John 7-9 Grace and Truth Come Through Christ

Psalm 119:161-168 Peace When Persecuted

Ps 119:161 SCHIN “Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart fears Your words. 162 I rejoice at Your word, as one who finds great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood. I love Your law. 164 Seven times a day, I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.

165 Those who love Your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble. 166 I have hoped for Your salvation, Yahweh. I have done Your commandments. 167 My soul has observed Your testimonies. I love them exceedingly. 168 I have obeyed Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You."

Observations: 119:161-168 When princes persecute unjustly, the psalmist doesn't panic, but has great peace, because he knows God saves the righteous. He doesn't fear men, because he fears God (and His word). Proof of his perspective of God's word is his rejoicing in it, his love of it (and hatred of falsehood), and praising God for it throughout the day (which means he's looking at it; probably had a post-it with a verse he was memorizing or meditating on attached to his tablet). His immersion in God's word made him immune to intimidation by enemies. Because he knew all his ways were before God, he had fully obeyed, and therefore had confident hope in God's salvation/deliverance, regardless of how powerful his enemies were.

Application: If we fear God, we don't need to fear people, and can have great peace in peril.

Prayer: My Good Shepherd, I thank You for Your word and the promises it contains that give me peace and hope; I will fear only displeasing You. Amen.

Proverbs 29:12-14 Lessons for Rulers

Pr 29:12 “If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials become wicked. 13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both. 14 The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.“

Observations: 29:12-14 By listening to and accepting lies, in effect rewarding them, a ruler encourages all his officials to tell him what he wants to hear, making them hypocrites. Instead he should value those who speak the truth, as unpopular as it might be sometimes. The Lord gives life and light to all, establishing a basis for equity. The king has the responsibility to secure the rights of the poor and protect them from unjust oppressors. If he does that, God will establish his throne.

Application: Leaders must seek the truth and act in accord with it for peace and prosperity.

Prayer: Lord may I be a truth seeker all my days, and seek to bring justice to those around me. Amen.

John 7-9 In this section, Jesus proclaims Himself to be the Light of the world, and opens the eyes of a man born blind. One of the ways John arranges his material is around Jesus' participation of the Jewish feasts. This section covers the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:42), when the Jews would live in booths/tents to commemorate God's care of them in the wilderness after the Exodus. It coincided with the harvest. Each day of the feast water was drawn from a well and poured by the altar out while Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” was sung. It not only recalled God's provision, but also looked forward to the day when water would flow from under the altar in the Millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 47:1). Huge vats of oil were lit at night, lighting up the city. During this festival Jesus declares Himself to be the light of the world, and source of water whose recipients would never thirst. Some believed and some rejected. John chapters 7 and 8 form a chiastic structure emphasizing that Jesus is the one from the Father, bringing grace and truth. The Jews use the Law of Moses to condemn and seek to kill Him. Jesus uses the law to extend grace to the woman taken in adultery in chapter 8.

The following structure needs work to more accurately reflect John's arguments, but might be useful for guiding you through the observations.

A Jesus goes to temple 7:1-10 14

B Jesus seeks the glory of God 7:11-24 .

 C Not know where Christ is from 7:25-31

  D Seek Jesus and not find Him 7:32-36 .

    E1 In Him was Life (light of men 1:4) 7:37-39

    E2 Who is this 7:40-44

      F Law of Moses misapplied; no Grace 7:45-52

       G Go to their homes 7:53

       g' Mt of Olives is Jesus' door 8:1

      f' Law applied; with Grace 8:2-11

    e1' Light of the world 8:12

    e2' Who this is 8:13-20

  d' Seek Jesus; or die in sin 8:21-36

 c' Not know where Christ goes 8:37-47

b' God seeks the glory of Jesus 8:48-58 .

a' Jesus goes from temple 8:59 .

John 7 The Law of Moses

7:1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled." 9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" 12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so, but he leads the multitude astray." 13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14 But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?" 16 Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ? 27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from." 28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." 30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?"

32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come." 35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this word that he said, ’You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?"

37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.

40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. 44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why didn’t you bring him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" 47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren’t also led astray, are you? 48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? 49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?" 52 They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." 53 Everyone went to his own house.

