Jeremiah 17-20; James 1
Jeremiah prophesied during the intense period of Judah's departure from God, right before the Babylonian exile. His calls to repentance were met with strong resistance from the people.
Jeremiah urges the Jews once again to place their trust in the Lord: "This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord." (Jer. 17:5). On the other hand, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him." (Jer. 17:7).
Despite repeated warnings, the people of Judah refused to listen, continuing to live stubbornly for themselves rather than for God (Jer. 17:19-27).
Jeremiah was in a difficult situation. He was ridiculed and persecuted, and his prophecies were mocked: "They keep saying to me, 'Where is the word of the Lord? Let it now be fulfilled!'" (Jer. 17:15). Plots were devised against him, with people saying that other prophets had predicted good things: "They said, 'Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah; for the law will not cease from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. So come, let's attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to anything he says.'" (Jer. 18:18).
Jeremiah was so troubled that he cried out to God: "Listen to me, Lord; hear what my accusers are saying!" (Jer. 18:19). He expressed his reluctance, reminding God that He had called him to this challenging mission: "I have not run away from being your shepherd..." (Jer. 17:16).
Despite the opposition, Jeremiah continued to proclaim strong rebukes to the people: "Say to them: 'Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says this: Listen! I am going to bring disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.'"(Jer. 19:3). God warned of judgment: *"I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and make them fall by the sword before their enemies, at the hands of those who seek their lives. And I will give their carcasses as food to the birds and the wild animals." (Jer. 19:7).
After hearing these words, the priest Pashur struck Jeremiah and put him in the stocks. However, Jeremiah continued to prophesy, addressing Pashur directly: "And you, Pashur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies." (Jer. 20:6).
Jeremiah explains the source of his courage and strength: *"You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me."* (Jer. 20:7). Though tempted to remain silent, the prophet felt compelled to speak God's words: "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jer. 20:9).
James 1
Understanding that trials are instruments for growth and strengthening faith brings joy in difficult circumstances.
God allows trials, but it is our fault when we fall into temptation: "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their evil desire and enticed." (James 1:14).
James also emphasizes the importance of obeying God's Word (James 1:22-25).
Jeremiah urges the Jews once again to place their trust in the Lord: "This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord." (Jer. 17:5). On the other hand, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him." (Jer. 17:7).
Despite repeated warnings, the people of Judah refused to listen, continuing to live stubbornly for themselves rather than for God (Jer. 17:19-27).
Jeremiah was in a difficult situation. He was ridiculed and persecuted, and his prophecies were mocked: "They keep saying to me, 'Where is the word of the Lord? Let it now be fulfilled!'" (Jer. 17:15). Plots were devised against him, with people saying that other prophets had predicted good things: "They said, 'Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah; for the law will not cease from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. So come, let's attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to anything he says.'" (Jer. 18:18).
Jeremiah was so troubled that he cried out to God: "Listen to me, Lord; hear what my accusers are saying!" (Jer. 18:19). He expressed his reluctance, reminding God that He had called him to this challenging mission: "I have not run away from being your shepherd..." (Jer. 17:16).
Despite the opposition, Jeremiah continued to proclaim strong rebukes to the people: "Say to them: 'Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says this: Listen! I am going to bring disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.'"(Jer. 19:3). God warned of judgment: *"I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and make them fall by the sword before their enemies, at the hands of those who seek their lives. And I will give their carcasses as food to the birds and the wild animals." (Jer. 19:7).
After hearing these words, the priest Pashur struck Jeremiah and put him in the stocks. However, Jeremiah continued to prophesy, addressing Pashur directly: "And you, Pashur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies." (Jer. 20:6).
Jeremiah explains the source of his courage and strength: *"You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me."* (Jer. 20:7). Though tempted to remain silent, the prophet felt compelled to speak God's words: "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jer. 20:9).
James 1
Understanding that trials are instruments for growth and strengthening faith brings joy in difficult circumstances.
God allows trials, but it is our fault when we fall into temptation: "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their evil desire and enticed." (James 1:14).
James also emphasizes the importance of obeying God's Word (James 1:22-25).
Posted in Reading Bible Together