Jeremiah 30-33
If Jeremiah 29 was God’s letter of hope to God’s people in exile, Jeremiah 30-33 are God’s promises of hope beyond the exile to a complete restoration. But, even as read these chapters, we sense that Jeremiah is speaking of a further, ultimate restoration that involves much more than bringing the Israelites home and restoring the kingdom. As you read, look for the spiritual restoration that is only possible through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit! Here are some of the promises that “look beyond:”
The restored people of God will serve “David their king, whom [God] will raise up for them.” David is dead, so this is David’s descendant: Jesus! (30:9)
The Lord will gather and shepherd and ransom and redeem and refresh his people; and this was realized in Jesus! (31:10-14, 25)
The Lord will, Jeremiah promises, make a New Covenant with His people, one that will cause the Law to be written in their minds and on their hearts, one that will make possible forgiveness and an intimate relationship with God. This, God accomplished through Jesus and the Holy Spirit! (31:33-34; 32:38-41)
The Lord will cleanse and forgive. The Lord will bring abundant prosperity and peace (33:8-9) through the Righteous Branch of David’s line, even the Messiah, the Lord Our Righteousness! (33:14-16)
These amazing promises were only partly fulfilled in Israel’s return from exile; they were completely and spiritually fulfilled in Jesus Christ!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Friday, August 8, 2014
AUGUST 8 JEREMIAH 26-29
Jeremiah 26-29
Oh, how I love God’s Word in Jeremiah 29! But before we get there, we must remember: The life of a prophet is anything but easy.
Jeremiah 26 recounts his last great public plea for repentance. “Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way,” God says. But instead of repentance, the people, high and low, seized him and shouted, “You must die!” Jeremiah comes within an inch of martyrdom then and there. This chapter reminds us of another prophet who did not escape martyrdom during that same period: Uriah the son of Shemaiah (vv. 20-23).
Jeremiah 27 tells us of the false prophets who completed with Jeremiah for the hearts of Israel’s leaders. They were prophesying false hope. Jeremiah was prophesying the reality of the Lord’s discipline: “You must submit to the Babylonians; those who do will not be destroyed, but rather carried into exile—from which they will return!” As an object lesson, the Lord instructed Jeremiah to wear a yoke of submission as he prophesied.
Jeremiah 28 introduces one false prophet in particular, who removed Jeremiah’s yoke and broke it, saying that Nebuchadnezzar, who had already taken much of the Temple furnishings to Babylon, would bring them back in two years. Jeremiah denounced him, and he was dead within a year!
In Jeremiah 29, the prophet sits down to write a letter to those Nebuchadnezzar had already carried away to Babylon. It is a letter of encouragement. It reads like a letter God may have wanted to send to us, for we, like the Jewish exiles of Jeremiah’s day, are strangers in a strange land, citizens of another country. What does God have in mind for us, while we are in exile? Jeremiah 29:11 sums it up beautifully:
“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Oh, how I love God’s Word in Jeremiah 29! But before we get there, we must remember: The life of a prophet is anything but easy.
Jeremiah 26 recounts his last great public plea for repentance. “Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way,” God says. But instead of repentance, the people, high and low, seized him and shouted, “You must die!” Jeremiah comes within an inch of martyrdom then and there. This chapter reminds us of another prophet who did not escape martyrdom during that same period: Uriah the son of Shemaiah (vv. 20-23).
Jeremiah 27 tells us of the false prophets who completed with Jeremiah for the hearts of Israel’s leaders. They were prophesying false hope. Jeremiah was prophesying the reality of the Lord’s discipline: “You must submit to the Babylonians; those who do will not be destroyed, but rather carried into exile—from which they will return!” As an object lesson, the Lord instructed Jeremiah to wear a yoke of submission as he prophesied.
Jeremiah 28 introduces one false prophet in particular, who removed Jeremiah’s yoke and broke it, saying that Nebuchadnezzar, who had already taken much of the Temple furnishings to Babylon, would bring them back in two years. Jeremiah denounced him, and he was dead within a year!
