Questions and Answers

Week 12 – Book of Jeremiah

 Read: Jeremiah Chapter 12 

Background

In our Scripture today, Jeremiah asks some hard questions and learns some important lessons. These early years as a prophet bring stress and uncertainty. Of course, there are many examples of God’s servants getting weary. Moses finds himself discouraged, and Joshua wants to leave the Promised Land. Elijah wanders from his assigned place, so hopeless he wants to die. There are more whose human nature feels defeat or discouragement. “God doesn’t want us to ignore our feelings… but He does want us to trust Him to change our feelings and start walking in faith.”[1]

Jeremiah, having been faithful to speak God’s messages, now finds himself somewhat confused. In his prayer, he tries to make sense of all the pieces. Jeremiah is learning much about a life of service to God. One lesson Jeremiah learns is that “the life of godly service isn’t easy.”[2] Coming from a priestly family, surely, he understands the devotion and obedience necessary for serving, but his prophet role is different, harder, and brings dangers than the priesthood.

Another lesson Jeremiah discovers is that “the life of service becomes harder, not easier”[3] We will see examples of this in the lesson this week. The trials that seemed difficult are getting harder, more risky. The land is becoming more dangerous, the threat of invasion nearer, the potential for harm grows as peace diminishes. Even his own family and community question him, plot against him. 

“The life of service gets better as we grow more mature.”[4] While this lesson may seem just the opposite, Jeremiah is learning to depend on God as he faces increasing challenges. His faith grows during the chaos. Jeremiah improves his ministry skills. For all of us, our faith grows in the soils of uncertainty, of need, of dependency. “You don’t build character by being a spectator.”[5] Jeremiah discovers spiritual growth in the challenges. Challenges bring changes. Jeremiah’s lessons are lessons for us.

Study 

Our lesson opens with a section some Bibles title “Jeremiah’s Question” and others, “Jeremiah’s Prayer.” Clearly Jeremiah is calling out to God. “When I plead with You” suggests a desire to get a resolution or strive to discover an understanding or come to a resolution. We see Jeremiah in a “theological crisis” as he tries to make sense of how a holy God could allow evil to prosper. “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” God obviously allows this to happen.

Heart-felt words follow in verse 3 as Jeremiah verbalizes that God sees his heart, God tests his faithfulness. The second question Jeremiah asks, just like us, is “how long” will this trial last. In verse 4 Jeremiah sees the drought and recognizes this as one known consequence of sinful hearts. (see Leviticus 26 for the Blessings and Curses) While the evil leaders prosper, the people suffer. We, too, ask ‘why’ and ‘how long’ when struggles challenge us.

As Jeremiah’s questions end, God’s answers begin. In verse 5-6, instead of responding to the wicked, God gives Jeremiah somethings to think about. Telling Jeremiah that if he thinks it is hard now, just wait! Another teaching moment reveals that even Jeremiah’s “brothers” and family are plotting against him. God warns him to be careful. These lessons likely are not what Jeremiah expects, but God teaches him lessons to build him up, increase his character.

In the second part of God’s reply to Jeremiah (vs 7-17), words like ‘forsaken’ and ‘inheritance’ catch our attention, but these striking words stop us where we are, “I have given the beloved of My soul into the hands of her enemies.” This falls in the category of curses for not trusting the One True God. This land of Canaan, the Promised Land, is on loan to the people, is their inheritance. God is saying that He is taking it back. The land is being defiled by the people. Disobedience and false worship tarnish their inheritance. “Hate” in verse 8 represents rejection of the people who have become like enemies or adversaries of God. Persistent rebellion seals their fate.

God looks upon the land given with such hope and promise, but He sees a land that “mourns before Me”. The discipline will come from Babylon. Despite the harsh punishment, God’s hope reaches into the coming doom. Because God does not break His covenants, He will always love His people. In verse 15, we see God’s compassion, and His promise to bring them back to the land. The redemption picture Jeremiah paints includes punishment of their wicked neighbors, return of Judah from exile, compassion on the evil nations, and the restoration of each nation pending their response to God. Remember that God’s plan of redemption is always for all people.

Reflection 

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, they day we celebrate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Children waving palm branches frequent our churches. Smiles fill the pews as we watch the sweet, innocent children. When Jesus enters Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago, we read “He wept over” the city. Knowing that Jerusalem would fall and its people who turn from Him will perish, Jesus mourns this coming loss. (Luke 19:37-44)  In a short 40 years, Romans will conquer Jerusalem and destroy the Temple completely. The rejection of God’s plan brings consequences, but God’s plan for redemption remains for all people.

Today’s lesson speaks of Judah’s land in mourning. In the NLT God says, “I hear its mournful cry.” God hears the grief of the Promised Land waiting for its invasion. God understands grief (see vs 7-8) as He experiences losses too! We all experience various kinds of loss. There is the emotional pain of ingratitude or indifference. Disappointments bring situational changes and often loss. Failed marriages and family or friends struggling with addictions hurt the heart. Job loss and illnesses add stress to our lives. We mourn for the losses, for the endings, for the dreams that die with the relationships.

