Jeremiah 3:1
“‘If a man’s wife walks out on him and marries another man, can he take her back as if nothing had happened? Wouldn’t that raise a huge stink in the land? And isn’t that what you’ve done— ‘whored’ your way with god after god? And now you want to come back as if nothing had happened.’ GOD’s Decree.”
“‘If a man divorces a woman and she goes and marries someone else, he will not take her back again, for that would surely corrupt the land. But you have prostituted yourself with many lovers so why are you trying to come back to me?’ says the Lord.”
If we have eyes to see, the natural world reveals God’s nature in many ways, even societal norms. Here we see the long term committed relationship between a consenting adult and woman (marriage) is a picture of our relationship with God. Once we have given ourselves to him, we are called to return his love with our own and remain loyal through thick and thin.
Lord, forgive my inconstancy. May I ever be loyal to you, doing my part to strengthen and stabilize the world around me. And give me grace to show you are the one who enables me to do so.
Jeremiah 2:27
“All I ever see of them is their backsides. They never look me in the face.”
“They turn their backs on me, but in times of trouble they cry out to me, ‘Come and save us!’”
Imagine the pain of seeing only the backside of your beloved, of never feeling their eyes upon you. This is how God feels. Strangely, the Almighty One can feel the desolation of rejection the same as we. He knows our sorrows and is acquainted with grief.
Lord, forgive me for doing this to you! Forgive my inclination to avoid time with you and your word. I am guilty, yet you love me anyway. Help me to love like that, loving you and loving my neighbor adently.
Jeremiah 2:25
“Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it. I’m addicted to alien gods. I can’t quit.’”
“When will you stop running? When will you stop panting after other gods? But you say, ‘Save your breath. I’m in love with these foreign gods, and I can’t stop loving them now!’”
Addiction is the process of committed sin. It occurs when we repeatedly turn to anything other than God for comfort, direction, and protection. Not all objects of addiction are sleazy and wicked. Some appear harmless. But anything that turns our heads and hearts away from God has undesirable consequences though it may take a while to see it. Being human means we are addicted to something. The work of a lifetime is to wrest free from our additions and focus on the One who brings true comfort, direction, and protection.
Lord, you know my weakness. Guide me to sincere determination to be free so you can lead me there.
Jeremiah 2:9-11
“Look around. Have you ever seen anything quite like this? Sail to the western islands and look. Travel to the Kedar wilderness and look. Look closely. Has this ever happened before, That a nation has traded in its gods for gods that aren’t even close to gods? But my people have traded my Glory for empty god-dreams and silly god-schemes.”
“Go west and look in the land of Cyprus; go east and search through the land of Kedar. Has anyone ever heard of anything as strange as this? Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!”
I had always thought this an illustration. The more I think, it must be fact. Anthropologists would probably agree people in ancient pagan cultures did not trade in their gods. They were imbedded in their identity and heritage. Why is it that only Israel casts their god aside? Satan, like any general, focuses his resources where the battle is fiercest, where God is working. The human condition is illustrated in Israel’s off and on relationship with God. We always want to go our own way. Regardless of who we are, where we were born, or at what time, when God lays down a line, we always try to put our toe across it. Satan is happy to lead the way.
Lord, I am guilty every day of putting you aside. I turn to my own interests after my daily time with you is over. I forget my fervent morning prayers in meeting the demands of the day. Forgive me. Change me. Renew my heart. Fill me.
Jeremiah 2:4-6
“Hear GOD’s Message, House of Jacob! Yes, you—House of Israel! GOD’s Message: ‘What did your ancestors find fault with in me that they drifted so far from me, took up with Sir Windbag and turned into windbags themselves? It never occurred to them to say, ‘Where’s GOD, the God who got us out of Egypt, who took care of us through thick and thin, those rough-and-tumble wilderness years of parched deserts and death valleys, A land that no one who enters comes out of, a cruel, inhospitable land?’”
“Listen to the word of the LORD, people of Jacob—all you families of Israel! This is what the LORD says: ‘What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves. They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us safely out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness—a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and death, where no one lives or even travels?’”
Why do we continually discard past lessons, forget God’s faithfulness? Because we are human, I guess. The danger of growing up in a Christian home is familiarity breeds contempt. The new and different sparkles with allure. We continualy search for one kind of stimulation or another and our appitites become our deity. We forget the One who loves us and think he has nothing to offer.
Lord, have mercy on us. You oh Lord are the source of everlasting satisfaction. May we discover you as the One who satisfies like no other. Lead me to live in you and for you. Give me words to share the boundless delight and satisfaction you give so I can share you faithfulness with others.
Jeremiah 1:18-19
“‘Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work. I’m making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You’re a one-man defense system against this culture, Against Judah’s kings and princes, against the priests and local leaders. They’ll fight you, but they won’t even scratch you. I’ll back you up every inch of the way.’ GOD’s Decree.”
