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Posts that reference the book of Jeremiah

STT: Metaphors

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Study tip tuesday water water everywhere Metaphors title graphic

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:13-14

Beyond its physical presence in biblical narratives, water serves as one of Scripture’s most powerful and versatile metaphors. From tears to spiritual cleansing, from overwhelming troubles to life-giving grace, water imagery flows through biblical language, helping us grasp abstract spiritual concepts through tangible, familiar experiences. And there are a bunch of these metaphors.

Water as Life and Salvation

Throughout Scripture, water consistently represents life itself and the salvation God offers:

Living Water

  • Jeremiah contrasted “the fountain of living waters” (God Himself) with “broken cisterns that can hold no water” (false gods) (Jeremiah 2:13)
  • Jesus offered the Samaritan woman “living water” that becomes “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:10, 14)
  • In Revelation, the river of life flows “from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1)

Wells of Salvation

  • Isaiah proclaimed, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3)
  • This metaphor connects physical refreshment with spiritual deliverance
  • The act of drawing water becomes a picture of actively receiving God’s saving grace

Streams in the Desert

  • Isaiah prophesied, “Waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:6)
  • This powerful image represents God bringing life to spiritually barren places
  • The contrast between desert and flowing water emphasizes the transformative nature of divine intervention

Water as Overwhelming Trouble

Water also serves as a metaphor for life’s overwhelming challenges:

Flood Waters of Affliction

  • David lamented, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me” (Psalm 69:1-2)
  • This vivid imagery captures the sensation of being overwhelmed by circumstances
  • The metaphor conveys both the depth and rising nature of troubles

Passing Through Waters

  • Isaiah recorded God’s promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2)
  • This metaphor acknowledges life’s inevitable difficulties while promising divine presence
  • The image suggests movement through troubles rather than permanent submersion

Drowning in Tears

  • The psalmist described extreme grief: “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3)
  • Jeremiah wished his “head were waters” to weep for his people (Jeremiah 9:1)
  • These water metaphors capture the overwhelming, uncontrollable nature of profound sorrow

Water as Spiritual Cleansing

Water naturally represents purification throughout Scripture:

Washing Away Sin

  • David prayed, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2)
  • Isaiah heard God’s invitation: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18)
  • This metaphor connects physical cleansing with moral purification

Sprinkled Clean

  • Ezekiel prophesied God’s promise: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses” (Ezekiel 36:25)
  • This image anticipates the New Covenant’s internal cleansing
  • The metaphor suggests effortless divine action rather than human striving

Word as Water

  • Paul describes Christ’s sanctification of the church “by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26)
  • This metaphor combines water imagery with the cleansing power of divine truth
  • It suggests that Scripture itself functions as purifying water in believers’ lives

Water as Divine Abundance

Water represents God’s overflowing provision and blessing:

Cups Running Over

  • David celebrated, “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5), using water imagery to depict abundant blessing
  • Jesus promised “rivers of living water” flowing from believers (John 7:38)
  • These metaphors emphasize not mere sufficiency but extravagant provision

Rain of Righteousness

  • Hosea urged, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12)
  • This agricultural metaphor connects divine blessing with life-giving precipitation
  • The image suggests both God’s initiative and human receptivity

Watered Gardens

  • Isaiah promised, “You shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:11)
  • This metaphor contrasts with drought imagery to represent consistent divine nurture
  • The garden image suggests both beauty and fruitfulness resulting from God’s provision

Water as Spiritual Influence

Water metaphors describe how spiritual forces spread and influence:

Knowledge Like Waters

  • Isaiah prophesied, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9)
  • This metaphor suggests both the depth and comprehensive nature of future spiritual understanding
  • The ocean imagery implies no place will remain untouched by divine knowledge

Teaching as Rain

  • Moses said, “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew” (Deuteronomy 32:2)
  • This metaphor connects divine instruction with life-giving precipitation
  • The image suggests gentle penetration rather than forceful imposition

Wisdom as Deep Waters

  • Proverbs states, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook” (Proverbs 18:4)
  • This metaphor suggests wisdom has both depth and refreshing qualities
  • The contrast between deep waters and flowing brook captures wisdom’s mysterious yet accessible nature

When you encounter water metaphors in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Metaphorical mapping: What qualities of water (cleansing, life-giving, overwhelming, etc.) are being applied to spiritual realities?
  2. Cultural context: How would the original audience, often living in arid regions, have understood this water imagery?
  3. Extended implications: What additional insights might the metaphor suggest beyond its immediate application?
  4. Personal resonance: How does this water metaphor speak to your own spiritual experience?

