Jeremiah 30-31:26
Some people call chapters 30-33 the "Book of Consolation." Almost right in the middle here, God gives the nation a view of their distant hope and His everlasting love.
Jer. 30
Vs. 1-7 After the promise to restore the entire nation, Israel and Judah, verse seven projects ahead to "Jacob's" ultimate distress at the end of the tribulation.
Vs. 8-9 In this final deliverance, Israel will no longer be threatened and they will be led by a resurrected king David. Ezekiel 34 also mentions the return of David.
Vs. 10-17 This is hope mixed with an explanation of why God needs to punish them to heal them. Notice the mention in verse 17 of Zion. That will be important. Notice also that the way these promises are stated, the restoration of verse 10 and 11 have to be for the Millennial Kingdom.
Vs. 18-22 This will be the ultimate restoration of the people, and of course, before that, there will be events that foreshadow this; but Israel will never be in peace until the Messiah rules on earth.
Vs. 23-24 In the latter days, probably of the tribulation and the Kingdom.
Jer. 31:1-26
V. 1 This should probably belong to the last verses of chapter 30. In order for God to be the GOD of all the clan, they all have to be believers. This is still in the future.
After this statement come the declarations of the Lord.
Vs. 2-6 The rebuilding of Israel.
Notice the everlasting love. It is still everlasting for Israel's future.
Notice that the Lord is in Zion.
Vs. 7-9 The regathering of Israel.
Vs. 10-14 The redeeming of Israel.
Notice that this declaration went out to the nations. The result is great joy in Israel.
V. 15 This is a famous verse, but what is it doing here?
Here is my thought on this. In the plan of redemption, the moment God put His hand on Abraham, Abe and his family and the nation of Israel became servants of the world, examples to the world of sin and God's character and forgiveness. God has put them to hard work for us.
Rachel's destiny was a part of this story. She died near Ramah giving birth to the only of Jacob's children born in the land of promise. As Rachel was dying she tried to name the child "son of my sorrow," but Jacob named the child, "son of my right hand," Benjamin. Rachel wept in death, losing her children, her sad life and death being a part of God's plan of redemption.
During Jeremiah's days in that same area around Jerusalem, many would die. It was because of Israel's sin and God's punishment, but more because of God's use of Israel in His plan of redemption.
When Herod destroyed the children around Bethlehem trying to kill Jesus, again, Israel suffered tragedy and violence because of its work in the plan of redemption.
Vs. 16-17 The nation has wept, but there will be a reward for their work. That is quite a profound statement.
Vs. 18-20 Israel (designated by the name Ephraim) repents and God welcomes him. Doesn't this sound like the prodigal son?
Vs. 21-25 God brings them back and restores the holy hill of Zion in millennial blessing.
V. 22 Usually it is the man who seeks the woman. Here, Israel as a bride, seeks the man, the Lord.
V. 26 Poor Jeremiah. What a stressed out guy, always bringing bad news and being pushed by the Lord and punished by the people. But this was a good vision of hope from the Lord and it brought him peace and comfort.
1 Timothy 2
So then, since Paul has been chosen by grace to be an apostle, and in view of the distress of the times and in view of the call of God on Timothy's life, Timothy is to reestablish the foundation of the church.
Vs. 1-7 This is a general pronouncement for the entire church.
This is where we get the well-known command to pray for rulers, but notice that the point is so that we can work in the harvest under the radar.
This is the second time Paul uses the phrase "God our Savior." He used it in the first line of the book and now here. Paul is making sure that the church is established in reaching out to a lost world.
So, if this is to be the general focus of the church, praying and working in the harvest, Paul gives some specific instruction to men and women.
V. 8 Men are to pray, lifting holy hands, that is, I think with a godly perspective. They shouldn't be given to anger and quarrelling. Anger and quarrelling over what? Anything. Not over the price of gas or the political party. Their perspective is to be in going to God and having a spiritual perspective on life in the harvest.
