October 20
Jeremiah 35:1-36:32
1 Timothy 5:1-25
Psalm 89:14-37
Proverbs 25:25-27
Jeremiah 35:6 – Jonadab the teetotaler! But not the first who took a pledge of total abstinence. The Bible doesn’t speak in positive terms of strong drink.
Interestingly we have met Jonadab the Rechabite before! 2 Kings 10:15, we meet Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet Jehu, where they fulfilled God’s command to destroy the line of Ahab (2 Kings 10:17), and the worshippers of Baal (2 Kings 10:23). Jehonadab was radically faithful to God, and 250 years later his descendants were faithful to their forefather. They refused to assimilate into the apostate culture of the Northern Kingdom. Jonadab’s descendants were blessed for their commitment to separation (Jeremiah 35:19).
Jeremiah 36:4 – Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20) was an assistant to another famous prophet (Elijah), but Gehazi’s closeness to power gave rise to covetousness. Baruch’s prophet was kept in prison. We’ll see God’s Word for Baruch in a few chapters, but Baruch is a model of a faithful servant in the church today – whether it is in the nursery or manning the photocopier – helping to spread God’s Word.
Jeremiah 36:19 – Interesting look at the palace intrigue. The princes were
- intrigued by the Word of God (Jeremiah 36:14)
- wanted to hear it again (Jeremiah 36:15)
- convicted by it (Jeremiah 36:16)
- protected the prophet (Jeremiah 36:19)
- became unconvicted (Jeremiah 36:24)
- split opinion on burning the roll (Jeremiah 36:25)
Jeremiah 36:23 – Jehoiakim was far from the last to try to destroy God’s Word. Watch The Indestructible Book to learn more!
Jeremiah 36:30 – In contrast to the line of Jonadab the Rechabite, we have the line of Jehoiakim. One was a bedouin living in tents. One lived on the throne of David. But one was blessed forever, and one was cursed forever.
1 Timothy 5:1 – Relationships within the family of God! Paul is talking to the young pastor Timothy about how to relate to his brethren and sisters.
1 Timothy 5:4 – Subsidiarity is the idea that actions should be taken at the lowest level possible. God doesn’t need master planners (such as those that caused the Soviet famine) but local responsibility, starting at the home.
1 Timothy 5:13 – “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” isn’t found in the Bible but the principle is clear – those that can be productive, but aren’t – are tempted to idleness, and God takes seriously our use of idleness (Matthew 12:36).
1 Timothy 5:17-18 – It’s ok (especially during Pastor Appreciation Month – October!) to give your pastor a gift card to his favorite restaurant.
1 Timothy 5:23 – Having read about Jonadab – is this the 21st Amendment of the Bible that says it’s ok to crack open the keg? More like “take some Robitussin” which can be abused as well. Many a pastor has fallen by going from “a little wine” to alcoholic due to misunderstanding and misapplying this passage. A little wine in Paul’s day meant 2.5% alcohol content: “modern wine has more than five times as much alcohol as the diluted wine of the ancient world.”
An interesting modern parallel is CBD vs THC in marijuana. THC is the “active ingredient” that creates the “high” (hallucinogenic and claimed to be therapeutic). But normal marijuana is only 1% THC, which is offset by the CBD (the non-hallucinogenic part, but also therapeutic). However today marijuana is bred to upwards of 30% THC, and distilled up to 95% THC. In contrast, the legitimate medicinal uses of marijuana are available in “pharmaceutical-produced, quality controlled and dose-specific medication containing synthetic THC. Curiously, they have not sold well.” This is a good example of people hijacking a legitimate concern for health and using it to further their passions.
Psalm 89:30 – As we read today, Jehoiakim forsake his law (Jeremiah 36:29-31), and God visited his transgression (Psalm 89:32)
Psalm 89:36 – There is no king of David’s line sitting on a throne in the Knesset. But there is the Son of David sitting on the throne (Acts 2:30).
Proverbs 25:25 – It’s always exciting to hear of missionary reports from a far land!
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