Water metaphors in Scripture provide help in expressing spiritual truths that might otherwise remain abstract or difficult to grasp. By connecting invisible realities to this familiar, essential element, God communicates His truth in ways that penetrate both mind and heart.

STT: No Water

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Study Tip Tuesday Water Water Everywhere No Water title graphic

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” – Psalm 42:1-2a

While water represents God’s blessing and provision in Scripture, its absence—manifested as thirst and drought—reveals equally powerful spiritual truths. These conditions of water scarcity serve as both literal challenges and profound metaphors for spiritual states throughout the biblical narrative.

Physical Thirst as Spiritual Testing

Israel’s wilderness journey repeatedly featured water scarcity as a test of faith:

Thirst at Marah

  • Three days into the wilderness, Israel found only bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:22-23)
  • Their immediate complaint revealed spiritual immaturity: “What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:24)
  • God’s solution—a piece of wood that sweetened the water—foreshadowed how the cross transforms bitter experiences
  • This test came immediately after the Red Sea deliverance, showing how quickly spiritual victory can be followed by trial

Thirst at Rephidim

  • At Rephidim, the complete absence of water led to more severe complaints: “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” (Exodus 17:3)
  • Moses named the place “Massah” (testing) and “Meribah” (quarreling), marking it as a site of spiritual failure
  • God’s gracious provision of water from the rock contrasted with the people’s lack of faith
  • Moses later reflected that God was “testing you to know what was in your heart” (Deuteronomy 8:2)

Theological Significance

  • Physical thirst revealed the condition of Israel’s trust in God
  • The pattern of complaint-provision-lesson established water as a teaching tool in God’s hands
  • These experiences were meant to develop dependence: “that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Drought as Divine Discipline

Throughout Scripture, drought functions as a form of covenant discipline:

Elijah and the Three-Year Drought

  • God sent drought as judgment on Ahab’s idolatry: “there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1)
  • This drought directly challenged Baal worship, as Baal was considered the god of rain and fertility
  • The drought’s end came only after the dramatic contest on Mount Carmel established Yahweh as the true God

Drought in the Prophets

  • Amos proclaimed God’s discipline: “I withheld the rain from you… yet you did not return to me” (Amos 4:7-8)
  • Jeremiah connected drought to spiritual infidelity: “the ground is cracked, for there has been no rain in the land; the farmers are ashamed” (Jeremiah 14:4)
  • Haggai linked drought to misplaced priorities: “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little… Because of my house that lies in ruins” (Haggai 1:9-10)

Theological Significance

  • Drought demonstrated God’s control over natural elements
  • The withholding of rain revealed the impotence of false gods
  • Drought served as a visible reminder of broken covenant relationship
  • The purpose was always restoration: “I discipline you in just measure” (Jeremiah 30:11)

Thirst as Spiritual Metaphor

Beyond physical reality, thirst becomes a powerful metaphor for spiritual longing:

Thirst for God

  • David expressed: “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1)
  • The psalmist compared spiritual longing to a deer’s desperate need for water (Psalm 42:1-2)
  • This metaphorical thirst represents the soul’s innate need for divine connection

Thirst for Righteousness

  • Jesus pronounced blessing on “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6)
  • This spiritual thirst represents deep desire for right relationship with God and others
  • The promise that such people “shall be satisfied” connects to divine provision for spiritual need

Invitation to the Thirsty

  • Isaiah proclaimed God’s invitation: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1)
  • Jesus stood up at the Feast of Tabernacles and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37)
  • Revelation concludes with: “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17)