Wounding circumstances cause our hearts to be sad, and sometimes we question, like Jeremiah, ‘why’ and ‘how long’. Twenty-five centuries later, we still ask the same unanswerable questions. Truthfully, we live in a world that is fractured. Anything can happen! We must be careful not to impose our frustration or anger over circumstances on God. God’s unchanging goodness prevails in all times, as does His love for each of us. I recommend a relatively new song to me by Tasha Layton called “Into the Sea”. It has a chorus that we must claim in times of uncertainty: Though the mountains may be moved into the sea, though the ground beneath might crumble and give way, I can hear my Father singing over me, “It’s gonna be okay, it’s gonna be okay.” Take a listen to it! Trust in God’s forever-goodness.

Application

The commentaries bring up a word that may be new to some of us – theodicy (thee-OD-ud-see). While it may be a new word, the concept is as old as time. Theodicy is a “divine attribute, particularly holiness or justice, in allowing the existence of physical or moral evil.”[6] Like Rabbi Kushner’s book title, we often ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Two weeks ago, we looked at God’s Sovereignty. Ultimately, the simple answer to the question is that God is in charge, and He allows circumstances to occur. The New Testament in Romans (8:28) reminds us that God can use all things for His good. It is really a mystery for my frail mind to even consider how the mind of God works.

·         Sit with that question about ‘why do bad things happening to good people’. What questions/thoughts does it raise?

·         What about “good things that happen to undeserving people”? What thoughts come to your mind?

·         We believe God to be a good and righteous, all-mighty, all-knowing, all-powerful God. When difficult things happen to people we care about, we ask questions like Jeremiah, “Why” and “How Long”. Sometimes we question God’s intentions or His goodness. How do you defend God in situations like these?

Donna Oswalt

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[1] Be Decisive, Warren Wiersbe, p 76

[2] Wiersbe Study Bible, Warren Wiersbe, commentary on Jeremiah

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

[5] Ibid

[6] Dictionary.com

Broken Covenant

Week 11 – Book of Jeremiah

Read: Jeremiah Chapter 11; additional reading Deuteronomy 27, 28

Background

“Covenants are one of the most important themes in the Bible because they act as the skeletons upon which the entire redemptive story is built. They’re like the backbone of the Bible.”[1] Covenants fall into the category of a promise or an agreement or a contract and can be either unconditional or conditional. In the Old Testament, we find the term many, many times, and covenant is used in the New Testament multiple times. A covenant identifies a relationship, whether between God and humankind or person-to-person. The one great truth is that the LORD will never break His covenants. 

A conditional covenant usually is between two equal parties with each party bearing certain responsibilities. Some examples are treaties, business partnerships, contracts, friendship, and marriage to name a few. The covenant or agreement formalizes the relationship. Of course, if the respective parties do not keep the terms of the promises, these covenants can be broken. Business partnerships can be dissolved, financial agreements can be terminated, and divorce breaks the legal, civil marriage contract.

Some covenants bring together two unequal powers, a greater power with a lesser power. We see these types in the Bible in various forms. An example of this type of conditional covenant would be the Sinai Covenant (Exodus 19-24). God gives the law to the Hebrew people after rescuing them from Egyptian captivity, providing them with guidelines for living in what we call the Ten Commandments. This Covenant is between God and Israel, both making promises, and helps define their relationship. God expects obedience, and the people pledge such, but many times the people’s disobedience threatens to destroy this conditional covenant bringing repercussions. In our lesson today, we see repeated examples of how the people break the covenant. 

An unconditional covenant, however, is found between Abraham and God. God promises Abraham a great land, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great. You shall be a blessing. I will bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12) He goes on to make a formal covenant with Abraham giving the land of Canaan to his descendants (Genesis 15). Yahweh makes this promise unconditional. This means that regardless of the people’s response, God considers the covenant binding. 

In covenants, sometimes stipulations are given, such as obedience to the Law. Also a sign of a covenant is sometimes seen. The annual sacrament of Passover for the Jews is a sign to remember that God delivers them out of Egyptian bondage, rescues them, and provides the Law for them. For Abraham’s descendants, circumcision is a sign of the covenant. These signs and symbols are not the covenant rather an outward demonstration of recognizing the covenant.

In our lesson today, we see Jeremiah talking about the “broken covenant” which is the Sinai Covenant. Their repeated disobedience and apostasy revoke their previous agreements. The unconditional covenant God makes with Israel, that they are His people, and He is their God, is not broken. Why? God does not break His covenant promises. God still chooses the Hebrew people as His chosen people and does not break the relationship.

God chooses us, too. We will see in a few weeks where Jeremiah will prophesy about a New Covenant. Jesus Christ is the new, irrevocable, binding, unconditional covenant. He comes for all people. His grace cannot be purchased or earned. The Old Testament covenants lead the Hebrew people and the Gentiles toward a Messiah, toward righteous living. While the Law could never redeem mankind, it simply points out the need for redemption, for a repentant heart.

Study 

As Chapter 11 opens, God tells Jeremiah to say “Hear the words of this covenant”referring to the Sinai Covenant. In Exodus 19:5-6 read, “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” This covenant begins some 500 years before this, with continued and repeated breaking of the agreement, repeated disobedience of the Hebrew people. Written into the covenant, the blessings and the curses continue to be revealed. You can read these in length in Deuteronomy 27 and 28. 

