Jeremiah 22:13-19: A bit of an ass?
As we work through this ‘rogues gallery’ of the final kings of Judah, we come now to ‘’Jehoiakim’’ (18), who was one of that territory’s most evil kings (2 Kings 23:36, 37; 24:1-7). Josiah was his father and Shallum his brother. Jehoiakim only became king after his brother Shallum was exiled (2 Kings 23:34).
‘’Jehoiakim wasn’t much different from some modern politicians who profit from dishonest gain while they ignore the cries of the poor and needy.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (OT)’, p.1236.
Here are some observations based on the text:
Loving justice (13): God is grieved when the poor are oppressed by the rich and powerful. One of Jehoiakim’s evil deeds was to make his countrymen work without pay (see Deuteronomy 24:14, 15). He was effectively reducing his brothers to slavery. We need to take care that we do not become complicit in any form of injustice.
True nobility (15, 16): What is it that makes a person noble? It has nothing to do with birth or the blood flowing in their veins. Not really. It has everything to do with character. Leadership is fundamentally about who you are. Jehoiakim’s ‘apple’ fell very far from Josiah’s ‘tree’. It was a case of ‘like father, unlike son’. Josiah lived comfortably, but fairly, caring about matters of justice. True religion considers the poor and needy (see James 1: 27). As someone said, knowing God and doing His will are inseparable. ‘’So that makes you a king-living in a fancy palace? Your father got along just fine, didn’t he? He did what was right and treated people fairly. And things went well with him. He stuck up for the down-and-out, And things went well for Judah. Isn’t this what it means to know me?…But you’re blind and brainless. All you think about is yourself. Taking advantage of the weak, bulldozing your way, bullying victims.’’ The Message.
Sheer folly (18): You can be a great person in the eyes of the world, but it’s only for a short time. Then what? Will it be seen that you were an ‘ass’ so to speak; that you wasted your life? ‘’They’ll give him a donkey’s funeral, drag him out of the city and dump him.’’ The Message. Just recently, a famous (or infamous/notorious ) lady died. She was well-known for devoting her life to an overtly sinful business, and no doubt made a lot of money from it. These words of mine are not intended to judge her. Only God can know the true state of her soul. But I couldn’t help but reflect on the tragedy of a life given over to the vanity and folly of sin. The words spoken about Jehoiakim (19) say that he would have no burial. Instead his body would be left exposed on the ground (see Deuteronomy 28:26; Jeremiah 36:30.This point is not contradicted by 2 Kings 24:6 by the way. The statement there simply means that he died. No burial is mentioned.) How tragic when someone dies and it can be said: ‘’Nobody will shed tears over him.’’ The Message.
Prayer: ‘’Teach me to live, that I may dread, the grave as little as my bed.’’ Bishop Thomas Ken.
Jeremiah 22:10-12: A tale of 2 kings (please click here for todays Bible passage)
‘’Don’t weep over dead King Josiah. Don’t waste your tears. Weep for his exiled son: He’s gone for good. He’ll never see home again. For this is GOD’s Word on Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah: ‘’He’s gone from here, gone for good. He’ll die in the place they’ve taken him to. He’ll never see home again.’’ The Message.
These verses talk about two different kings: ‘’Josiah’’, and his son ‘’Shallum’’, whose throne name was ‘Jehoahaz’ (2 Kings 23:31-35). Jeremiah tells the people not to weep for Josiah. He had died some years earlier while fighting the Egyptians (2 Kings 23:29). His body was carried back to Jerusalem where it was laid to rest in peace and honour (2 Kings 23:30). But unlike his godly father, Shallum was an evil man, and reigned only three months. He was then taken into exile in Egypt, where he died (2 Kings 23:34). This tale of two kings was also a tale of two destinies, for one was a believer and the other an ungodly person.
We can understand the logic of verse 10: the call not to weep for Josiah. We can’t do any more for those who have died, but a whole generation would be separated from their true home forever. They would die as exiles in a foreign land. For most that far off country would be Babylon; but for Shallum it was Egypt (see also verses 24-30). This was a matter for tears; and it introduces us to the essence of hell, which is to be exiled (for ever) far removed from our true home – God Himself. It is ultimately a final destination we choose for ourselves by persistent and willful rejection of Jesus, and by refusal to turn back to the Lord, from sin, and be saved from sin. Shallum did not have to be an exile, and neither do you.
From a Christian perspective, we know we do not have to weep for those who die in the Lord. We may cry for ourselves, but it is not necessary to shed tears for them. They are safe, and free and happy; and all our weeping will not bring them back. But let us indeed feel the strongest emotions for those who are ‘lost’. Our prayer meetings should not be dry-eyed as we consider the state as those who now live as exiles from God, and who will remain permanently in that state if they do not repent.
