More Thoughts On Jeremiah
Brain Ramblings from Chapter 7
I like the confrontational posturing God used to get the attention of the hearers. Very likely, the "standing in the gates" was a practice that ended during the reign of the previous king (Josiah's father)...where the prophet would stand in the gates as the hearers entered and proclaim truth. I have little trouble with confrontation and think this action of Jeremiah would certainly get the nation's attention.
I wonder what Jeremiah must've been experiencing when told to standin the gates...what he was thinking & feeling. Especially knowing what the message was going to be. I wonder how he dealt with whatever the feelings were.
It's obvious that these words were given to a collective people. Any individual application would fall in the context of their role within a larger group context.
Notice what they weren't to trust in: Deceptive words. Evidently, these people were taught that they were special and set apart because of who they were with respect to family/national lineage. In other words, we go to the Temple, hence we are God's people.
Notice the "if/then" propositions: IF you (plural)
...amend your ways (thought processes) and deeds (actions resulting from those thought processes)
...practice justice with yoru friends
...don't oppress the aliens (those that the nation was supposed to be "salt & light" for), orphans/widows (their society's "helpless")
...don't shed innocent blood (this was actually going on in the Temple!)
...or walk after other gods (the very place they were going was the dwelling place of one specific God--the One they claimed as their Father. Ironic, eh?)
True repentance has outward manifestations. Always.
THEN they will get their promised blessing.
The promises to Israel and the promises to the church are distinctly different. There is a clear distinction between the two. Many doctrinal errors and misinterpretations occur when readers fail to apply that reality.
In verse 9, they were violating the Law...and not even the more difficult portions when you think about it. The command not to covet (inward) wasn't even brought up. Those that were outward actions, easily measurable, were brought up. Very objective.
They were coming to the Temple with very hard hearts. And, all too often, we have this image that as long as the Israelites went to the Temple and "covered" their sins temporarily they were good to go. The reality is that it has never been that way. God wasn't interested in their sacrifices as long as they were being done for the sake of doing them. And, God told them (in verses 22-23) that it was NEVER about the sacrifices in and of themselves. When they came from Egypt, before the Law was even issued, it was always about walking with their Father.
Ever felt like your spiritual life is going backwards and not forwards (v. 24)?
Ultimately, I think we can take these principles and apply them to the Church at-large...the same principles are reiterated in the NT, so it isn't too much of a stretch to make the application...
...that when looking for a church the primary concern should be doctrinal. See, under the surface of this entire section is that there is one true God and He can be known. They're already into doctrine just on those points. All too often, followers of God now look for bells and whistles and a type of "feel" when looking for a church to be a part of. Doesn't matter what those bells and whistles are, either. But sound doctrine and the resulting values and beliefs (orthodoxy AND orthopraxy) should be the concern.
...what attitudes do we bring to worship services? Are we simply doing these things because they are "what we do" or are we attending to worship along with other believers? And, are we okay if what that looks like isn't necessarily our cup of tea? What is my role in the corporate gathering?
...how do my actions affect our corporate life together? How do we "look" to the aliens we come in contact with? See, I think that all too often we spin in our own little Christian bubble and we alienate more than we draw.
...Church/corporate life ins't about "me" at all. It's about "us" walking humbly and authentically with our God in concert. Sometimes we just have to get over ourselves--like the "surface" issues brought up yesterday: Sleeping in, blowing off body life for ourselves, blaming others' behavior, looking for "common interests" or a great (insert your wanted/desired program here), or the great/awful personality of the pastor, excusing our behavior--anything and everything mentioned in the comments from yesterday--it's not about me at all. When I don't seek to serve, the Body misses what I bring to it. It's the same for all of us.
As you can tell, I'm kinda chippy about all this stuff today. Your thoughts?
Brain Ramblings from Chapter 7
I like the confrontational posturing God used to get the attention of the hearers. Very likely, the "standing in the gates" was a practice that ended during the reign of the previous king (Josiah's father)...where the prophet would stand in the gates as the hearers entered and proclaim truth. I have little trouble with confrontation and think this action of Jeremiah would certainly get the nation's attention.
I wonder what Jeremiah must've been experiencing when told to standin the gates...what he was thinking & feeling. Especially knowing what the message was going to be. I wonder how he dealt with whatever the feelings were.
It's obvious that these words were given to a collective people. Any individual application would fall in the context of their role within a larger group context.
Notice what they weren't to trust in: Deceptive words. Evidently, these people were taught that they were special and set apart because of who they were with respect to family/national lineage. In other words, we go to the Temple, hence we are God's people.
Notice the "if/then" propositions: IF you (plural)
...amend your ways (thought processes) and deeds (actions resulting from those thought processes)
...practice justice with yoru friends
...don't oppress the aliens (those that the nation was supposed to be "salt & light" for), orphans/widows (their society's "helpless")
...don't shed innocent blood (this was actually going on in the Temple!)
...or walk after other gods (the very place they were going was the dwelling place of one specific God--the One they claimed as their Father. Ironic, eh?)
True repentance has outward manifestations. Always.
THEN they will get their promised blessing.
The promises to Israel and the promises to the church are distinctly different. There is a clear distinction between the two. Many doctrinal errors and misinterpretations occur when readers fail to apply that reality.
In verse 9, they were violating the Law...and not even the more difficult portions when you think about it. The command not to covet (inward) wasn't even brought up. Those that were outward actions, easily measurable, were brought up. Very objective.
They were coming to the Temple with very hard hearts. And, all too often, we have this image that as long as the Israelites went to the Temple and "covered" their sins temporarily they were good to go. The reality is that it has never been that way. God wasn't interested in their sacrifices as long as they were being done for the sake of doing them. And, God told them (in verses 22-23) that it was NEVER about the sacrifices in and of themselves. When they came from Egypt, before the Law was even issued, it was always about walking with their Father.
Ever felt like your spiritual life is going backwards and not forwards (v. 24)?
Ultimately, I think we can take these principles and apply them to the Church at-large...the same principles are reiterated in the NT, so it isn't too much of a stretch to make the application...
...that when looking for a church the primary concern should be doctrinal. See, under the surface of this entire section is that there is one true God and He can be known. They're already into doctrine just on those points. All too often, followers of God now look for bells and whistles and a type of "feel" when looking for a church to be a part of. Doesn't matter what those bells and whistles are, either. But sound doctrine and the resulting values and beliefs (orthodoxy AND orthopraxy) should be the concern.
...what attitudes do we bring to worship services? Are we simply doing these things because they are "what we do" or are we attending to worship along with other believers? And, are we okay if what that looks like isn't necessarily our cup of tea? What is my role in the corporate gathering?
...how do my actions affect our corporate life together? How do we "look" to the aliens we come in contact with? See, I think that all too often we spin in our own little Christian bubble and we alienate more than we draw.
...Church/corporate life ins't about "me" at all. It's about "us" walking humbly and authentically with our God in concert. Sometimes we just have to get over ourselves--like the "surface" issues brought up yesterday: Sleeping in, blowing off body life for ourselves, blaming others' behavior, looking for "common interests" or a great (insert your wanted/desired program here), or the great/awful personality of the pastor, excusing our behavior--anything and everything mentioned in the comments from yesterday--it's not about me at all. When I don't seek to serve, the Body misses what I bring to it. It's the same for all of us.
As you can tell, I'm kinda chippy about all this stuff today. Your thoughts?
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