Jeremiah 8:4-11:23
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Jeremiah chapter 9 verses 23 & 24 definitely stood out to me today: “This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Think God is serious when he follows something he says with “I, the LORD, have spoken!”? Do we ever gloat in our wisdom? Gloat in our might? Gloat in our riches? Instead, have you ever boasted that you truly know God and understand that God is just and righteous? Do you believe that God’s love is unfailing?
I am enjoying watching for the interplay between when God is speaking and when Jeremiah is speaking in our readings. Basically you typically just have to watch for quotation marks at the beginning of a paragraph to see that God is speaking. If there are not quotation marks, it is likely Jeremiah speaking. At the end of chapter 8 and in the beginning of chapter 9 we read these words of Jeremiah’s as he weeps for Jerusalem – and we hear from the people and God briefly too. It is a poetic interplay of dialogue between all three in chapter 8 verse 18 through chapter 9 verse 2 – starting with words from Jeremiah: “My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. “Has the LORD abandoned Jerusalem?” the people ask. “Is her King no longer there?” “Oh, why have they angered me with their carved idols and worthless gods?” asks the LORD. “The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,” the people cry, “yet we are not saved!” I weep for the hurt of my people. I am stunned and silent, mute with grief. Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people? Oh, that my eyes were a fountain of tears; I would weep forever! I would sob day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered. Oh, that I could go away and forget them and live in a shack in the desert, for they are all adulterous and treacherous.”
Jeremiah chapter 10 today is a powerful look at “idols.” Back in Jeremiah’s days we’re talking about little chiseled “gods” made out of wood & stone. But today? What are our idols? Perhaps our money, our jobs, our status, our relationships, our technology :), our lust – or perhaps even ourselves? Jeremiah 10:10 reminds us: “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.” All of our idols are not True, though we often hope they will be. Our idols will deliver us nothing. God and His Son will deliver life to the fullest!
Jeremiah’s Prayer is 10:23-24 is such a beautiful prayer :
“I know, O Lord , that a man’s life is not his own;
it is not for man to direct his steps.
Correct me, Lord , but only with justice-
not in your anger,
lest you reduce me to nothing.”
I like that Jeremiah says in this prayer, “Correct me, Lord”. He knows there is correction to be made in his life – even a prophet of God knew his need of correction! This is a nice example of humility to say the least. How often do you pray to God “correct me”? Why might this be a good prayer? Do you need God to correct you? Will you allow God to direct your steps?
Today at the end of Jeremiah chapter 11 we read about the plot to take Jeremiah’s life. Every time I read the prophets, I am reminded of how hard it was to be a prophet. Talk about a thankless, high-risk job… Fortunately Jeremiah is on God’s side. The only side to be on. In verses 21 through 23 Jeremiah says: “The men of Anathoth wanted me dead. They said they would kill me if I did not stop speaking in the LORD’s name. So this is what the LORD Almighty says about them: “I will punish them! Their young men will die in battle, and their little boys and girls will starve. Not one of these plotters from Anathoth will survive, for I will bring disaster upon them when their time of punishment comes.”
Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Rachael Lampa’s song “Perfectly Loved:”
Are you perfectly loved? Click here for perfect love!
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
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