|
|
|
|
church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut |
|
Home|
Phone |
|
Worship Schedule |
|
|
|
Upcoming Activities |
|
|
|
|
Impalement
Lessons from Jeremiah
& Lamentations Today (Tuesday) we finished up our study of Jeremiah and
Lamentations in the Tuesday morning class [Note: this class will not meet again
until the fall]. We’ve learned many,
many lessons from this study. Here are just
a few: 1. Astrology is wicked. The Israelites were
told, "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of
the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:2 ESV). Our
brother Robert R. Taylor Jr. noted that this referred to “astrology, i.e., that
stars guide and heavenly bodies determine human destinies. Heathens are greatly and gravely influenced
by such and so is modern man with astrological guesses, horoscopes, etc.” 2. We serve a powerful God. Twice in Jeremiah,
in 10:12-16 and 50:15-19, we read a description of God that begins, “It is he
who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and
by his understanding stretched out the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:12 ESV). Our brother Robert R. Taylor Jr. noted that
in chapter 10, “God is showing with what ease He can defeat lifeless gods,” and
that in chapter 50, “He shows with what ease He can put down an earthly
monarchy—the Babylonian government.” 3. Don’t take away from God’s word.
God told Jeremiah, "Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the
Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the
house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not
hold back a word” (Jeremiah 26:2 ESV).
Notice those last words, “do not hold back a word.” Likewise, near the beginning of the Bible, we
read, “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that
you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you” (Deut.
4:2 ESV). And near the end of the Bible,
we read, “…and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life…” (Rev. 22:19 ESV). 4. Seek and you will find. God told those in
Babylonian captivity, “You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all
your heart, I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:12-14 ESV). Of course, Jesus also promised us, “Ask, and
it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened
to you. For everyone who asks receives,
and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened”
(Matthew 7:7-8 ESV). 5. God is opposed to the proud. Concerning 6. God sees everything. God said, “Can a
man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord.
Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24 ESV). Likewise, the writer to the Hebrews wrote,
“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the
eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13 ESV). 7. Trials makes us better. Jeremiah said, “It
is good for a man to carry a heavy load of suffering while he is young”
(Lamentations 3:27 NIRV). Wayne Jackson
wrote, “The prophet appears to concede that the yoke of suffering he had borne
in his earlier years had produced beneficial results.” Similarly, James wrote, “Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing
of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3 ESV). 8. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Jeremiah said to God, “You drew near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do
not fear!’” (Lamentations 3:57 NASB).
Our brother Robert R. Taylor Jr. wrote, “Jeremiah was drawing near to
God in prayer; God drew near to him in prompt precious response….” James said, “Draw near to God, and he will
draw near to you” (James 4:8 ESV). |