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There is a lot of similarity between the prophecy seen here and what we saw for Philistia yesterday – a country in the local area which has been on both the giving and receiving end of various beatings with Judah.
There are, however, differences. Moab is family (established family) of Israel/Judah. And yes, they fight; but Moab is within Abraham’s family. Whilst the line of blessing is that of Isaac, nevertheless, Moab shares the inheritance of Abraham.
But their history with Judah has been characterized by war and dirty tricks,
So God has to find the middle ground between justice and mercy, which isn’t easy to find.
What is interesting here is that when God promises the judgement on Moab, He also promises that one day He will “put things right in Moab.”
God is not willing that ANY should perish, including old enemies!
07 May 2011
06 May 2011
Chapter 48
The Poll is up. Please vote!
--
There is a lot of similarity between the prophecy seen here and what we saw for Philistia yesterday – a country in the local area which has been on both the giving and receiving end of various beatings with Judah.
There are, however, differences. Moab is family (established family) of Israel/Judah. And yes, they fight; but Moab is within Abraham’s family. Whilst the line of blessing is that of Isaac, nevertheless, Moab shares the inheritance of Abraham.
But their history with Judah has been characterized by war and dirty tricks,
So God has to find the middle ground between justice and mercy, which isn’t easy to find.
What is interesting here is that when God promises the judgement on Moab, He also promises that one day He will “put things right in Moab.”
God is not willing that ANY should perish, including old enemies!
--
There is a lot of similarity between the prophecy seen here and what we saw for Philistia yesterday – a country in the local area which has been on both the giving and receiving end of various beatings with Judah.
There are, however, differences. Moab is family (established family) of Israel/Judah. And yes, they fight; but Moab is within Abraham’s family. Whilst the line of blessing is that of Isaac, nevertheless, Moab shares the inheritance of Abraham.
But their history with Judah has been characterized by war and dirty tricks,
So God has to find the middle ground between justice and mercy, which isn’t easy to find.
What is interesting here is that when God promises the judgement on Moab, He also promises that one day He will “put things right in Moab.”
God is not willing that ANY should perish, including old enemies!
05 May 2011
Chapter 47
Note: It’s coming to that time again!
We’re coming close to the end of Jeremiah (which has been a pretty mammoth effort, I have to say). We’ll be heading into the New Testament again shortly, and since I’ve gone through Acts last time, it has to be a letter.
So: Paul or not Paul, that is the question!
I’m picking four letters I haven’t read for a while; two from Paul, two from others. Please vote for your favourite.
The poll will be up tomorrow night.
And now . . ON WITH JEREMIAH!
--
Chapter 47 carries on from chapter 46’s oracle to Egypt. For the next few chapters, God has a message for each of the countries around Judah. Most of these are traditional foes of Judah, although as I pointed out yesterday the diplomacy between countries at this time sometimes became a little complicated. Like tracing the relationships amongst a group of students at an all-girls high school. Anyway, I digress.
Today it’s the Philistines. Now, unlike the erratic relationship with the Egyptians, to Judah the Philistines are cartoon bad guys. When the Philistine comes in on stage, the audience is supposed to boo.
In reality, they were actually dangerous foes. Because (for at least a time) the Philistines lived nearby, there was constant tension. Bluntly, in the ancient world food was in scarce supply; countries went to war so that they could survive another year.
Since the Philistines and Judah were next door neighbours, they were often squaring off in the annual pas de deux.
God is predicting doom on the Philistines, and certainly this doom took place. I am unsure which people group of today is descended from them (if any) but they don’t exist in this form today.
But this isn’t the point I want to look at tonight. No, it’s a simple and short phrase Jeremiah adds in in verse 6.
He says “Oh Sword of God, how long will you keep this up? Return to your scabbard. Haven’t you had enough? Can’t you call it quits?”
People are often troubled by the vengeance of God. This verse demonstrates that this concern has been here for a long time!
So how do we deal with it?
There are no simple answers. But one thing that I have learned is that God Himself is good. Really good. And we’re talking about a God of love and grace.
