Bible has a bad reputation for being a boring book. Yes, there are some dry parts. Reading Leviticus without an eye on Hebrews is pretty dry, for example. However, it is also full of suspense and intrigue.
This is the culmination of the work done by the scoundrel Ishmael. I have no great theological truth on which to pontificate, but I do commend this story to you if you think that the Bible is just boring. The Bible shows the human condition, warts and all. That's one of the things that I love about it. The Bible is very, very real.
(6) And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, "Come in to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam."
(7) When they came into the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and cast them into a cistern.
I think the Bible has a bad reputation for being a boring book. Yes, there are some dry parts. Reading Leviticus without an eye on Hebrews is pretty dry, for example. However, it is also full of suspense and intrigue.
This is the culmination of the work done by the scoundrel Ishmael. I have no great theological truth on which to pontificate, but I do commend this story to you if you think that the Bible is just boring. The Bible shows the human condition, warts and all. That's one of the things that I love about it. The Bible is very, very real.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Accepting Truth
Jeremiah 38:6
(6) So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
These folks didn't like what Jeremiah had to say about the upcoming fall of Jerusalem. Their solution was to put him in a cistern. To me, this is the equivalent of a child sticking his fingers in his ears and singing so he can't hear what someone is telling him.
We live in a time where people do not care much for propositional truth. Frankly, I don't like it much either when it convicts me. Yet there are some things that are simply true. No matter how much we may rail against it, if we jump off a tall building we are going to have to deal with gravity. If we have $100 in the bank and make a purchase for $200 we are going to have $100 of debt. You just can't argue with that.
What gets me is when we try to make these same kinds of arguments against God. I don't expect the unbelieving world to submit to the truth of God's Word, but I certainly expect that from those who claim to follow Christ. What do we say about our faith when we pick and choose what we are going to believe? Who are we to put ourselves in authority over Scripture? We say that we like the grace parts, but we don't like the parts that convict us so much.
It seems awfully arrogant to claim to know Jesus and then dismiss the parts we don't like. How did we come to know about Jesus in the first place? We used the Bible. How can we say that those parts are true and useful, but the others aren't? How can we say that the message of the gospel is appropriate for all times, and then say that we are in a different time so others don't apply?
(6) So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
These folks didn't like what Jeremiah had to say about the upcoming fall of Jerusalem. Their solution was to put him in a cistern. To me, this is the equivalent of a child sticking his fingers in his ears and singing so he can't hear what someone is telling him.
We live in a time where people do not care much for propositional truth. Frankly, I don't like it much either when it convicts me. Yet there are some things that are simply true. No matter how much we may rail against it, if we jump off a tall building we are going to have to deal with gravity. If we have $100 in the bank and make a purchase for $200 we are going to have $100 of debt. You just can't argue with that.
What gets me is when we try to make these same kinds of arguments against God. I don't expect the unbelieving world to submit to the truth of God's Word, but I certainly expect that from those who claim to follow Christ. What do we say about our faith when we pick and choose what we are going to believe? Who are we to put ourselves in authority over Scripture? We say that we like the grace parts, but we don't like the parts that convict us so much.
It seems awfully arrogant to claim to know Jesus and then dismiss the parts we don't like. How did we come to know about Jesus in the first place? We used the Bible. How can we say that those parts are true and useful, but the others aren't? How can we say that the message of the gospel is appropriate for all times, and then say that we are in a different time so others don't apply?
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Situational Repentance
Jeremiah 34:15-16
(15) You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name,
(16) but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves.
Jerusalem was under siege, so Jeremiah commanded the people to release all their Hebrew slaves from their commitment. Keep in mind that the Hebrew slaves were more like indentured servants. They sold themselves into service to pay for something. At the seventh year they had to be freed, per the Law.
The people obeyed at first. After all, they needed help in defending the city. But when the Babylonians stopped their siege the people changed their minds. They took the Hebrews back into slavery.