Observations: 7:1-13 To Temple - Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him (note these are Mary's and Joseph's sons, since His disciples did believe Him). Jesus previews the coming attractions by indicating that His time is not yet come, and the establishment hates and wants to kill Him because he shines light on their evil.

7:14-24 Glory - Jesus' teaching astounds, because it comes from the Father and is truth. Verse 17 is key to knowing God's will. If you are committed to doing God's will, He will make it clear to you. If you want to pick and choose what part of God's will you will do, you will remain in the dark. The person who has themselves as their authority, seeks their own glory, and winds up being unrighteous. The one who seeks the glory of God, having Him as their authority, winds up being true and righteous. The Jews ignore the law and seek to kill Jesus because He healed on the Sabbath, yet they perform circumcision on the Sabbath which is work, for a lesser goal.

7:25-31 Don't Know; Kill – The people have questions and misconceptions about Jesus and the Messiah; some try to kill him, some believe, but His time had not yet come.

7:32-36 Seek – The Pharisees seek to arrest Jesus, who says He will go to Him who sent Him, and they won't be able to find Him. He meant it on the spiritual plane, they misunderstand it on the physical level.

7:37-39 Water/Life – In the last day of the feast Jesus offers Himself as the source of living water to those who believe in Him. The reference is to the Holy Spirit whom Jesus would send after He was glorified (given all power to distribute).

7:40-44 Who – the questions and misunderstanding of the people continue, corresponding to the identity questions above. Some confess Him as the Messiah, and some don't. Again the establishment tries to arrest Him.

7:45-51 Law misapplied – The Pharisees upbraid the officers who failed to arrest Him, accusing them of believing His teaching. They wrongly affirm that no expert in the law believes in Him. Nicodemus, the secret disciple, tries to use the law to protect Jesus.

7:52 Home base – This last verse is insignificant at first glance, and a number of manuscripts drop it out. However, contrasted with the first verse of the next chapter, it serves as the chiastic center of the section.

Application: If you want to know what God wants you to do, be committed to doing whatever He reveals and has revealed. If He gives no new guidance, then focus on the revelation you are sure of.

Prayer: God, Your will is good, acceptable and perfect; help me know and do it every day. Amen.

John 8 Grace and Truth

8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?" 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."

12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid." 14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. 18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me." 19 They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come." 22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, ’Where I am going, you can’t come?’" 23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." 25 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world." 27 They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. 29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him." 30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain/continue/abide in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ’You will be made free?’" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father." 39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." 42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.

46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God." 48 Then the Jews answered him, "Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ’If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad." 57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM." 59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through their midst, and so passed by.

Observations: 8:1 Jesus left the temple to go to the Mount of Olives, a location rich in prophecy, where He also gave the Olivet Discourse, about His return. This is the place to which the glory departed in Ezekiel 11:23. It is the place from which the Lord Jesus would ascend to heaven after His resurrection (Lk 24:50 Bethany was on its south-eastern slope), and the place to which He will return in glory to set up His Millennial Kingdom (Zech 14:4). In the interaction with the Establishment, Jesus keeps saying that God is His Father, and thus heaven is His home. After the Feast of Booths, the people left the city to go to their homes. Here Jesus was leaving to go to the door (Mount of Olives) to His home, heaven. This links the two chapters which devote a number of verses to His identity and location.

8:2-11 Law graciously applied – The account of the woman taken in adultery is considered by many to not be supported by the oldest manuscripts (but the best school of textual criticism Byz-MT priority, includes it). It's easy to see why some would eliminate it because it could appear to condone adultery. However, the chiastic structure argues strongly for its inclusion, corresponding to the last section in chapter 7. Although Nicodemus tried to get the Establishment to use the law correctly, they twisted it to their own purposes. Here, Jesus is seen bringing grace into the equation. The law called for the death of adulterers (Lev 20:10 - the guy too) and they want to stone her. Jesus starts writing on the ground with his finger. The last time the finger of God wrote was the law, on stone tablets (Ex 31:18). The Spirit will write the law on people's hearts (New Covenant - Jer 31:31), but here, it looks like Jesus is scratching the law in the ground, because people are getting convicted and leaving as their sins are pointed out. There was no one without sin left to cast the first stone, all the accusers/witnesses had left. He tells her to go and sin no more, just like He told the paralytic in 5:14. Jesus didn't come to condemn folks, but to have them live the abundant, sin-free life (see 8:32).