Jesus and Thirst: The Ultimate Identification

Christ’s experience of thirst reveals profound theological truth:

Thirst at the Well

  • Jesus experienced physical thirst at Jacob’s well: “Give me a drink” (John 4:7)
  • This human need became the opening for a conversation about “living water”
  • Jesus’ vulnerability in expressing thirst created connection with the Samaritan woman

Thirst on the Cross

  • Among Jesus’ final words was the declaration, “I thirst” (John 19:28)
  • This fulfilled Psalm 69:21: “for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink”
  • Christ’s experience of extreme thirst represented the full depth of human suffering
  • The Creator of water experienced the agony of its absence

Theological Significance

  • Jesus’ thirst demonstrated His full humanity
  • The One who offers living water experienced the ultimate spiritual drought: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
  • His thirst secured our spiritual satisfaction: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again” (John 4:14)

When you encounter thirst and drought in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Testing purpose: How might this water scarcity be revealing or developing faith?
  2. Disciplinary aspect: Is this drought connected to covenant disobedience?
  3. Metaphorical meaning: What spiritual reality might this physical thirst represent?
  4. Divine provision: How does God ultimately respond to this need?

Thirst and drought in Scripture remind us that sometimes God’s greatest work occurs not through abundance but through scarcity. Our deepest spiritual growth often happens when we experience the painful reality of our need.

The Servant Songs: The Servant’s Commission

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The SErvant Songs The Servant's Commission title graphic

“Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ But I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.’

And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him—for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—he says: ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'” – Isaiah 49:1-6

In our journey through Isaiah’s Servant Songs, we’ve seen Israel called as God’s servant nation and then encountered a mysterious individual Servant who would bring justice with remarkable gentleness. Today, we hear the Servant’s own voice for the first time, and what He reveals adds fascinating new dimensions to our understanding.

The Servant Speaks

“Listen to me, O coastlands…” The Servant begins by calling for attention from distant lands. This isn’t a message just for Israel; it’s for the entire world. Right away, we see the global scope of the Servant’s mission.

What follows is essentially the Servant’s personal testimony—His understanding of His identity and calling. It’s intimate and revealing, giving us a glimpse into the Servant’s inner experience.

A Divine Appointment

The Servant describes His calling as beginning before birth: “The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.” This wasn’t a career He chose; it was a divine appointment from the very beginning of His existence.

This pre-birth calling echoes other significant biblical figures like Jeremiah, to whom God said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5). But the Servant’s calling is even more profound—He was formed specifically “to be his servant” (v. 5).

There’s something deeply comforting about this divine foreknowledge and purpose. It reminds us that our lives aren’t random accidents but part of God’s intentional design. As David wrote in Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Equipped for the Task

The Servant then describes how God equipped Him for His mission using two powerful metaphors:

  1. “He made my mouth like a sharp sword” – The Servant’s words carry divine power and precision, able to cut through deception and reveal truth.
  2. “He made me a polished arrow” – Like an arrow crafted for accuracy and impact, the Servant has been prepared to hit His target precisely.

Yet interestingly, both these weapons are described as hidden: “in the shadow of his hand he hid me” and “in his quiver he hid me away.” This suggests a time of preparation and concealment before public ministry—a pattern we see in Jesus’ thirty years of relative obscurity before His public work began.

A Puzzling Identity

In verse 3, we encounter a fascinating statement: “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Wait—is the Servant an individual or the nation? This verse seems to blur the lines.

The best understanding is that the Servant embodies what Israel was meant to be. He is the true Israel, fulfilling the mission the nation failed to accomplish. As one commentator puts it, “He is Israel reduced to one.” This helps explain why the New Testament presents Jesus as recapitulating Israel’s story—being called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15), tested in the wilderness, and so on.

This identification reminds us that Jesus doesn’t replace Israel in God’s plan; He fulfills Israel’s calling. And through Him, all who believe—Jew and Gentile alike—are grafted into this story of redemption.

The Experience of Apparent Failure

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this passage is the Servant’s confession of apparent failure: “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity.”

