Jeremiah 14:11-16:15
Jer. 14:11-22
Vs. 11-12 Since the people wouldn't repent, God told Jeremiah, yet again, not to intercede for the people.
Vs. 13-16 Jeremiah reminds God that the people were being fed lies by the false prophets.
Vs. 17-22 Jeremiah cries and laments for the people, pleading with God as Moses and Samuel did for the people.
Jer. 15
Vs. 1-4 are God's answer to Jeremiah's lament and continues what God said in 14:11.
V. 1 Even if Moses and Samuel pleaded, God would not hear them.
V. 4 This gives us some understanding in what was behind the ruination of the people. Manasseh drove the people to such wickedness and idolatry for 50 years that the people were incurable. Not only that, God vowed that He would punish Jerusalem for all the innocent blood that was shed in the city.
Vs. 5-9 God makes Jerusalem a widow.
Vs. 10-21 Jeremiah's lament and God's answers.
V. 10 Jeremiah laments his life and calling.
V. 11 God assures Jeremiah of vindication…
Vs. 13-14 …by punishing his enemies and making them serve their enemies.
Vs. 15-18 Jeremiah, it appears, tried to quit, but there was no place to turn in the prophet's badge. Having been in ministry, I know this feeling way too well.
Vs. 19-21 God reaffirms His calling to Jeremiah if he will get out of his self pity and serve Him.
Jer. 16:1-15
Vs. 1-4 Just as God did to other prophets, He made some demands on Jeremiah to help him, but also to be a sign to the people. (For Ezekiel's protection and as a sign to the people, God made him unable to speak unless He was talking through him.) In this case, God forbade Jeremiah to take a wife during this time of judgment.
Vs. 5-7 Jeremiah couldn't mourn with the mourning.
Vs. 8-9 Jeremiah couldn't rejoice with the rejoicing.
Vs. 10-13 When Jeremiah declared these restrictions to the people, God knew the people would act surprised that God was so mad at them. God does not take idolatry lightly.
Vs. 14-15 This is a very, very strong thing that God was going to do, and as we'll see in Daniel, it involved a lot of love and grace and power from God to free His people from their upcoming captivity.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-3:13
1Thes. 2:10-20
Vs. 10-12 Poor Paul, always having to defend himself. It was hard for those false teachers to match Paul's heartfelt compassion after being saved from what he was saved from. Verse 12 is the focus of all Paul & Co's actions and teaching.
V. 13 There is a certain miracle in receiving the Word of God. What cheered this disciple maker even more, was that the people were able to see past Paul to the author of the Word. It takes a very humble teacher not to get in the way of the Word and make himself the focus.
Vs. 14-16 The first two sentences begin with "for." This shows the proof of verse 13. The reality of their faith and growth in Christ was the persecution they endured. In the seed that had no depth and fell away, what was the focus of the persecution and tribulation? It wasn't Jesus.
Vs. 17-20 Here again is Paul's natural compassion in Christ, in the harvest. How do you understand verses 19 & 20. If you were a bricklayer, but never laid a brick, how would that make you feel? If you were a painter, an artist, but never painted, how would that be? Paul couldn't be satisfied as a disciple maker, a laborer in the harvest, without fruit. If you get what is being said here, my question is how we can be satisfied, regardless where we work in the harvest, in the field, in the barn, in the machine shed fixing the equipment, cooking for the field workers, without fruit, without a harvest.
1Thes. 3
Vs. 1-5 Two things stand out to me. First, Paul had someone like Timothy who would go back into a tough situation, who knew how to teach and to strengthen. Second, Paul gave this young church and these new believers a vision of following Christ that included suffering and affliction.
Vs. 6-10 What is interesting to me in this section, is the weight of care Paul had for them in Christ. I wonder if Jesus' weight of care for us is any less.
Vs. 11-13 These are familiar themes: love for one another out of the love of Christ, and honoring God. But did you notice how this ended. Jesus is the finish line. Our goal is meeting this person, our savior. Our goal is not doing good and being religious. That's a huge difference.
Psalm 80
This would have had to have been written during the years of Isaiah or after the exile. Isn't it interesting reading this psalm now while we're in Jeremiah?
I still can identify with this psalm. I want the Lord's face to shine on my life and work for Him in the harvest.
This video has a few psalms on it. If you only what to hear Psalm 80, go forward to 16:00. It's beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btk3LbwgtBA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL03220D8CDB08599E
Proverbs 25:1-5
This is my favorite chapter in Proverbs. Someday, Lord willing, I'm going to memorize it.
Vs. 2-3 Substitute for "kings," "lovers of Jesus."
Vs. 4-5 Those in the presence of the king are those people he confides in and seeks advice from. For a lover of Jesus in the harvest to be established, you need other lovers of Jesus who are tender in the love and faith that are in Christ and passionate about the harvest. Too many lovers of Jesus fail for lack of kindred spirits and are influenced by the lukewarm and the resistant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJkseqsWJ7E
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments and feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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