God desires obedience, to recognize and worship Him as the One True God, yet the people assume the standards of their culture worshiping Baal and many other false gods. In verse 6 God tells Jeremiah to proclaim the message in the “cities of Judah” and the “streets of Jerusalem”. God says, “Obey My voice,” but the people continue to follow their evil hearts. This is likely not long after Josiah renews the Covenant with the people and “All the people” pledge their re-commitment.

Reading in 2 Kings 23(NASB) we see, “Then [King Josiah] gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.”

We find the word “conspiracy” in verse 9 revealing the people’s turning from God and refusing to hear God’s word. Both the House of Israel and House of Judah are accused of breaking the covenant. “The conspiring against the king was actually a hidden rebellion against God’s covenant and reforms that Josiah was busy to lead.”[2] Calamity is coming and there will be no escape. Still the people continue to burn incense and cry out to their empty gods. Again, God tells Jeremiah that praying for the people is not beneficial. The people’s empty rituals  and compromised worship guarantees the impending destruction. “The redeemed people were instructed in the covenant at Sinai concerning how they should live. Obedience to this law could not save them. But continual and hard-hearted disregard of it brought the consequent curses of the covenant upon them.”[3]

The Olive Tree represents fruitfulness, a symbol of economic prosperity. A storm is on the horizon that will bring “fire” and result in “broken” branches. Their own wickedness is the catalyst for the storm. In verses 18-20 we discover a plot to take out Jeremiah. This conspiracy against Jeremiah comes from the “rejection of God’s word.” In closing, we find God states His intention of protection, to protect His word and His prophet. “Throughout the book of Jeremiah and the books of the other canonical prophets we are startled by repeated reminders that the faithlessness of Israel and Judah cannot frustrate God’s sovereign grace. He has determined to have a remnant of faithful people among whom he will dwell in glory.”[4] 

Reflection

Warren Wiersbe writes that what and how we worship are essential in determining “the character of life itself.” Reflecting a lifestyle pleasing to God, the the Ten Commandments provide standards of righteous living, offer examples of visible, outward behavior. Ethical living defines integrity and exceeds head knowledge by calling for a heart response. Our inner character writes the story our living tells others.

In chapters 11-20 of Jeremiah, we find what some scholars call the confessions of Jeremiah. These reveal more of Jeremiah’s inner emotions, personal conflict, and spiritual wrestling. In today’s lesson in verse 19a we read Jeremiah’s heart, “But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter.” We also read in that the “men of Anathoth” are seeking to take Jeremiah’s life. Even his own hometown is turning against him with plots to murder him. Jeremiah, despite his anxiety about this, did not stop sharing the message God gives him.

The Holy Scriptures reveal the character and holiness of God, record the history of God's prophecies and their fulfillment, teach the way of repentance and redemption through Christ, establish the guidelines for righteous and holy living, and define hope as God's promise of eternal life. With precepts and promises, prophets and parables, God's story of redemption and restoration enfolds us. Within the pages of this ancient text, we discover God's ultimate plan for humanity. Jesus Christ, His Word in the flesh (John 1:14), proclaims God's truth and love and hope for the world. Reading this holy and living book gives us a taste of eternity and the goodness of God. In reply, our lives tell the Jesus-story we hold most dearly.

Application

·         What are some of the things that interfere with or sabotage our prayers? Some of the problems of Judah are our problems, too! Examples: wrong motives, insecurity, hypocrisy, sinful habits, disobedience…

·         God desires to hear our prayers. Read Psalm 139. Explore God’s profound interest in our thoughts and lives.

Donna Oswalt

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[1] BibleProject.com/blog/covenants -the-backbone-bible/

[2] Wiersbe Study Bible, Warren Wiersbe, Jeremiah 11 commentary

[3] Gospel Transformation Study Bible Notes, Jeremiah 11 commentary

[4] Ibid

One True God

Week 10 – Book of Jeremiah

Read: Jeremiah Chapter 10

Background

What is God’s Sovereignty? We struggle with the sovereignty of God. Having authority over all things goes against our personal desires to make our own decisions, yet we cannot just pretend that Divine Sovereignty does not exist. “The sovereignty of God is the fact that he is the Lord over creation; as sovereign, he exercises his rule. This rule is exercised through God’s authority as king, his control over all things, and his presence with his covenantal people and throughout his creation.”[1] Yahweh’s control comes full of love and compassion, complete with righteousness and divine decisions.

Ray Stedman writes, “Far beyond the greatness of men, a God of wisdom and knowledge and power is at work.” Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God remains unchanging, always faithful and true, full of mystery and majesty. His sovereignty and power span infinity. God’s promise of Perfect Love brings life, real life, right now!

No one likes to talk about God’s judgment preferring to focus only on God’s love and goodness, yet God cannot be compartmentalized into categories. Eugene Peterson writes, “But we have no choice: God is Sovereign. God rules. Not only in our personal affairs but in the cosmos. Not only in our times and places of worship but in office buildings, political affairs, factories, universities, hospitals—yes, even behind the scenes in saloons and rock concerts. It’s a wild and extravagant notion, to be sure. But nothing in our Scriptures is attested to more frequently or emphatically.” In our study of Jeremiah, Judah wrestles with these same issues regarding God’s sovereignty and the messages of judgement.

