OCTOBER 24
Jeremiah
44:24-47:7
Jeremiah 44:24-30
Vs. 24-28 You might need to go back to yesterday and read
44:15-19 to remember the context that brought about these verses.
V. 25 The people declared their own sin. They just didn't
think it was sin. Too bad God isn't for religious tolerance. Maybe He needs
sensitivity training. Oh wait, He is the
Creator and the ONLY GOD. This is why people today don't come to Christ. It
is a relationship with very personal requirements, like listening to Him and
knowing Him. If we create our own God, we control the requirements.
I read this earlier in John 3:18-21, Whoever believes in him is
not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he
has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people
loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come
to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be
clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
This is what was functioning in Jeremiah's day too. Creation
is an anchor for our hearts knowing that there is one Creator who is always the
same and always present. He is present even when we don't understand. We saw
this in Job.
V. 28 God is saying here that He will allow some people to
return to Judea. I'm sure Jeremiah was one of them, and, as we'll see in the
next chapter, Baruch made it too. I doubt that any of those men (and their
wives) who let their wives make offerings for the queen of heaven returned from
Egypt.
Vs. 29-30 The people had a new hope: Pharaoh Hophra. God
decided to use this king as a sign to His rebelling people. This actually
happened to Pharaoh Hophra, but it wasn't the result of the Babylonians. He was
killed by political infighting before the Babylonians got there. God again was
showing the people that He meant business and that Jeremiah was His man.
Jeremiah 45
V. 1 Notice that this goes back to when Baruch began to work
for Jeremiah. We just read about this in Jeremiah 36. It was God's
encouragement to Baruch. God told Baruch back then how things would fall out.
Vs. 2-4 Notice that God declares four times in this chapter
He is the Lord. God was telling Baruch that He could protect him. He had used
Baruch over these 17 years and He would and could keep him safe.
V. 5 The reason this chapter is given here is that although
Jeremiah and Baruch were in a very bad place in Egypt and a war was coming, and
the Babylonians would find them again, God would save them. I think that both
Jeremiah and Baruch died of old age back in Israel.
Jeremiah 46
V. 1 This introduces a section of God's pronouncements
against the surrounding nations.
Vs. 2-12 This part of the prophecy was given at the time of
Egypt's first defeat at the hands of the Babylonians. This Pharaoh Neco was the
guy who killed King Josiah and put that donkey of a king, Jehoiakim, on the
throne. Apparently when Neco met Nebuchadnezzar, most of the Egyptian army was
killed. From this point on Egypt would have to hire mercenaries to join their
army and fight their battles.
V. 12 Apparently the retreat of the frontline Egyptians was
hindered by the Egyptians who were still coming forward. It created such
confusion that the Babylonians had easy pickings.
Vs. 13-26 This was now again present day with Jeremiah in
Egypt and Egypt about to be defeated by Nebuchadnezzar. Notice that v. 21 talks
about Egypt's hired soldiers being ready for slaughter.
V. 17 This is funny. Apparently this Pharaoh was all talk
and no action.
This judgment against Egypt was not only because of Pharaoh
Neco killing Josiah, but Egypt encouraged everyone to break their treaties with
Babylon and to support Egypt in its fight against Babylon. King Jehoiakim and
King Zedekiah did this and it gave the people false hope. It also made the
messages of the false prophets more believable. God was punishing Egypt for
being a false hope to His people.
Vs. 27-28 This is much like a father confirming his love
toward a child before handing out the punishment.
Jeremiah 47
Vs. 1-7 This is the judgment against the Philistines. It is
interesting to see that God used the Egyptians to punish these enemies of His
people. Eventually Nebuchadnezzar would take care of Tyre and Sidon. They would
never be the centers of wealth and trade they had once been.
Poor Jeremiah. His life had been used by God to bring
messages to people, most of whom chose judgment. We will still hear lots of
crying out by Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations. Yet even in this misery,
Jeremiah learned what every disciple learns, to praise God in the storm. This
might be a good time to listen to “Praise You in This Storm,” by Casting
Crowns.
2
Timothy 2:22-3:17
Remember the urgency in Paul's writing and that Timothy had
apparently been shaken. Paul is trying to refocus Timothy and give him courage
under fire.
