Tag Archives: Jeremiah

1 Kings 3, Jeremiah 30

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Solomon’s response to God displayed a great attitude. “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil”.  While we’re not going to have a vision where God asks us what we want, we still have the power to make a choice in our life, whether to pursue riches and honour, or seek Godly wisdom.

We also find encouragement in the words that God gave Jeremiah. Despite Israel’s rebelliousness and sinfulness, God promises “I am with you to save you…I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal”.  The Israelites would not go unpunished for their actions, but God would still save the nation, just as He has promised to save us, if we seek Him and follow Him.

Jeremiah 29, Mark 3

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Jeremiah sent a letter to the Israelites taken into captivity, to guide and encourage them, and give them hope. They were instructed to live their lives, to build houses, get married, have kids, and not to be deceived by false prophets, knowing that they would only be in Babylon for 70 years.  God had “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God promised to hear them when they call upon him and pray to Him.

The same advice can apply to us. We are effectively in exile, strangers and pilgrims in a world that is not ours. Buying houses, getting married and having kids is also a part of our lives, but we too need to ensure we don’t lose sight of the future promise of redemption.  We are called to be brothers and sisters of Christ, “for whoever does the will of God, he is [Christ]’s brother and sister and mother.”

Jeremiah 27

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Jeremiah is sent to prophesy God’s words to Zedekiah and the delegates of the kings visiting him, “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.” They were to serve Nebuchadnezzar, or be punished with sword, famine and pestilence.

From a natural point of view, relinquishing their national identity to serve a foreign king, instead of remaining autonomous, ostensibly a nation serving God, seems like a bad idea. Yet in two chapters time we discover that this submission and the captivity it involved was for the benefit of God’s people.  The same can be true in our lives, being placed in circumstances that don’t make sense to us, yet it is for our benefit rather than detriment.

We can take comfort in knowing that God’s arm is outstretched to save, and that He knows us better than we know ourselves. “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

 

 

Jeremiah 23

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Jeremiah 23 reminds us that God is at hand, and not far away. He fills heaven and earth, there is nowhere that we can be out of His reach.  This is a really comforting thought, knowing that whatever situation we’re in, God is at hand.

God heard the lies that the false prophets were telling Israel, and they would be punished for their actions. But in the same chapter there is also hope of the future. References to Christ, described as a righteous branch, reigning and executing justice and righteousness in the land of Israel.

 

2 Samuel 17, Jeremiah 21, Romans 7-8

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David’s prayer for Ahithophel’s counsel to be regarded as foolishness (15:31) is answered, when Absolam ignores Ahithophel’s advice and instead listens to Hushai (17:14). Ahithophel’s advice was usually so wise, it was as if it was the word of God (16:23). He was so deeply affected by this rejection of his advice, went home and hung himself (17:23). Ahithophel’s pride in his own ability to analyse a situation cost him his life.

In Jeremiah 21 we read that while our God forgives and is merciful, He has a limit which the people of Israel had now reached. Unrepentant and disinterested in serving God, He would now fight against them in their battles with the Babylonians, without pity or compassion, saying “I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good.”

Paul reminds us that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” The spirit of God needs to dwell in us, leaving no room for the mind of the flesh.  Let us live our lives led by the spirit of God, and so be counted as God’s children.

 

Jeremiah 20, Romans 5-6

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Jeremiah laments his calling as a prophet of God. He was ridiculed for his message of condemnation, yet he felt compelled to share the message he’d been given.  Although everyone mocked Jeremiah, he knew that God “tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind”.  His passion and persistence are a great example to us, especially since we know that “we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand”.  Our life, like Jeremiah’s, requires faith and reliance on God, as well as an outward demonstration of that faith.

We can rejoice that we have been reconciled to God through the death of Christ, since his actions “leads to justification and life for all men”. We have voluntarily died in the waters of baptism, to live a new life “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus”. So we are encouraged by Paul to not let sin reign in our lives, but instead become slaves to God under the grace He has offered us.

 

2 Samuel 12, Jeremiah 16, Matthew 27

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In 2 Sam 12, we gain some insight into the way God forgives sins. David’s actions should have resulted in death under the law, but instead “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless…the child who is born to you shall die.”  The consequences of David’s sins affected him for the rest of his life, just as we have to live with the consequences of our actions. But David was forgiven by God, his sin was “put away”.

We read of this forgiveness on a national level in Jer 16. God says “I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers”.  Even though their fathers had forsaken God, served other gods and not kept God’s law, God kept His promises, didn’t completely destroy them, gave them hope of a time they would return to their land.

In Matt 27 we read of the extent that God went to, in offering up His only beloved son, so that we could be saved. Let’s follow the example of Jesus, dedicating our lives to serving and worshipping our God.

Jeremiah 14

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Jeremiah is told to prophecy to Israel about their coming destruction, to reveal God’s true message for the people in contrast to the lies of the false prophets.  Yet interspersed throughout God’s message of condemnation for the people, is Jeremiah’s prayers for God acknowledging their sins, pleading for forgiveness.  “We have sinned against you…yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us“.  Even though God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people,  he again seeks forgiveness on behalf of the Israelites, “we acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord… remember and do not break your covenant with us.”

Jeremiah’s persistence in prayer, even for those who had “dealt treacherously” with him, is an inspiration for us all.  Let us, like Jeremiah, set our hope on God, and be persistent in prayer even for those who are our enemies.

Jeremiah 12, Matthew 23

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Jeremiah writes “You, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you”. He realised God’s righteousness, and despite the appearance of the wicked prospering, that God knew what was in people’s hearts and the wicked would ultimately be punished. But God also demonstrated His compassion, by telling Jeremiah that the nations surrounding Israel would be given a chance to “diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name”. If they listened, then they would be integrated with the Israelites, but if not then they would be destroyed.

Jesus talks on a similar theme in Matthew 23. The scribes and pharisees are condemned for being hypocrites, for having an outward appearance of righteousness, but not practising what they preach.  They ignored the “weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness”.

We can learn from the words of Jeremiah and Jesus. Our faith must affect our hearts, be seen in our actions, humbling ourselves to serve each other.

2 Samuel 2, Jeremiah 8, Matthew 19

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In 2 Samuel 2, we read how David continues to rely on God for guidance in his decision making, and also the continued rivalry between the house of Saul and the house of David that resulted in there being two kings in Israel for a number of years.

Jeremiah outlines the treachery of Judah, their rejection of God’s word from the priests to the prophets to the general inhabitants. He grieves for their unfaithfulness, for the way the Israelites provoke God to anger with their idolatry.

Jesus teaches how being preoccupied by what the world has to offer can affect our eternal salvation. The rich man would happily keep the commandments under the law, but failed to understand the principal that God must come first. He relied too much on his own wealth, and was challenged by Jesus’ advice to sell everything and give to the poor. Life in the kingdom is worth any sacrifices we might have to make now. “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”