In the final analysis, everything in the Bible must be read in context. The context that matters here is a God who so loved the world (not only “His” people!) that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
I don’t know how God’s love and mercy fit in with His justice in this passage. I DO know that He is good, and that He can be trusted. I know that He loves the very people He must strike.
We won’t know how it all works this side of Heaven; but one day we will understand in full. Until then, we can simply deal with the occasional parts we don’t know with faith.
I don’t know it all. What I DO know is that I can trust God.
We’re coming close to the end of Jeremiah (which has been a pretty mammoth effort, I have to say). We’ll be heading into the New Testament again shortly, and since I’ve gone through Acts last time, it has to be a letter.
So: Paul or not Paul, that is the question!
I’m picking four letters I haven’t read for a while; two from Paul, two from others. Please vote for your favourite.
The poll will be up tomorrow night.
And now . . ON WITH JEREMIAH!
--
Chapter 47 carries on from chapter 46’s oracle to Egypt. For the next few chapters, God has a message for each of the countries around Judah. Most of these are traditional foes of Judah, although as I pointed out yesterday the diplomacy between countries at this time sometimes became a little complicated. Like tracing the relationships amongst a group of students at an all-girls high school. Anyway, I digress.
Today it’s the Philistines. Now, unlike the erratic relationship with the Egyptians, to Judah the Philistines are cartoon bad guys. When the Philistine comes in on stage, the audience is supposed to boo.
In reality, they were actually dangerous foes. Because (for at least a time) the Philistines lived nearby, there was constant tension. Bluntly, in the ancient world food was in scarce supply; countries went to war so that they could survive another year.
Since the Philistines and Judah were next door neighbours, they were often squaring off in the annual pas de deux.
God is predicting doom on the Philistines, and certainly this doom took place. I am unsure which people group of today is descended from them (if any) but they don’t exist in this form today.
But this isn’t the point I want to look at tonight. No, it’s a simple and short phrase Jeremiah adds in in verse 6.
He says “Oh Sword of God, how long will you keep this up? Return to your scabbard. Haven’t you had enough? Can’t you call it quits?”
People are often troubled by the vengeance of God. This verse demonstrates that this concern has been here for a long time!
So how do we deal with it?
There are no simple answers. But one thing that I have learned is that God Himself is good. Really good. And we’re talking about a God of love and grace.
In the final analysis, everything in the Bible must be read in context. The context that matters here is a God who so loved the world (not only “His” people!) that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
I don’t know how God’s love and mercy fit in with His justice in this passage. I DO know that He is good, and that He can be trusted. I know that He loves the very people He must strike.
We won’t know how it all works this side of Heaven; but one day we will understand in full. Until then, we can simply deal with the occasional parts we don’t know with faith.
I don’t know it all. What I DO know is that I can trust God.
04 May 2011
Chapter 46
The relationship between the Jews and Egypt during the Old Testament period has always been rather curious to me.
On the one hand you have the memory of the time of slavery and the Exodus. So you could be forgiven for thinking that the Egyptians weren’t the Jews’ favourite people (and for that matter vice versa!).
Yet when the chips are down (several times!) the Israelites and the Jews seem to rely on Egypt for aid.
During Jeremiah’s ministry is just one of those times.
It’s tragic, really. All the time of his ministry (an unknown period of time, but possibly many years), Jeremiah has been calling the people of Israel to repent and turn back to God. Yet they are willing to do almost anything but – including relying on the empire that once held them as slaves!
Politics and diplomacy make for strange bedfellows . . .
In any case, Jeremiah starts directly by describing the enormous armies of Egypt. Then he makes the prophecy on what will happen to Egypt.
He does this a few times – a pattern of describing the army and predicting its ultimate downfall.
Then Jeremiah moves on to describing the same events, but giving us a few specifics. He explains that it will be Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonians who bring about Egypt’s downfall. He describes in detail how complete will be the loss of Egypt.
Finally he finishes off by once more reassuring Judah, that God is indeed on their side. And once again, when Judah has been completely scattered, once more God will bring them back together.