This reminds me of my promises "never to drink again" when I was hung over. How many of us have made foxhole prayers that we were sincere about at the time only to repent of our repentance later? I certainly did a lot of that when I was struggling with habitual sexual sin.
God doesn't want our wishy-washy prayers. He wants our hearts. He demands our hearts.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11
(9) As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
(10) For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
(11) For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
It all starts at the cross. Consider what your sin did to Christ. Consider how sin grieves our holy God. How can we give Him any less than our whole hearts?
(15) You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name,
(16) but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves.
Jerusalem was under siege, so Jeremiah commanded the people to release all their Hebrew slaves from their commitment. Keep in mind that the Hebrew slaves were more like indentured servants. They sold themselves into service to pay for something. At the seventh year they had to be freed, per the Law.
The people obeyed at first. After all, they needed help in defending the city. But when the Babylonians stopped their siege the people changed their minds. They took the Hebrews back into slavery.
This reminds me of my promises "never to drink again" when I was hung over. How many of us have made foxhole prayers that we were sincere about at the time only to repent of our repentance later? I certainly did a lot of that when I was struggling with habitual sexual sin.
God doesn't want our wishy-washy prayers. He wants our hearts. He demands our hearts.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11
(9) As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
(10) For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
(11) For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
It all starts at the cross. Consider what your sin did to Christ. Consider how sin grieves our holy God. How can we give Him any less than our whole hearts?
Monday, August 03, 2009
The King and Priest
Jeremiah 33:14-18
(14) "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
(15) In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
(16) In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'
(17) "For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,
(18) and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever."
The Old Testament speaks to three offices: prophet, priest, and king. Each of these had their parts to play in society. Christ came as the fulfillment of these offices. This passage speaks to two of them.
When I first read this today I was a little confused by verse 18. After all, isn't the temple unnecessary now that Christ has come? Why would anyone still need to burn sacrifices after Christ came to atone for our sins and be the propitiation of God's wrath?
I think the point is that Christ fulfills that office for us. Now that He has come we no longer need the blood of bulls and goats. He has already served as the sacrifice for all of our sin. His sacrifice is the rock on which we stand rather than our own achievements.
Of course, He is also the righteous king that sits on the throne of David. He will also sit in the judgment seat one day. My stepfather is an attorney and one of the things I've learned from him over the years is that it is good to know the judge. If you are in Christ you already know the judge. What a blessed promise!
(14) "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
(15) In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
(16) In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'
(17) "For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,
(18) and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever."
The Old Testament speaks to three offices: prophet, priest, and king. Each of these had their parts to play in society. Christ came as the fulfillment of these offices. This passage speaks to two of them.
When I first read this today I was a little confused by verse 18. After all, isn't the temple unnecessary now that Christ has come? Why would anyone still need to burn sacrifices after Christ came to atone for our sins and be the propitiation of God's wrath?
I think the point is that Christ fulfills that office for us. Now that He has come we no longer need the blood of bulls and goats. He has already served as the sacrifice for all of our sin. His sacrifice is the rock on which we stand rather than our own achievements.
Of course, He is also the righteous king that sits on the throne of David. He will also sit in the judgment seat one day. My stepfather is an attorney and one of the things I've learned from him over the years is that it is good to know the judge. If you are in Christ you already know the judge. What a blessed promise!
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Faith in Action
Jeremiah 32:8
(8) Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
Jeremiah did something that seemed insane. He bought a field just before Jerusalem was to be besieged, captured, and burned. I don't know much about real estate, but I do know that this is a bad idea on the surface. If I knew a hurricane was about to hit South Florida I wouldn't go out and buy a big tract of land and develop on it. I would wait until it lost its value after the hurricane.
As with so many other things, there was symbolism to this purchase. By leading Jeremiah to purchase this property God showed that He would be faithful to the new covenant He made. Good times would return to Jerusalem one day. However, this took right perspective from Jeremiah to make this decision.