“Sovereignty, God’s sovereignty, is one of the most difficult things for people of faith to live out in everyday routines,” Peterson continues. The human mind cannot begin to measure the infinity of God. His Sovereignty exceeds time and space, without boundaries, without beginning, without ending. His power is greater than any power, above or below the heavens. The Holy Spirit brings us into God’s presence, anoints us with unspeakable holiness, embraces us with perfect love, covers us with unfailing mercies. 

In His Sovereignty, God reveals His everlasting promise, reveals the Truth, reveals the Messiah, reveals Jesus as The Way. The source of this promise comes from the LORD’s unfailing love, from His desire to unite our spirit with His Spirit. Even when disobedience interferes and distractions ignore the Spirit, God marks the path with mercy and truth. God’s most extravagant gift of love, His Son, brings new hope to old wounds, compassionate arms for old regrets, gentle smiles to the abused, tender hearts toward the outcasts, healing for the spiritually blind. God’s judgment reveals our true heart, our weakness, our shortsightedness, our stubbornness, our desire to walk on the edge. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more. (John 3:19) 

 

Study

We enter the text of Chapter 10, finding the last section of the Temple Sermon of Jeremiah. The Message opens the chapter this way, “Listen to the Message that GOD is sending your way, House of Israel. Listen most carefully.” Verse 2 references Old Testament Scripture in Leviticus and Deuteronomy reminding Judah to no be like other nations. This includes worship of the occult and “celestial bodies”. We then read about the customs of pagan nations that make idols, wooden and worthless, metal but meaningless, limited not lasting. Judah simply follows the cultures of surrounding nations as if to say, “everybody is doing it”. Crafted by artisans, some created of gold and silver, perhaps even decorative and pretty, these idols represent false-identities, false-values, false-security. Today, our idols are just as temporary and powerless and dead.

“There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might.” (vs 6) Jeremiah confirms that God is greater than any idols. “The remedy for idolatry is for us to get caught up in the majesty and grandeur of God, the true God, the living God, the everlasting King.”[2] We see in verse 7 a reference to Psalm 22:28, “The kingdom is the LORD’S”. Then comes another section defining idols as “worthless” and man-made. “But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.” This verse 10 and continuing through 13, the attributes of God as Creator and All-powerful, the Giver of wisdom. Again, the images of idols are described as empty and non-living, perishable. Jeremiah echoes the message that “you are what you worship”.

We again see the consistent message of divine judgement will be an invasion and captivity. God is distressed by their choices. These ‘shepherds’ (vs21) represent the political and spiritual leaders who are responsible for not leading and teaching God’s truths. “A great commotion out of the north” speaks of Babylon with the invasion resulting in desecration of Judah.

The conclusion of this sermon finds Jeremiah’s prayer to God. (vs23-25) Acknowledging Yahweh, there are references to Proverbs 16:1, “The plans of the heart belong to a person, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.” Also, Proverbs 20:24 is reflected, “A man’s steps are ordained by the LORD.” Jeremiah says it this way, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” Jeremiah pleads for mercy. For his weakness, he asks for correction, for justice not anger. Knowing they deserve destruction, Jeremiah pleads with God for a lesser judgement, believing the Gentiles, the pagan nations, deserve punishment for their coming destruction of Judah. We, too, try to bargain with God, give Him our point of view, plead for the ending we think we want.

Reflection

TS Eliot writes, “Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”[3] This quote summarizes much of Judah’s culture centuries before, and we continue to ask these same questions. Searching more, I discover that this quote comes from the 1934 play by Eliot, “The Rock”. This play, written for Forty-five Churches Fund, becomes a fundraiser that will use the proceeds “to build forty-five churches in London’s suburbs.”[4] In the center of the play, a church is being built, within the contexts of “community and tradition” as key ideas. Eliot constructs the play to involve the audience at times, to give a feeling of liturgical ritual. Of course, all the folks have different opinions and ideas, some even believe the building of a church is more important than believing in God.

The world comes at us full force with numerous options for personal entertainment, strong rhetoric within political parties, countless organizations to benefit humanity. Many loud voices seek to motivate, include, and sway our thoughts and commitments. As Eliot asks, “Where is the Life we have lost in living?” While many of these opportunities can generate good, we must seek the paths of the LORD. Another Hebrew name for God, El Roi, the God who sees me, reminds us that God literally sees each person. El Roi meets us at every crossroad pointing the way of mercy and truth.

We live in times that can be compared to Judah and to Eliot’s London, separated by thousands and hundreds of years, respectively. Still, we struggle with the same issues. Often, we practice rituals and traditions simply for the sake of keeping. Anything that takes God's place in our hearts is an idol. We comfort ourselves by saying that these "idols" are nothing like the golden calf of the Old Testament; we are not melting gold, molding a pagan god. ANYTHING that we allow to mean more to us than God is our idol. We surround ourselves with beautiful tokens of success, and we deny we feel empty. Lost in negative rhetoric and consumed by our personal opinions, we pretend to defend righteous living. We boast about the mission trips we take and the foreign children in faraway orphanages we sponsor, as if any part of missional living is our idea. God, forgive us; guard our hearts!

 
Application

- What idols do I worship?

- How do I plan to "guard" my heart from these idols?

- Am I willing to place Jesus Christ at the center of my life?