2 Timothy 2: 22-26
Vs. 22-23 With everything that Paul has already said about
discussions about words and foolish talk, Paul will say it again. It took me a
while to catch on to what Timothy's youthful
passion was, but it is clear in this context. Timothy was predisposed to
arguing and jumping into controversies. Verse 23 has the hint of correction in
it.
V. 24 Paul's words to Timothy were very pointed. Timothy was
the Lord's servant and apparently was
falling into quarrelling.
Vs. 25-26 Notice that this context has to do with
discussions within the church. People within the church get captured by Satan.
Only a cool head could patiently teach and nurture them to safety, if that were
even possible.
What Paul is saying here is very important. I haven't been
in a church where there were not these kinds of people in the church creating
difficulties. It takes a lot of wisdom and maturity to deal with them and keep
the church focused on the harvest.
2 Timothy 3
Vs. 1-5 Now this definitely seems like a list of those bad
people outside the church who smoke and drink and swear. But just for your
consideration, remember back in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul mentioned that before
the day of the Lord there would be a
rebellion. That word means, "a falling away," or apostasy. In 2
Timothy 4, Paul will talk about itchy-eared Christians accumulating teachers
for themselves who say what they like to hear. I think this list is also
talking about the church and those who profess belonging to Christ. Verse 5
seems to indicate that this was in the church.
Vs. 6-9 This is an example of the list Paul just gave, and
the problem was within the church.
Vs. 10-13 This is not what you would want to use for an
advertisement for discipleship, but this is a great description of following
Christ in the harvest. Only a disciple would be strengthened by these words.
Verse 12 is a promise for every disciple. O Weh!
Paul had been a model for Timothy in all of these things,
but what kind of model is it when your mentor is about to die in prison? But
wait, our Lord died on a cross and told us up front that if we wanted to follow
Him, we needed to deny ourselves, take up our death (cross) daily and follow
Him. Paul was a great model and Timothy needed to take up the cross.
Vs. 14-15 Timothy's heritage in the gospel.
Vs. 16-17 Timothy's strength in the work of the gospel was
the Word. What do people think of these verses when they themselves are so
infrequent in the Word? If the Word were a tool, how skilled would we be with
that tool? If it were a video game, would we have it mastered? And the reality
of it all is that we can't grow in our relationship to God without being in it.
One interesting thought here is that if it had not been for
this church catastrophe in Ephesus and Timothy's need for encouragement, Paul
would not have said these very famous verses. God still works His purpose in
the storm.
For me this is very pointed. Paul is bringing everything
down to one focus: to the Word of God and a life lived by that Word. The
foundation of our life in following the Lord as disciples is knowing and living
in His Word. We get all wrapped up in famous preachers and media, but it is
this book that is alive and gives us the breath of the Spirit.
Psalm
94
Again, it is no coincidence that we have a psalm like this
as we're reading about the destruction of Jerusalem. We understand God better
than ever, both in His judgment of His people and His mercy to His people. To
think, God has endured all of this to see us (and mankind) come to Christ and
know what steadfast love really
means.
Vs. 1-7 God was being called upon to judge everyone who had
harmed God's heritage, both those within and outside the nation.
Vs. 8-11 Although Israel just seemed like a forgotten
nation, they have been an example to mankind in God's redemptive plan. They
have never been forgotten and God will use Israel and all the lessons to be
learned through them to discipline the nations.
Vs. 12-15 God will discipline His people, but He will still
fulfill His plan for His heritage.
Vs. 16-23 The question of who in v. 16 is answered in vs. 17, 18, 19, 22 and 23. It is the
Lord. And in God helping and saving His people, He teaches them His steadfast love.
Proverbs
26:6-8
I think God is saying we should really try not to be fools.
The core of being a fool is not to "do" God's Word. Even for churches
in the harvest, we sometimes violate these verses, trying to be so inclusive
that we honor the half-hearted, the arrogant and the lazy. People are changed
by the Word of God, not by putting their names on a plaque or in the bulletin.
Alas, we need wisdom.
V. 7 is funny, but not very politically correct, but who has
the guts to tell God that?
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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 or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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