Apparently there was a pro-Jehoahaz party in Judah, pinning their hopes on their king’s return. Perhaps some of the false prophets encouraged this expectation. But it was not going to happen. Neither do we have any Biblical reason to expect that those who die as exiles from God can ever get back home. Though some may preach it, I do not see that the Bible teaches it. The time to repent is now; the time to pray is now; the time to preach is now. Let’s do so, because lost people matter to God.
Prayer: Teach us to care about people, Lord, as you do.
Jeremiah 22:6-9: Let Britain take note!(please click here for todays Bible passage)
‘’Travellers from all over will come through here and say to one another, ‘Why would GOD do such a thing to this wonderful city?’ They’ll be told, ‘Because they walked out on the covenant of their GOD, took up with other gods and worshipped them.’’ (8, 9) The Message.
I read the above verses and think, ‘Let Great Britain take note; let every European nation take note; indeed, every country on the face of the earth. Let me take note.’ Here is a significant object lesson. Let us look and learn. There are consequences to rejecting God (see Deuteronomy 29:24-26; Jeremiah 16:10-11). ‘’God never forsakes His people unless they have first forsaken Him.’’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p.1106. God regularly works in such a way as to raise questions in people’s minds, and if they heed the answer given they can be saved (Acts 2:5ff.)
In (6, 7) you get a sense of what it costs God to judge His people. He doesn’t do it lightly.
‘’I number you among my favourite places – like the lovely hills of Gilead, like the soaring peaks of Lebanon. Yet I swear I’ll turn you into a wasteland, as empty as a ghost town. I’ll hire a demolition crew, well-equipped with sledgehammers and wrecking bars, Pound the country to a pulp and burn it all up.’’ The Message
It hurt Him to hurt them. His love wanted to spare them; but His justice demanded their judgment, because they would not repent. Just as it hurts a loving parent to discipline a wayward child, so this chastisement pierced God’s own heart. We don’t always think about the price paid by God in judgment – a price which is seen most clearly in the death of Jesus, for us all, at Calvary. He judged His Son, for our sin, in order to set us free, if we are willing to be free.
Prayer: Lord have mercy on our land, and bring us back to you.
Jeremiah 22:1-5: Clear alternatives.(please click on Bible passage for reading)
In this chapter Jeremiah delivers a series of messages from God concerning the various kings of Judah under whose reigns Jeremiah ministered. It is thought likely that the unnamed king here is Zedekiah, Judah’s last king. He was called to conform to the example of king David in order to benefit from the promises made to him.
In (4), Jeremiah repeats what he said earlier in (17:25). ‘’This promise is a reaffirmation of the covenant God made with David himself (see 2 Samuel 7:12-17…). However, as we know, David’s throne – the kings of the house of David – did come to an end, because of Judah’s persistent disobedience to God’s covenant (Exodus 19:5-6). After the fall of Jerusalem there was no king on David’s throne for six hundred years. But God had another plan for keeping His side of the covenant. Though there were no kings, David’s family line continued during those six hundred years and culminated in the birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17), to whom God gave the throne of his father David and a kingdom that will never end (Luke 1:30-33). Tom Hale: ‘The applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1106.
‘’Subjects must own that where the word of the king is there is power over them, but kings must own that where the word of the Lord is there is power over them.’’ Matthew Henry
These five verses contain clear alternatives, and I was thinking that the gospel message which has been entrusted to us is beautifully balanced between hope and wrath, life and death. We have to say, ‘Go with God and this will happen’; ‘reject Him and that will happen.’ The recipients of Jeremiah’s message could not have failed to understand what was being required of them. May we be as clear in our presentation, so that people can see the ‘narrow’ road and the ‘broad’ one, and choose their route wisely.
‘’…then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…’’ (Joshua 24:15).
God does not issue idle warnings. He means what He says. What God said happened just a few years later (5; see2 Kings 25:9). Because He has no-one greater to swear by, He swears by Himself (Hebrews 6:13). God’s judgment is real; Hell is real. ‘’Sin will be the ruin of the houses of princes as well as of mean men.’’ Matthew Henry. All who cling to Jesus by faith have eternal hope, but those who do not face a terrible alternative.
Prayer: Lord keep us true to the clear truth you have revealed.
Psalm 119:65-72: Better than gold.(please click here for todays passage)
What would you rather have: your Bible or a massive lottery win? I hope you can say the former (72); that God’s Word is your ‘’delight’’ (70). ‘’Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine.’’ The Message. Is God’s Word your most prized possession by far?
Verse 65 reads as a prayer in the ‘New International Version’: Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD.’’ But in the ‘ESV’ it is rendered as a statement: ‘’You have dealt with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.’’ In the Bible, God promises good to His people, and in experience we prove this to be true: that He is good and that what He does is good (68). I knew a man who was an excellent servant of the church. When someone said this to him, his response was, ‘’Well, I have a good Master.’’ What God’s Word says about Him, and what we experience of Him; of His goodness, should encourage us to keep on praying for HIs help so that we can be His faithful people in this antagonistic world. Therefore we keep on asking, ‘’Teach me…teach me…’’ (66a, 68b; also see James 1:5-7).