 Lord, I go along without thought to idols, thinking my gestures of love and service in Your name are enough. When I place time in the Living Word last in the day, when I place my desires ahead of another's needs, when I spend Your offering on tokens that will not bring me joy, when I take credit for the goodness and success that comes my way - I place my idols BEFORE You. Forgive my shallow, selfish ways. Guard my heart from the evil one. Guard me from myself. Amen. 

Donna Oswalt

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[1] “The Sovereignty of God”, thegospelcoalition.org

[2] The Wiersbe Study Bible, Wiersbe, Warren, commentary Jeremiah 10

[3] “The Rock”, Eliot, TS, a play

[4] “Raising ‘The Rock’: The Importance of T.S. Eliot’s Pageant-Play”, Atkins, Hazel, Christianity and Literature, Vol. 62, No. 2 (Winter 20143), pp 261-282

In the Midst of Deceit

Week 9 – Book of Jeremiah

Read: Jeremiah Chapter 9

Background

Many ancient cultures record historical findings of the rituals of mourning. This wailing custom “prevalent in classical Greece… is still practiced in the Middle East.”[1] Routine and expected, professional mourners are arranged for events of distress such as personal loss or death or national crisis. In 2 Chronicles 35:25 Jeremiah chants a lamentation or funeral song at the death of King Josiah. Blackaby defines lamenting as, “Loud weeping which is a sign of honor for the one who has died.”

In Chapter 9 of Jeremiah, two images given is “mourning women” and “wailing women”. The outward expressions of the dramatic mourning rituals include wearing mourning garments (sackcloth), tearing one’s clothing, fasting, prostate position on the ground, putting ashes on the head, and sitting in the dust. No jewelry or perfume is worn. Laments or chants of grief accompany this time, which lasts from 7 days to 30 days. 

Scripture contrasts these mourning clothes with garments of salvation, such as the imagery of robes of righteousness. Likewise, Jeremiah’s description of the mourning women outlines deep distress and inconsolable grief in comparison to the description of Yahweh who is lovingkindness and justice and righteousness. “These practices show that the Israelites had practices at most levels of culture that were virtually identical to the people around them… Yahweh’s revelation to them in general did not change their culture; it changed their theology – particularly regarding how they thought about God.”[2]

Life is fragile! The book of Lamentations is “a ritual text of mourning over the fall of Jerusalem”[3] in 586 BC. These demonstrative, woeful wailings have become more ritual than heart felt. “The most singular custom of wailing every week, at the wall of the Temple in Jerusalem, has been kept up for ages, by those Jews who still look for the Christ and hope for the deliverance of Zion.”[4] With the resurrection of Christ, our coming death changes our tears and mourning turn to tears of joy and dancing through His grace. This is the Hope of Christianity. 

Study

This week’s lesson opens with Jeremiah weeping (vs 1-6). The third part of the Temple Sermon describes Judah’s false confidence. Society’s wounds come from the misuse of words, “sins of the tongue” and carelessness toward others. Lies and deceptions crowd their talk creating mistrust and harm. “Here is a picture of a society that has lost its ability to function coherently and communally, for where there is no trust there is no longer a community.”[5] These sins reveal the heart, the recurring theme of the unrepentant heart. They find themselves “in the midst of deceit.” (v6)

In the next set of verses (7-16), the message of no escape from judgement repeats itself. God weeps for the people turn from Him. The lament or death song wails with hopelessness, as God paints images of Jerusalem in “a heap of ruins”. (v 8) The people act “according to the dictates of their own hearts” and idol worship. (vs 14)

In verse 15 we see the images of “wormwood” and “water of gall” representing both bitterness of the heart of disobedience and bitterness of loss. This wormwood is “a small shrub in the aster family with multiple branches and hairy leaves bearing masses of small yellow flowers.”[6] Bitter in taste and poisonous, “Scripture uses this shrub as a metaphor for the experience of suffering and bitter sorrow, and even cruelty (Lam 3:15, 19; Jer 23:15)”[7] 

The “wailing women” appear next in the series of prophetic imagery. “For death has come through our windows.” (v21) Death does not choose some but all, ordinary or official, young and old, men and women. There is no escape. The “favored people” have become comfortable depending on what they believe will protect them – God’s Covenant with them, the possession of the Ark, the Temple, the Book of the Law. The truth does not consist of false confidence in rituals and worship habits. “God promises covenant blessings to those who obey Him, not to those who only submit to religious ceremonies.”[8]

The chapter ends reminding of what is worthy, of the glories of God. God delights in the one who “understands and knows Me”. God’s attributes are “exercising lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth.” (v 24) God delights, also, in the ones who “practice kindness and justice and righteousness because they know and fear the Lord.”[9] All the nations listed in verse 26 will be punished, and the recurring reason is an unrepentant heart. 

Reflection

The unrepentant heart continues to be the big problem with Judah. An intimate relationship is what God desires, and He delights in finding us people of kindness and fairness and goodwill. The examples on today’s lesson hit close to home, despite the over 2,500 years of history. Our words harm, with slander or in carelessness. We, too, find security in the rituals of our faith practices, the comfort of the familiar, the fellowship of those we have grown to know and care about. God is not saying He hates the practices or habits that help us worship, rather, God knows that these are only outward expressions. The real relationship happens inside at the heart-level. 

