OCTOBER 6
Jeremiah 6:15-8:7
If you notice
the way the verses are laid out in chapters 1-6, most of it appears to have
been prophecy given in a declarative fashion. Looking at 6:27-30, you have a
sense that God's commissioning of Jeremiah is now complete. In those verses,
God is stating for Jeremiah one of His purposes among the people. It seems then
that all of chapters 1-6 were during the time of Josiah, probably before
Josiah's revival. Chapter 7 will be the first sermon that Jeremiah preaches,
and we'll see, without needing anyone to tell us when this happened, it was
definitely after Josiah's death. The sermon is reporting, in real time, what
the people were actively involved in.
I'm saying this
all just to help you understand a little how to look for clues that give you
some order of events and where there are changes. Remember to keep underlining
phrases that recur or connections between words if they stand out to you. An
easy phrase to begin with is thus says
the Lord.
Jeremiah
6:15-30
V. 15 The lack
of shame isn't just rebellion; it had now become something they were unable to
do. Worshiping idols and doing bad stuff was the new normal for them. But God's
perspective of reality is the only one that counts. Jesus said that if the
light in man became darkness, that darkness would be great. And so it was, and
is.
Vs. 16-17 As a
result of the lack of shame in v. 15, God tried to reason with them. Do you
notice the dialog here?
Vs. 18-20 This
is why God was bringing the punishment on them. Notice that even the nations
were being called upon to take note of this judgment. I have the sense that
when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the temple years later, he fully
understood that he was fulfilling God's judgment on these people.
Vs. 21-26 There
are two separate punishments here, each introduced with thus says the Lord. How would you describe these? The first was
internal; the second was external. The nation would rot from within, and a
nation from without would destroy some and take others captive.
Vs. 27-30 This
is how God will use Jeremiah in the lives of these people in the history of
this nation. Sometimes God uses us this same way and we have to accept it as
His assignment for us.
Jeremiah 7
You have to get
to vs. 16-20 to see what was actually happening in Jerusalem. This has to have
happened during the reign of Jehoiakim, meaning it was after Josiah's death.
That would be 15-18 years after God's appointment of Jeremiah. Now the fun
begins.
Vs. 1-4 Notice
the location where Jeremiah gives this sermon. You get the point right? Talk
about God sending His man into harm's way.
Vs. 5-7 This is
what God really wanted. If they wanted to dwell in Jerusalem and worship in the
temple, all they had to do was obey.
Vs. 8-11 Notice
that the do not trust in v. 4 is
picked up again in v. 8. This is a really strong charge against the people.
Christians wouldn't do this, right? Remember what Paul said to the believers in
1 Corinthians 10? They became involved in idolatry too. In Jeremiah and 1
Corinthians, the people didn't get rid of God (they thought), they just brought
in other gods that they could worship alongside of God. It might be easier to
be idolatrous than we think. A disciple needs to be alert. Paul says in that
famous verse in 1 Corinthians 10:13 in the context of idolatry, No temptation
has overtaken you that is not common to man. God
is faithful, and he will not let
you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also
provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
V. 11 I believe
this is part of what Jesus quotes the second time He cleanses the temple in
Matthew 21:13. Jesus knew the OT.
Vs. 12-15 God
shows them that He's done it before. Ephraim
refers to the northern kingdom of Israel, already taken into exile.
Vs. 16-20 This
is really interesting. Jeremiah was always weeping for the people. God says not
to intercede for them. Later, after Jeremiah gets roughed up, he will be the
one to tell God not to listen to the people.
Vs. 21-26 I'll
bet when Paul read these words after he had found Christ, v. 23 burned right
though his heart. This is all God ever really wanted.
Vs. 27-28 God
is preparing Jeremiah for how the people will respond to his first sermon.
Vs. 29-34 This
section begins with a call to mourn. Look at what the people had done. They
themselves had desecrated the temple. They had begun again to offer their
children in sacrifice. Notice back in 7:9 there is a mention of Baal. Where you
had Baal worship, you had people sacrificing their babies. You had to do
something with those unwanted children that came through Baal worship. That
generation was beyond repair.
Jeremiah 8:1-7
Vs. 1-3 This is
what God says to Jeremiah as fact. Notice in v. 2, this will only be done to
those who had served these things. David's bones wouldn't be out there, but I
wonder about Solomon's.
Vs. 4-7 Notice
the difference here. This is the prophetic word that God has given Jeremiah to
declare.