8:12 Light – Jesus follows up His instruction of the woman to sin no more, with a pronouncement of Himself as the light of the world. In the Feast of Tabernacles, the night sky was lit with giant vats of oil, and people danced in the night by the light. Here Jesus states that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (equating light with life, or indicating that the light comes from life, as in glory).

8:13-20 Who – Jesus rebuts the Pharisees' challenge His self-testimony, by citing the double witness of Himself and the Father, via the miracles. He also reiterates they don't know where He is from, nor where He is going, meaning they don't know heaven. In typical response, they try to arrest Him. Silly Pharisees; haven't they learned anything? His time had not yet come.

8:21-37 Die - Jesus repeats the fact that they will seek and not find Him and adds that they will die in their sins unless they “believe that I am he.” He predicts that when He is lifted up (crucified) they will know that He is the Son of Man (of Daniel 7:14). Jesus told those who did believe in Him, that if they continued in His word (the Bread of chapter 6), they would truly be His disciples, and as such would know the truth (it is knowable), and it would set them free (from sin). This is one of the key verses for the victorious Christian life. Memorize and apply it, or stay in bondage to sin. The Jews, who are living under Roman rule and had been living under Babylonian rule, insisted they were never under anyone's bondage (like most self-deceived sinners). Jesus insisted that whoever commits sin is a slave to sin, and doesn't get rulership/dominion in the house as a son does (enduring rule/glory in the Kingdom).

8:38-47 Not know where - Jesus says they are not children of Abraham but of the devil since they lie and want to commit murder.

8:48-58 Glory of Jesus – Jesus promises that those who keep His word will never die (loss of dominion). Jesus will be glorified by the Father, whom they don't know, because He keeps His word.

8:59 Light goes from Temple

Application: You know who Jesus is, therefore you must know His word is truth; if you abide in it, you will know the truth and be set free from sin. If anyone is in bondage to sin, they don't know the truth. See Romans 6 and 12:1-2 and Sanctification: It Ain't Gonna Reign No More on Truthbase.net.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thanks that Your truth is knowable, and sets me free from sin; may I live every day in the freedom You offer me. Amen.

John 9 Responding to the Light

9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means "Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.

8 The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn’t this he who sat and begged?" 9 Others were saying, "It is he." Still others were saying, "He looks like him." He said, "I am he." 10 They therefore were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ’Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they asked him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don’t know."

13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see." 16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them. 17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him." 24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He therefore answered, "I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?" 28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from." 30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you." 38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Observations: 9:1-12 This sixth sign, the account of the man born blind being healed, illustrates Jesus' claim to be the Light of the world in the previous chapter, and sets up eyes being opened to Jesus' claim to be God in the next chapter. It would correspond to the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda (another pool miracle) where Jesus appeared to be dealing with sin that caused the paralysis. Here the problem was from birth.

Not all infirmity is a result of sin, sometimes bad things happen for the glory of God to be displayed when He fixes the situation with His power. The reason for the mud and saliva being applied to the eyes and the washing in the pool aren't explained. The man was born blind, then perhaps the blindness was compounded by the defilement of dirt. As the man obeyed Jesus' word, his original handicap and additional “dirt/sin” were washed away. It's a nice picture of both original sin and sins of omission/commission being removed by accepting and obeying the word of Jesus, but there is nothing to substantiate such an interpretation in the passage.

9:13-34 The bulk of the chapter, as the two previous ones, revolve around the identity of Jesus. The man serves as an irrefutable foil to the Pharisees' preconceptions. “Don't confuse me with facts or truth, my mind is made up.” Verse 25 is a classic line, to which all believers should be able to testify as a one day old believer. The tragedy is that that such a confession is also the testimony of people who have been “saved” for decades (but are still in bondage to their sins). The Pharisees inadvertently confess the truth that they refuse to see and accept.

9:35-38 Jesus seeks out the man to elicit his confession of faith. Note the receptivity of the man. As he responds to the light, Jesus gives him more light. May his tribe increase. Worship follows belief.

