TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Jeremiah 33:1-34:22
1 Timothy 4:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 25:23-24
Jeremiah 33:1 — In prison? Jeremiah? He joins a good group of biblical prisoners:
- Joseph (Genesis 39:20)
- Samson (Judges 16:21)
- Hoshaiah (2 Chronicles 16:10)
- Micaiah (1 Kings 22:27, 2 Chronicles 18:26)
- Jehoiachin (2 Kings 25:27)
- Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:2)
- John the Baptist (Matthew 4:12)
- The Apostles (Acts 5:18)
- Peter (Acts 12:5)
- Paul & Silas (Acts 16:23-27)
Paul recounts that he was “in prisons more frequent” (2 Corinthians 11:23). As Psalm 69:33 tells us, “… the LORD … despiseth not his prisoners …” and in Psalm 146:7 we hear, “The LORD looseth the prisoners!”
Jeremiah 33:3 — Growing up, it was fun to show off what you could make with Legos. But how much more amazing would it be to see the great and mighty things that the Creator of the Universe can make! Let’s call unto Him today!
Jeremiah 33:8 — Cleansed and pardoned! How can someone be cleansed? Leviticus 14:14 says that the blood of the trespass offering is needed to cleanse. Jeremiah accused them of bloodguiltiness or “any grievous sin which, if it remains, will block God’s favor to His land and people” (Jeremiah 2:34, Jeremiah 7:6, Jeremiah 19:4, Jeremiah 22:3, Jeremiah 22:17, Jeremiah 26:15). Numbers 35:33 says that the land can only be cleansed of the blood shed within its borders by the blood of him that shed it. Whose blood will be shed to pay for the penalty? Numbers 35:33 would imply that it would be Israel’s blood, but if their blood is shed, who would take the land? Only Someone who could take the iniquity of all (Isaiah 53:6). The Branch of Righteousness, the heir of David (Jeremiah 33:15) will save Judah. In the very first verse of the New Testament Jesus is identified as the Son of David (Matthew 1:1). Even the blind men could see that Jesus was the Son of David (Matthew 9:27, 20:30-32), and the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22).
Jeremiah 34:7 — Sennacherib had already attacked Lachish about 140 years earlier. Now, it is under attack again.
In 1935, the archaeologist J. L. Starkey discovered in Lachish some broken pieces of pottery with writing on them that have become known as the Lachish Letters. We’ll discuss them more as we continue, but if you ever get to the British Museum or the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem, be sure to look for them.
Jeremiah 34:14 — Jeremiah notes that because the commands of Exodus 21:2 and Deuteronomy 15:12 had been neglected, the people that were released (belatedly) were now being re-enslaved!
1 Timothy 4:1 — Let’s see … are we in the latter times? What are the characteristics?
- Departing from the faith
Nearly one-third of white Americans raised in evangelical Christian households leave their childhood faith. About 60 percent of those who leave end up joining another faith tradition, while 40 percent give up on religion altogether. The rates of disaffiliation are even higher among young adults: 39 percent of those raised evangelical Christian no longer identify as such in adulthood.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-white-evangelicals-sacrificing-the-future-in-search-of-the-past ~ NOTE: we’re focusing on white evangelicals merely because they are the largest subgroup of senior citizens in American religion
- giving heed to seducing spirits (Slenderman?)
- doctrines of devils (only 17% of Christians have a biblical worldview)
- speaking lies in hypocrisy (take your pick!)
- forbidding to marry (the largest self-described church forbids its clergy to marry. See also “departing from the faith” for their view of justification)
- commanding to abstain from meats (Christian veganism)
1 Timothy 4:4-5 — Why do we say grace before a meal? We are commanded to!
1 Timothy 4:13 — Notice the emphasis on doctrine. Avoid doctrines of devils (2 Timothy 4:1), remember doctrine (2 Timothy 4:6), good doctrine (2 Timothy 4:6), teach good doctrine (2 Timothy 4:11), give attendance to doctrine (2 Timothy 4:13), meditate on it (2 Timothy 4:15), and take heed to the doctrine (2 Timothy 4:16).
Psalm 89:1 — Let’s sing forever!
Psalm 89:3-4 — We just read in Jeremiah about the Branch of David (Jeremiah 33:15, 17, 21-22, 26), and again we’re reminded of the everlasting covenant with the seed of David!
Psalm 89:9 — This seed of David is identified as stilling the waves of the raging seas! In Matthew 8:27, we see Who this is!
Proverbs 25:24 — A great book I’ve started reading is “Discovering the Mind of a Woman.” I’ve already bought copies for a couple of my friends.
Share how reading through the Bible has been a blessing to you! E-mail us at 2018bible@vcyamerica.org or call and leave a message at 414-885-5370.