How are you living your life? Are you basing all your decisions on the temporal or do you have an eye to the future? Are you looking forward to the day when the world is consumed and we get to enjoy eternity with Christ, or are you living just for today? I'm all for Dave Ramsey, but all he can do is help us prepare our finances for our eventual retirement. If we are followers of Christ we have an eternal reward waiting for us that makes everything in this world pale in comparison.
This is not a call to asceticism, but to perspective. What hope do you have?
(8) Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
Jeremiah did something that seemed insane. He bought a field just before Jerusalem was to be besieged, captured, and burned. I don't know much about real estate, but I do know that this is a bad idea on the surface. If I knew a hurricane was about to hit South Florida I wouldn't go out and buy a big tract of land and develop on it. I would wait until it lost its value after the hurricane.
As with so many other things, there was symbolism to this purchase. By leading Jeremiah to purchase this property God showed that He would be faithful to the new covenant He made. Good times would return to Jerusalem one day. However, this took right perspective from Jeremiah to make this decision.
How are you living your life? Are you basing all your decisions on the temporal or do you have an eye to the future? Are you looking forward to the day when the world is consumed and we get to enjoy eternity with Christ, or are you living just for today? I'm all for Dave Ramsey, but all he can do is help us prepare our finances for our eventual retirement. If we are followers of Christ we have an eternal reward waiting for us that makes everything in this world pale in comparison.
This is not a call to asceticism, but to perspective. What hope do you have?
Saturday, August 01, 2009
The New Covenant
Jeremiah 31:31-33
(31) "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
(32) not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
(33) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Finally Jeremiah takes a turn for the positive. This is the hope that we have in Christ. God made a covenant with Israel, but they couldn't keep it. Here God promises to make a newcovenant with them. It seems to me that this was fulfilled in Christ.
I think it is unwarranted to see Christ all over the Old Testament. I've been exposed to teaching that does that. I suppose it is better to see too much of Christ than too little (so says Spurgeon), but I also want to be faithful to the text.
Even with that caution in mind I think this is a clear prediction of Christ. I also think that it gives warrant to the idea that the church and Israel are linked together. God made a promise to national Israel, but they blew it. Here God promises a new covenant through Christ. I love this promise:
Jeremiah 31:35-37
(35) Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD of hosts is his name:
(36) "If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever."
(37) Thus says the LORD: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD."
Clearly He speaks of things that cannot happen. Therefore, if we are part of the new covenant through Christ we are His and will be for eternity. As the old hymn says, "Alleluia! What a Savior!"
(31) "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
(32) not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
(33) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Finally Jeremiah takes a turn for the positive. This is the hope that we have in Christ. God made a covenant with Israel, but they couldn't keep it. Here God promises to make a newcovenant with them. It seems to me that this was fulfilled in Christ.
I think it is unwarranted to see Christ all over the Old Testament. I've been exposed to teaching that does that. I suppose it is better to see too much of Christ than too little (so says Spurgeon), but I also want to be faithful to the text.
Even with that caution in mind I think this is a clear prediction of Christ. I also think that it gives warrant to the idea that the church and Israel are linked together. God made a promise to national Israel, but they blew it. Here God promises a new covenant through Christ. I love this promise:
Jeremiah 31:35-37
(35) Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD of hosts is his name:
(36) "If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever."
(37) Thus says the LORD: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD."
Clearly He speaks of things that cannot happen. Therefore, if we are part of the new covenant through Christ we are His and will be for eternity. As the old hymn says, "Alleluia! What a Savior!"
Friday, July 31, 2009
Covenant Keeping
Jeremiah 30:22-24
(22) And you shall be my people, and I will be your God."
(23) Behold the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
(24) The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this.