9:39-41 In contrast to the man born blind, the Pharisees, who say they see, but don't respond, are still in sin. Those who don't respond to the light, are still in darkness.

Application: Responding to the light we're given, opens the door to receiving more revelation.

Prayer: God, thanks for opening my eyes to the truth, may I walk in it, and proclaim it. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God sent Jesus and authenticated Him so people could know His will and believe in Him.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is the Light of the World, giving light and life. He also gives grace and truth. He came from heaven to do the will of the Father, opening eyes to the truth, which sets them free from sin. He will return home, and send the Holy Spirit.

Us in a nutshell: We can know truth, and be set free from sin by it. Some believe and experience the benefits; others reject the light and walk in the darkness of the devil.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

John 7-9 (complete text)

John 7

7:1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. 4 For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled." 9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret. 11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?" 12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so, but he leads the multitude astray." 13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

14 But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?" 16 Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." 25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn’t this he whom they seek to kill? 26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ? 27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from." 28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." 30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?" 32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come." 35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this word that he said, ’You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?"

37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." 39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified. 40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hasn’t the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him. 44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why didn’t you bring him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" 47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren’t also led astray, are you? 48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees? 49 But this multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?" 52 They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." 53 Everyone went to his own house,

John 8

8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?" 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."

12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." 13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid." 14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. 18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me." 19 They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come." 22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, ’Where I am going, you can’t come?’" 23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." 25 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world." 27 They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. 28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things. 29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him." 30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ’You will be made free?’" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father." 39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God." 42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.

46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God." 48 Then the Jews answered him, "Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I don’t have a demon, but I honour my Father, and you dishonour me. 50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ’If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad." 57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM." 59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through their midst, and so passed by.

John 9

9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means "Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.

8 The neighbours therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn’t this he who sat and begged?" 9 Others were saying, "It is he." Still others were saying, "He looks like him." He said, "I am he." 10 They therefore were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ’Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received sight." 12 Then they asked him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don’t know."

13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see." 16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them. 17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him." 24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He therefore answered, "I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?" 28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from." 30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you." 38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshipped him.

39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Jeremiah 11-15 Hear and Obey

Jeremiah 11-15 Hear and Obey

Psalm 84:1-12 Grace and Glory and Every Good Thing

Ps 84:1 “How beloved are your dwellings, LORD of Hosts! 2 My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Lord of Hosts, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on your way. 6 Passing through the valley of Baca/Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.

8 Yahweh, God of Hosts, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah. 9 Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed. 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly/uprightly. 12 LORD of Hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Observations: 84:1-3 This is one my favorite Psalms. Verse 11 is probably the most useful verse for understanding and living the life that pleases God. The psalmist was probably David, while persecuted (during Absalom's rebellion) and kept away from the ark (where God's presence dwelt). He loves intimacy with God so much, that he is experiencing pain from the the separation. He longs with every fiber of his being and every ambition of his heart for the presence of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, his God and his King. Is that how you would describe your relationship with God?

84:4-7 He describes the blessedness of those who have an intimate relationship with God, whose hearts are intertwined with His. They are blessed and to be envied. They are always praising God for they are intimately acquainted with His person, and protection, and provision, and pleasures. They draw on God's strength, and set their heart on His ways (BC translation 84:5b). The only other time “highway” is used in the wisdom literature is Pr 16:17 “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.” When they pass through dry and difficult spots in life, their ability to draw on God's grace/power turns deserts into oases. They start and end in strength, and wind up appearing before God in Zion (Jerusalem) to praise Him.

84:8-10 David asks God to help him in his present difficulty, appealing to His might, and covenantal dealings with Israel (Yahweh) and Jacob. Because one day in the presence of God is better than a thousand elsewhere, David would rather be a lowly doorkeeper close to God than a dweller in the comfy tents of those who don't obey Him (the wicked-Ps 50).

84:11-12 God is a sun (source of light/glory) and a shield (source of protection/power) therefore He gives grace (protection/power) and glory. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly (in His ways). If it's good (and you are), He'll give it to you.