These are startling words from one chosen and equipped by God! They reveal that even the perfect Servant experienced what felt like futility and disappointment. His work didn’t always produce visible results or immediate success.

For those of us who have ever felt our service to God was ineffective or unappreciated, this is profoundly encouraging. If even the perfect Servant experienced such feelings, we shouldn’t be surprised when we do too.

But notice what follows: “Yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.” Despite the appearance of failure, the Servant maintains unwavering trust in God’s evaluation of His work. He knows that true success is measured by faithfulness, not visible results, and that God’s assessment matters more than apparent outcomes.

An Expanded Mission

Just when it seems the Servant’s mission might be scaled back due to apparent failure, God does something remarkable—He expands it! In verses 5-6, the mission grows from restoring Israel to reaching the entire world:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

What an extraordinary statement! Restoring Israel—a monumental task in itself—is deemed “too light” for this Servant. His mission extends to bringing God’s salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.

This global vision fulfills God’s original promise to Abraham that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Israel was never meant to keep God’s blessing to themselves but to be a channel through which it would flow to all nations. Now, through the Servant, this universal purpose will be accomplished.

The Servant Revealed in Jesus

When we turn to the New Testament, we see Jesus perfectly fulfilling this expanded commission. After His resurrection, He tells His disciples, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8)—a clear echo of the Servant’s mission.

In Luke 2:32, Simeon explicitly connects Jesus to this passage, describing Him as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And Paul quotes Isaiah 49:6 in Acts 13:47 as justification for taking the gospel to the Gentiles.

Jesus experienced what looked like failure by human standards—rejection by many in Israel, betrayal by a close follower, and ultimately crucifixion. Yet through what appeared to be defeat, God was accomplishing His greatest victory, bringing salvation not just to Israel but to people from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Living Out the Commission Today

As followers of the Servant, we’re invited to participate in this same global mission. What does that mean for us?

  1. Embrace divine preparation – Like the Servant, we may experience seasons of hiddenness and preparation before our most fruitful service. These times aren’t wasted; they’re essential for sharpening us for future impact.
  2. Persist through apparent failure – When our service seems ineffective or unappreciated, we can follow the Servant’s example of entrusting the results to God rather than measuring success by visible outcomes.
  3. Think beyond our natural boundaries – The Servant’s mission expanded beyond His own people to the entire world. Similarly, our vision for service should extend beyond our comfort zones to wherever God calls us.
  4. Value both local and global impact – The Servant was called both to restore Israel and to reach the nations. We too should care about both our immediate community and the broader world.
  5. Remember the ultimate goal – The purpose of the Servant’s mission was that God’s “salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Our service, whatever form it takes, should ultimately point people toward this same salvation.

The beautiful truth is that we serve in the wake of the Servant’s accomplished work. Jesus has already secured salvation; our task is to announce and demonstrate it. As Paul writes, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Next week, we’ll explore Isaiah 50:4-11, where we’ll see the Servant’s unwavering confidence despite opposition and suffering. We’ll discover how intimate relationship with God sustains faithful service even in the face of resistance.

STT: Water, Water Everywhere: Rivers

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Studt tip Tuesday Water Water everywhere Rivers title graphic

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.” – Psalm 46:4

Throughout Scripture, rivers serve as more than mere geographical features—they are powerful symbols that help tell God’s story of redemption. By understanding the significance of these waterways, we gain deeper insight into biblical narratives and their theological meaning.

The Jordan River: A Boundary of Promise

The Jordan River stands as perhaps the most significant waterway in Scripture. When Joshua led the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land, the Jordan represented the final barrier between their wilderness wandering and their inheritance. As the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the water, “the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap” (Joshua 3:16), allowing God’s people to cross on dry ground.

This miraculous crossing echoed the Red Sea deliverance and demonstrated God’s faithfulness to His promises. The twelve memorial stones taken from the riverbed served as a lasting reminder that “the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over” (Joshua 4:23).

