Posts tagged Jeremiah

This thought comes from Jeremiah chapter 10 which we will be studying today for Bible study at MCC. I really enjoy reading God’s opinion of the gods the people are worshipping. and the comparison between Him and the idols of the people. First, the idols. They;re made from wood, carved by human hands, must be carried around, for they cannot walk, they cannot hear, and most importantly, they cannot save. However, Yahweh is the true God. His Name alone is powerful. He is eternal, powerful, and mighty. His voice shakes the earth to its very core and there is nothing that can overcome His power.

This is truly an amazing thought. My hope is that I can live in light of this truth. My God is alive and powerful, and yet I oftentimes act and live as though He is dead and ineffective. 

God help me to see your work, hear your voice and to be your hands. Amen.

The verse below is the first verse of what we will be studying at our next Wednesday Bible study at MCC when we meet again next week. Since this week is Spring Break at MCC, I decided I would do two posts on Jeremiah 9. One this week, and then one next week shortly before we meet for Bible Study. For this week’a post, I simply could not get past Jeremiah 9 verse 1. This verse just stopped me in my tracks:

If my head were a spring of water, my eyes a fountain of tears, 

I would weep day and night over the slain of my dear people.

-Jeremiah 9:1

I really enjoy the imagery of Jeremiah weeping for his own people. His passion for them and his brokenness over their sins is something that I desire to emulate. The problem with this comparison though (at least in my estimation) is who should I be weeping for? Maybe this is a minor issue, as my entire generation is lost without hope and needs to be saved, and the body of Christ appears to be mostly ineffective at reaching the lost. However, I find that what grieves me more is the plight of the lost. I have wept for the lost, but I am not sure that would translate directly to who Jeremiah is weeping for.

For us to make an accurate parallel, we would need to see that Jeremiah is weeping for his own people, the Jews. These were not people who were far off from the commands of God. They were instead people who had grown up with the law, and were close to God. If there are only two types of people, those who are God’s people and those who are not, then the Jews would have to be considered “God’s people” even though they acted nothing like it. Therefore to compare this to today’s society, we’d have to see Jeremiah weeping for, not the lost (though this is not an un-biblical concept found other places), but for his own people, the “saved.” Jeremiah is not weeping for the plight of those who have not heard the gospel, but instead is mourning over the sins of the saved and their pending destruction.

Here is my thought: while we do need to develop a healthy sorrow over the plight of those who are opposed to God outside the church, we should equally be emotionally concerned about those who are inside the church. There are many “lost” people in our churches. We should be able to see scripture’s clear teaching that calling yourself saved and then living like you are not angers God. It is this hypocrisy which will bring about the destruction of individuals and eventually the ministries which they take part of. When I look at the reality that my generation is mostly lost and then look at the churches which have done a poor job of reaching them, I need to weep not just for the lost, but for those churches which have abandoned God’s will. I need to look at my church and confess its sins before God. I need to beg God to change not just the lives of those around who do not believe, but for God to transform His body into a fully working entity which completely lives out its function and purpose on earth. 

If we want to see true transformation and revolution happen in our society and in our world, we must see the transformation and beautification happen of the Bride of Christ. Scripture teaches that the Bride will be presented to the Groom pure and spotless, and so we need to ask God to make it so here on Earth, as it is in Heaven.

God, I pray that you will transform not just me, or those around me who do not know you, but God I pray that you would transform your bride. Make your church pure and spotless. Make it active and righteous and holy, set apart for your work here on earth. God show us how to be men and women after your heart who love your commands and pursue your will. Help us to reach this world as you did, to be Jesus with skin on. Show us your path and make us right again. Let us weep for our sins, recognize and confess our failures and then get up and move forward carrying the message of the cross to every corner of this earth. Lord, we ask all this in Your name. Amen.

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?

So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?

- Jeremiah 8:22

As we continue reading Jeremiah for our Wednesday Bible study at MCC, we keep discovering some really powerful truths about the way that God responds to us who sin. Here, at the end of chapter 8 after more truth-telling and light shining onto the darkness that is the heart of the people, we find this picture of beauty. In the midst of all their sin, their unrepentant evil. Despite the people’s inability to truly embrace the path of their God, God is still present among them. This rhetorical question helps us to ponder the reality of their situation.

Is not the God of the universe, their God. Has not He shown them time and time again His power and willingness to save them? Has He not shown them what is right and what is good? Then why are they suffering? Could not they be healed? And yet, it is not to happen. These people are so stubborn and dense and too lost in the comfort of their own evil sin that they cannot, no they will not repent.

