Be a good neighbor: Jeremiah 49

Scripture: 10-11 “But I have stripped Esau bare, I have uncovered his hiding places so that he will not be able to conceal himself;His offspring has been destroyed along with his relatives and his neighbors, and he is no more. Leave your orphans behind, I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in Me.”

Observation: Jeremiah continues his litany of judgments against Israel’s neighbors and historic enemies. Beginning with Ammon, the tribe of Lot’s second incestuous son, he continues with Edom (the tribe coming from Esau’s line), Damascus (the capital of Assyria, which took northern Israel into exile), and three other irritant nations (Kedar, Hazor, and Elam).

All of these neighboring nations find themselves under the judgment of God having chosen a path of arrogance and destruction. Their bad neighbor policies have brought them to this point. To Israel, God issues the promise, “Israel will take possession of his possessors,” Verse 2.

Like Moab, in chapter 48, God promises restoration to Elam (verse 39). Why God has pronounced this special favor on these two nations is not clear. Perhaps the people from these two nations eventually come to grips with their sin and their need for God.

Application: Jesus responded to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” with a parable that demonstrated the righteousness of those Israel considered outcasts and bad neighbors – a Samaritan. Just as God would show favor on Israel’s neighbors, Moab and Elam, God will show favor on those who know what it means to be a good neighbor.

Jeremiah points out what we see in so many other passages of Scripture, that God’s heart inclines itself to the outcasts of this world, the widows and orphans (verses 10-11). So, what does it mean to be a good neighbor? To look around at those in need and to extend one’s hand to the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, the out casts of this society.

Prayer: What am I doing, Lord, to be a good neighbor? Help me to have open eyes and ears, to have an open heart in meeting the needs of those around me.

Paying lip service to God: Jeremiah 34

Scripture: ^15-16 “Although recently you had turned and done what is right in My sight, each man proclaiming release to his neighbor, and you had made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name. “Yet you turned and profaned My name, and each man took back his male servant and each man his female servant whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your male servants and female servants.”‘

Observation: After Jeremiah’s encouragement about God’s faithfulness in chapter 33, Israel makes a feeble attempt in the face of attacking Babylonian armies to appease God’s judgment. Of their numerous covenant violations, one of the most egregious had been Israel’s neglect of observing the Sabbatical and Jubilee years whereby land was returned to its rightful owners and slaves were given the opportunity to be set free. The exile to Babylon would be a God-imposed Sabbatical and Jubilee.

Instead of preserving the release of their slaves, they only paid lip service to God. They went back on their commitment, and according to the text, they brought the slaves back into subjection after a symbolic release. What a contrast of their ability to keep their word with God’s ability and willingness to keep His covenant! God promises to bless those who keep the covenant and judgment for those who violate the covenant.

Application: This passage in Jeremiah is a powerful reminder that I should say and do what I mean, that my yes should be yes, and my no should be no. Actions demonstrate whether or not I am simply paying lip service to God or whether I truly love Him and am willing to obey Him.

Have I told God that I would do something and then back away from that commitment? Have I promised to tithe and then proceeded to withhold the tithe? Have I promised to obey his call to reach my neighbors and then keep my self behind closed doors? What areas of my life am I refusing to obey God? Are there areas of my life where I allow my eyes, heart and mind to be diverted from pursuing God who longs to be merciful to me?

Prayer: Lord, I long to love and obey You, yet I find myself being pulled in so many directions. Forgive me when I simply pay lip service to You. You never let me down. Thank you for Your commitment to me and the grace and mercy You extend to me every day.

For better, for worse: Jeremiah 33

Scripture:
^9-11‘It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’ “Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a waste, without man and without beast,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,
“Give thanks to the LORD of hosts,
For the LORD is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting”;
and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.

Observation: Jeremiah remains under arrest as the Lord gives him another word concerning the restoration of Israel. Throughout Scripture, Israel’s relationship to God is often likened to that between a husband and wife. Here in this passage, God evokes the image of the bride and groom rejoicing. He renews the vows of His covenant to this people. He promises that joy and gladness will return to Judah and Jerusalem.

For His part, God makes nine “I will” commitments as seen in verses 1-9. When Israel calls to Him, He will:

• Answer
• Tell them great and mighty things
• Bring health
• Heal
• Reveal an abundance of peace and truth
• Restore fortunes
• Rebuild the nation
• Cleanse their iniquity
• Pardon their sins

God has committed Himself to His people for better and for worse. While He has every reason to abandon His covenant because of the people’s unfaithfulness, He will not do so choosing mercy over judgment.

Application: Jesus is David’s heir.  God has kept His vows. In Him we have the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of relationship with Him. While He disciplines His people for the purpose of getting their attention, He has chosen mercy over judgment.

