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OCTOBER 14
Jeremiah
23:21-25:38
Jeremiah 23: 21-40
Vs. 21-32 God isn't finished
with the false prophets. It is interesting to be reading this and then in 2
Thessalonians, to see that there will be lying signs and wonders.
Notice in this section how
often you find declares the Lord.
As you read this, what is God
really upset about? Along with that thought, there are two questions (vs. 23 and
29) that help show the structure of this rebuke to the prophets.
Vs. 21-22 The goal of true
prophecy was that the people should have turned from their ways to the Lord.
V. 25 During these days of
threat, this must have been like a circus of entertainment, seeing false
prophets run into the market place yelling, "I
have dreamed, I have dreamed." These guys only prophesied good news.
V. 29 God's Word does bring
comfort, but in this world at this time, it is more often like this.
Vs. 33-40 Now God is going after those who were ridiculing Jeremiah for
bringing bad news, not realizing that they were really ridiculing God. I guess
they would go up to Jeremiah and say, "What
is the BURDEN of
the Lord?" I'm sure
once this hit the street it was great fun and there were hundreds of
variations. And let's face it, every time Jeremiah opened his mouth there was
some clump of bad news that fell out. But, of course, the problem was that it
was really God speaking. Poor Jeremiah. And it was unfortunate for the people
that God pays such close attention to the words people use. I tell you, on the day of judgment
people will give account for every
careless word they speak (Matt. 12:36).
Jeremiah 24
Vs. 1-3 This chapter is one
vision. When Nebuchadnezzar took these people, he also took Ezekiel. The two
baskets of figs represent the people taken into exile and the people left in
Jerusalem.
Vs. 4-7 The good figs. Although this was judgment
for some people like the guy who beat up Jeremiah and for Jehoiachin, going
into exile was actually a blessing for some people. They would be saved. And
there was more blessing awaiting these people that God had prepared before
Jeremiah had said these words. Daniel, chapters 1-3, had already taken place
before this deportation. Four godly young Jewish men, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego, had already become upper echelon leaders in Nebuchadnezzar's
government; and Daniel was his chief advisor. Neb had already been hit with the
fear of God, literally; and the Jews were a protected people in his empire,
exempt from worshipping anything but Yahweh. God is pretty cool.
V. 7 This still hasn't
happened, but it probably will during the Tribulation and especially in the
Millennium.
Vs. 8-10 The people who were
unfortunate enough to remain with Zedekiah were the bad figs. Now, since Jeremiah and some other godly people were
there, there were some people who would be saved, but very, very few. In v. 8
it mentions those dwelling in the land of
Egypt. Some people had already gone to Egypt for refuge; and still to come,
the survivors of Jerusalem would disobey the Lord and head down to Egypt, only
to have Nebuchadnezzar's army nipping at their heels.
Jeremiah 25
Vs. 1-2 Notice that this is
going back in time. Chapter 24 was after the death of Jehoiakim, and this
chapter is in the 4th year of Jehoiakim (who reigned about 11 years). Four
years after Jehoiakim was made king by Pharaoh Neco, Nebuchadnezzar showed up.
Neb took some of the stuff from the temple to show that his god was bigger than
God, and then took about 1-3000 people, including many of the younger men, to
be trained in his service. Among these people were four teens: Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Dan. 1:6).
I'm thinking that Jeremiah
spoke these words before Nebuchadnezzar showed up, because the 70 years
wouldn't begin until Daniel and the others were taken to Babylon.
Vs. 3-14 Jehoiakim had
reigned only four years, but was already known to be an evil king and a donkey
of a man. Jeremiah was a veteran prophet and God had shown great kindness
through Josiah. Now in these few short years, the people had not remembered
Josiah or listened to Jeremiah. The people had fully embraced the sexuality of
Baal worship and everything else they could get their hands on, to worship.
The reason for the seventy years is stated in 2 Chronicles
36:21, because they had never trusted God enough to give the land its Sabbaths.
In seventy years, Daniel would be
reading these chapters and praying for the return of the people in spite of the
lions roaring in the background. It is because of Daniel 6 that the people get
sent back and that they are saved in the Persian Empire from having to worship
the Persian gods. What Daniel was praying in chapter 6 is actually found in
Daniel 9.
Vs. 15-29 This is the vision
of Jeremiah feeding the nations the wine of God's wrath. There is an "end
times" feel to this. Figuratively speaking, Jeremiah's eyes had "seen
the glory of the coming of the Lord who was tramping out the vintage where the
grapes of wrath were stored." Now God put it in a glass, and Jeremiah was
serving it to the nations.
Vs. 30-33 This is God's wrath
against the nations. There is a certain end-times feel to this as well.
Vs. 34-38 Again, God is
declaring the shepherds (kings,
priests, leaders) responsible and they will be punished.