Here we see the great reaffirmation of God's covenant with His people. I won't go into whether that is national Israel or if it refers to the church, but the key point here is that God is faithful on two accounts:
Are you one of His? Do you know Him? If not, there is wrath stored up for you. I would never encourage anyone to give his life to Christ simply because of the wrath to come, but it is a good starting point. Ultimately we have to decide who God is. Is it the God who created the universe and sets the rules or is it our own thoughts and ideas about how the universe should be run? God deserves our worship and obedience because He is God. As Paul wrote:
Galatians 1:3-5
(3) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
(4) who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
(5) to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
(22) And you shall be my people, and I will be your God."
(23) Behold the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.
(24) The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this.
Here we see the great reaffirmation of God's covenant with His people. I won't go into whether that is national Israel or if it refers to the church, but the key point here is that God is faithful on two accounts:
- He will take care of His own
- His wrath will be poured out on those who aren't His
Are you one of His? Do you know Him? If not, there is wrath stored up for you. I would never encourage anyone to give his life to Christ simply because of the wrath to come, but it is a good starting point. Ultimately we have to decide who God is. Is it the God who created the universe and sets the rules or is it our own thoughts and ideas about how the universe should be run? God deserves our worship and obedience because He is God. As Paul wrote:
Galatians 1:3-5
(3) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
(4) who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
(5) to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Response to Folly
Jeremiah 28:10-11
(10) Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them.
(11) And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years." But Jeremiah the prophet went his way.
Jeremiah had made it very clear that the people should expect to be taken captive to Babylon. He even put a yoke on his neck as an object lesson for the people. Then this false prophet Hananiah came along and told the people what they wanted to hear.
I find the end of verse 11 to be a bit surprising. Were it me I would have wanted a fight. I would have brought out all my verses to show that Hananiah was wrong. I would have wanted to prove him wrong before all the people so that they could see the truth. And, frankly, so that they could see that I was right.
Jeremiah didn't do that. He just walked away from the situation. He was willing to wait the two years for vindication. After all, it would be easy to see who was right at that time. If the people came back then Hananiah was right.
I don't think that there is a universal application to this, but I do think that there is a lesson for those of us who feel a calling to fight for the truth. Sometimes we just need to walk away. I don't necessarily have a cheat sheet to show the situations when it is better to fight and when it is better to walk away, but I do think that there are times where one response is appropriate and the other isn't. I do think of the Jehovah's Witnesses and all of their prophecies. They can talk about "new light" all they want, but in the end they have to deal with following false prophets.
Ultimately, I think we need patience. That's something I know that I need a lot more of.
(10) Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them.
(11) And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years." But Jeremiah the prophet went his way.
Jeremiah had made it very clear that the people should expect to be taken captive to Babylon. He even put a yoke on his neck as an object lesson for the people. Then this false prophet Hananiah came along and told the people what they wanted to hear.
I find the end of verse 11 to be a bit surprising. Were it me I would have wanted a fight. I would have brought out all my verses to show that Hananiah was wrong. I would have wanted to prove him wrong before all the people so that they could see the truth. And, frankly, so that they could see that I was right.
Jeremiah didn't do that. He just walked away from the situation. He was willing to wait the two years for vindication. After all, it would be easy to see who was right at that time. If the people came back then Hananiah was right.
I don't think that there is a universal application to this, but I do think that there is a lesson for those of us who feel a calling to fight for the truth. Sometimes we just need to walk away. I don't necessarily have a cheat sheet to show the situations when it is better to fight and when it is better to walk away, but I do think that there are times where one response is appropriate and the other isn't. I do think of the Jehovah's Witnesses and all of their prophecies. They can talk about "new light" all they want, but in the end they have to deal with following false prophets.
Ultimately, I think we need patience. That's something I know that I need a lot more of.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Using Tools
11 p This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and t these nations shall serve the king of Babylon u seventy years. 12 Then after u seventy years are completed, v I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, v the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, v making the land an everlasting waste. 13 I will bring upon that land all the words that I have uttered against it, everything written w in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations. 14 x For many nations x and great kings shall make slaves even of them, y and I will recompense them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”
(Pardon the formatting as I'm traveling and using the ESV Study Bible online text).