The Jordan as Symbol of Transition

Throughout Scripture, the Jordan consistently marks significant transitions:

  • For Israel, crossing the Jordan represented the transition from nomadic wilderness life to settlement in the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4)
  • For Elijah, the Jordan marked his transition from earthly ministry to heavenly reward as he crossed it before being taken up in the chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:6-8)
  • For Elisha, crossing back over the Jordan using Elijah’s mantle symbolized his transition into the prophetic office (2 Kings 2:13-14)
  • For Jesus, his baptism in the Jordan marked the transition from his private life to public ministry (Matthew 3:13-17)

The Jordan as Symbol of Cleansing

The Jordan’s waters are repeatedly associated with cleansing:

  • Naaman the Syrian was instructed to wash seven times in the Jordan to be cleansed of leprosy, symbolizing both physical and spiritual purification (2 Kings 5:10-14)
  • John the Baptist conducted his ministry of repentance at the Jordan, where people were “baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:5)
  • Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan established it as the archetypal location for Christian baptism, which Paul later describes as washing away sins (Acts 22:16)

The Jordan as Symbol of New Beginnings

The Jordan consistently appears at moments of new beginnings in biblical narrative:

  • Israel’s new beginning as a nation in their own land commenced with crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3)
  • Elisha’s new ministry began after crossing the Jordan (2 Kings 2)
  • The Gospels present Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan as inaugurating a new covenant, marked by the voice from heaven and descent of the Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)

Other Rivers That Tell God’s Story

The Nile River: Symbol of Both Provision and Judgment

The Nile River features prominently in Egypt’s relationship with God’s people:

  • It became the cradle of protection for baby Moses when his mother placed him in a basket among the reeds (Exodus 2:3-5)
  • God demonstrated His sovereignty over Egypt’s most revered resource by turning the Nile to blood as the first plague (Exodus 7:17-21)
  • The Nile represented Egypt’s agricultural prosperity and false security, which Isaiah prophesied would dry up as judgment (Isaiah 19:5-7)
  • In Egyptian culture, the Nile was worshipped as a god, making God’s control over it a powerful statement about His supremacy over false deities

The Euphrates and Tigris: Boundaries of Civilization and Empire

These rivers defined the cradle of civilization and played significant roles in biblical history:

  • Both are mentioned in the Garden of Eden narrative, establishing them as part of God’s original creation (Genesis 2:14)
  • The Euphrates marked the northeastern boundary of God’s territorial promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18)
  • Babylon, situated on the Euphrates, became the place of Israel’s exile and captivity (2 Kings 24:10-16)
  • The prophets used the Euphrates symbolically in their messages about coming judgment and restoration (Jeremiah 13:1-11)
  • Revelation depicts the Euphrates drying up to prepare the way for the kings from the east in end-time events (Revelation 16:12)

The Jabbok River: Site of Spiritual Transformation

Though smaller, the Jabbok River marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s spiritual history:

  • Jacob wrestled with God at the ford of the Jabbok, experiencing profound spiritual transformation (Genesis 32:22-32)
  • After crossing this river and encountering God, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (“he struggles with God”)
  • This river crossing represents the spiritual struggle that precedes blessing and the intimate encounter with God that transforms identity

The Kishon River: Instrument of Divine Victory

The Kishon demonstrates how God uses natural features in His deliverance:

  • This river became the site of Deborah and Barak’s victory over Sisera’s army when God sent a flood that immobilized the enemy’s chariots (Judges 4:7, 5:21)
  • The Kishon is celebrated in Deborah’s song as having “swept them away,” showing how God uses creation itself to accomplish His purposes

Rivers in Prophetic Vision: Future Hope and Restoration

Rivers feature prominently in prophetic literature as symbols of God’s future restoration:

  • Ezekiel’s vision of the river flowing from the temple (Ezekiel 47:1-12) grows deeper and wider, bringing healing and life wherever it flows
  • This imagery finds its fulfillment in Revelation 22:1-2, where “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” sustains the tree of life whose leaves are “for the healing of the nations”
  • Isaiah speaks of God making “rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19), symbolizing the miraculous provision and restoration God promises His people

Each of these rivers carries not just water but profound theological significance, helping us understand God’s character, His dealings with humanity, and His ultimate purposes for creation.

