Jeremiah 22, 23, 26; Psalm 77; James 2
Just as the pagans marvel at God's blessings bestowed upon His people when they are faithful to Him, they will also be astonished at the punishment God will bring upon the Jews for their apostasy from Jehovah (Jer. 22:8-9). Both are testimonies about God.
It is important to heed God's warnings during times of prosperity: "I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, 'I will not listen.' This has been your way from your youth, that you did not obey My voice" (Jer. 22:21).
Jeremiah chapter 23 is one of the strongest denunciations of the unfaithfulness of prophets and priests: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord (Jer. 23:1). The restoration of the people will also be connected to the restoration of the shepherds: "I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the Lord (Jer. 23:4).
The shepherds of God's people are co-shepherds with the Messiah (Jer. 23:5-8).
The main issue with the prophets and priests who turned away from God is that instead of knowing the Word of God and faithfully conveying it, they prophesy "the dreams of their own hearts": "Behold, I am against the prophets," says the Lord, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'" (Jer. 23:31).
Such a direct rebuke of the prophets and priests provoked their outrage to the point that they decided to put Jeremiah to death (Jer. 26:8-9). But Jeremiah, obeying the Lord, did not fear and even more confidently proclaimed God's word: "Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying, 'The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. Now, therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you.'" (Jer. 26:12-13)
Psalm 77
Asaph seeks God's face in his difficulties, remembering His wondrous works and wonders that He performed for His people.
James 2
Actions born out of our trust in God are practical expressions of our faith. Faith that is merely an intellectual agreement with God and His Word is dead or ineffective faith. Complete faith is always expressed by acknowledging what God says and by obedience that comes from trusting Him. This is what James means when he speaks of Abraham. His faith was fulfilled (made perfect) when manifested in practical actions born from his trust in God.
It is important to heed God's warnings during times of prosperity: "I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, 'I will not listen.' This has been your way from your youth, that you did not obey My voice" (Jer. 22:21).
Jeremiah chapter 23 is one of the strongest denunciations of the unfaithfulness of prophets and priests: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord (Jer. 23:1). The restoration of the people will also be connected to the restoration of the shepherds: "I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the Lord (Jer. 23:4).
The shepherds of God's people are co-shepherds with the Messiah (Jer. 23:5-8).
The main issue with the prophets and priests who turned away from God is that instead of knowing the Word of God and faithfully conveying it, they prophesy "the dreams of their own hearts": "Behold, I am against the prophets," says the Lord, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'" (Jer. 23:31).
Such a direct rebuke of the prophets and priests provoked their outrage to the point that they decided to put Jeremiah to death (Jer. 26:8-9). But Jeremiah, obeying the Lord, did not fear and even more confidently proclaimed God's word: "Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying, 'The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. Now, therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you.'" (Jer. 26:12-13)
Psalm 77
Asaph seeks God's face in his difficulties, remembering His wondrous works and wonders that He performed for His people.
James 2
Actions born out of our trust in God are practical expressions of our faith. Faith that is merely an intellectual agreement with God and His Word is dead or ineffective faith. Complete faith is always expressed by acknowledging what God says and by obedience that comes from trusting Him. This is what James means when he speaks of Abraham. His faith was fulfilled (made perfect) when manifested in practical actions born from his trust in God.
Posted in Reading Bible Together