Bible Reading Reflection from Jeremiah 21-29

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟘

“‘For I have set My face against this city for harm and not for good,’ declares the LORD. ‘It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it with fire.’”

Many people love to quote Jeremiah 29:11, what about trying this verse? Unless one reads this verse and is glad of it, I am sure, he has no reason to be glad reading Jer. 29:11. We must understand any verse in its contact and then apply it! Judgment must come upon Judah for what they had done v14.

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"Do not weep for the dead or mourn for him, But weep continually for the one who goes away; For he will never return Or see his native land."

It was a time when death is better than living! Maybe it will come again! Maybe we are living in it. These days more troubles and more diseases, while the dead never knew all these happening around us. They didn't go through what we are going through.

Of course, it's not advocating death. It just means the times were horrible to live because of sins! Jesus also said, "Weep not for Me, weep for your children." Let's not weep for the dead, let's weep for the living who don't glorify God!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟛:𝟛𝟚

“‘Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,’ declares the LORD, ‘and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,’ declares the LORD.”

O how many were the false teacher! Much more than true faithful teachers. It was, is, and will always be. OT and NT writers wrote about it. Jesus himself said in Matthew 7:21-23 that these people will speak the name of Christ, work, and accomplish great things, but on the day of judgment, Christ will cast them out saying, "I never knew you."

1. God hates false teachers.

2. There are many false teachers.

3. People are easily deluded by false teaching.

Consider the following tests:

If you have never known any false teacher, perhaps every teacher you know is a false teacher. And you just are incompetent to find out. A man who is fast asleep doesn't know whether what he is experiencing is real or just a dream. And he doesn't know who else is sleeping or is awakened. A man who is awakened knows he was dreaming and can find out who else is dreaming and who is awakened!

Something like that. If you are saturated in sound doctrine, you will see false teachings when they come. And they are everywhere! Some false teachings are dangerous, others are not that dangerous. Mature Christians are able to discern even small errors.

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟜:𝟛

"And the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.""

Very good figs and very bad figs. What do we want? God has set for us as it was set for Judah in the days of Jeremiah, as it was set for Israelites in the days of Joshua: to be vessels of honor or dishonor!

The good figs were those taken to captivity, and the bad figs were those who remained in Jerusalem. Captivity was a judgment, but God has a plan for them even in such a situation. God works in a mysterious way!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟝:𝟡

"Behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation."

God said of this pagan king Nebuchadnezzar "My servant." He said of Messiah "My Servant" as well. Whether we like it or not, we all are servants of God. And Believers of Yahweh are called to be children of God, not just servants.

Persecutors, Atheists, Fanatics, Secularists, Heathens, Godless, Wicked, all are servants of God. They think they have control over their own life, but there's a God in heaven high above them! He who knows God needs not to fear those below Him!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟙

“Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, ‘This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.’”

Jeremiah gave a politically incorrect message. And so, he was on trial to be killed. Well, those guys were not politicians but the priests and the prophets. If a church leader tries to be politically correct and not speak the truth, he may as well try to kill those who speak the truth! Beware!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟟

"Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a desolation?"

There may be a time when it's right, best, and safe to serve even a wicked leader! Because even wicked leaders are raised up by God to punish other sinners! So, maybe it's ok to work as a maid or cobbler or dhobi even for Narendra Modi! 😅

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

“Sometime after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke-bars from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "Go, tell Hananiah, 'Thus says the LORD: You have broken wooden bars, but you have made in their place bars of iron.’””

Who doesn't admire the wit of God? God is very smart and witty. Jesus was asked whether it was right to tax, and He just asked, "Whose image is on the coin?" 😂

Moses let his staff turn into a serpent. The kings and courtiers were amazed. Then Pharaoh's magician brought their magical staff-serpent as well. Moses looked ordinary then. But God let Moses' staff swallow all the magician's snakes. 😅What a Grandmaster move by God! 😎

Hananiah made a sensation gesture in breaking the yoke that Jeremiah had upon his neck. Wow! Very smart. The narrative seems to suggest Hananiah was more outspoken than Jeremiah. Then God outsmarted Hananiah by coming up with an "iron yoke" that cannot be broken. And then v17, Hananiah was struck dead by God!

Don't try to outsmart God! We can't!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟚𝟡:𝟟

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

A good reason why we need to pray for the welfare of the society: for the rulers, leaders, politicians, doctors, teachers.

Well, we do want them to be saved (become Christians), but we also want them to be good for our sake. If they are insane, we will suffer! If they are stupid, they will make stupid laws and decisions.

Don't pray only for their salvation when you pray for rulers. Pray for your own sake. Even if they march to hell, let them not torture you.

A good selfish prayer huh! 😅👍