Understand: If you don't have something that you've been asking God for, which you think is good, think again. If it were good, God would give it to you (if you've been walking uprightly). If He hasn't given it to you (and you've been walking uprightly), then it isn't good. Either the thing you desire or the timing isn't best; therefore God is obligated, by His infinitely goodness, to not give you what would be bad for you. This is the key to contentment, and the basis of trust. If you are trusting God, then you trust that He will give what's best, when it's best.

• Corollary #1: if God hasn't answered your prayer in the affirmative (given you what you desire) then check to see if you are walking uprightly in His ways, seeking Him first, foremost, and totally, without wavering. Then trust in His goodness, grace and glory.
• Corollary #2: if God has given you something, then it is good, even though you might not immediately recognize it as such. Remember how God uses problems to prosper us?

Application: If we're walking in God's ways, then we can trust that our infinitely good and powerful God will give us what's best, when it's best.

Prayer: God of wonders and delights, who blesses His faithful children, I trust that You will give what's best, when it's best. Help me focus on walking uprightly in Your ways, trusting in Your goodness, grace and glory. Amen.

Proverbs 20:25-30 Wise Ways

Pr 20:25 “It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows. 26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them. 27 The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being (NIV). 28 Hesed/loyal covenantal love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by hesed/loyal covenantal love. 29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair. 30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.“

Observations: 20:25-30 We should make our decisions according to the will of God, rather than the impulse of the moment or our own will/desires. The will of God is what is pleasing in His sight, according to what He's revealed. See Will of God on Truthbase.net. Two parallel tasks of kings are mentioned: to punish and eliminate the wicked, and to fulfill his covenantal obligations to his subjects/servants, allies and God. Then he will have safety and longevity, which youthful strength alone can not ensure. Two other parallel verses deal with the innermost parts, the core of our being, where our values and desires reside: if we use God's word/lamp to examine our innermost parts and align ourselves with it, we won't experience the discipline that seeks to achieve the same objective via pain.

Application: We don't just want non-foolish actions, but we want wisdom at the core of our being; and we can only get there through the light/word of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, shine the light of Your word on my actions and heart, so I may align them with Your wise will. Thanks. Amen.

Jeremiah 11-15 These chapters record the reasons for God's just judgment upon Judah, and some of Jeremiah's difficulties in being His spokesman. God emphasizes the importance of hearing and obeying Him unless we like disaster. 

Jeremiah 11 Hear and Do

11:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2 Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 and say to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Cursed is the man who doesn’t hear the words of this covenant, 4 which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so you shall be my people, and I will be your God; 5 that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I, and said, Amen, Yahweh. 6 Yahweh said to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I earnestly testified to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and warning/testifying, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they didn’t obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn’t do them. 9 Yahweh said to me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

11 Therefore thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal. 14 Therefore don’t pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble. 15 What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you rejoice. 16 Yahweh called your name, A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. 17 For Yahweh of Hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have worked for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.

18 Yahweh gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you showed me their doings. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised wicked plans against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. 20 But, Yahweh of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause. 21 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, you shall not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, that you not die by our hand; 22 therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; 23 and there shall be no remnant to them: for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

Observations: 11:1-10 God makes it crystal clear that if His people don't hear and obey, they can't be blessed as He intended, and will be cursed instead. What about “hear” and “do” isn't understood? They stubbornly chose not to hear, nor do; they exercised their will to disobey and break the covenant, earning its curses rather than blessing. (This should sound familiar, but some folks are a little dense, so it warrants repetition.)

11:11-17 Since Judah didn't listen to God, He won't listen to them. He even tells Jeremiah not to waste his time praying for them. Yahweh, who planted and tended them like an olive tree, would now burn them.

11:18-23 Jeremiah is the tree in this section, and his message the fruit which the Anathothites (a priestly house who favored ritual) wanted to extinguish. But God will protect him, and punish them and their offspring with annihilation.

Application: God wants us to hear and do His will, or else; what else would you rather do?

Prayer: Mighty God, I want to know and do Your will, exclusively, regardless of the consequences. Amen.

Jeremiah 12 The Wicked Prosper Temporarily

12:1 You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason a case with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously? 2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart. 3 But you, Yahweh, know me; you see me, and prove/try my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals are consumed, and the birds; because they said, he shall not see our latter end. 5 If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? and though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan? 6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you: don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.