We find verse 24 quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:31b, “Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD.” Paul again quotes this verse in 2 Corinthians 10:17, adding in verse 18, “For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.” Paul also writes in Romans 2:29, “But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart; and his praise is not from men but from God.” Unfortunately, we like the world’s applause for a job well done!

Our truest blessings come in knowing God, knowing His character, knowing His promises. Scripture teaches this intimate relationship is what we are to celebrate – to celebrate God’s goodness and grace. As Christians, we can only do this if we have open and willing hearts, both repentant and redeemed through Christ. Our life always exposes the heart.

Application

We can easily boast about our service or church ministries or mission activities. Like Judah, culture often figures into how we identify our beliefs, what we decide is acceptable, and who we believe God is. Our actions are influenced by society, and culture can alter our theology.

·         Where do our ministry successes come from? Our own efforts? God’s design?

·         Do we give God the credit for the successful ministries of our churches?

·         Is our confidence (or faith) in the outcome of a circumstance or in God alone?

·         What is God teaching me about serving with at pure heart? How does culture affect my beliefs about God?

Donna Oswalt

 

**Please leave some comments regarding the way God is leading you in the study of Jeremiah.

 

 

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[1] NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, commentary on Jeremiah 9:17

[2] Ibid, “Mourning”

[3] Archaeological Study Bible, Sackcloth and Ashes: Rituals of Lamentation

[4] Smith’s Bible Dictionary, Mourning

[5] Walking the Ancient Paths, Kaiser, Walter C., pg 147

[6] Walking the Ancient Paths, Kaiser, Walter C., pg 150

[7] Ibid

[8] Be Decisive, Wiersbe, Warren, pg 150

[9] The Wiersbe Study Bible, commentary on Jeremiah 9:24

In Mourning

Week 8 – Book of Jeremiah

Read: Jeremiah Chapter 8

Background

Let’s look at some historical background on Huldah, the female prophet, from last week. She serves during the reign of King Josiah, and some scholars believe Huldah had been influential in Josiah’s childhood. Huldah’s husband, Shallum, serves in the royal court as “keeper of the royal wardrobe”, and they live in the Second Quarter in Jerusalem.

During the spiritual reformation of Josiah, a hidden scroll is found, and Josiah sends Hilkiah, the high priest, along with Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah to Huldah, the prophetess, to seek her thoughts. [Read the complete account in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-33.] Validating God’s anger and impending wrath, she says Josiah will not witness the coming destruction. One commentary calls this Huldah’s “word of grace” to Josiah. Huldah’s prophecy, like Jeremiah, does come true, but not for another thirteen years, after the spiritual revival attributed to Josiah and his leadership.

Some scholars suggest that Huldah and Jeremiah are related, both descendants of Rahab by marriage to Joshua. In the Old Testament, seeking a woman’s opinion is rare. Grouped with greatly respected women of the OT, Huldah, the prophetess, finds company with Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, and Esther. Miriam (Exodus 15:20) and Deborah (Judges 4:4) are the other female prophets of the OT. Her reply to Josiah about the finding of the Book of the Law plays a part in the spiritual reformation of Judah.

Study

Future mages of graves desecrated by the coming Babylonian army opens Chapter 8. In verses 5-6, the people’s behavior is identified as “perpetual backsliding” and deceitful and showing no repentance from “wickedness”. Nothing new here as the same story continues. Continued apostasy is the theme of the second section of Jeremiah’s Temple Sermon and addresses ongoing behaviors and unrepentant hearts. 

Nature seems to understand the flow of life, the rhythm of the seasons. Unlike nature, humanity pens false narratives, rewords facts, and unashamedly speaks of peace when there is no peace. The hearts of the people, to include all “from the least to the greatest”, reveal self-focused and compromising lifestyles. Simply, just tell the people what they want to hear. God does not operate this way.

The repeated warnings and consequences of unrepentance continue. Verse 16 mentions Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel which fell with the Northern Kingdom, as the northern route which Nebuchadnezzar will take to invade Judah. Dan is also a know place of pagan worship. Jeremiah mourns for the people, for Jerusalem (v 18-22). His heart weeps for the coming judgement, “My sorrow is beyond healing, my heart is faint within me.” Jeremiah is broken hearted for the cities to be destroyed, the people to be killed or taken into captivity.

The last verse, familiar to many, reflects on what could possibly bring healing. The rhetorical question asks, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” Gilead is a “mountainous region east of the Jordan River… known for its aromatic spices and healing balms.”[1] Jeremiah knows the message, knows what is coming, knows the brokenness that these self-inflicted wounds will bring, and he so hopes for a healing balm. Centuries later, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and its coming destruction. (Matthew 23:37-24:2)

Reflection

Warren Wiersbe writes in The Wiersbe Study Bible, “Although the Bible is still a bestseller, its popularity isn’t keeping Western society from crumbling morally and spiritually. There seems to be no connection between what people say they believe, and the way people act.” The “State of the Bible Survey” in 2020 by the American Bible Society reveals barely 30% of American adults use the Bible outside of church, with only 9% reading the Bible daily. The Bible is still the world’s best-selling book with estimations of over 6 billion copies sold. In 2016, the Gideon’s distribute nearly 60 million Bibles worldwide. Various surveys indicate the average American owns multiple Bibles. Today we seem to have infinite access to the Holy Scriptures, to include online and Bible apps; yet we, who have so much opportunity, are the very ones who seldom study the Bible.