When I read v.
7, I thought of Paul's charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy to preach the Word.
People need to constantly hear what God says. In the harvest, it isn't our job
to make people believe, but we need to herald. Those who hear the words of God will step forward.
Colossians 2:8-23
Vs. 8-15 The
key to this section is the threat in v. 8, the declaration in v. 9, and the
words in Him. Paul didn't need to
write a book. Jesus Himself was the answer.
V. 8 Adding
religious works or routine to Christ might seem logical, but it is foreign to
the living faith in following Christ. Traditions appeal to the past ways and
rote formulas for being acceptable to God. The elementary teachings are for
babies, not for the mature.
Vs. 9-10 We do
not come into the fullness of Christ by doing things. Period. We own the
fullness of Christ and experience it as we follow and mature.
Vs. 11-15
Notice how Paul uses the catch words of legalism and shows how those old forms
were fulfilled in being made alive in Christ. He shows that the spiritual
meaning of circumcision was fulfilled in coming to Christ and putting off the
old nature, the flesh.
V. 15 The
rulers were disarmed because their authority to "rule" as guardians
of mankind was only theirs if mankind was constantly proven to be guilty before
God in perpetual sin and unrighteousness. Therefore Satan is a constant accuser.
When Jesus lived a sinless life, died for our sins and was raised from the
dead, man could be declared righteous; and Jesus Himself, the man, was seated
at the right hand of God and declared the righteous ruler of mankind. Satan was
served notice and disarmed. The enemy can accuse, but Christ makes righteous
all who come to Him. True freedom then is only in Christ, not obedience to laws
and rituals.
Vs. 16-19
Notice the phrase let no one. This
represents the teaching of these Jewish teachers. Verse 19 is what the
Colossians needed to focus on.
Vs. 20-23 This
self-inflicted suffering seemed religious and good. Paul had real suffering
that came from working in the harvest. Paul's scars came from working alongside
Jesus, not trying to suffer for Jesus. Working in the harvest, we work in the
freedom of Christ. If He wants us to suffer or experience hard times, He'll
provide them, not us.
V. 21 This
verse was used in the prohibition of the early 1900's in the States, quoted out
of context, saying these words were God's opinion about drinking. Ironically,
that misuse of these verses is exactly what Paul and the Spirit were warning
against. If you take away the choice to obey, grow and mature in Christ by
building fences and traditions, you produce rebellion and immaturity. Only by
freely following Christ can we fully mature in Him. That is a good thought as
we make disciples in the harvest who make disciples.
Psalm 78:1-31
Like before, we
will be in Psalm 78 for three days. This will be a good review of some events
we read about at the beginning of the year.
Vs. 1-4 I
mentioned before that Matthew and the Spirit quote v. 1 of this introduction as
the reason why Jesus told parables, thus fulfilling this verse. Go figure. What
that means for us is that in the rest of Psalm 78, there is a parable for us to
understand. What fun! What stands out to you and what do you think the real
point of this recounting of history is?
Vs. 5-8 Look at
what God gave and why. What an honor to receive this information and the personal
words of the Lord. That was grace, but God showed us in Israel that the sin
within us is stronger than the perceived privilege of receiving the words of
rescue and life.
Vs. 9-11 It may
be that Ephraim is mentioned here because of the northern kingdom going into
exile during the time of Hezekiah. Judah represented the godly line which
produced David and eventually the Messiah. Look again at Jeremiah 7:15 in
today's reading.
Vs. 12-16 This
is what God did. Underline He.
Vs. 17-20 This
is what they did. Notice that v. 20
is a part of their words against God.
Vs. 21-31 This
is a retelling of Numbers 11. If you look at Numbers 11:20 you'll see the
miracle of God making quail come out of noses. Why do I find this funny?
In Jeremiah
today we read how God allowed Shiloh to be destroyed, the place where the
tabernacle had been. If we were reading this entire psalm today, we'd read
Psalm 78:60. Kind of interesting, huh?
As I was
highlighting the high points of this reading, what stood out to me were vs. 7,
11, 19 and 21-22. I don't think God wants a lot from us. I don't want to fall
into acting like they did. God wants us to review and remember His grace and
love. That is what helps us through the hard times on earth, in the harvest. We
walk in the daily reminder of the love of Christ as we follow Him in the
harvest.
Proverbs 24:26
This is an
interesting analogy. I think He means a kiss that brings satisfaction, peace
and delight, not some politically motivated or correct little peck.
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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