7 I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her. 9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour. 10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it a desolation; it mourns before me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart. 12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace. 13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.

14 Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 It shall happen, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 It shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Yahweh lives; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.

Observations: 12:1-6 Jeremiah affirms that God is righteous but complains that the wicked prosper and God doesn't do anything about it, although their heart is far from Him. God doesn't respond directly in this section, but makes it clear they will be judged in the rest of the chapter. It is puzzling that Jeremiah asked this, because he clearly has proclaimed the destruction of the wicked, so maybe it's a matter of timing (“how long”) and the opposition he faces. God mildly rebukes him in verse 5 by saying that this is nothing compared to the opposition he will face. Great comfort :(

12:7-13 Because of Judah's rebellion, God has rejected His beloved nation, turning her over to her enemies. They will get pain and no profit. This indirectly answers the above complaint.

12:14-17 Then God makes an amazing promise to Judah's enemies. He will punish them as He will punish Judah, with exile, but when He replants Judah in the promised land, He will replant them in their lands, and if they diligently learn His ways, He will bless them and build them up in the midst of Israel. But like His judgment upon Judah, failure to hear will result in destruction.

Application: Know that God eventually judges all wickedness, including our own, and repent while you can.

Prayer: Lord, may I diligently learn Your ways, and bring forth fruit that causes You delight rather than incurring destruction. Amen.

Jeremiah 13 Spots and Snares

13:1 Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water. 2 So I bought a belt according to the word of Yahweh, and put it on my waist. 3 The word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying, 4 Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock. 5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahweh commanded me. 6 It happened after many days, that Yahweh said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there. 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was marred, it was profitable for nothing. 8 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 Thus says Yahweh, In this way I will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so have I caused to cling to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says Yahweh; that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

12 Therefore you shall speak to them this word: Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall tell you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? 13 Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 14 I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Yahweh: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them. 15 Hear, and give ear; don’t be proud; for Yahweh has spoken. 16 Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness. 17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock is taken captive. 18 Say to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses have come down, even the crown of your glory. 19 The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive. 20 Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock? 21 What will you say, when he shall set over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? shall not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?

22 If you say in your heart, Why are these things come on me? for the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered, and your heels suffer violence. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil. 24 Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passes away, by the wind of the wilderness. 25 This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me, says Yahweh; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. 26 Therefore will I also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame shall appear. 27 I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?

Observations: 13:1-11 The profitable becomes useless if not hearing and obeying God. It's not that they could not hear, but that they would not hear (their choice). They were useless for bringing God glory (the reason He made them His people, and the reason He would discipline them). It's not like God is abusing a people who couldn't get it, but He is punishing them so they would repent (and get it).

13:12-27 God graciously calls His people to humble themselves and repent, before He brings the judgment of total captivity upon them as a consequence of their refusal to listen and commission of adulterous idolatry. They were supposed to be faithful to God and were being unfaithful prostitutes in worshiping falsehood. Verse 23 cannot be ripped from context to support the falsehood that they were by nature incapable of doing good, for why would God waste His time calling them to repentance before and after verse 23? They had so accustomed themselves to doing evil, that their habit had bound them, and they were unable to do good. They “will not be made clean,” it's a problem of the their will and choices, not God's will and creation. God asks them how long it will be before they repent, just like Jeremiah asked God in the beginning of chapter 12.

Application: Don't teach yourself to like and do what's not good for you, nor pleasing to God; snares can be quite sticky.

Prayer: Lord God, I want to fulfill the purpose for which You created and redeemed me; may I be so accustomed to doing Your will, that I will never even want to be disloyal to You. Amen.

Jeremiah 14 Loving to Wander Leads to Wreck and Ruin

14:1 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. 2 Judah mourns, and its gates languish, they sit in black on the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3 Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. 4 Because of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their heads. 5 Yes, the hind also in the field calves, and forsakes her young, because there is no grass. 6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage. 7 Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name’s sake, Yahweh; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. 8 You hope of Israel, its Savior in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night? 9 Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can’t save? Yet you, Yahweh, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; don’t leave us.

10 Thus says Yahweh to this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Yahweh does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Yahweh said to me, Don’t pray for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. 13 Then I said, Ah, Lord Yahweh! behold, the prophets tell them, you shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then Yahweh said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I didn’t send them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart. 15 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I didn’t send them, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them—them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness on them.