Do I recognize God’s commitment to me, for better or for worse? Do I cry out to Him and embrace His nine I wills?  Am I willing to renew my vows of commitment and service to Him as He has with me?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be as committed to You as You are to me.  Keep me from wandering and slipping from our relationship. I praise You that I have forgiveness of sins and new life in David’s eternal heir, Jesus Christ.

All yoking aside: Jeremiah 28

Scripture: ^12-14The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Go and speak to Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made instead of them yokes of iron.” ’For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him And I have also given him the beasts of the field.”‘”

Observation: Everyone has to have a Hananiah in one’s life. Jeremiah was getting his fill. Jeremiah predicted a 70 year captivity in chapter 25. Ever the contrarian, Hananiah predicts a two year captivity.

God takes Hananiah’s yoke metaphor and turns it around. God will take his wooden yoke and turn it into a yoke of iron that cannot easily be broken. As a false prophet who is only concerned about tickling the ears of his hearers, Hananiah would see death within the year. And indeed he dies as predicted. The yoke was on him.

Application: God allows people to come into our lives who love to contradict what God says or does. They really can be annoying as Hananiah was to Jeremiah. Their preaching attempts place yokes on our lives that do not come from God.

Paul instructed Timothy that such people would plague his and our lives. He said this, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” 2 Timothy 4:2-4.

Who is the contrarian in our lives? Surely they force us to go back to God and His word. We need to make sure that God’s word is being preached and not the pleasantries that others want to hear. God will deal with the Hananiahs in our lives just as He did for Jeremiah. We can trust Him for such things.

As far as yokes go, I choose Jesus’ yoke.  Jesus said in Matthrew 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” The Message.

Prayer: Lord, I want to learn the unforced rhythms of grace as only You can teach me. I do not want the heavy or ill-fitting yoke. I want Your yoke which is easy and light.

Crushed crockery: Jeremiah 19

Scripture: ¹⁰“Then you are to break the jar in the sight of the men who accompany you ¹¹and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Just so will I break this people and this city, even as one breaks a potter’s vessel, which cannot again be repaired; and they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place for burial. ¹²“This is how I will treat this place and its inhabitants,” declares the LORD, “so as to make this city like Topheth.”

Observation:  Jeremiah takes another trip to the potter’s house, this time to purchase a completed vessel.  Upon buying a new piece of earthenware, Jeremiah is instructed to break in the sight of the men who followed him around.  Unlike the clay still on the potter’s wheel from chapter 18, this piece of pottery cannot be reshaped or repaired.  Its demise is final.

In the same way, the judgment of exile and the destruction of Jerusalem is final.  Topheth, just outside Jerusalem, had been the place of Baal worship and human sacrifice.  Now it had become the city garbage dump and would become a burial ground for those who prostituted themselves to Baal.

Application:  Like pottery that has been baked and hardened, we can be hardened into useful vessels or those that can no longer be used by God.  The hardness that makes it useful also makes it subject to breakage.  But we can be useful earthen vessels as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 4:6-10.  Any cracks in our crockery are designed to release the light of the Gospel as we face the challenges that life throws our way.

 ⁶For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ⁷But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

The question for me is, “Will I become a completely useless piece of pottery, or will I allow the light of the Gospel shine through me?”

Prayer:  Lord I want the light that shines out of the darkness to shine through me, a treasure in this humble, cracked, earthen vessel that reveals Your glory and honor.

The look: Luke 22:54-71

Scripture:   ⁶⁰But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹The Lord turned and looked at Peter And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” ⁶²And he went out and wept bitterly.

Observation: Jesus had confronted Peter’s bravado in verses 33-34.  When Peter cut off the slave’s ear (see also John 18:10), Jesus promptly restores the ear.  And now, Peter standing at a distance, afraid and confused, denies His relationship with Jesus three times.  And the cock crows as Jesus predicted.

“The look” - Jesus must have given him the look.  In contrast with “the look” that I might give my wife or kids or that they might give me, Jesus’ look at Peter was perhaps not a look of condemnation, but rather a look filled with sadness and affection at the same time.  Jesus’ look brought back to mind His prediction of Peter’s denial.  Peter became overwhelmed with grief and remorse, weeping uncontrollably and leading him to flee the scene.

And there stands Jesus before His accusers and executioners, confessing that indeed He is the Son of God.  His verdict and sentence are sealed.

Application:  When Jesus looks at me in His Word, do I recognize “the look” and the sin He is trying to expose in my life?  Am I allowing Him to look at me or do I turn away from His gaze?  Peter remembered Jesus’ word when he received “the look.”  Peter’s remorse led to repentance.  James 4:9-10 tells us to be miserable and mourn and weep over our sin.  I will stay in His Word and allow His Look to expose my sin (Hebrews 4:12).

Prayer:  Lord, help me to have the courage to look at You as You look at me.  Forgive me for all the ways in which I deny You.

Give it up: Luke 18:1-17

Scripture:  ¹Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart . . .

⁹And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt . . .

¹⁵And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.  ¹⁶But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Observation:  Jesus directs two different parables to two different groups.  One to those who are at risk of growing weary in their crying out to God; and one to those who think they can do it on their own.  To both groups Jesus says, “Give it up.”

The first group needs to persevere in their prayers, to give up to God all their concerns and burdens.  Jesus says, “Have faith, keep giving it up to Me.”

To the second group Jesus says, “Give it up, quit trying to do this on your own.”  Righteousness can only come from a posture of humility like that of the tax-gatherer or a child, not from a posture of pride, like that of the Pharisee.

Both groups are reminded that coming to God is like a child reaching out to a parent or an adult.  There is little or no assumption of independence on the part of the child, simply trust.  Woe to the person who hinders such people from coming to God.

Application:  I find myself wanting to give up in prayer for certain things.  Verse 8 has hit me between the eyes.  Will He find faith in me when He comes back, or will He find someone who is trying to keep it all under control?  Are there things I am doing that come across like the self-righteous Pharisee, or things that I am doing to keep others from coming to the Savior?

This week I will give it all up to Him, seeking Him and seeking to bring others to Him.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to persevere in prayer.  I am a sinner in need of a Savior.  Have mercy on me.  Help me to receive others as You do.

First things first: Luke 17:1-37

Scripture: ³“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴“And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

 ⁵The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” ⁶And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

Observation:  Jesus challenges the disciples to forgive those who offend even  seven times a day if need be.  At first I find the disciples reaction of “increase our faith” a bit odd.  On multiple occasions Jesus equated faith with forgiveness.  Jesus extended forgiveness, but they were not sure that they could.

The faith of a mustard seed is sufficient faith in according forgiveness to someone.  Even that kind of faith can uproot a tree.  That is the kind of faith needed to forgive someone else even seven times a day.

He continues to explain that forgiving is a matter of obedience, as a slave obeys and serves his master before serving himself.  It’s what they ought to do – first things first.

Application:  I find it hard to forgive and obey when I feel unjustly treated.  My first response desires retribution.  But with Christ as my Master, the first thing I should do is obey and forgive.  If vindication is to be had, that is God’s responsibility (Romans 12:19).

Prayer:  Lord, it’s hard sometimes to forgive, but somehow you do it.  Help me to do that which I ought to do, to put first things first.

Heart of the matter: Luke 16:1-31

Scripture: ¹³“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.”  ¹⁴Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. ¹⁵And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

Observation:  These statements lie between two parables that Jesus tells.  Both parables teach that the pursuit of wealth is false hope and security.  You cannot love God and wealth.  Only One can be master.

God is looking for faithful Kingdom stewards, not stewards whose lives are filled with greed.  While the world looks on and scoffs, God looks at the heart and discerns those who hearts are His and will steward His Kingdom faithfully.

Application:  Our lives seemed consumed with just trying to make ends meet while ignore those truly in need.  Yet according to the Global Rich List, http://www.globalrichlist.com/, with my annual income, which is lower than the median US household income, I still rank among the richest 1% in the world.  That means 99% of the world is poorer than I am.

I need to pursue God’s agenda with my riches – one of generosity, mercy and grace.  God has never let us down or left a need unmet in our family.  We will continue to look for opportunities to give our time, talent and treasure to the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:  Help my heart to be in tune with Yours.  Open my eyes to see the needs of those around me and to take care of the needs You direct me to.  Help me to be less concerned with prestige and status, and more concerned with compassion.

I once was lost: Luke 15

Scripture: ¹Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.  ²Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” ³So He told them this parable, saying . . .

Observation:  Jesus’ ministry continues to offend religious leaders and to attract social outcasts.  Turning His attention from the disciples to the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus tells three parables directed at them, the ones scorning Him for receiving and eating with sinners.

The first two parables relate the joy of finding a lost possession (the sheep and the coin) to the joy in heaven when one sinner repents.  The third parable gets more personal as He moves from lost possessions to lost relationships.

In this third parable, Jesus relates the parallels between a father and His two sons to that of God and His human creation:  a prodigal who squanders his inheritance, and a compliant son who attempts to serve his father faithfully.  When the repentant prodigal son returns to the joy of his father, the compliant son becomes outraged.

The father’s response:  ³¹“And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

Application:  Jesus’ comments reflect the heart of our heavenly Father who desires that none should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth.  Why would we be jealous of the grace and mercy bestowed on our fellow-man?  Have I not been a recipient of the same grace and mercy? As John Newton wrote, “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”

Too often I am like the older brother who has tried so hard for so long to please the Father.  I don’t like it when God lets others off the hook.  But the point is, God has let all of us who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior off the hook.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

What the Father wants is relationship, not duty.  The older brother needs to rejoice with the Father.  I need to reach out to and rejoice with those who have strayed, but have returned to the Father.

Prayer:  Lord help me not to sulk when others come to Christ.  Help me reach out to and embrace those who have recognized their sin and their need for a Savior.