Remember in all of this
negativity, that God is using Israel to show mankind, us included, how
desperate the sin within us is. Given the opportunity, we would all spit in His
face and irrationally hate Him.
Reading this about the
shepherds reminded me of the song “He Leadeth Me.” I used to sing this all the
time and I still love it. We are all meant to lead others as makers of
disciples - guiding, encouraging, entrusting, and strengthening others to
follow Christ. The real training for this is not a seminar or a seminary, but
that we ourselves are led by Christ and His Spirit, reading His Word and
working in the harvest.
2
Thessalonians 2
Some of the teaching we get
here, thanks to this conflict, we find nowhere else in the Bible. That is very
interesting and profound if you think about it. Poor Paul had to lose some
sleep and have some agitation, but we get a treat. Funny how God keeps working
like that.
Vs. 1-2 This was sort of like
the old joke (for those who believe in the pre-trib rapture) that the rapture
came and you got left behind. But here, no one was laughing. It was being said
that the day of the Lord had already
begun. The Thessalonians were shaken, because apparently what Paul had taught
them hadn't happened to them. They were expecting something that didn't happen.
Apparently too, they had bad preaching going on, possibly false prophecy, and a
false letter from Paul.
As has happened in all
centuries since this was written, people see their circumstances as being the
fulfillment of the day of the Lord. The present Roman persecution was being
explained as being that day.
Vs. 3-12 Paul apparently gave
them some very thorough teaching about the last days. Why do you think he
taught this to new believers, particularly to these new believers? So,
according to Paul, what has to have happened so that they would have known it
was really, really the day of the Lord?
It seems to me that because
of the persecution the Thessalonians were experiencing, Paul needed to give
them hope and to show them God's plan.
V. 3 The rebellion is "apostasy," a departure from the faith. You
can also find this in Matthew 24:10, 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 3:1 and 2 Timothy
4:4. Apparently it will be a world event coming up to the day. Times of stress
will come and people will depart or adopt a "Christianity" that is
nothing like Jesus. If you read Matthew 24:9 you will see that this rebellion
will happen shortly after the Tribulation begins.
Vs. 6-7 The restrainer is removed. Obviously it is not the Holy Spirit
Himself. People will be saved during the Tribulation, though perhaps very few
compared to the 7 billion plus population. My opinion is that the restrainer is
the influence of the Holy Spirit through the church. The church is taken at the
beginning of the day of the Lord. Apparently the Thessalonians had been taught
this and knew "who" or "what" the restrainer was. If you go
back to 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and realize that the wrath to come is the day of
the Lord, all seven years of it, then you see that the church is to be excluded
from that wrath. It is the time of
Jacob's trouble, where Israel, not the church, will be tested and proven. With
the church gone, the physical influence of the Holy Spirit will be removed from
millions of towns, cities, offices, and places of decision. I think Israel will
see this and be struck to the heart with "jealousy" and realize the
truth of Christ. To see the interrelationship of the church and Israel and
belief, read Romans 11, and particularly vs. 30-31, Just
as you were at one time disobedient to
God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have
now been disobedient in order that by the
mercy shown to you they also may
now receive mercy.
V. 8 The revealing of the lawless one (man of sin). The antichrist
will become known in making a peace agreement with Israel, but particularly in
breaking that agreement after three and a half years, standing in the temple
and declaring himself to be god.
Vs. 9-12 These will be
incredible, lying signs and wonders, perhaps visible to the entire world via
CNN.
Vs. 13-17 Based on what Paul
had just said, it was impossible that the day of the Lord had come. They were chosen
to give glory to Christ. They were to be established and comforted by this
teaching and to keep witnessing for Christ, extending love and mercy in the
harvest.
Looking at the teaching Paul
gave these new Christians, they expected to be persecuted, and their hope in
this dying world was Christ's return for them at some point in this harvest.
Paul's/the Spirit's warnings about people falling away, holding a form of
religion, but denying the power of it, wasn't hype. The only way to prove we
are followers is to follow in the harvest, bearing our cross each day, willing
to die for Christ. I wonder if it is possible that we have a brand of
Christianity and church that would not endure if we were really subjected to
helplessness, pain and persecution.
Psalm
84
If you could find that one
place where there is perfect peace and comfort, where you could be accepted and
at rest, wouldn't you want to visit it regularly? It isn't really a place, He's
a person. But really, someday that person will be in a place we can get to Him,
and I'll be happy to be there. For now, we seek Him in secret.
Vs. 1-4 This is the blessing
of those whose desire is for the presence of the Lord.
Vs. 5-7 This is the blessing
of those whose strength is in the Lord.
Vs. 8-12 This is the blessing
of those whose trust and hope are in the Lord
Proverbs 25:15
So what does this say to the disciple in the harvest, bearing fruit
with patience?
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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