OCTOBER 9
Jeremiah 12-14:10
Jeremiah 12
Vs. 1-4
Jeremiah is upset that as times got bad, the wicked and those who are plotting
against him could hold off the effects of God's chastening longer because of
their resources.
Vs. 5-6 God is
challenging Jeremiah. He has not yet really seen what God's judgment will look
like and how vile the people will be in their response to his preaching. God is
telling Jeremiah that this is a picnic compared to how it will be. I think too,
of how easily I can be shaken by mail, phone calls, bad news, and frustrations.
It gives you a reminder of how deeply within us sin affects us and how
self-focused and fragile it makes us. God trains us to handle pressure and live
by spiritual reality and focus on trusting Him by exposing us to pressure, and
at the same time, leaving us with no place to go but Him.
Vs. 7-13 You
notice that the words heritage and portion are prominent in this
pronouncement of God's judgment on Judah and Jerusalem.
Vs. 14-17 This
is a pronouncement of judgment on the neighbors, then a promise of compassion
on Judah and compassion on the nations who listen to what the Lord is doing.
This might be looking to the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the
Millennial Kingdom. This is like a summary of what God had always intended with
Israel. The nations would see God's blessing on Israel because of their special
relationship to God, and the people would come to Israel and be saved. That is
the blessing promised to Abraham. Now and in the future, this is how nations
will come under God's judgment or blessing.
Jeremiah 13
Vs. 1-7 First,
what was this? Apparently it was like a belt, worn around the waist. The priest
wore a sash or belt like this. John the Baptist wore one made out of leather.
In order for this to have made any point to the people, it would have been
recognizable and understandable to them. Apparently when Jeremiah wore it, it
was either very attractive or it made him look like he was working as a priest.
V. 4 There are
two possibilities with the Euphrates. There is a town/location about 3 miles
from Jeremiah's hometown of Anathoth that is spelled exactly the same way. If
it is the Euphrates River, that would have been a 700-mile round trip. If it is
the near location, then this "parable" would have been more visible
to the people and would have applied to the usefulness of the people to God.
The name would have been a "suggestion" of exile, since it sounded
like the Euphrates. If it really is the Euphrates, then this is also a very
strong warning about the future exile, since the exiles would have been led
north to the Euphrates and then south down the Tigris to Babylon.
Vs. 8-11 The
point here is the linen loincloth.
Just as the belt looked good and brought glory to the wearer, also signifying
the purpose of the priest, Judah and Jerusalem's usefulness was in giving glory
to God. When they stopped doing that and fell into idolatry and disobedience,
they were rotted and were rendered useless.
Vs. 12-14 The
people liked wine, but these are the grapes of wrath. The anguish of this
judgment would be so emotionally devastating that it would be like them being
drunk, confused, off balance, and unable to regain their composure. Imagine
being drunk forever. This is another example of how people shouldn't count on
making a last minute cry to God. The logic is living like they want and getting
all the gusto right up until the end and then making that prayer and going to
heaven. When God brings this distress on Israel, they will be so emotionally
off balance and so overwhelmed that they might not be thinking straight. God is
not mocked.
Vs. 15-17 This
is God's warning of judgment, and Jeremiah is warning the people that if they
don't listen, he's going to cry again.
Vs. 18-19 This
looks like it is the humbling of King Jehoiachin and his mother who actually
surrendered the city to Nebuchadnezzar, keeping it from being totally
destroyed. This humility marked the second deportation of exiles and was a sign
of mercy. The people who remained in Jerusalem didn't heed this mercy.
Vs. 20-27 The
new king and the people didn't change, so the next time Nebuchadnezzar came to
Jerusalem it was for total destruction.
V. 22 Some of
this imagery is very strong. The harlot is being raped, receiving the
punishment fitting of her sin.
V. 23 This
generation of people was incurable in their idolatry and perversion of what
they thought about God and spirituality. But just for perspective, there were
individuals who were being saved and who truly loved God. Jeremiah was one of
them and we'll meet more.
V. 27 This
imagery is just that, imagery. God will cleanse His people.
Jeremiah
14:1-10
Vs. 1-6 Drought
was one of the punishments God would bring against the people if they left Him,
and is mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Vs. 7-9 This is
Jeremiah pleading for the people, that God should do something. He did. God
removed the people from Israel, preserved them through their hardship and
cleansed them in the Babylonian captivity.
V. 10 Here is
God's answer to Jeremiah. The people wouldn't change, so God had to punish
them.
When Jeremiah
was just getting started, King Josiah found a copy of the Bible. When they read
the books of Moses to Josiah, especially Deuteronomy and probably all five
books, Josiah was moved to tears and grief because he understood the judgment
coming against his people. When we read all of this, as disciples, we need to
understand that what is going to happen to the people who don't know Christ -
on this planet, in our town, in our neighborhood, and in our family - will make
Jeremiah look like a party. Jesus said it best when He talked about what the
lost would be facing for eternity, where
their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. That is eternal
punishment. It doesn't mean we need to get obnoxious in the harvest, but it
does mean that we need to work and pray constantly. It was Jesus who saved us
from the wrath of God. He is the only one who can save them.