That was then and this is now. So how can we see this passage being relevant today?
Well, for starters, Egypt of today is actually an outpost of Arabic peoples, whereas it used to be a country of darker-skinned people. The Egypt that once was is completely gone now, and replaced. So it is self-evident that this prophecy came true – we can trust God’s promises (positive AND negative). So far so good. But I believe there is more to it than this.
What do we really rely on?
If it is anything other than God Himself, we could be in for trouble. God is reliable, but anything else is going to ultimately fail.
God wants us to rely on Him first, anything else second. In this case, God wants His people to remember that – so He takes away anything else.
To us God is unlikely to be so harsh. But we still need to remember what God has done in the past before we move along. God is sovereign – and cannot be mocked.
On the one hand you have the memory of the time of slavery and the Exodus. So you could be forgiven for thinking that the Egyptians weren’t the Jews’ favourite people (and for that matter vice versa!).
Yet when the chips are down (several times!) the Israelites and the Jews seem to rely on Egypt for aid.
During Jeremiah’s ministry is just one of those times.
It’s tragic, really. All the time of his ministry (an unknown period of time, but possibly many years), Jeremiah has been calling the people of Israel to repent and turn back to God. Yet they are willing to do almost anything but – including relying on the empire that once held them as slaves!
Politics and diplomacy make for strange bedfellows . . .
In any case, Jeremiah starts directly by describing the enormous armies of Egypt. Then he makes the prophecy on what will happen to Egypt.
He does this a few times – a pattern of describing the army and predicting its ultimate downfall.
Then Jeremiah moves on to describing the same events, but giving us a few specifics. He explains that it will be Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonians who bring about Egypt’s downfall. He describes in detail how complete will be the loss of Egypt.
Finally he finishes off by once more reassuring Judah, that God is indeed on their side. And once again, when Judah has been completely scattered, once more God will bring them back together.
That was then and this is now. So how can we see this passage being relevant today?
Well, for starters, Egypt of today is actually an outpost of Arabic peoples, whereas it used to be a country of darker-skinned people. The Egypt that once was is completely gone now, and replaced. So it is self-evident that this prophecy came true – we can trust God’s promises (positive AND negative). So far so good. But I believe there is more to it than this.
What do we really rely on?
If it is anything other than God Himself, we could be in for trouble. God is reliable, but anything else is going to ultimately fail.
God wants us to rely on Him first, anything else second. In this case, God wants His people to remember that – so He takes away anything else.
To us God is unlikely to be so harsh. But we still need to remember what God has done in the past before we move along. God is sovereign – and cannot be mocked.
03 May 2011
Chapter 45
Today’s chapter is considerably shorter than any other we’ve examined in the entire 120-some day history of Johno’s Commentary. This is good, because I really need to sleep soon!
This chapter is a very simple one too. Basically, whilst Baruch is listening, Jeremiah has a word from God for him. Basically it is (once again) “I have plans to stomp most of the people flat for their disobedience. But you I will look after.”
God is going to wreck what He has built and start over. This is a running theme in this book. To a lesser extent, it’s the story of the whole history of humankind.
There is little else that can really be said for this one . . . .
This chapter is a very simple one too. Basically, whilst Baruch is listening, Jeremiah has a word from God for him. Basically it is (once again) “I have plans to stomp most of the people flat for their disobedience. But you I will look after.”
God is going to wreck what He has built and start over. This is a running theme in this book. To a lesser extent, it’s the story of the whole history of humankind.
There is little else that can really be said for this one . . . .
02 May 2011
Chapter 44
Sometimes I complain that there’s not much in a particular passage.
Be careful what you complain about, because you might get what you SAY you want!
This passage tonight is massive, and there’s lots in it. So let’s just get into it.
It follows on from last night’s passage, in which God revealed that the idea of a trip to Egypt was NOT his intention for the refugees. You may recall that they basically told Jeremiah (and through him, God!) to stick it where the Sun Shineth Not (selah).
What we have here tonight is God’s reply to their stubbornness.