When you encounter rivers in your Bible reading, consider:
Historical context: How did this river impact the geography and history of God’s people?
Symbolic meaning: What might this river represent in the spiritual narrative?
Connections: How does this river connect to other biblical passages and themes?
Personal application: What spiritual lessons can you draw from this river narrative?
Rivers in Scripture often mark boundaries between promise and fulfillment, slavery and freedom, death and life. They remind us that God often leads us through barriers that seem impossible to cross, making a way where there seems to be no way.
For reflection: What “Jordan River” stands between you and God’s promises in your life? How might God be calling you to step into those waters in faith, trusting Him to make a way?

Wanna Boast?

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wanna boast title graphic

Consider Jeremiah 9:23-24 on boasting:

23 Thus says the LORD:
This is authoritative. You should listen.

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,
The bachelor’s, the master’s, the PhD,
The IQ, the experience, the insights.

let not the mighty man boast in his might,
The endurance, the bench press, the diet,
The workout, the dedication, the miles.

let not the rich man boast in his riches,
The overtime, the bargains, the deals,
The retirement funds, the vacations, the car

24 but let him who boasts boast in this,
But if you wanna boast,
There is one boast that’s allowed.

that he understands and knows me,
Not just a passing familiarity or lip service.
It’s a deep experiential knowledge rooted in relationship and devotion.

Who is it that you know?

that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.
YAHWEH the covenant God
Who practices – regularly engages in
Steadfast love – in Hebrew it’s hesed. It’s gracious favor and love.
Justice – He behaves rightly toward His people because of His own righteous character
Righteousness – Moral uprightness
In the earth – in a visible, manifest way.

For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
Not only does He practice them, but He delights in them,
And by extension, He delights in those who practice them as well.

How’s your boasting?

The Chiasm: X Marks the Spot Proverbs 6:16-19

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The Chiasm X Marks the Spot Proverbs 6:16-19 title graphic

What in the world is a chiasm and why would anybody care about knowing that?

A chiasm (kī-a-zəm) is a structure that appears over and over in Scripture. When you recognize it, the structure gives some insight into what the key point in a passage or section is. That helps us correctly interpret and apply what God’s word says.

Most of us (most of my readers, anyway) are “Greek”. By that, I mean we’re Western. We have a particular way of thinking and approaching information. We expect the points to be delivered in a logical order, with increasing importance until the climax is reached. When we read an op-ed, we expect the most important idea to come last. When we hear a commercial, the clincher is the last thing. Preachers save the most significant idea or application until the end. That’s Greek.

Hebrews, on the other hand, often write with a parallel mirror structure. The most important point is in the center with the subpoints building up to and stepping down from that high point. This structure is the chiasm. Its name comes from the Greek letter chi, which Is just an X.

It makes more sense with an example. Consider Proverbs 6:16-19.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Now, let’s take verse 16 as the title, and let’s rearrange the rest.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:

17 haughty eyes, 
    a lying tongue, 
        and hands that shed innocent blood, 
            18 a heart that devises wicked plans, 
        feet that make haste to run to evil, 
    19 a false witness who breathes out lies, 
and one who sows discord among brothers.

See the X on the left side?

Now as Greeks, we would read that list and conclude that sowing discord among brothers is the worst. And it’s bad, no question. Anything that makes God’s list of things He hates is bad. But the chiasm structure tells us that it’s the wicked heart that is the most serious problem. Considering verses like “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 ) and Jesus’s words, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:18-19), we’d have to agree with that assessment.

But take a step back from the center and there is a parallel between hands and feet. Both indicate our actions. Another step back and we get a parallel between a lying tongue and a false witness. One more step out and there’s the haughty eyes (the attitude that you’re better than others) and the outworking of that attitude (causing discord).

The wickedness in the heart manifests in our actions, our words, and our attitudes. It is an abomination to God that wickedness dictates our attitudes, actions, and words. That doesn’t reflect Him or His image at all. He takes that very seriously.

Proverbs 6:16-19 is a good chiasm to start with, but there are many more. Some span entire chapters or even whole books. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some other chiasms and see the fresh insights they offer.