I think I've covered this before, but I just find this fascinating. God plans to use Babylon as a means to punish His people. But at the end of this time God intends to punish Babylon too.
This tells me a couple of things. First, it shows me that God is completely sovereign. He can do what He wants with people and we never have the right to say, "that's not fair!" I am always taken back to Romans 9 for this as well.
It also tells me that we should be very careful about judging the merits of a people or an organization based on the way they are prospering or not prospering. There seems to be a certain kind of pragmatism within American evangelicalism that automatically equates numerical success with faithfulness. In other words, a prospering ministry must be a faithful one. They may not do things the way we think they should be done, but if they prosper that is a sign of God's blessing; therefore, we should withhold judgment despite the biblical warrants we have for concern.
God's treatment of Babylon tells me that we cannot do that. I have heard Paul Washer say that Joel Osteen is actually God's judgment upon the folks who want to hear his teaching. They don't want the Bible, but they do want to have a sense of affirmation. God uses Joel Osteen to give them what they want, which will ultimately lead to their own destruction. After all, the rain falls on the just and unjust.
Let's remain faithful to the Bible. Let's use the Bible as our benchmark. You never know when a seemingly successful group may actually be a tool like Babylon was.
(Pardon the formatting as I'm traveling and using the ESV Study Bible online text).
I think I've covered this before, but I just find this fascinating. God plans to use Babylon as a means to punish His people. But at the end of this time God intends to punish Babylon too.
This tells me a couple of things. First, it shows me that God is completely sovereign. He can do what He wants with people and we never have the right to say, "that's not fair!" I am always taken back to Romans 9 for this as well.
It also tells me that we should be very careful about judging the merits of a people or an organization based on the way they are prospering or not prospering. There seems to be a certain kind of pragmatism within American evangelicalism that automatically equates numerical success with faithfulness. In other words, a prospering ministry must be a faithful one. They may not do things the way we think they should be done, but if they prosper that is a sign of God's blessing; therefore, we should withhold judgment despite the biblical warrants we have for concern.
God's treatment of Babylon tells me that we cannot do that. I have heard Paul Washer say that Joel Osteen is actually God's judgment upon the folks who want to hear his teaching. They don't want the Bible, but they do want to have a sense of affirmation. God uses Joel Osteen to give them what they want, which will ultimately lead to their own destruction. After all, the rain falls on the just and unjust.
Let's remain faithful to the Bible. Let's use the Bible as our benchmark. You never know when a seemingly successful group may actually be a tool like Babylon was.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Strange Obedience
Jeremiah 24:5-10
(5) "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.
(6) I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them.
(7) I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
(8) "But thus says the LORD: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.
(9) I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them.
(10) And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers."
As we've seen, God intended for Jerusalem to get sacked. He commanded the faithful to be led away by the invading Babylonian army. Here we see that He compares those who are led away to good figs. But those who stay are bad figs and are destined for utter destruction.
If I were in Jerusalem at the time my inclination would be to stay. I would want to put up a fight to show my faithfulness. I would want to demonstrate bravery, which is a character trait that every culture seems to honor. But this passage tells me that staying for a fight would lead to my destruction.
Isn't it this way with Jesus? We can try to do things our way, but all that will do is lead us to our own destruction. But if we yield to Him in complete surrender we will end up having life. It won't be the life we originally planned, but it will end up being a lot better than getting lumped in with the bad figs.
I encourage you to surrender to Jesus if you haven't already.
(5) "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.
(6) I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them.
(7) I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
(8) "But thus says the LORD: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.
(9) I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them.
(10) And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers."
As we've seen, God intended for Jerusalem to get sacked. He commanded the faithful to be led away by the invading Babylonian army. Here we see that He compares those who are led away to good figs. But those who stay are bad figs and are destined for utter destruction.
