Archive for October 2024

Jeremiah 26-29,  Ecclesiastes 8,  John 4:1-14,  James 5:7-12   Jeremiah 26-29:   Speaking truth in love—tough words, however gently delivered—is no easy task. But it is one to which Jeremiah is called. But he must stand in the court of the LORD’s house (26:2), in a public place, right in the holy realm, and declare God’s judgment…

Jeremiah 23-25,  Ecclesiastes 7:15-29,  John 3:22-36,  James 5:1-6   Jeremiah 23-25:   Jeremiah begins this section by exposing the immorality, hypocrisy, and downright laziness of the false shepherds and false prophets at the time. “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! (23:1). Instead, he will, in the future, set over them…

Jeremiah 19-22,  Ecclesiastes 7:1-14,  John 3:16-21,  James 4:11-17   Jeremiah 19-22:   Jeremiah has a sermon with a visual aid—a “potter’s earthenware flask” (19:1). As he preaches against the idolatry of God’s people, including human sacrifice of their children (19:5), he is commanded to “break the flask” (19:10). The point is that in the same way the…

Jeremiah 16-18,  Ecclesiastes 6,  John 3:1-15,  James 4:1-10   Jeremiah 16-18:   Jeremiah, this weeping prophet, speaking judgment against God’s people, is at the same time being protected by God. Don’t have children here, Jeremiah (16:2); don’t settle down and make a home here, Jeremiah. Disaster is coming. Such is the story of the first part of…

Jeremiah 14-15, Ecclesiastes 5, John 2:12-25, James 3:13-18   Jeremiah 14-15:   The section begins with a problem. There is an economic downturn, a serious recession, brought on this agrarian society by that terror of the ancient world: “drought” (14:1). What is the cause of it? Because the Israelites know that God is the cause, ultimately, of all, they turn…

Jeremiah 12-13,  Ecclesiastes 4,  John 2:1-11,  James 3:1-12   Jeremiah 12-13:   Jeremiah has a question for God, a question that many of us have asked on occasion too. This question (12:1) is essentially, “Why do the wicked prosper?” In particular, he has in mind those who are “treacherous.” Why is it that people who betray you,…

Jeremiah 10-11,  Ecclesiastes 3:16-22,  John 1:43-51,  James 2:14-26   Jeremiah 10-11:   All true spirituality begins with an open ear to what God is saying. “Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you” (10:1). Are we listening to what God is saying? Are our ears attentive to the Scriptures? Do we set aside time not…

Jeremiah 7-9,  Ecclesiastes 3:1-15,  John 1:35-42,  James 2:1-13   Jeremiah 7-9:   Jeremiah is told to make a public pronouncement—to stand “in the gate of the LORD’s house” (7:2). He is publishing a press release in the religious media; he is hammering his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg. What is it that he must so…

Jeremiah 5-6,  Ecclesiastes 2:17-26,  John 1:29-34,  James 1:19-27   Jeremiah 5-6:   The prophet depicts a running to and fro on the streets of the city looking for just one person who is doing what is right (5:1). But none can be found! For surely they use the religious jargon (“As the LORD lives”), but they swear falsely (5:2). How common…

Jeremiah 3-4, Ecclesiastes 2:1-16, John 1:19-28, James 1:12-18 Jeremiah 3-4: We begin to see why he was called the weeping prophet! One controlling metaphor goes through these chapters, a picture that is common to the prophets in general, a picture of the rebellion of God’s people: adultery, prostitution, sexual immorality. “You have played the whore with many lovers”…