Vs. 9-10 Women, in general, are also to be focused on the harvest. Good works as in Eph. 2:10 are what God has prepared for us to do for our neighbors in opening doors of opportunity. Like men, women are not to be consumed by the issues of life, in their case, focusing on looking fine.
Now, I want to suggest something here. When Paul talks about men and women, sometimes he uses a kind of alternating reference, sort of like men-women, women-men, men-women. You see this in 1Cor. 7:2-4 and 7:12-14. I think that Paul uses alternating references to men and women as he changes his topic in the rest of this chapter and in chapter three. I would say it looks like this:
Topic: Focus in the harvest, Men-prayer / Women-good works
Topic: Leadership of the church, Women-submission / Men-serve as elders
Topic: Serving the church Men-as deacons / Women-as deaconesses
In the Greek there is no chapter break between chapters two and three. I believe Paul is talking about the guiding leadership of the church beginning in 2:11.
Vs. 11-15 A woman's role in the authority and teaching of the church is to learn quietly in submission. I think the words "teach and have authority" are key to understanding what Paul says here and why he introduces the elders in 3:1. Elders are the people who are responsible for the teaching in the church (they determine, protect and oversee the entrusting of that truth) and they exercise authority in the church. I don't think a woman is to be in the position of an elder, responsible for teaching as an elder is responsible for teaching, nor should she be in a position to exercise authority in the church as an elder exercises authority. I think the limits on a woman's ability to teach and have authority are in the context of what an elder does.
Vs. 13-14 Paul's / the Spirit's reasoning here is biblical and not cultural, based on God's decision in the creation order and in the events of the Fall.
V. 15 "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." Alexander Pope.
But just for an attempt, here goes. In creation, God created Adam and Eve differently. A man is "saved" (from damage) by doing what God has given him to do, and a woman is "saved" by doing what she was meant to do. Each has received roles of leadership and service. To deny these roles is to put ourselves where we were not meant to be and, therefore, not to discover the fullness that God has for us. For most women, not all, that plan of God involves bearing children. In the job of being a mom there is not only fulfillment, but plenty of leadership and service. Women for whom God hasn't designed motherhood, can find fulfillment, a role of leadership and service in other ways. The point is, God has designated a role for men and women and only in staying true to those roles do we develop "safely" the way God wants us to develop.
I remember wrestling with verse 15 and feeling the Lord had given me some insight into it. So I went to my mother-in-law, Barbara Youderian, and asked her what she thought verse 15 meant and she not only said the same thing, but she said it much better and gave me a great example. I sat there feeling like a kindergartner.
Psalm 87
This is a very short and amazing psalm. Considering God's feeling toward Jerusalem and His everlasting love toward these people whom He has used as an example to the world of lost humanity, it is interesting to see that someday it will be a high honor to hear that someone was born in Zion.
Wayne Watson used this theme, "Born in Zion," to talk about the salvation of all who come to Christ. The song's idea is that even with unfulfilled lives on earth, when entering heaven, we will hear something like, "you were born in Zion," from the Father and that will more than make up for anything we've lost on earth.
The words and a YouTube link are below.
Proverbs 25:18-19
Amen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdjEFgDdcs
Born in Zion
from Wayne Watson's Giants in the Land Album
Words by Michael Hudson
Music by Gary Driskell
Very few are born to riches, very few
Very few of cherished wishes ever come true
But that won't matter much at all
On the day your name is called
When this earthbound life is through
And your Father says of you
This one was born in Zion
Make no mistake, this one is Mine
This one was born in Zion
This one will never, this one will never
This one will never die.
Very few are ever famous, very few
Very few will ever live the dream that they choose
But that won't matter much at all
On the day your name is called
When this earthbound life is through
And your Father says of you
This one was born in Zion
Make no mistake, this one is Mine
This one was born in Zion
This one will never, this one will never
This one will never die.
And every dream left unfulfilled
And every worthy goal
Is just a shadow of the joy that waits
Forever to unfold
This one was born in Zion
Make no mistake, this one is Mine
This one was born in Zion
This one will never, this one will never
This one will never die.
Copyright 1985 by StaightWay Music
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 comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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