Some may see God’s anger, and it is there. But what I see first is simple, bottomless sorrow. Some may think God is simply wanting worship for His own sake, but if you read this passage, His every thought is for His people, not for Himself! His heart is broken as He sees His people going after what the Message calls their “no-gods.” He can see how destructive this is, and how much damage it is doing to them; and He cannot bear to see it happen.
More than that, God sees that the people of Judah are not only cutting themselves off from Him, they’re cutting themselves off from each other. To God, who made humans to be communal creatures, that is shocking – He is frustrated to see the people He has made floundering around in the dark.
Worse even than THAT, the people of Judah are completely unrepentant. There is a goddess called the Queen of Heaven who is worshipped by some Judeans. They know God’s position on other gods. Yet they see their worship of this Queen of Heaven as harmless.
God sees it as anything BUT harmless, and He plans to put a stop to it. But He begs His people to bring themselves out first.
When we do things that hurt God, the reason it Upsets Him, first and foremost, is that we harm ourselves. Given that God REALLY loves us humans, it’s the damage to us that He finds most heartwrenching. He would do anything for us to miss out on that kind of damage.
The point of this for us is simple – How about we make a habit of listening to God BEFORE such damage is done?
Be careful what you complain about, because you might get what you SAY you want!
This passage tonight is massive, and there’s lots in it. So let’s just get into it.
It follows on from last night’s passage, in which God revealed that the idea of a trip to Egypt was NOT his intention for the refugees. You may recall that they basically told Jeremiah (and through him, God!) to stick it where the Sun Shineth Not (selah).
What we have here tonight is God’s reply to their stubbornness.
Some may see God’s anger, and it is there. But what I see first is simple, bottomless sorrow. Some may think God is simply wanting worship for His own sake, but if you read this passage, His every thought is for His people, not for Himself! His heart is broken as He sees His people going after what the Message calls their “no-gods.” He can see how destructive this is, and how much damage it is doing to them; and He cannot bear to see it happen.
More than that, God sees that the people of Judah are not only cutting themselves off from Him, they’re cutting themselves off from each other. To God, who made humans to be communal creatures, that is shocking – He is frustrated to see the people He has made floundering around in the dark.
Worse even than THAT, the people of Judah are completely unrepentant. There is a goddess called the Queen of Heaven who is worshipped by some Judeans. They know God’s position on other gods. Yet they see their worship of this Queen of Heaven as harmless.
God sees it as anything BUT harmless, and He plans to put a stop to it. But He begs His people to bring themselves out first.
When we do things that hurt God, the reason it Upsets Him, first and foremost, is that we harm ourselves. Given that God REALLY loves us humans, it’s the damage to us that He finds most heartwrenching. He would do anything for us to miss out on that kind of damage.
The point of this for us is simple – How about we make a habit of listening to God BEFORE such damage is done?
01 May 2011
Chapter 43
Let’s recap here – these refugees have come to Jeremiah asking for God’s advice. They have made the very dangerous promise that “whatever God says, we will do.”
I’ll bet they’re not so happy at having made that promise now!
In fact, they are so upset that these very people, who not last chapter declared that they’d do whatever Jeremiah said regardless are now calling him a liar!
In fact this isn’t a particularly unusual thing for humans to do. Let’s face it. There is inconsistency here because the delegation went to the Prophet fairly certain that he was just going to ratify their decision.
After all, their decision – to travel to Egypt – seemed logical. There was nothing left for these people in Judah, especially after the debacle that had left the governor dead. Going away to Egypt seemed to be perfectly sensible. And these people had convinced themselves that this was what they should do.
Let’s pause here and remember that going from Judah to Egypt was a big commitment. So it is possible to be a little sympathetic for these guys – it can’t have been easy to make the decision to pull up stumps and travel what was for them a very long trip (remember they don’t have airlines – for us, this is a journey of a couple of hours, but for them it would have been weeks or even months of travel.
But the problem they had was that they had made their decision, and didn’t really want God’s advice. They wanted God’s approval of their decision.
