Journal Through the Bible: Week 70 Wednesday

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Jeremiah 9:9 - 10:18

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (9:23-24)

Does God issue any commands?

• The LORD of hosts told Jeremiah to call the professional women mourners that they would wail and grieve the coming destruction of Jerusalem.
• Through Jeremiah, the people of Judah are told not to be dismayed by astrological "signs" in the heavens. In other words, they were not to follow astrology (note: not to be confused with astronomy which is the actual scientific study of stars and planets).
• Through Jeremiah the people were told not to pay any attention to the idols that men had made by cutting wood and adorning it with silver and gold. Such man-made idols had to be carried because they could not walk so they certainly had no power to do good or evil.
• The people also were to ignore the fancy gold and silver idols from Tarshish and Uphaz that were adorned in fine clothing. These were also fashioned by the cunning hands of men.

Does God make any promises?

• Jerusalem would be rubble.
• The people would be scattered. God would feed them with wormwood and the water of gall.
• There would be no one to bury the fallen.
• God would punish the circumcised by the uncircumcised nations because those who were circumcised in the flesh had uncircumcised hearts.
• The land would be cleansed because of the idolatrous practices of the inhabitants but God still claimed the land as an inheritance for the remnant of Jacob. (Israel turned out to be as idolatrous as the nations that God had displaced to make a homeland for Israel.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the LORD of hosts.
• Jesus is the King of Nations.
• Jesus is God the Creator who made the earth by His power and established the world by his wisdom, stretched out the heavens by his discretion. He also is the One that controls the courses of the water cycle and winds.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• At God's anger the earth shall tremble.
• Israel is still the rod of the LORD'S inheritance. The land will one day be cleansed and given to the righteous remnant as an eternal inheritance.