Does this not give you some comfort in your own life? To me it is comforting to know that after all my sins and wrong-doing and stubborn rebellion against what is right and true, my God still comfort me. He still embraces me. He takes me back as though it it just the first time. There is no place on earth that you can go where God cannot find you. There is no height, or depth which can separate you from His love, and His embrace. I find it incredibly re-assuring and comforting (though sometimes rather saddening) that the only thing keeping me from experiencing the love of Jesus is my own refusal to be touched by Him. It is my activity, my schedule, my priorities, my cold heart which keeps me away from God. The solution to finding God is so painfully simple. I must decrease. I must die to self, I must give up, I must lose. Only then, can I live.

We read Jeremiah 7 last week. After reading through it, here are some things which stand out to us:

• Verse 1 Jeremiah is going to be giving this declaration from the front of the temple. Imagine someone coming into your church and giving you a declaration from the LORD about how sinful and evil you are. Then you can put yourself in the shoes of Jeremiah’s audience.
• Verse 4 God is not satisfied by vain repetitions, or “religious” activity. He demands obedience and a commitment from the heart.
• Verse 6 Look at the order of this list. God starts by pleading with His people to not oppress the foreigner. God’s intention from the beginning was to create a nation where all people would be impacted by His presence. He never intended to create an exclusive religious club, but an inclusive community of followers.
• Verse 9 This is a rundown of the 10 Commandments. God is listing off the people’s sin and therefore His justification for their coming punishment.
• Verse 18 Check this verse out. It’s not just the powerful, or the adults who are sinning, but it’s the whole family. The entire population has been corrupted down to the very children. This complete permeation of sin into every aspect of society explains why the whole society must be punished.
• Verse 19 A very interesting insight here into the true nature of sin and God’s punishment. It is almost as if God is laying out that the punishment of sin is not something He chooses to do, but it inherent within nature itself. As if the negative consequences of evil are coded into the environment we live in much like natural laws.
• Verse 31 These people were practicing a custom which dictating sacrificing children by burning them on altars for the sake of a god. This practice utterly disgusts God. In fact, it is something so foreign to Him that He, “never entertained the thought.”
• Verse 33 God is going to so utterly demolish the people that the land will become completely desolate. There will be no way to shoe away the birds which feast on the dead flesh.

• God has a heart for all the nations, and desires to bring all people to Himself
• God hates sin and un-repentance is absolutely loathsome to Him.
• Doing religious things is far less important than direct obedience and inner righteousness.

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3 “This is what the Lord of  Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Correct your ways and your deeds, and I will allow you to live in this place. 4 Do not trust deceitful words, chanting: This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord. 5 Instead, if you really change your ways and your actions, if you act justly toward one another, 6 if you no longer oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow and no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods, bringing harm on yourselves, 7 I will allow you to live in this place, the land I gave to your ancestors long ago and forever. 8 But look, you keep trusting in deceitful words that cannot help.

- Jeremiah 7:3-8 (biblia.com)

I think about what it must have been like for those Jews who had to live in the exile that is prophesied here in Jeremiah. To think that they might have had access to these very words, feeling the sting of awareness that it was their own foolish stubbornness that led them to experience such anguish. To think they could have spared themselves the agony of exile and the horror of the siege had they just turned back to God. But they were too far gone. They had already given up any desire or hope in the living God. Instead, they had become totally satisfied drinking from the cisterns of their own filth. What sorrow they would have experienced sitting in exile with the consequences of their sin being fully realized. How they would have longed to return to their land, the land of milk and honey which God had promised them centuries earlier. How they would have longed for the “good ol’ days” relying upon God’s provision.

As I think about these things and these people, I can feel sympathy for them, and perhaps a small amount of empathy. Not because I have ever been displaced from my land due to my sin. No, I would not want to diminish their pain by comparing it to my fairly easy American life. But, I can draw a parallel to my life when it comes to sin. How often have I lost sleep fretting over some sin which has limited me, or some wrong decision which led me to lose time or opportunities. How often have I wished the past were changed and I could just start over with the wind in my face, sitting in the passenger seat with God driving down the road of endless possibility and opportunity.

Then it hits me. This time spent thinking about the past is even more lost time. What if instead of worrying about past mistakes, I look ahead. Jesus is waiting for me right now to hop in the car and continue down the path with Him. He waits for me to return and trust in His timing and His providence. I can make a difference today and right now. All I need to do is turn back to Him right now. It is not ever going to be too late for me as long as I have breath in my lungs and light in my eyes. I can change the world. I can make a difference for the Kingdom and see God work and move through me.

God, show me how to trust in you this very moment. Take away my past, my pain and my fears. Transform me again today into a man after Your own heart and give me the love courage and strength to walk this journey after You. Amen.

