Posts that reference the book of Jeremiah

Wanna Boast?

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

By Paula Wiseman

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.

I’m Too …

By Paula

The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. Jeremiah 1:7 (NLT)

Don’t say, “I’m too young,” or “I’m too old.”

Don’t say, “I’m too inexperienced, or too unskilled.”

Don’t say, “I’m too busy, or too tired.”

Don’t say, “I’m too afraid, or too intimidated.”

Don’t say, “I’m too unsure, or too uncertain.”

Don’t say, “I’m too comfortable, or too safe.”

Don’t say, “I’m too unprepared, or too indecisive.”

Because God says, “For I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Jeremiah 1:8

How to Glory

By Paula

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24

Who doesn’t like to be recognized for hard work, a job well done, and the dedication they put into their tasks? Individuals naturally appreciate the acknowledgement and encouragement they receive. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance and not let recognition lead to excessive pride or egotism. So, here’s the question: how can we manage this desire for affirmation, attention, and encouragement while also cultivating humble submission to God?

1. Recognize true glory.

The verses in Jeremiah outline what we should get excited about– our great God who demonstrates His lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. I know the Lord, and He reveals Himself to me, wants to be known. Moreover, His unfailing love and abundant mercy accompany His acts of justice. With awe and reverence, we can embrace the profound revelation that God desires to establish a personal relationship with each and every one of us. Through His grace and infinite wisdom, He continuously reaches out to us, seeking to reveal His truth and power. It is with utmost joy and gratitude that we can acknowledge and proclaim the majesty of our Lord, who willingly discloses Himself to those who long to know Him.

2. Examine our motives.

Why are we doing what we’re doing? Are we just trying to show off our brains and skills? Or are we chasing after money and fame? Maybe it’s about seeking recognition? Our true motivation should come from something greater than that. We should be driven by God’s word, inviting others to know and experience the life-changing power it possesses. When that becomes our mission, we realize that our ultimate satisfaction lies not in applause or attagirls (or Amazon rankings, *ahem*) but in being unconditionally loved by God.

3. Follow God’s example.

The verses in Jeremiah emphasize the qualities that God embodies: lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness. Let’s leave judgment to God. However, we can focus on displaying love, kindness, and compassion toward others. Concentrating on what we can GIVE rather than what we must GET from others is the necessary perspective shift that will help squash our need for affirmation.

Understanding and knowing God is an ever-unfolding, transformative journey. Don’t miss out on it while chasing self-esteem, likes, or affirmation — the temporal. Take God’s advice. Glory in the fact that you have a relationship with the Creator King of the Universe!

PS - If you DON'T have a relationship with God, reply to this post. I'd love to explain how you can.

Sound Mind Theology: Fairness and Control

By Paula Wiseman

Since the Fall we have struggled not only with the content of our thoughts but the process as well. Yes, even the very way we size up situations and apply knowledge and experience to them is tainted by sin. In other words, we are constantly plagued by fallacies and cognitive distortions. Last time we reviewed three distortions that are interrelated — minimizing, maximizing, and disqualifying. Today’s we’ll look at a couple of fallacies — fairness and control.

Remember a fallacy is a belief we hold that is built on faulty logic, most often because we build conclusions on faulty premises.

Everything should be fair.

One the surface we would all agree with that statement. In fact, you may be ready to challenge my statement that this is a fallacy. There are two problems with that statement, however. First of all, who defines fair? If we as human beings do it, we will inevitably define fair in a way that gives us an advantage. Not to mention the fact that we generally see ourselves as fair.

The second thing is, when we say fairness, we really mean justice. We want things to be just. We want good rewarded and evil punished. We want hard work to pay off and laziness to result in failure. We want to get what we deserve and we want that for everyone else.

The expectation of fairness is based on a faulty premise.

“Life isn’t fair,” is often one of the first hard lessons we learn. But we don’t always consider why life isn’t fair. We live in a world that is broken by sin. It is irreparably broken and it cannot function in a way that is fair or just. We are broken people and even our best intentions derail. We have experienced unfair treatment and we have experienced injustice.

In our spiritual life, we can get discouraged if we focus on the unfairness and injustice. We can get frustrated with God who seems not to notice or care, or who doesn’t intervene on our behalf or right the wrongs we see. If we persist, we presume to judge what is fair and what isn’t, putting ourselves in God’s place.

God created us in His image. That longing for fairness, for justice comes from Him, so that in itself is not a bad thing. We must recognize that God is the only one who can deliver perfect justice.

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6

Anyone who is not God (that’s us) will work in ways that, intentionally or not, result in unfairness. We are not perfect, nor can we be, and we do not have perfect knowledge and understanding. Only God sees the entire situation, all extenuating circumstances and all the motives behind our actions.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

Because God sees and knows everything, His judgments then are perfect. And so is His timing. We get impatient in the face of unfairness, but make no mistake, God will set things right.

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18

We like the feeling of control

Our culture values those who take charge, who chart their own paths, who make things happen. We feel most secure when things happen according to our plans and expectations, or when people respond the way we want them to. No waves. Not even any ripples.