In Jeremiah 29, the prophet sits down to write a letter to those Nebuchadnezzar had already carried away to Babylon. It is a letter of encouragement. It reads like a letter God may have wanted to send to us, for we, like the Jewish exiles of Jeremiah’s day, are strangers in a strange land, citizens of another country. What does God have in mind for us, while we are in exile? Jeremiah 29:11 sums it up beautifully:
“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
AUGUST 7 JEREMIAH 21-25
Jeremiah 21-25
In these chapters, we learn that the wrath and judgments of God are not spread among the people of Israel equally. As Jesus would say hundreds of years later: among the disobedient, some will be beaten with many stripes, some with few (Luke 12:47-48), according to their culpability.
Here we find two ways God will differentiate the effects of this disaster:
Those who fight and those who surrender! Read about the two baskets of figs in Jeremiah 24; one basket is full of ripe, good figs; the other is full of rotten figs. Those who remain in Jerusalem and resist the Babylonians are like the rotten figs; they will be destroyed. Those who surrender to the Babylonian siege forces are like the good figs. God will watch over them in exile and will bring them back to the land! This will take place after 70 years (25:12).
Those who lead and those who have been led! The overarching theme of these chapters reminds me of James 3:1, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Throughout these chapters, God pronounces judgment on the leaders of Israel. God rejects Zedekiah’s request in chapter 21, pronounces judgment on all Israel’s evil kings in 22, and describes the sins of Israel’s shepherds in 23.
I often read these words as if the Lord were speaking to me, and warning me. For “pastor,” you understand, means “shepherd.” And everything God said to the shepherds of Israel could just as easily apply to the shepherds of Christ’s church. Here are some of the questions, Jeremiah 23 cause me to ask myself: Do I use power unjustly? Am I committing adultery even by thought? Am I preaching false hope? Do I speak my own mind, instead of God’s? Do I stand in the counsel of the Lord?
The Lord was so disgusted with the shepherds of Israel that He promised to come and Shepherd the people Himself! (Jer. 23:1-8)
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
In these chapters, we learn that the wrath and judgments of God are not spread among the people of Israel equally. As Jesus would say hundreds of years later: among the disobedient, some will be beaten with many stripes, some with few (Luke 12:47-48), according to their culpability.
Here we find two ways God will differentiate the effects of this disaster:
Those who fight and those who surrender! Read about the two baskets of figs in Jeremiah 24; one basket is full of ripe, good figs; the other is full of rotten figs. Those who remain in Jerusalem and resist the Babylonians are like the rotten figs; they will be destroyed. Those who surrender to the Babylonian siege forces are like the good figs. God will watch over them in exile and will bring them back to the land! This will take place after 70 years (25:12).
Those who lead and those who have been led! The overarching theme of these chapters reminds me of James 3:1, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Throughout these chapters, God pronounces judgment on the leaders of Israel. God rejects Zedekiah’s request in chapter 21, pronounces judgment on all Israel’s evil kings in 22, and describes the sins of Israel’s shepherds in 23.
I often read these words as if the Lord were speaking to me, and warning me. For “pastor,” you understand, means “shepherd.” And everything God said to the shepherds of Israel could just as easily apply to the shepherds of Christ’s church. Here are some of the questions, Jeremiah 23 cause me to ask myself: Do I use power unjustly? Am I committing adultery even by thought? Am I preaching false hope? Do I speak my own mind, instead of God’s? Do I stand in the counsel of the Lord?
The Lord was so disgusted with the shepherds of Israel that He promised to come and Shepherd the people Himself! (Jer. 23:1-8)
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
AUGUST 6 JEREMIAH 16-20
Jeremiah 16-20
These chapters contain some of the most famous of Jeremiah’s words. Before we look at them, let me summarize the chapters:
Jeremiah 16 explains that the “Day of Disaster” is certain and soon. In fact, God tells Jeremiah not to marry, not to attend funerals or feasts; basically, not to do anything that would lead people to believe that all is well, that all will continue on as it has.
