Jeremiah 33-34
We are inching closer to the fall of Jerusalem. There will be one notable look to the past, but from now on, everything will be fairly chronological leading to God's unrelenting punishment of Jerusalem and Judah.
Jer. 33
However, we are still in that section called "The Book of Consolation."
It is always a good idea to underline, circle, or somehow mark words and phrases. Once you notice certain words, the structure and logic just pop out. And besides that, you stay awake.
Vs. 1-5 Notice both "the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah" and "for thus says the Lord."
As we have seen so often, there is a description of some event, in this case a bad one, followed by a declaration, in this case a good one.
The houses were broken down in the center of Jerusalem, and the stones were taken to build up the walls where the Babylonians were trying to get in.
The holes where the houses had been would be used as places to dump bodies.
Vs. 6-9 The ultimate fulfillment of this will be after the Messiah returns.
Vs. 10-11 "Thus says the Lord," but what is the focus of this?
Vs. 12-16 "Thus says the Lord," but what is the focus of this?
Vs. 17-18 "Thus says the Lord," but what is the focus of this?
Interestingly, this doesn't say that a descendant of David will always sit on the throne, but that David will never lack descendants who could sit on the throne. Both Joseph and Mary were descendants of David.
Vs. 19-26 These are very definite promises of God.
Jer. 34
It is interesting to see how God made promises and gave hope as an encouragement for faith and obedience, but also as a test of faith.
V. 4 This appears to be a word to Zedekiah because of the good thing they had just done in releasing the slaves.
Now, to really understand what is happening with the rest of this, you need to read verse 21. This explains why the people went back on their actions. The Egyptians came against the Babylonians, and the rulers and people thought they were OK again and recaptured the people they had set free. God was probably the one who stirred up the Egyptians and created this little time of confusion.
What you see in this is that the people obeyed God for themselves, to relieve the pressure. As soon as they "made" God answer them by their good deeds, they didn't need the good deeds. They got what they wanted. Now, with Nebuchadnezzar leaving, they had to rebuild Jerusalem and they needed those slaves again.
V. 18 Remember when God made the covenant with Abraham, animals were cut up and a lane was made through the body parts. Normally, the parties who made the covenant walked through that lane and swore the covenant saying that if they didn't keep the bargain, they should end up looking like those animals. In the covenant with Abraham, the promise of the new covenant, only God walked through that lane, taking the full responsibility for the covenant. This is why the ultimate fulfillment of that promise doesn't depend on Israel.
Here, many of the people who violated this covenant would soon look like road kill and probably be the bodies thrown into those lots where houses had stood in 33:5.
1 Timothy 4
Having told Timothy how the foundation of the church is made secure, Paul warns him of the coming resistance and how to deal with it positively.
Vs. 1-5 Many people wonder what this teaching was or is; but the point is, Paul is telling Timothy and us, there will always be resistance and of a kind that looks very conservative and righteous, but is ultimately self-focused and isolating. I think what we read in chapter one, about people becoming inward focused on the law and self-righteousness, rather than on Christ and grace and the harvest, comes into play here.
Vs. 6-8 This is a challenge to Timothy to wage the good warfare from chapter one. If Timothy did his job right, at times, he would be in opposition to false teachers and to the prevailing opinions and moods of the people.
Interestingly, here, and even more so in 2 Timothy, Paul strongly warns Timothy to stay out of arguments over stupid stuff. I think this was Timothy's "youthful passion." He was good with his mouth and thought that he could win every argument. Paul directs Timothy to teach, not to argue.
"Train yourself in godliness," I think, means to mindfully understand that you are being led by the Spirit into all circumstances and to respond in those situations in a way that honors God. You mess up sometimes, but you keep training. In the Greek, the word "godliness" does not have the word "god" in it. It means to give honor.
Vs. 9-10 This is the charge and it is based on the gospel again. God is called the Savior for the third time. It seems that Paul is saying that it is this mission that has moved them to set their hope on God and live following Christ into this harvest.
The words, "trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance" have only been used one other place in this letter (1 Tim 1:15), and there it was a very emotional declaration for Paul. I think this is an emotional declaration too.
Giving up "stuff" to give the look of being serious and suffering and making God happy seems religious. But following Christ as a disciple, setting our hope on Him, giving ourselves to the work in the harvest to reach the lost and make disciples who make disciples, is the real deal. It is what we have been called to. It isn't religion. It is following Him, and it is full of grace. It involves suffering and putting aside things here, but even there, it is the Spirit directing us and showing us what is not for our lives on this earth so that we can follow in the harvest.
Vs. 11-16 Notice the emotion and urgency in this. It pours out of verses 9-10. Look at the crisp, short commands. This is the positive of what Timothy is supposed to do. He isn't supposed to counter silliness, he is to teach and model what is healthy, sound and godly.
I think verses 15-16 are very important. How many of us as disciples make this our hobby and passion? We need to perfect and get good at what God wants us to do in the harvest, and to live to be an example to others. Not many people take this to heart.
Verse 16 is important for all of us, not just preachers. We often let ourselves get out of shape emotionally, physically, sexually, etc… and we get tripped up. Some translations insert "your" before "the teaching" because of the word "yourself" that precedes it. Often too, we teach one thing and don't heed our own words. If more teachers, preachers and disciples did what they taught, they would "save" themselves from a lot of problems.
"Saved" here, obviously isn't salvation from damnation, but salvation from damage and becoming shipwrecked.
Psalm 89:1-13
In some respects, this is a very redemption oriented psalm. The steadfast love of the Lord runs through it. The promise to David is messianic. The might of God in the creation and among the angelic hosts shows that God is in charge of everything. And somehow, in the middle of all of this, He regards us and loves us. What can we do but sing of God's love in the harvest?
Proverbs 25:23-24
I wonder if being that person with the backbiting tongue, also makes you liable to marry the quarrelsome woman? In any event, I think the Lord is cautioning us not to be these people.
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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