If I were in Jerusalem at the time my inclination would be to stay. I would want to put up a fight to show my faithfulness. I would want to demonstrate bravery, which is a character trait that every culture seems to honor. But this passage tells me that staying for a fight would lead to my destruction.
Isn't it this way with Jesus? We can try to do things our way, but all that will do is lead us to our own destruction. But if we yield to Him in complete surrender we will end up having life. It won't be the life we originally planned, but it will end up being a lot better than getting lumped in with the bad figs.
I encourage you to surrender to Jesus if you haven't already.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Word
Jeremiah 23:29
(29) Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
We attend an unashamedly seeker-sensitive church. This means that we have a lot of nominal believers in it, if they are believers at all. While I realize that not everyone is at the same stage of Christian maturity, I also think that we make too many allowances for those who are not serious about following Christ. They still want to have life both ways.
I think this verse shows us the answer to the problem. How do we break through to those who have a hunger for Christ but don't know how to live it? We preach the Word. How do we all grow in sanctification? We spend time with the Word.
It's really not a lot of fun to go through a fire. Nor is it fun to be hammered into pieces. Yet I know that is what I need. The Word brings conviction into my life. This particular verse tells me that I need to bring Scripture to bear even more on my life than I do now. It's tough to spend time in the Bible because it transforms us. Yet that is how we are going to grow to be more like Christ.
(29) Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
We attend an unashamedly seeker-sensitive church. This means that we have a lot of nominal believers in it, if they are believers at all. While I realize that not everyone is at the same stage of Christian maturity, I also think that we make too many allowances for those who are not serious about following Christ. They still want to have life both ways.
I think this verse shows us the answer to the problem. How do we break through to those who have a hunger for Christ but don't know how to live it? We preach the Word. How do we all grow in sanctification? We spend time with the Word.
It's really not a lot of fun to go through a fire. Nor is it fun to be hammered into pieces. Yet I know that is what I need. The Word brings conviction into my life. This particular verse tells me that I need to bring Scripture to bear even more on my life than I do now. It's tough to spend time in the Bible because it transforms us. Yet that is how we are going to grow to be more like Christ.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Who is Against Us?
Jeremiah 21:5
(5) I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath.,
This is a terrifying thought. God Himself promised to fight against the people of Jerusalem. They earned this because of their unfaithfulness to the covenant that God made with them.
I know that I tend to think of God as always being on my side. That seems to be the popular view of God as promulgated by Hollywood too. He's there when we need to make a 911 prayer, but otherwise He can just sit there quietly.
Jeremiah paints a very different view of who God is. I think we'd better respect this God that Jeremiah describes. I also think that we had better give Him the glory and honor that He is due.
(5) I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath.,
This is a terrifying thought. God Himself promised to fight against the people of Jerusalem. They earned this because of their unfaithfulness to the covenant that God made with them.
I know that I tend to think of God as always being on my side. That seems to be the popular view of God as promulgated by Hollywood too. He's there when we need to make a 911 prayer, but otherwise He can just sit there quietly.
Jeremiah paints a very different view of who God is. I think we'd better respect this God that Jeremiah describes. I also think that we had better give Him the glory and honor that He is due.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Hiatus Coming
I may not post consistently for the next week while we're in Ohio visiting family. We'll see how the time shakes out, but I'm not counting on it.
In the meantime, I hope that this is how you feel:
Jeremiah 20:9
(9) If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
It can be frustrating, but it's always good to be faithful!
In the meantime, I hope that this is how you feel:
Jeremiah 20:9
(9) If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
It can be frustrating, but it's always good to be faithful!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Authority
Jeremiah 18:12-18
(12) "But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'
(13) "Therefore thus says the LORD: Ask among the nations, Who has heard the like of this? The virgin Israel has done a very horrible thing.
(14) Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Sirion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams?
(15) But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway,
(16) making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at forever. Everyone who passes by it is horrified and shakes his head.