Last Week’s Bible Study Thoughts

Last week at our Wednesday Bible study at Mesa Community College, we read Jeremiah 6 (biblia.com). Here are a few thoughts from our reading and some of the things we discussed about this passage:

Our study was kinda short this week. We only had two participants and the passage was a little short, and difficult, but I still believe that God spoke to us. So, first, here are some things that jumped out at us:

• Verse 1. It seems a little odd that God would warn the people He was about to destroy. This could be a small piece of evidence that shows us how God does not enjoy this, but it is brought about by the people’s own sins.
• Verse 2. God calls His daughter “beautiful and delicate.” He truly loves His people and desires their well-being.
• Verse 4. By promising war, God is declaring by what method He will punish His disobedient people
• Verse 6. God declares judgement that will come in the form of a siege against Jerusalem. He also tells us again why it is He is going to punish His people; God has found nothing but oppression within them.
• Verse 7. This verse contains some interesting language which helps us understand that the sin of the people was not a one-time ordeal. But instead of simply sinning once and then moving on, this people are engaged in perpetual sin. The “wounds keep coming” to God’s attention.
• Verse 10. The un-circumcised ear represents the fact that the people are not in tune with God’s voice. They cannot hear what He is saying because they have not fully submitted their lives to His will. They have become so evil that the very words of God have no place in the minds, their hearts or their lives.
• Verses 13- 15. Here we get a picture of how the sin of the people has completed corrupted every level. All the people are caught up in the sin, and they have become so accustomed to living this way, they no longer have any remorse over their lifestyle choices. For many of these people, it would be like they were born this way and they would feel like they had no control over their lives all because the sins of the people were so present.
• Verse 17. Here we can see more about the people’s sin and the reason why God is warning them multiple times. These people are so sinful that they refuse to listen to God’s repeated warnings to repent. They are stubborn and refuse His leading.
• Verse 19. Because of the people’s sin and refusal to listen, God must punish them. There is simply no other choice.
• Verse 28-30. The conclusion of this chapter is also the conclusion of the prophesy and it is pretty straightforward. The people have rejected God and so God must reject them. He cannot put up with unrepentant evil and it is the natural course of events that every action must have an equal and opposite reaction. Sin must be punished, it is a global rule.

So from these verses, we can conclude a few things:

• God absolutely loves us, His people.
• Our sin is abhorrent to God. 
• Repentance is the key to resolving our sin, but not repenting makes the issues worse.
• Simple doing religious activity is nothing to God. It is the heart behind the activity that matters the most.

After getting to this point last Wednesday, we decided that it would be a good idea to Practice Repentance. You can do this right now where you are reading this, just like we did last week. All you have to do is:

• Pray to God asking Him to reveal the sin in your life.
• Sit quietly and wait for God to bring to your mind the sin you need to confess
• Give that sin to God by praying for Him to take it and forgive you for it and for Him to change you heart so that you will not commit that sin again.
• If this sin area is one you really struggle with, ask God for ideas how to protect yourself in this area so that you can truly change and give it up for good.

As you practice this more regularly, you should begin to experience a closeness with God that you might not have felt before. If you practice repentance as a regular part of your walk with God, you will grow closer and closer to His heart and His purpose for you.

16 This is what the Lord says:

Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths: Which is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for yourselves. 

But they protested, “We won’t!”

17 I appointed watchmen over you and said: Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn. 

But they protested, “We won’t listen!”

18 Therefore listen, you nations and you witnesses, learn what the charge is against them.

19 Listen, earth! I am about to bring disaster on these people, the fruit of their own plotting, for they have paid no attention to My word. They have rejected My instruction.

- Jeremiah 6:16-19 HCSB

When studying for today’s Bible study, I came across this passage and had to read it several times. While this specific prophesy was written to a specific people at a specific time, I couldn’t help but wonder if it applied to me as well. I mean, not directly, that would violate proper hermeneutics, but perhaps the big idea that God has nothing but absolute contempt for the proud and willful who claim to know what is best for themselves, despite claiming allegiance to God.

Clearly this can only properly be applied to people who have been come into direct contact with God, that would be us believers. It should not be directly applied to the lost, those who have never encountered God, though it clearly has implications for those who have heard the gospel, yet refused to listen or respond. But, what really shakes me is that if I am not careful, I could be setting myself up in direct confrontation with God by simply choosing not to listen. This just seems like a really bad idea.

God, please help me to hear your truth and be obedient to you and your direction. Show me how to humbly obey you and follow the ancient path to what is good instead of the path that seems right to me. Allow me to show love to all, and be a right example of your grace and mercy thought the power of Jesus Christ. I pray this in your all-powerful name. Amen.