Control is an illusion

We react mentally and emotionally when things seem out of control, specifically out of our control. We labor under feelings of powerlessness. We are swept along by circumstances. We don’t have a say in the things going on in our lives. Sometimes it’s the opposite. We feel excessive responsibility. We have to make things right, or we have to ensure things run smoothly.

The truth is, there is very little we have control over. We can choose our responses, and honestly, that’s about it. But ever since the Garden, we have wanted to be like God and exercise our control over the world. The irony is we forfeited that dominion God entrusted us with for a piece of fruit. Perhaps that’s why we long for control.

In our spiritual lives this desire for control can manifest in a power struggle. Will God be God in our lives our will try to push Him off the throne and run things ourselves. On the flip side, it can show up in a belief that God is just as powerless to affect our circumstances as we feel we are. Both are false versions of God.

God is the creator of heaven and earth, and as such, He controls and oversees everything that happens. There is nothing that happens outside of God’s directives.

Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Lamentations 3:37

Paul explains the degree to which God is so far above us.

…[H]e who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16

The wondrous thing about God is that this incredible power, evidenced by His sovereignty over all, is exercised according to His perfect goodness and love for us. Romans 8:38-39 assure us that we as His children cannot be separated from His love.

This outworking of this is that we don’t have to control anything. And we don’t have to despair when things aren’t fair. Our great God, who loves us beyond understanding, has everything under control. He will ensure His perfect justice and fairness will have its way.

We just have to let go of the fallacies and trust God. (Keep working on it.)

Just so we’re clear, I’m not a counselor. I read, research, and study, and I have some life experience. I am not attempting to diagnose anything, but rather help us evaluate how we think based on Scripture.

All Things New: The Covenant

By Paula Wiseman

It’s a new year and our thoughts naturally tend toward making a fresh start. As believers, we have already experienced the freshest start possible. Our sins have been wiped away completely, and we are a new creation. Paul says as much in 2 Corinthians 5:17. We have a new birth, new life, new position, new nature, new goals, new relationships, a new mission, a new purpose … and many more. But the key to all of this, we learned last week, was God’s divine initiative. One of the ways that initiative was manifested was God initiating a covenant with individuals and with groups of people. And we learn about those in Hebrews.

Before we discuss the covenants themselves, it’s important to realize that they are solely a function of God’s grace. Yes, Abraham was a man of faith, but God’s decision to cut a covenant with the patriarch came before Abram exercised any faith in God. It wasn’t a case of God reviewing humanity and deciding Abram was someone He could work with, someone He wanted on His team. No. Fallen humanity never seeks God or the things of God. But God does seek us, and He graciously calls us into a relationship with Him. Abram wasn’t a party to the first covenant in Scripture but his is the first we’ll consider.

Abraham

In Hebrews 6:13-14, the writer recalls the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 22.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”

Even though the writer doesn’t cite the entire covenant and its promises, they were certainly in view to him and to his readers. Those promises included an inheritance of land in Canaan and a unique identity as God’s people. God chose a people for Himself, the descendants of Abraham. Later, we’ll find out just what it means to be a descendant of Abraham.

Moses

When we think of covenants, we think of the covenant God made with Israel through the Exodus. In Exodus 19 God invites the people to live as His people, under His law. While the people immediately accepted that offer, especially after seeing the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, things went south quickly.

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?
Hebrews 3:15-16

The covenant based on keeping God’s law was a failure because the people were rebellious. Note it was not a problem with God’s law. Paul explains in Romans 7 the law was good. It points out how high God’s standards are and how short we fall. Even if we think things would have been different if WE had been at Sinai, if WE had seen those miracles … the truth is, WE have already failed. A quick dip on social media provides enough evidence that, left to ourselves, we are in deep trouble. Better evidence is in Romans 3 where Paul plainly tells us that none of us are good, none of us seek after God.

While that first covenant had a system in place to cover our sins and delay judgment, there was no permanent way to erase our sins. That’s why God initiated a New Covenant in Christ.

The NEW Covenant

Christ Himself explained in the Upper Room that He was inaugurating a new covenant, guaranteed by His blood. The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 about the New Covenant.

For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant…”
Hebrews 8:8-9

This is how we know the New Covenant wasn’t a last-minute idea God threw together when Israel couldn’t keep the Law. HE knew we wouldn’t be able to keep the Law. We, however, had to see for ourselves. (We’re stubborn that way.) God knew all along that redemption through the blood of Christ was the only way our sins could be dealt with and satisfy both His justice and His grace.

Hebrews 9 explains (and it is absolutely worth the long quote):

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:11-15.

The blood of goats and bulls could only go so far. How much MORE will the blood of Christ Jesus Himself, freely offered, purify us! This is how we become the people of God by faith like Abraham. We believe God that Christ’s death is sufficient and is available to us. God accounts that to us and we are considered righteous.

Now that’s not the end of the story, and we don’t get to simply sit around patting ourselves on the back. Under the covenant made while Moses led the people, obedience was expected in order to enjoy the blessings of the covenant. Deuteronomy 27 describes how the Israelites lined up on Mounts Ebal and Gerizim to rehearse the curses for disobedience and the blessings for obedience.

Even under the New Covenant, believers have a responsibility. While we’ll look at the charge more next week, here’s how the writer of Hebrews lays it out.

Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Hebrews 10:19-24