(17) Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity."
(18) Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words."
I apologize for the long quotation today, but I think the whole thing is necessary to make a point on something I am really wrestling with lately. The people don't like what Jeremiah has to say regarding their sin, so they decide that they are going to follow their own hearts. God promises that there will be consequences to this decision and Jeremiah reports that. What do the people do? They decide to "make plots against Jeremiah" because they prefer to listen to those who tell them what they want to hear.
Of course, most of us who preach or aspire to preach think of ourselves as Jeremiah. I know that I rarely have the humility to think of myself as one who needs to hear his teaching. This is especially true in the Baptist and non-denominational circles in which I run. We all think that we're "doing church" correctly and we don't have much room for naysayers.
Check out this blog post about something Mark Dever said. The church with which my seminary is affiliated has an eschatological position in its membership statement. However, they also have a really good relationship with Capitol Hill Baptist to the point that Mark Dever has spoken at our church. I wonder what reaction there will be to this calling out, if any?
I am doing a paper on papal infallibility and it is forcing me to wrestle with issues like this. Frankly, Stephen Davey is under no obligation to listen to Mark Dever. Should he? I think so, but that's up to him and I respect him as an elder as well as the president of my seminary. However, the freedom that he has to come to his own opinion is the same as the freedom I have to accept or reject his thoughts on this matter, or at least that's how I see it.
If I were Lutheran, Missouri Synod this would not be an issue. I would respect the teachings of the LCMS. The same goes for PCA and of course Roman Catholic. Of course, there are other problems that come with that kind of ecclesiastical structure too. I'm not saying that it's perfect, but it is something that I'm being drawn to more and more.
I wish I could be Roman Catholic, but I just can't buy into the way they treat Scripture and I would echo Luther's sentiments from Worms. I just wonder how this will eventually play out.
(12) "But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'
(13) "Therefore thus says the LORD: Ask among the nations, Who has heard the like of this? The virgin Israel has done a very horrible thing.
(14) Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Sirion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams?
(15) But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway,
(16) making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at forever. Everyone who passes by it is horrified and shakes his head.
(17) Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity."
(18) Then they said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words."
I apologize for the long quotation today, but I think the whole thing is necessary to make a point on something I am really wrestling with lately. The people don't like what Jeremiah has to say regarding their sin, so they decide that they are going to follow their own hearts. God promises that there will be consequences to this decision and Jeremiah reports that. What do the people do? They decide to "make plots against Jeremiah" because they prefer to listen to those who tell them what they want to hear.
Of course, most of us who preach or aspire to preach think of ourselves as Jeremiah. I know that I rarely have the humility to think of myself as one who needs to hear his teaching. This is especially true in the Baptist and non-denominational circles in which I run. We all think that we're "doing church" correctly and we don't have much room for naysayers.
Check out this blog post about something Mark Dever said. The church with which my seminary is affiliated has an eschatological position in its membership statement. However, they also have a really good relationship with Capitol Hill Baptist to the point that Mark Dever has spoken at our church. I wonder what reaction there will be to this calling out, if any?
I am doing a paper on papal infallibility and it is forcing me to wrestle with issues like this. Frankly, Stephen Davey is under no obligation to listen to Mark Dever. Should he? I think so, but that's up to him and I respect him as an elder as well as the president of my seminary. However, the freedom that he has to come to his own opinion is the same as the freedom I have to accept or reject his thoughts on this matter, or at least that's how I see it.
If I were Lutheran, Missouri Synod this would not be an issue. I would respect the teachings of the LCMS. The same goes for PCA and of course Roman Catholic. Of course, there are other problems that come with that kind of ecclesiastical structure too. I'm not saying that it's perfect, but it is something that I'm being drawn to more and more.
I wish I could be Roman Catholic, but I just can't buy into the way they treat Scripture and I would echo Luther's sentiments from Worms. I just wonder how this will eventually play out.
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