Jeremiah 17 affirms the reasons for the “Day of Disaster:” Judah has sinned (17:1); Judah is cursed for disobedience (17:5-8, reminiscent of Psalm 1). Israel has turned away from God (17:13). Among many offenses, they have not observed the Sabbath!
Jeremiah 18 recounts the prophet’s famous visit to the potter’s house, where we learn a lesson about the sovereignty of God: God has the right to prepare a disaster for His wayward people (18:11). Jeremiah interrupts his prophecy with words about his own plight: people conspire against him; they’ve dug a pit for him (18:18-20).
In Jeremiah 19, he takes a jar from the potter’s house to the people and priests in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (where the human sacrifices had taken place). There he pronounces the disaster again, and punctuates the prophecy with a visual: He breaks the jar! This is what God will do to you, he says!
Jeremiah 20 describes some of the prophet’s persecution: he is arrested by priest named Pashhur, beaten and put in stocks. Jeremiah responds by describing Israel’s and Pashhur’s exile. But Jeremiah’s depression returns (no wonder). He alternates between complaint and praise, doubt and faith. Such vacillation seems to accost most of God’s prophets, even today.
The famous verses I wanted you to look at are two: Jeremiah 17:9-10. They are worth committing to memory: First, Jeremiah asks:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Then God answers:
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Sobering, isn’t it?
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
These chapters contain some of the most famous of Jeremiah’s words. Before we look at them, let me summarize the chapters:
Jeremiah 16 explains that the “Day of Disaster” is certain and soon. In fact, God tells Jeremiah not to marry, not to attend funerals or feasts; basically, not to do anything that would lead people to believe that all is well, that all will continue on as it has.
Jeremiah 17 affirms the reasons for the “Day of Disaster:” Judah has sinned (17:1); Judah is cursed for disobedience (17:5-8, reminiscent of Psalm 1). Israel has turned away from God (17:13). Among many offenses, they have not observed the Sabbath!
Jeremiah 18 recounts the prophet’s famous visit to the potter’s house, where we learn a lesson about the sovereignty of God: God has the right to prepare a disaster for His wayward people (18:11). Jeremiah interrupts his prophecy with words about his own plight: people conspire against him; they’ve dug a pit for him (18:18-20).
In Jeremiah 19, he takes a jar from the potter’s house to the people and priests in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (where the human sacrifices had taken place). There he pronounces the disaster again, and punctuates the prophecy with a visual: He breaks the jar! This is what God will do to you, he says!
Jeremiah 20 describes some of the prophet’s persecution: he is arrested by priest named Pashhur, beaten and put in stocks. Jeremiah responds by describing Israel’s and Pashhur’s exile. But Jeremiah’s depression returns (no wonder). He alternates between complaint and praise, doubt and faith. Such vacillation seems to accost most of God’s prophets, even today.
The famous verses I wanted you to look at are two: Jeremiah 17:9-10. They are worth committing to memory: First, Jeremiah asks:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
Then God answers:
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Sobering, isn’t it?
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
AUGUST 5 JEREMIAH 11-15
Jeremiah 11-15
The disaster God has promised to the wayward, willful people of Israel seems surer that ever. “I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape,” God says through Jeremiah (11:11). “I will ruin the pride Judah,” God says (13:9). “All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away,” God declares (13:19). Accompanying this, there will be no water, no rain, no grass and no pasture;” (14:1-6) their devastation will be complete!
This terrible stuff is so certain that God instructs Jeremiah NOT to pray for them anymore (11:14; 14:11) and not to trust them (12:6). God says that even Moses and Samuel, if they were praying, could not dissuade Him from this terrible course!
So, what is there to do?
Jeremiah has his own issues to deal with, above and beyond the general hard heartedness of the people:
- They’ve turned, some of them, on him! The men of his home town, Anathoth, conspired against him. (11:18-23)
- Jeremiah himself is struggling with despair and doubt. (12:1-4; 14:17f)
- Jeremiah, like Job, mourns his own birth. (15:10)
God’s answer to Jeremiah is to give him a reason for long-term hope: “After I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country.” (12:15)
At the end of these chapters, God has a special word for Jeremiah personally: “Repent, and I will make you a (strong) wall to this people. I will save you from the hands of the wicked!” (15:19-21)
Yes, even if people fall away, leaders must stay the course and “practice what they’ve preached.”