(Source: biblia.com)

Last Week’s Bible Study Thoughts

Last week at our Wednesday Bible study at Mesa Community College, we read Jeremiah 5 (biblia.com). Here are a few thoughts from our reading and some of the things we discussed about this passage:

First, I like to look at see what words or phrases or verses really jump off the page at me:

• Verse 3 The wording here makes me emotionally feel sorry for these people, and yet they clearly deserve what they are going to get. I want to implore them to turn and see their sin, and yet it would be hopeless, for if they wont listen to God, they wont listen to me either.
• Verse 4 Even Jeremiah feels sorry for these “Fools.” Note how he never questions God’s ultimate justice. 
• Verse 5 See how the powerful had broken the yoke, that is they had forsaken God. God’s yoke is His commands, His law. They are the things that God desires from us. People who have broken His yoke, disobey Him, and this displeases God.
• Verse 6 is clearly prophesying a siege. The animals are guarding the city represent an invading army that will come and prevent people from leaving for food, water, or refuge.
• Verse 7-8 Use more of the sexual language we are used to seeing which represents how vile and disgusting their idolatry is to God.
• Verse 12. See how it says they have insisted it won’t happen? This is referring to the siege which has been prophesied before. So, let’s follow this logically. God has already prophesied once about an upcoming siege through Jeremiah. The other prophets and the powerful people in the city openly deny that it is going to happen. God then instead of simply going forward with the siege, gives the people another chance and gives Jeremiah another prophesy this time including his displeasure at their denials. This reality here shows just how suffering and long-suffering God is. To allow people to rebel against Him and then ignore His warnings and pleas for repentance over and over again. Also, note how to God denial and refusal to repent is almost a worse sin then the just the original mistake. (This is what makes David’s sin so different from most people’s and why He was still able to be called a man after God’s own heart. Humans are incapable of not sinning, but those who seek God’s heart recognize their sin and repent promptly!) 
• Verse 13 The prophets stopped speaking the truth. This upsets God, and confuses the people. God’s power goes beyond what people say about Him. His will will come to pass irregardless of humanities agreement.
• Verse 14 Notice how powerful God is: all He has to do is use His words. It is His words which are going to destroy the people through Jeremiah’s mouth. God’s words are very powerful.
• Verse 18 shows how God is merciful again by promising not to completely finish off the people.
• Verse 19 God straight up tells the people what the sin is that they committed. This shows God’s justice. He is not just randomly choosing to destroy His people, but it is a direct result of their sin that He has to punish their disobedience.
• Verse 22 God’s power is directly displayed throughout all of creation. This one verse stands in for all of it. None of which we can truly describe or understand.
• Verses 28 and 29 offer a cause and effect. God is simply bringing about true justice, which clearly must be brought forth as a result of failing to show justice and mercy to those who need it the most.
• Verse 30 - 31 What a terrible thing for religious people to do what they do by their own authority. The only proper authority for any spiritual act is God alone. 

As a result of reading this passage, the question becomes what can we do to apply the universal truths found here. Some of the things that seem universal are:

• God’s power and justice are great and beyond understanding or even questioning
• God’s word is very powerful 
• Do we live for ourselves, or for God? What is the motive and authority for our actions?
• Loving God and Loving others is true religion
• Showing mercy to our enemies time and time again is God’s pattern. 

In order to be impacted by these truths, we should:

• Strive to share the love of God with others through sharing the gospel, and by showing love to them through generous acts 
• Constantly remind ourselves of God’s power
• Remind ourselves of God’s burning hot anger toward sin and continually repent/turn back toward God
• Recognize sin’s consequences can prevent us from truly experiencing all of God’s goodness and promises.

In an effort to really be transformed by this passage, let us take a minute and pray where we are that God would change us and allow us to apply these things into our lives. 

God, show us your will and grant us your vision. Let us be changed by the reality that our sin disgusts you and that we are incapable of redeeming ourselves. Apart from the blood of Jesus, we have no way to overcome our evil. Please transform us and allow us to do all things through your Holy Spirit. Let us overcome evil with good, let us show mercy to our enemies and let us show love to all. Give us boldness to share your truth with our friends and families. Lord, we love you and pray this in your Name,

Amen.

Jeremiah 14:19

Have You completely rejected Judah? Or have You loathed Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We waited for peace, but nothing good came; And for a time of healing, but behold, terror!

I sometimes get confused by the Old Testament, but I believe that there is too much to be learned from it’s words to be completely avoided. This is an excerpt from a dialogue between God and Jeremiah. God has told Jeremiah that He intends to destroy Jerusalem for the evil of its people and the falsehoods of its prophets. 

I think it’s important to know that Jeremiah had a relationship with God much like we can have now and he often asked many questions that seem un-Christian. I believe, though that I would probably ask the exact same questions. In fact, I have asked the same questions, and that is what makes this so cool. This is a prophet of God with a very special relationship with God for his day, and yet he is questioning God’s presence. 

In my current time of confusion, I have doubted God’s presence. I find comfort in knowing that I am not alone. Many of God’s people struggled with the same thing throughout scripture.