1 Thessalonians 1-2:9
After Paul
established the church in Philippi, he went on to Thessalonica, a major city of
about 200,000. We've read this in Acts 17:1-9. We know Paul was there at least
three weeks, and perhaps from 3-6 months. Paul thanked the Philippians for two
gifts of money they sent to him as he worked, starting and establishing the
church in Thessalonica. From the two letters we have to this church, we can see
that Paul did some very in-depth teaching to establish them. There was a lot of
persecution to Paul and the church there, and eventually Paul was driven out
and had to flee to Berea. When Paul settled down in Corinth, he wrote these
letters to encourage the people in their faith, to strengthen them in the
persecution, to correct their misunderstandings about what he had taught them
and to counter false teaching by some of the Jews, who, as usual, tried to discredit
Paul.
1 Thessalonians
1
Vs. 1-3 Notice
that their faith became immediately visible. They were immediately met with
opposition.
Vs. 4-5 Notice our gospel. This is to say that in spite
of what others said about Paul, the power of the gospel was visible to them and
bore fruit. Paul was simply a servant.
Vs. 6-10
Children become imitators of their parents. This is why Jesus' words to His
disciples are so important, a disciple is
not above his teacher. We need to be disciples of our Lord so that as we
make disciples and they imitate us, they naturally grow to imitate Christ. The
word about what God did among the Thessalonians and their faith in Christ
became news.
V. 9 It is
interesting that we're reading about idols in Jeremiah and these people were
saved from idols.
V. 10 Notice
how this chapter ends. Paul had taught them to wait on the Lord and to wait
with expectation. This verse is important in that the implication of this verse
is that those who know Christ will not enter into the Tribulation, that is, the
wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians
2:1-9
Vs. 1-4 As you
read this, understand that Paul had been/was being slandered and was said to
have taken advantage of the Thessalonians. Just like in 1 & 2 Corinthians,
Paul is having to defend himself here. But notice the gentleness in his tone.
This wasn't a job for Paul. He poured out his heart to God and to them. Paul
and his co-workers even sacrificed, providing for themselves, so that they
could work there among them.
V. 5 They
didn't come to flatter or make a name for themselves.
V. 6 They
didn't come there to take advantage of their position as workers of Christ.
Vs. 7-8 They
had come with a sense of love and vulnerability.
Vs. 9-10 As
mentioned, they received financial gifts from the church at Philippi and when
they didn't have money, they worked. This was to keep their critics at bay and
God enabled them to get by, trusting Him.
Disciples in
the harvest are natural born fools - pouring out their hearts, living by faith
in love with Jesus Christ, allowing "life" to pass them by in order
to reach out to those who don't even know they're lost. They spend their lives
working to make disciples who will do the same and follow Christ and pour out
their lives to make disciples. Paul poured out his heart, first to Jesus, and
then in the love of Christ for others. He was a fool for the sake of Christ. He
is a good person to imitate.
Psalm 79
It's kind of interesting to be reading Jeremiah as we're
reading this psalm. What Asaph is protesting is exactly what God says will come
upon the people. This psalm suggests that this son of Asaph was living in
Babylon or was one of those who had returned with Zerubbabel and was burdened
by the difficulties Israel was having trying to establish itself as a people
and nation.
Vs. 1-4 God's entire inheritance had been destroyed, both
people and city.
Vs. 5-7 God's jealousy was because of Israel worshipping other
gods. Now God is being called on to be jealous for His ruined servant Israel.
Vs. 8-10 In appealing to God's mercy it was understood that
what really had been damaged was the name of God among the nations. He hadn't deserved Israel's disobedience. In
fact, it says that the nations blasphemed the name of God because of Israel. Daniel
prayed that God would restore the city and the people for His name's sake. At
the heart of this prayer was a true love and appreciation for God. Read Daniel
9. For me this is the greatest prayer in the Bible outside of John 17 where
Jesus prayed for the disciples. In both of those prayers, by Daniel and by
Jesus, the name of God looms big and should be honored.
Vs. 11-13 This is a kind of repentance. They have not only
suffered, but Asaph says they are like sheep, helpless and needing a shepherd.
God did punish the nations for going beyond the allowance He
gave them to punish Judah and Jerusalem. In many cases their violence against
the Jews became butchery and was filled with rage against God. Jeremiah will
prophesy about that. At the end of the Tribulation, this psalm will be
fulfilled.
Proverbs
24:30-34
So, what is the
point in all of this, especially if you don't own a vineyard or take naps in
the afternoon?
It seems to me
that it is saying that a little neglect leads to ruin. So, you can be a
Christian workaholic and even be successful in "ministry," but
neglect your marriage, your kids, your health and boom! Before you know it,
there are weeds all over the place; the wall is down; bad things are getting
into the vineyard and it is ruined.
Along with the
armor in Ephesians 6 is the command to stay alert with all perseverance. We
still have this silly idea that walking though this life is easy and that God
is a nice help when we need Him. This world is incredibly dangerous. Our
bodies/spirits in this world are irreparably damaged, and the spiritual life is
not a difficult life…it is an impossible one. We need the Word every day and
the Spirit every minute.
Notice that v.
33 is a backward progression. Sleep
is mentioned first and folding of the
hands is mentioned last. The idea is that letting down a little can lead to
spiritual unconsciousness. We say that reading the Bible is important, but live
as if it is not really, really important. We need to keep our vision clear and
our hearts fed every day, and the Bible is God's method of choice. We need our
meds every day.
A Christian
singer, who my children and I used to listen to, "came out" in April
2010, making public that she is a lesbian. Now she's trying to bend the Bible
to match her "lifestyle." Ironically, her life is now a ruined
vineyard testifying to the truth of these verses. It probably began with small
areas of neglect. I don't believe she ever saw it coming.
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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