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
Monday, August 4, 2014
AUGUST 4 JEREMIAH 7-10
Jeremiah 7-10
“Stand at the gate of the Lord’s House and there proclaim this message!” (Jer. 7:2)
This introduces a series of temple messages. Imagine the boldness to stand at the temple gate and declare its destruction. Jeremiah says that if the people are trusting in the “temple of the Lord” (7:4) to save them, they should travel up to Shiloh and see what’s become of the an earlier place of worship (7:12) after the people had turned to idolatry and wickedness. Even if they multiply their sacrifices, it will not help them if they do not obey (7:21-23).
The depth of their disobedience becomes clear: the people have set up detestable idols (7:30), they have rebuilt idolatrous high places (7:31), and, worst of all, they have sacrificed their sons and daughters in the Valley of Ben Hinnom on the outskirts of Jerusalem. God’s only response to this is their destruction...
...and desecration. Read the first 3 verses of Jeremiah 8: bones of highly regarded leaders everywhere, exposed to the sun, moon and stars, which—by the way—they had worshipped in God’s place. God’s people are more like dead bones than living beings!
Jeremiah 8:4—9:11 is a poetic rendering of the same things: Israel’s sinfulness, arrogance, corruption and punishment. And their wicked leaders say, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” (8:11) In the end, “Jerusalem will be a heap of ruins.” (9:11)
Why is all this happening? They have followed the stubbornness of their own hearts; they have followed false gods, instead of obeying the One True God. (9:13-14) The rest of Jeremiah 9 instructs the people to teach their children how to wail (9:20); they will have reason to.
Jeremiah 10 is one last message to the people coming to the temple, pleading with them to see the worthlessness of idolatry, begging them to worship incomparable Lord of Israel. Nevertheless, it appears, destruction is coming. How much of this could have been written for America. Is the destruction God promised to Israel, coming nearer to us? God have mercy!
Tomorrow, we see that the tension continues to mount, as Jeremiah preaches.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
“Stand at the gate of the Lord’s House and there proclaim this message!” (Jer. 7:2)
This introduces a series of temple messages. Imagine the boldness to stand at the temple gate and declare its destruction. Jeremiah says that if the people are trusting in the “temple of the Lord” (7:4) to save them, they should travel up to Shiloh and see what’s become of the an earlier place of worship (7:12) after the people had turned to idolatry and wickedness. Even if they multiply their sacrifices, it will not help them if they do not obey (7:21-23).
The depth of their disobedience becomes clear: the people have set up detestable idols (7:30), they have rebuilt idolatrous high places (7:31), and, worst of all, they have sacrificed their sons and daughters in the Valley of Ben Hinnom on the outskirts of Jerusalem. God’s only response to this is their destruction...
...and desecration. Read the first 3 verses of Jeremiah 8: bones of highly regarded leaders everywhere, exposed to the sun, moon and stars, which—by the way—they had worshipped in God’s place. God’s people are more like dead bones than living beings!
Jeremiah 8:4—9:11 is a poetic rendering of the same things: Israel’s sinfulness, arrogance, corruption and punishment. And their wicked leaders say, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” (8:11) In the end, “Jerusalem will be a heap of ruins.” (9:11)
Why is all this happening? They have followed the stubbornness of their own hearts; they have followed false gods, instead of obeying the One True God. (9:13-14) The rest of Jeremiah 9 instructs the people to teach their children how to wail (9:20); they will have reason to.
Jeremiah 10 is one last message to the people coming to the temple, pleading with them to see the worthlessness of idolatry, begging them to worship incomparable Lord of Israel. Nevertheless, it appears, destruction is coming. How much of this could have been written for America. Is the destruction God promised to Israel, coming nearer to us? God have mercy!
Tomorrow, we see that the tension continues to mount, as Jeremiah preaches.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
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