Even when we go through ‘affliction’ (67, 71) we can affirm: ‘’You are good, and what you do is good…’’ We see the productive power in trials (see James 1:2-4) bringing us into an even closer relationship with God’s Word (67, 71), and ultimately, of course with the Word’s Author. During what I call my ‘nightmare year’ (which actually was around 18 months in reality) – a time of great trauma in the church – the Bible came alive to me in such vivid ways. I kept a journal that year, and it is full of jotted down Scriptures that became personal friends. They walked with me and put an arm around my shoulder and comforted me. At the end of it all I could see that it was good for me to be afflicted in the way I was. ‘’My troubles turned out all for the best – they forced me to learn from your textbook.’’ The Message. The context suggests that the psalmist’s affliction had to with persecution, but he would not allow the hostility of others to deflect him from the path of whole-hearted obedience (69). In the world we will often encounter hardness of heart, but the people of God have soft hearts towards Scripture, and ultimately before God Himself. They are malleable and He can shape them according to His truth. ‘’The godless spread lies about me; but I focus my attention on what you are saying; They’re bland as a bucket of lard, while I dance to the tune of your revelation.’’ The Message.
‘’We are pupils in his school of affliction (67, 70), he is the Principal of the school and the graduation award is the treasure of his word.’’ J.A. Motyer: ‘New Bible Commentary’, p.568.
Prayer: ‘’Be good to your servant, GOD; be as good as your Word.’’ (65). The Message.
Luke 2:1-20: Ordinary people.(please click here for todays Bible passage)
This familiar chapter opens with a historical note. This is Luke the painstaking historian at work.
Through Joseph and Mary’s obedience to the law of the land (and believers should be good citizens) God’s purpose was worked out and prophecy fulfilled (Micah 5:2).
This is a story of humble people and humble circumstances. The greatest event in history, up to that point, was barely noticed by most. It happened in such obscurity. (‘’How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given…‘’). But God chose to make it known to certain people. Some of them were among the most poor and despised people of their times – the shepherds (8-21). They were just doing their duty that night (8). On any ordinary day God may unexpectedly appear in your work place and fill it with His glory.
The shepherds believed what they were told and eagerly went to see for themselves (15, 16); having seen, they then told (17). But they didn’t preach their experience, as vivid and as wonderful as it was: ‘’…they spread the word…’’ They told what they had been told; they passed on the revealed word about Jesus. That is reliable; it is solid rock beneath our feet. We will always find what God says to be true (20; see 12 & 16). The shepherds were, we might say, seekers, preachers and worshippers. All who seek Jesus and find Him are then called to go and make Him known. The question needs to be asked, ‘Are we ready to hear from God through the lips of unlikely people?’
The ‘’good news’’ about Jesus is ‘’for all the people’’ (10). It’s interesting to note that Luke was a Gentile writing for a Gentile readership
What a lovely picture of meditation is painted in (19; see 2:51). Job said: ‘’I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.’’ (Job 23:12b).What thoughts are filling your heart today?
1 Timothy 3:14-16: Truth matters.(please click here for todays Bible passage)
We need to understand that there is behaviour which befits church members, and there is conduct that is unbecoming (14, 15). There are ways to be that have an ‘’ought’’ attached to them. They are obligatory rather than optional. We have spent two days looking at what church leaders ‘’ought’’ to be. The truth is that this ‘ought’ applies to all of us in the church. Leaders must be a certain way because all God’s people are called to live like that. Shepherds are to be models to their sheep. If we conduct ourselves like our leaders we shouldn’t be going too far wrong. (Otherwise, something has gone terribly awry with the leadership.)
The church is a wonder and a marvel, and it has an important relationship to the truth. It is not composed of a bunch of deluded people who believe in fairy stories. It is made up of those who care about truth; they know the truth has set them free. Leaders in the church are not to play ‘fast and loose’ with the truth (2, 9). The revealed truth of God is to shape and govern their consciences, and all their teaching and living. They must be people of the Word, following the ‘Map’ placed into their hands by the Lord, and showing others the way from this same Map. The ministry of Biblical preaching is vitally important to the health of a local church. It cannot be sacrificed without terrible cost. Paul calls the church ‘’the pillar and foundation of the truth.’’ It’s been said that there are two aspects to this ministry: guarding and defending the truth (‘’foundation’’); and lifting it high, proclaiming it (‘’the pillar’’). A pillar thrusts something upwards and holds it aloft; a foundation (or bulwark) prevents something from falling down. The church has this dual protective and proclaiming ministry with regard to the truth.
Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6). He is at the heart of the church’s message. The living Word is the centre point of the written Word. It all converges in Him and focuses on Him. This chapter concludes with a beautifully succinct statement about Jesus (16).
‘’The Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough…’’ The Message.
People may disagree about what aspects of the career of Jesus some of the lines in this short ‘hymn’ are describing. But no one can miss the central point that it is about the glory of Jesus and the success of the gospel in the world. That is what the church is all about, proclaiming and defending the eternal truth about Jesus to the glory and praise of His Name forever.
Prayer: Lord God help me to always stay on the rails of your truth.
1 Timothy 3:8-13: Serving well.(click here for todays Bible passage)
There clearly are areas of overlap between the qualifications for elders and those for ‘’Deacons’’. See the word ‘’likewise’’ (8).The boundary line between these two roles may not be so clearly demarcated as we sometimes imagine, but it appears that the elders were the ‘overseers’ of the church, perhaps assisted by deacons, who could also exercise a teaching/preaching ministry (9). There are four areas mentioned where deacons must be similar to elders:
- They should have integrity and be of good character (8): Who they are counts; not just what they can do;
- They must be theologically sound (9): This is a particularly interesting statement in the light of the fact that it is regularly thought that a deacon’s ministry may have been more practical in nature (see Acts 6:1-7, which may refer to the appointment of the first diaconate);
- They have got to prove themselves first (10): ‘’Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on.’’ The Message. This may link to the next point (see also 4, 5. We saw yesterday that the home is the proving ground for church leadership);
- They have to be exemplary in home and family life (12): Perfection is not asked for, but a good example in moral/sexual conduct is required.
Verse 11 points to the character which is also required for deacon’s wives. But I understand the word can also refer to ‘deaconesses.’ ‘’No exceptions are to be made for women – same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine.’’ The Message.
When people serve well in Christian leadership they receive both external and internal blessings (13). Externally, there is an honour placed on them by God (and the church). Internally, they grow in a sense of assurance that they are saved people demonstrating and expressing their salvation in the good works of ministry.
‘’Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.’’ The Message.
Pray today that your leaders will serve well.
1 Timothy 3:1-7: Noble ambition.(please click for today’s passage)
In Oswald Sanders’ remarkable book ‘Spiritual Leadership’, he places 1 Timothy 3:1 and Jeremiah 45:5 together at the beginning of one chapter. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with wanting to be a (servant) leader in the church. It’s a noble ambition. Paul is so sure about this point that he underlines it by calling it a ‘’trustworthy’’ saying. The problem is, however, that our desires, at best, are tainted with selfishness. The ambition to be ‘up front’, doing highly visible stuff in church, can come from a bad place. So we need Jeremiah’s counter-balance: ‘’Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not.’’ Why do you want to be a leader? Who is it for really? I believe that anyone who wants to lead should place their aspirations, and what they believe about their own giftedness, before other mature Christians whose judgment they respect. I recognise that we can be self-deluded. I have known good and sincere people who desperately wanted to be in a pulpit, but when they got an opportunity it was obvious to at least a core of wise and discerning fellow-believers that they weren’t fitted for it. Yet some souls will not be easily disabused of the belief that they can preach and lead and that they are very good at it! So there is a need to be humble and open to feedback. Let other people you trust speak into your life. Listen to them. If you don’t have the gifts you hope you have, you certainly will have others that you may not even recognise.
But it’s not necessarily wrong to want to be an elder. Here, however, are some key things to look for before we appoint anyone:
• What about their character? (2, 3): The qualifications for church leadership in the New Testament are not primarily about charisma but character. It’s not a question of whether or not this person can be a commanding presence on stage. No, is this man godly? That’s the issue. Is he growing in godliness? Is he committed to living a holy life? Will he be in example in all areas?
• How is their home life? (4, 5): The home is the proving ground for leadership in the church. If you can’t lead in your own family how can you hope to lead God’s family?
• How young are they in the faith? (6): Paul does not specify how ‘’recent’’ is ‘recent’, but we have to wrestle with this one and try to ensure that we don’t appoint anyone prematurely. Of course, people mature at different rates, so some may be ready sooner than others.
• What impression do you have of their reputation in the world? (7) I have never been in a church where we did this, but I think it would probably be fitting to get references from the ‘market place ‘where appropriate. What is their boss’s view of them? And what impression do colleagues have of this person? An elder should have a good reputation outside the church and not just within it.
Church leadership is like marriage in a way. Quoting from the wedding service it ‘’should not be entered into lightly, but reverently, soberly and in the fear of God.’’
Prayer: We pray today for all who have undertaken the responsibility of servant leadership in the church. Thank you for their willingness to serve. Please bless them with strength and wisdom and peace, and all good things needed to carry out their ministry. By your grace help them to keep growing in Christlikeness.
