OCTOBER 27
Jeremiah 51:1-53
More on the
judgment of Babylon. Reading all of this, the question I have is why so much
space is given to Babylon. Babylon did take the last of Israel into captivity,
and they did enter the temple and destroy it. These things alone would put them
in a special category.
Also, God put a
lot of time into His work in Babylon and says some very big, good things about
Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar built one of the seven wonders of
the world, and God humbled Neb and revealed Himself to Neb in ways He has never
done with other Gentile rulers.
I tend to think
that there might also be something about Babylon that typifies the pride and
rebellion of man. The Tower of Babel was built there; Nimrod became a great man
there, and mankind was unified there in its rebellion, forcing God to judge
mankind yet again. (As a result of that curse we have the German language. J) There must
be something going on beyond the words in Jeremiah. I say this because some of
these words against Babylon haven't happened yet, and in Revelation there is a
very significant chapter about "Babylon" as represented in a woman
sitting on a beast. There is apocalyptic meaning associated with this empire.
To show you
what I mean, look at these references: Revelation 14:8, 16:19, 17:5 and
18:1-21. Much of what is written about Babylon in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel
is repeated in Revelation. The fulfillment is yet to come.
As you read
this section, look for structure and things to underline.
Vs. 1-5 Notice
that this section mentions that in spite of God's judgment, Israel and Judah
are not forsaken.
Vs. 6-10 Notice
the references to leave Babylon. Verse 10 seems to be a key verse. God used
Babylon to accomplish His work and purposes, and now He would vindicate Israel
and restore Zion. Again, when you get to the first five chapters of Daniel, you
will see a lot of God's grace being given to Babylon. To reject God's grace, as
is seen in Daniel 5, is a good justification for judgment. They did have a
chance to change and worship God.
Vs. 11-14 So,
who is it who really is bringing the ruin of Babylon? God doesn’t use His
people. He uses the ambitions and pride of other nations to defeat the proud.
Israel, God's redemptive people, are not used in His judgments.
Vs. 15-19
Notice that Jeremiah as a man and prophet declares God to be the true God who
is bringing this judgment. Notice how God is referred to in the third person.
Vs. 20-26 Now
notice that God is speaking in the first person. This judgment has not fully
taken place and is probably reserved for the time of the Tribulation.
Vs. 27-33 This
is the poetic description of the battle against Babylon in those future days.
Vs. 34-40 This
is Israel's case against Babylon.
Vs. 41-44 This
is the taking of the city. Verse 41 sounds like a verse from Revelation 14:8
and 18:2.
Vs. 45-46 In
spite of this destruction, Israel is to take courage. During the Tribulation
with all the destruction and all the forces at play in the world, that might
not be an easy thing for Israel to do. Trust is never easy.
Vs. 47-49 It is
interesting to think of this. The Babylon of Jeremiah's day would be punished for the slain of Israel. Regardless of
who the Babylon of Revelation is, they will be punished because the blood of
the saints was found in her. (Revelation 18:24)
Vs. 50-53
Babylon's destruction is guaranteed, and v. 51 is one of the reasons for it.
In reading all
of this about judgment and thinking about Revelation, I think of Jesus on His
throne, taking the book of judgment. He earned the right to open that book by
dying for mankind. He is the only man of all mankind who is worthy to judge
mankind. That generation on the earth will behold His glory in His wrath. In
heaven, we will bow and worship Him as the Lamb who was slain and lives
forevermore.
Titus 2
Some of what
Paul tells Titus sounds like things from 1 Timothy, just very brief and
condensed.
Vs. 1-6 In 1
Timothy 5 Paul told Timothy how to address different groups. Here Paul tells
Titus how these groups are supposed to behave. It is interesting that older
people in the church are to be models for the younger people in terms of faith
and following Christ. This holds true especially for the older women. This
teaching of the younger women looks like more than what accidentally happens
over a cup of coffee. It is planned discipleship.
Vs. 6-7 Very
brief compared to 1 Timothy 4:11-16.
Vs. 8-10 This
is directed to slaves.
Vs. 11-14 What
a great declaration as to how our lives should reflect the truth of the gospel.
These are the first verses I memorized back in 1875 as an Awana leader. (I
might be 100 years off.)
Notice the good works. In any time and in any
culture, I think this is how the church reaches out, by loving our neighbors
for the sake of Christ. This is much deeper than meets the eye and it is very
neglected in terms of the harvest. Not only did Jesus list loving your neighbor
as the second greatest commandment (Matt. 22:39), but Paul mentions it twice in
the last part of Romans (13:9, 15:2).
V. 15
Apparently this thought was supposed to keep everyone focused on the mission of
the church. This sounds like Paul's words to Timothy, Let no one despise you for your youth.
Psalm 99
Vs. 1-5 The
king is very clearly the Lord who reigns in Zion over all the people of the
earth. It is hard to read the Bible on any day in The One Year Bible
without bumping into the final redemption of man with God reigning over all. I
think the Lord wants us to keep that before our eyes in the harvest.
Vs. 6-7 God
worked through these great men during crucial times in Israel's history to
bring Israel justice and peace. But even though you had these leaders, God's
presence and lordship were still visible. He was leading.
Vs. 8-9 Notice
the actions of v. 8, answering, forgiving and avenging. The Lord is the King
who is exalted and holy and to be loved and honored.
Proverbs 26:17
Amen.
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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