Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
Wow, the end of the book of Jeremiah! You did it!
Jer. 51:54-64
Vs. 54-58 This is the end of the pronouncement of judgment on Babylon. Remember, most of this is yet to come.
V. 57 The night Babylon was taken, that brilliant and serious military strategist and king, Belschazzar, knowing his city was surrounded, decided to get everyone stinking drunk and celebrate to the gods. It was a desperate religious act, trying to find a god who would respond to their desperate need. The Persians could have taken the city with two boy scouts and a blind German Shepherd. To be fair to Belshazzar, he did get a response from "the other side." At one point, Belschazzar brought out the vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem and fed wine to his wives while praising the gods of gold and silver. Yahweh took exception to that and publicly wrote a message to him in the plaster of the wall. Belschazzar died that night. Trivia question: Who was in charge of the empire of Babylon (the last Babylonian ruler) the night it fell and became the Persian empire? A Jewish exile named Daniel.
Vs. 59-64 So Zedekiah and Seraiah both went to Babylon in the fourth year of Nebuchadnezzar. It could be that this is the event of Daniel chapter 3. This would have been the 12th year of Nebuchadnezzar and that fits nicely into the time frame. If so, Zedekiah was on hand to see three Jewish men risk their lives to follow God, and he would have seen Nebuchadnezzar worship the God that Zedekiah was in rebellion to.
Seraiah read the prophesy against Babylon and threw it in the Eurphrates. Five years later Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. Seraiah was killed by Neb and Zedekiah was severely punished by him.
Interestingly, this is the end of the prophesies of Jeremiah. Yet, we'll read more from Jeremiah in Lamentations.
Jer. 52
Tradition says that Jeremiah wrote 2 Kings. This might have been added here by Jeremiah as an historical summary of the final events.
Vs. 28-30 Although the main deportations took place at a set time, Neb was always taking people into exile. Some of them lived in the surrounding area and some people obeyed and got out of the cities. Because of the next verses dealing with Jehoiachin, I tend to think that these minor deportations are those who obeyed and willingly surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar. That would also account for the low totals here. Not many of the people were willing to obey God.
Vs. 31-34 I've seen it suggested that this is a sign that the exiles would eventually return to Jerusalem. That may be. But clearly it is a delayed fulfillment of God's promise, that if anyone left the city and surrendered to the Babylonian army, they would be taken into captivity and God would honor them. This is what Jeremiah told Zedekiah to do when Zed asked him to inquire of the Lord for him. Zedekiah didn't do it because he didn't believe it and he was afraid of his Jewish enemies. Jehoiachin, the king before Zedekiah, walked out of the gates of Jerusalem with his mother, was imprisoned, but for his obedience, was honored.
I'd like to think it was Jeremiah, 27 years after the fall of Jerusalem who wrote these notes. I'd like to think he settled down on that acreage he bought in Anathoth, married some sweet young thing and lived in peace, writing out 2 Kings and enjoying the sunsets at night.
Jeremiah had suffered in his service for God. He was hated by most people for bringing them a message of salvation they didn't want to hear. And for all of this, he helplessly watched his people give themselves to disobedience and destruction. Yet even with this, he was much closer to God than anyone around him. When we get to Lamentations chapter 3, you see the deep faith and maturity of Jeremiah in the midst of all the suffering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m17af0XmPFo
Titus 3
Wow, the end of Titus!
Vs. 1-8 This is an awesome passage of Scripture. At this time, Nero was beginning to light the fires of persecution. To me, the section has to do with people being salt and light in the harvest. The main way to do this was "good works." Even in persecution we need to remember why we are here, and it is very hard to slander a neighbor for being a Christian when he helps your elderly parent rake leaves. There are lots of things the Spirit shows us to do in our own neighborhood if we know our neighbors and live in the harvest.
Notice that these good works are tied into our salvation in Christ. In fact, notice that this entire section has to do with living a life as an ambassador of Christ in a dying world. The spiritual perspective and power to live like this comes from the gospel and our own salvation through the grace of God.
Vs. 9-11 Whatever focuses the church inward, taking on a self righteous life of its own, is brought about by warped people. And it takes away our compassion for the lost in the harvest.
V. 12 I like this guy Tychicus. Suddenly he's everywhere. He's also mentioned in Acts, Ephesians, Colossians and 2 Timothy.
V. 14 One more urging of the people to be involved in good works, which I think means in the harvest following Christ.
V. 15 Isn't this an interesting sentence, "Greet those who love us in the faith." That "faith" embraced the entire spiritual perspective of life in Christ in the harvest. There is a kindred spirit of those who know what it is all about and are working hard in the harvest.
Psalm 100
Wouldn't it be great to get though something indescribably hard and dangerous, something that had been filled with difficulty and sadness, and then to stand on the other side of that "something" and celebrate the goodness and salvation of God? We get glimpses of this, and it is ultimately where we are heading.
I doubt that Psalm 100 sounded like this in the temple worship, but it's cool and joyful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtZ7w4huIOU
Proverbs 26:18-19
Wow, what a declaration from God. That little sin is the tip of a madly sinful and violent heart. Little sins have a way of seeming innocent, funny and acceptable.
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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