OCTOBER 26
Jeremiah 49:23-50:46
Jeremiah 49:23-39
Vs. 23-27 This is
God's judgment on Syria, represented by Damascus. Syria had plagued Israel and
had played a role in Israel's demise.
Vs. 28-33 This is a
judgment against the nomadic tribes descended from Ishmael. You often hear
people say that the enemies of the Jews came from Ishmael, and they say that
Israel's enemies came as the result of Abraham's relationship with Hagar. It is
obvious that what Abe and Sarah decided with Hagar was a poor decision, but
Israel had plenty of enemies without these guys. The people who became the
Babylonians (Iraq) and the Persians (Iran) were there long before. The enmity
is really a spiritual thing and goes back to the garden and God's working with
Abraham, a man who came from what today would be Iraq.
Vs. 34-39 Elam is
what was to become the Persian Empire. Today it is Iran.
It is hard to say
when this happened, or whether it has happened yet. It certainly didn't happen
with Babylon rising in power. Nebuchadnezzar married a Persian princess and
made the hanging gardens of Babylon for her. There were good relations between
Babylon and Persia. Read Daniel. When Persia took over Babylon it was basically
bloodless and Darius the Mede ruled in the city of Babylon as the co-ruler of
the Persian Empire. Persia certainly hasn't been an empire since Alexander
defeated them, but Alexander didn't destroy much either. Note that God will set
up His throne there. That would mean judgment. Also, in the latter days, God
will restore them. That is restoration during the Millennial Kingdom. This has
led people to believe that this destruction will take place during the
Tribulation.
Jeremiah 50
Vs. 1-3 Generally
speaking, this long declaration of judgment on Babylon hasn't been fulfilled
yet, in the terms described here. This has also led people to believe that the
total fulfillment of this will not happen until the Tribulation and the
Millennial Kingdom. There is a lot written about Babylon in Revelation that
sounds similar to some of what is said here.
Vs. 4-5 Notice that
this is definitely talking about the Millennial Kingdom.
Vs. 6-7 God's
judgment is on the nations for not showing compassion to Israel, even though
they knew Israel belonged to Him and were being punished by Him. Actually
Egypt, Babylon, and Persia hosted Israel and will receive some blessing for
that in the Millennial Kingdom.
Vs. 8-10 This is the
declaration of punishment against Babylon.
Vs. 11-16 Verse 13
hasn't fully happened yet, so many people think this is pointing to the time of
the Tribulation and that the Babylon mentioned in the book of Revelation might
be the real city of Babylon.
Vs. 19-20 Again, this
is millennial blessing. Because of the punishment mentioned just before this
promise of blessing, that punishment would just precede the fulfilling of the
promise.
Vs. 21-46 This
description is much larger than what took place when Persia defeated Babylon.
That was almost a friendly takeover. What is said in these verses is still
looking for a future fulfillment.
A couple of thoughts:
Although God humbled
Nebuchadnezzar, the kings after him did not respect God. Chapter 5 of Daniel
shows a lot of disregard for God and what He had done. When Persia took over,
it was through the events of Daniel 6 that Cyrus sent the Jews back to
Jerusalem. God created a new respect for His name and a sense of fear regarding
forcing the Jews to worship anyone but Yahweh.
It could be that in
the time of the Tribulation, both Iran and Iraq play a larger role in world
affairs and as a result are put down by the antichrist. In order for the antichrist
to make a world-recognized peace treaty with Israel, certain hostile nations,
especially Islamic and anti-Semitic nations, will either change their attitude
or be put down. With Iran tinkering around with making a nuclear weapon, you
wonder how all of that history will play out.
In the meantime, we
need to keep focused on the harvest before us. Our task is following our Savior
into the harvest He died to redeem, making disciples, who make disciples. We
don't need to be consumed with the events that are slowly coming to the
horizon. As to what is going to happen and when it's going to happen, remember
what Jesus said to the disciples in Acts 1:7-8, He
said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own
authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the end of the earth."
Titus 1
Vs. 1-3 To my
knowledge, this is the longest introduction of any of Paul's letters. Notice
how much "gospel" Paul puts in here. It sets the tone of the letter
and shows Titus what kind of foundation needs to be laid in this church.
V. 4 Apparently, Paul
led Titus to Christ.
Vs. 5-9 Paul and
Titus had traveled together and Paul left Titus in Crete. This is all after the
events recorded in Acts. Notice that Paul gave Titus apostolic authority. Titus
was to appoint elders. There was no congregational voting here.
V. 9 Notice that the
elders had the authority to protect the teaching of the church.
Vs. 10-16 Once again,
there was pressure for the Gentile Christians to adopt customs and teaching
from the Jewish law. This new church in Crete needed to have these false teachers
strongly rebuked, and Titus was the man. In contrast, Paul never told Timothy
to rebuke anyone in Ephesus, probably because they had a better core of leaders
with whom Timothy could work.
In order for this
church to reach its harvest, it had to be unified around Jesus and His mission,
and therefore the need for order and correct teaching. That's the same with us.
If the church is not bearing fruit for the Lord in the harvest, making disciples,
who make disciples, we are doing something wrong and are focused on the wrong
stuff. Sometimes before we become fruitful, there needs to be correction, in
our hearts and in the group.
Psalms 97-98
I appreciate more and
more that there is a "price" to pay to be able to sing these songs
from the heart. In Psalm 98 it mentions a
new song. From Psalm 40 you see that it is the Lord who puts that new song
in our hearts. Only He can do it, and I think it gets there by Him proving us
in the harvest, following Christ.
Psalm 97
Vs. 1-5 The Lord
reigns and even the creation obeys and bows before Him. What chance does puny
man have before Him?
Vs. 6-7 This is just
like Romans 1:18-22. How can we disregard the Creator and worship images and
creatures and stuff?
Vs. 8-9 Zion rejoices
because Israel's only hope is the Creator, and He will take His seat in Zion
and rule the earth. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He. All things were made through him, and
without him was not any thing made that was made. (John
1:3)
Vs. 10-12 Love, not
slavish obedience, has always been the key to knowing God and knowing His joy
and blessing.
Psalm 98
Vs. 1-3 That new song begins with salvation, and we
learn new verses of that song as we follow Christ in the harvest, experiencing
grace after grace, deliverance after deliverance, seeing new spiritual life
come into existence, learning how deep and wonderful God is. But, we can never
forget our salvation. Notice that v. 3 is in the past tense. That hasn't
happened yet, but it will.
Vs. 4-6 The
celebration of the saved should be with all their heart and passion and skill.
Vs. 7-9 The
celebration of the creation will join in to the song as the King approaches.
Proverbs 26:13-16
We have either
met this guy, or we've been this guy in some area of our lives. God is
certainly for rest, but He is not for this kind of behavior.
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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