Henry David Thoreau writes, “The more we know about the ancients, the more we find that they are like the moderns.” Frequently I hear folks say that America is more and more like the Romans of ancient times. The adage that ‘history repeats itself’ plays out in many ways, century after century, decade after decade. Oh, each one does it better or with more sophistication or at least more technology. I believe the greatest truth may lie within humanity itself, simple and sinful humanity. We need moral and spiritual guidance, and for the Christian, we find that in Christ.

As I think about Jeremiah and his weeping for the people, I wonder who weeps for us? We live in a frail and fragmented time, not much different from Judah. We struggle with success and societal pressures, with the need to be more and sometimes to have more, with pushing the boundaries and self-focused lifestyles. Lately, it seems there is so much anger and hurt and dissent about everything. I am reminded of a song by Matthew West, a contemporary Christian artist, and these words from one of his songs, “Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours, give me open hands and open doors. Put Your light in my eyes, and let me see that my own little world is not about me.” Lord, I pray that I will weep for us, and together we will weep for each other. Surely, God must weep over us. 

Application 

In Jeremiah Chapter 8, verse 18-19, Jeremiah is pleading for the people, for Judah. We go on to read about his asking, “Is there no balm in Gilead”? The African American spiritual “There is a Balm in Gilead” speaks the truest answer. It tells of the New Testament offer of Grace through Jesus Christ. The chorus goes, “There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.”

 

·         Do you find wounds within your life that need a soothing balm, a healing         balm?

·         Where do you go for spiritual healing?

·         Do you know Jesus Christ, the healing balm of grace?

 

Donna Oswalt

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[1] Blackaby Study Bible

Stand at the Gate

Week 7 – Book of Jeremiah

Read: Jeremiah Chapter 7; Additional reading: 2Kings22-23

Background

Josiah becomes Judah’s sixteenth king at eight years old and reigns for thirty-one years. His father, Amon, and grandfather, Manasseh, only offer examples of evil and wicked leadership, but Josiah is more like his great-grandfather, Hezekiah. Josiah knows God and develops a personal relationship with Him. Like Hezekiah, he is a “passionate reformer” in leading the people of Judah to return to God. Faithful and obedient to God, Josiah becomes a leader during a dark time of apostasy, yet he stands against the loudest cultural voices.

Josiah’s reign brings a breath of fresh air to Judah after decades of pagan worship and spiritual backsliding of the Southern Kingdom. During his eighteenth year as king, Josiah works with Hilkiah, the high priest and Jeremiah’s father, to begin restoring the Temple. “In 622 BC, the Book of the Law, apparently including at least a portion of the Book of Deuteronomy, is discovered.”[1] Josiah asks Hilkiah and Shaphan, the court secretary, to go to the Temple and seek the Lord’s way for them.

Here we meet Huldah, a female prophet (like Miriam and Deborah). She confirms God’s anger and reiterates the coming destruction because the people worship pagan gods and have turned from Yahweh. Huldah gives the king this message, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard:  You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord.  So, I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’” (2 Kings 22:18-20 NLT)

Josiah goes to the Temple having gathered all the leaders of Judah and the priests and prophets, and “all the people from the least to the greatest”. (2 Kings 23:2) He reads the “entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD’s Temple” and renews the vows to the LORD. (2 Kings 23:3) Josiah promises to obey God’s ways with “all his heart and soul.” Both Josiah and all the people reconfirm their covenant before the LORD.

The Temple is restored as a place for worshiping the One true God while the idols and pagan gods are removed and burned. All the symbols and shrines of Baal worship are also taken down and burned. The altar of Topheth in the valley of Ben-Hinnom is desecrated, never to be used again for rituals of child sacrifice. Josiah recognizes that renewing a promise must include a response, an action. Words of obedience are only as powerful as the deeds that follow. 

Josiah reinstates the celebration of Passover, the yearly remembrance for Israel’s rescue from slavery in Egypt, (Exodus 12) which apparently has not been observed for many years. Remembered as Judah’s most obedient king, Josiah’s name means “the LORD Heals”. Scripture remembers him as, “Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.” (2 Kings 23:25)

Yahweh’s anger lingers against Manasseh for his most wicked ways, the most evil king of Judah. Josiah’s spiritual reformation of Judah could not eliminate God’s judgement. In 609 BC, Josiah makes a fatal military error, and subsequently with his army defeated, he dies of battle wounds from Egypt’s army at Megiddo. Carried back to Jerusalem, Josiah is buried in the royal cemetery. Jeremiah composes a lament or song of sorrow to honor him. This marks Judah’s last glory-moment. For the next four years, Judah’s defeat gives Egypt (609-605BC) great political influence over Judah and her kings. This begins the final phase of the judgement of Judah. 