“For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land—the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
God always equips and empowers those called to do his work. He’s been doing it for as long a people have lived on the earth. There is no need to fear. Whatever happens, good or bad, the Lord is walking alongside and will care for those called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Lord, grace me to listen to you and respond accordingly. Give me courage to speak and willingness to serve. Have mercy on me oh Lord!
Jeremiah 1:11-12
“GOD’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.”
And GOD said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you.
I’ll make every word I give you come true.””
“Then the LORD said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”
And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”
And the LORD said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching,
and I will certainly carry out all my plans.””
When I was young Liberalism had begun to bear it’s hedonistic fruit, casting doubt upon everything traditional. Higher Criticism stripped the Bible of it’s inerrancy and began to analyze it as literature, nothing more. Being ignorant of literature in general I had no idea of the Bible’s literary value.
Now, 50 years later, I’m beginning to appreciate, understand and value Hebrew literary form. These verses are a lovely example. The first couplet paints a picture. The second enhances meaning with word play and imagery, bringing the picture into focus. I love The Message’s use of sticks in translation. May God ever stick to me too.
Lord, thank you for teaching me. There is still so much to discover and marvel at. I love walking with you. It’s like having a private party guide. I hope we humans continue to learn in eternity. I cannot wait to know more of you.
Jeremiah 1:5-10
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations— that’s what I had in mind for you.” But I said, “Hold it, Master GOD! Look at me. I don’t know anything. I’m only a boy!” - GOD told me, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a boy.’ I’ll tell you where to go and you’ll go there. I’ll tell you what to say and you’ll say it. Don’t be afraid of a soul. I’ll be right there, looking after you.” GOD’s Decree. - GOD reached out, touched my mouth, and said, “Look! I’ve just put my words in your mouth—hand-delivered! See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among nations and governments—a red-letter day! Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, And then start over, building and planting.”
“ I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” “O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
If I imagine hearing God say these words to me, it would be terrifying. Again, God has chosen to work through someone’s weakness and insecurity. The words he will give to Jeremiah will certainly lead to trial and persecution. Yet God says it is a “red letter day.” Two different perspectives collide, Devine and human. Jeremiah shows us what to do when living in troublesome times, imprisoned by our own identity. We must step out in faith and follow our leader, Almighty God.
Lord, I am imprisoned by this illness. I have no will to fight it, to live. Help me to break outside this wall into the wide-open world you call me to. Forgive me weakness. Help me to run my race well and keep fighting.
Ephesians 6:10-12
“And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.”
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
It occurs to me the fight spoken of here is what we engage in every day as we make little decisions to honor or dishonor our Lord. Somehow these tiny little battles we face are part of the greater battle Paul speaks of here. Maybe we fight on the margins but we are part of it none the less. Each decision to obey the Lord weakens Satan’s position. This is refreshing because I often feel like I’m in it alone. But I’m not. Just as in an earthly army, I need not know the Lord’s military strategy, my job is to follow orders.
Lord help me! Let this image of participation in a larger fight always encourage me to do my part. By my effort I want to serve you and also my brothers in Christ. Fill me Spirit with strength, wisdom, compassion and drive to honor you in this great glorious battle I am a apart of.
Ephesians 6:9
“Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.”
“Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.”
How can we in the Christian West overlook these words? We have for centuries and still do. It’s rarely overt these days because of the political correctness sweeping our country. But it is still there. I fall into this sin also, in the subtlest of ways. When confronted with those who live and believe differently it is easy for my discomfort with them to morph into distain. If I love my Lord, I will learn to make no distinction between others just as he.
Lord, forgive me when I think myself superior. Remind me when I slip. Lead me into the joy and wonder of the diversity you created within all of us. Change my heart.
Ephesians 6:5-8
“Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.”
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.”
I’ve always thought of these verses applying to those ‘in service’ like maids and butlers. But I am Christ’s servant/slave so I need to pay attention too. Every day I should work heartily and cheerily because my master is God.
Lord, grace me with a cheerful countenance. Give me strength to do my work. I want to do my best for you.
Ephesians 5:29-33
“No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.”
“No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
Peterson’s translation presents a beautiful picture of mutuality in a marital relationship. There is no dominance. Instead each person loves themself by loving the other. The strengths and weaknesses of each are balanced by the other. When each is fully functional, they combine to form a healthy whole. Together they are enabled to face the world, acting on one another’s behalf. One’s weakness is covered by the other’s strength and vice versa. They submit one to another in this dance of talents. The submission Paul calls for in prior verses works only when husbands submit to their submissive wife’s needs. One way submission, wife to husband, will not work because only half Paul’s proposed formula for marital success is honored.
Lord, thank you for leading Roger and I to learn how we, as individuals, work best together in our own dance of talents. Thank you for helping us over the chasms that formed between us, for healing those fractures and keeping us whole. Thank you for the lifetime of companionship we have with each other because you led us through minefields to a place of wide-open freedom in our walk with each other. Truly, you have been faithful. May we honor you in return.