And God wasn’t going to give it to them. Bluntly, God wanted them to stay in Judah. In effect, He was saying “Well, it’s your call. But if you stay here I will protect you; if you go to Egypt[1], I won’t.”
So ironically, these people who went into Jeremiah’s room saying that they’d do whatever the Lord said through him, left his room declaring him to not really be a prophet!
For some of these devotions it can be really difficult to come up with an application, but this one is all too easy to see.
It’s simple – we must not let what we WANT God to say drown out what He really DOES say.
The thing is, God has spoken to us through His word. And a lot of what He says is stuff we really want to forget about.
No, I’m not talking about the difficult passages on sexuality or the role of women. I’m talking about uncontroversial stuff such as do not bear false witness, honour your father and mother, do not commit adultery. That kind of stuff.
I know someone who declared that her divorce from her (totally faithful Christian!) husband was the will of God. I call bull on that – the Bible is clear that God hates divorce. So whatever it was telling her to divorce this good man, it wasn’t from God. Some might argue that it was the voice of the Devil; perhaps, maybe, but it could just as easily come from the desperately wicked mind of humanity.
God is consistent. We may wish that He’d change His mind, but He’s not going to and we need to get used to that idea. God’s will is God’s will, and we can’t change it. So we need to get our minds in order – and if God says something we don’t like, we need to realize that ultimately it is us who benefit. . . so it’s time to harden up!
[1] For some reason, every time the Israelites or the Judeans faced trouble, it was Egypt that they would always travel to. . . . as was to happen for a certain jewish boy, the son of a Carpenter . . .
I’ll bet they’re not so happy at having made that promise now!
In fact, they are so upset that these very people, who not last chapter declared that they’d do whatever Jeremiah said regardless are now calling him a liar!
In fact this isn’t a particularly unusual thing for humans to do. Let’s face it. There is inconsistency here because the delegation went to the Prophet fairly certain that he was just going to ratify their decision.
After all, their decision – to travel to Egypt – seemed logical. There was nothing left for these people in Judah, especially after the debacle that had left the governor dead. Going away to Egypt seemed to be perfectly sensible. And these people had convinced themselves that this was what they should do.
Let’s pause here and remember that going from Judah to Egypt was a big commitment. So it is possible to be a little sympathetic for these guys – it can’t have been easy to make the decision to pull up stumps and travel what was for them a very long trip (remember they don’t have airlines – for us, this is a journey of a couple of hours, but for them it would have been weeks or even months of travel.
But the problem they had was that they had made their decision, and didn’t really want God’s advice. They wanted God’s approval of their decision.
And God wasn’t going to give it to them. Bluntly, God wanted them to stay in Judah. In effect, He was saying “Well, it’s your call. But if you stay here I will protect you; if you go to Egypt[1], I won’t.”
So ironically, these people who went into Jeremiah’s room saying that they’d do whatever the Lord said through him, left his room declaring him to not really be a prophet!
For some of these devotions it can be really difficult to come up with an application, but this one is all too easy to see.
It’s simple – we must not let what we WANT God to say drown out what He really DOES say.
The thing is, God has spoken to us through His word. And a lot of what He says is stuff we really want to forget about.
No, I’m not talking about the difficult passages on sexuality or the role of women. I’m talking about uncontroversial stuff such as do not bear false witness, honour your father and mother, do not commit adultery. That kind of stuff.
I know someone who declared that her divorce from her (totally faithful Christian!) husband was the will of God. I call bull on that – the Bible is clear that God hates divorce. So whatever it was telling her to divorce this good man, it wasn’t from God. Some might argue that it was the voice of the Devil; perhaps, maybe, but it could just as easily come from the desperately wicked mind of humanity.
God is consistent. We may wish that He’d change His mind, but He’s not going to and we need to get used to that idea. God’s will is God’s will, and we can’t change it. So we need to get our minds in order – and if God says something we don’t like, we need to realize that ultimately it is us who benefit. . . so it’s time to harden up!
[1] For some reason, every time the Israelites or the Judeans faced trouble, it was Egypt that they would always travel to. . . . as was to happen for a certain jewish boy, the son of a Carpenter . . .
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