** Josiah’s story: 2 Kings 21:24-23:30 and 2 Chronicles 33:25-35:27

Study

This week we enter a section of Jeremiah that scholars call the “Temple Sermon” which includes Chapters 7-10. We will explore parts of this sermon by chapter. Some believe this occurs after Josiah’s reformation, and other commentaries suggest this may be the period after Josiah’s death, during the reign of Jehoiakim, Egypt’s puppet king. Certainly, Jeremiah speaks to the people’s spiritual apathy and habits of hypocrisy. Some Biblical scholars believe the Temple Sermon coincides with one of Israel’s three major religious pilgrimages to the Temple, considering the crowds.

Jeremiah is to “stand at the gate of the LORD’s house” and proclaim God’s message. From the first verse, we can see God wants the people coming to the Temple to hear His words. The message is to make your life and your deeds pleasing to God. The Hebrew people have a false belief that the Temple is safe from any harm and cannot be destroyed. In verse 4, the superstitious swearing “the Temple of the LORD” is false security.

Examples in verses 5-6 of truly living a better life describe practicing justice and helping neighbors, being fair with each other. In verses 7-8 the stealing and murdering and lying along with adultery and idol worship, identify their hearts and behaviors. Their real lifestyles defy God. Verse 11 uses a phrase Jesus quotes in Matthew 21:13 when He cleanses the Temple - “a den of thieves”. Here in Jeremiah, God calls out the people’s behavior, saying they are making the Temple unholy by falsely using worship ceremonies to cover up their sinful living.

Shiloh is mentioned as an example of God’s judgement. Located about 18 miles north of Jerusalem, this place is the first permanent home for the Tabernacle (Joshua 18:1) after the Israelites enter Canaan. The constant sinfulness of God’s people becomes the reason God allows the Philistines to destroy Shiloh around 1050 BC. The Ark of the Covenant is stolen. (you can read more about that in 1 Samuel 4). So, God is reminding them that this Temple, this Sanctuary is not secure without their faithfulness to Him.

Jeremiah is told not to pray for these people. Do not intervene on their behalf, do not cry out to Me about them, do not intercede for them. God’s plan to move forward is clear that He will not relent. Whole families are described as working together to make offerings for other gods, including the “queen of heaven” which is a female Canaanite goddess that promoted immorality. God can no longer find those who choose obedience to Him, rather their disobedience, their stubborn, “evil hearts” choose their consequences. In verse 31, Topheth is a “high place” in the valley of Hinnom which gets its name from “the clamor of drums that drowned the cries for the babies flung into the fires”.[2]

The days of judgement are coming. There will be no joy. There will be grief and death. Each section of the Temple Sermon brings an indictment against the people of Judah. The first indictment is False Worship.

 

Reflection

God tells Jeremiah to “stand at the gate of the LORD’s house” and proclaim God’s message. That is like you or me to going to church and proclaiming God’s message of salvation. Excluding these unprecedented Covid months, I think about how often I go through the doors of the church to participate in worship, sing the hymns, study the Bible, fellowship with other Believers. I consider my offerings, my time, my service, both inside the church and outside the walls. Frequently my attendance is because someone organizes an event or provides an opportunity. Other times, a commitment to a group or committee defines the occasion for my participation. As I add up those hours each week, I am pleased with my choices and even count those times I show up but would rather choose something else. Perhaps we all evaluate and give ourselves a pat on the back for “doing” more than just “saying” we believe in Jesus. The stark and defining truth is that God always sees the intention of the heart, knows the motives I bring to the tasks.

Not unlike the people of Judah, there are times we all go through the motions, our minds preoccupied with unnecessary anxieties, decisions weighing us down, a financial or health crisis that demands attention. There are times we simply fall into the world’s traps of materialism, the political arena, or societal expectations. We dilute our time with whatever catches our interests, anything from social media to social dilemma. While there is nothing wrong with examining these myriad viewpoints, nothing wrong with opinions, for Believers the hardest part is merging our individual conclusions with our personal faith. As I stand in the doorway, what is my faith-message?

While the Temple in Jerusalem represents God’s Presence to the Hebrew people, Christianity defines our bodies, each of us, as a Temple of the Holy Spirit. God lives in us. 2 Corinthians 3:3 reminds us that we “are a living letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” I do wonder what my letter says to those with whom I worship and fellowship, serve and study, but what does it say to those I stand beside in the check-out line at the grocery store or interact with at the post office, to those I greet along the road or honor for brave service, to those who need more but have less, to those who walk a different way than I choose? Does my living letter look like Christ, sound like Christ? Am I Christ to those I meet along my journey? We are called to live a faith-full life, trusting God while living out this faith with truth and not hypocrisy. This is the message of God through Jeremiah, and the goal of our heart-letters.

 

Application

We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way. Francis of Assisi

Francis of Assisi, an Italian friar who lived 1181-1226 AD, gives voice to the 21^st Century’s needs. The lesson today speaks to those who have lost their way, to those who lived more than a millennium before Francis of Assisi and more than eight centuries after. How can it be that more than 800 years after his words, we still find ourselves in the same place?

The season of Lent began yesterday, Wednesday, February 17, with Ash Wednesday, a season for reflection and spiritual renewal. Take this week and begin to reflect, to examine what your living letter says to those around you, to those you influence. Look for hypocrisy and inconsistences. Seek God’s Presence and find restoration.

Donna Oswalt

 

 

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[1] Chronological Study Bible, p.693

[2] Jeremiah: Priest and Prophet, Meyer, FB