17 You shall say this word to them, Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound. 18 If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge. 19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion? why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay! 20 We acknowledge, Yahweh, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, don’t break your covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the sky give showers? Aren’t you he, Yahweh our God? therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.

Observations: 14:1-9 Famine is the result of Judah's iniquities and backslidings, and Yahweh won't save His people.

14:10-16 God doesn't accept the people who have rejected Him. Jeremiah isn't even to pray for them. They love to wander from God's ways and seek comfort in hypocritical ritual and false prophecies of peace. God will particularly judge the false prophets, who speak from the deceits of their own hearts, when he judges the people.

14:17-22 Jeremiah laments the destruction of Judah and Zion, due to their sin and the ignorance of their leaders. Jeremiah confesses the sins of his people, imploring Him to relent for His name and covenant's sake, but it looks like they've passed the point of no return.

Application: If we don't love God, and restrain our ways to be loyal, we will wander into ruin.

Prayer: Lord, I will order my ways according to Your truth, to please You, and restrain myself from any deceptive detours; help me recognize and avoid them. Thanks. Amen.

Jeremiah 15 Point of No Return and a Pouting Prophet

15:1 Then Yahweh said to me, Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. 2 It shall happen, when they tell you, Where shall we go forth? Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity. 3 I will appoint over them four kinds, says Yahweh: the sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the earth, to devour and to destroy. 4 I will cause them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. 5 For who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? or who will bemoan you? or who will turn aside to ask of your welfare? 6 You have rejected me, says Yahweh, you have gone backward: therefore have I stretched out my hand against you, and destroyed you; I am weary with repenting. 7 I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved them of children, I have destroyed my people; they didn’t return from their ways. 8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas; I have brought on them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall on her suddenly. 9 She who has borne seven languishes; she has given up the spirit; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she has been disappointed and confounded: and their residue will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, says Yahweh.

10 Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet everyone of them curses me. 11 Yahweh said, Most certainly I will strengthen you for good; most certainly I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

12 Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? 13 Your substance and your treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders. 14 I will make them to pass with your enemies into a land which you don’t know; for a fire is kindled in my anger, which shall burn on you.

15 Yahweh, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don’t take me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Hosts. 17 I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand; for you have filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail? 19 Therefore thus says Yahweh, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them. 20 I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says Yahweh. 21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible.

Observations: 15:1-9 Even if Moses and Samuel, two of the greatest prophets asked God to spare Judah, He'd refuse, because Judah has refused His rule over them. Because of the sins of Manasseh, and the people's acceptance of and participation in them, as well as their rejection of God, and refusal to repent when He sent them lesser judgments, they have gone past the point of no return, and only terror awaits.

15:10-21 Jeremiah complains that everyone hates him for delivering God's messages. God says He will strengthen and protect him as promised in chapter 1, and then reiterates the promised destruction (15:12-14). Jeremiah complains again that he accepts God's word and rejoices in it, but has to sit by himself when everyone else is having a good time. In his third complaint, he feels that his pain/rejection is perpetual, and God isn't refreshing him. God calls Jeremiah to repent of his self-pity and not be like the people, who will not prevail against him, as promised.

Application: God requires loyal obedience from His servants; we bring unnecessary grief upon ourselves by questioning His decisions and methods.

Prayer: God, I totally trust that You know what You're doing, and that it's best; may I only care that I'm faithful to do what is pleasing in Your sight, and trust You for the outcome. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God made people for a relationship with Him and calls them to hear and obey Him. However, they willfully chose their own way. He sends discipline, and they ignore it, loving to wander. He reaches the point where their repeated refusal puts them over the point of no return, and only disaster awaits them. No prayers can save them, for they refuse His rule and their choice will not be overruled.

Us in a nutshell: We have a responsibility to hear and obey God. If we don't, He'll graciously warn of consequences, and then lower the boom of judgment. We have a tendency to wander disloyally from God, despite His care of us. We try to find comfort in hypocritical ritual and platitudes of false prophets (who don't serve God). Servants of God can get discouraged if they delight in anything other than serving God.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Jeremiah complete text

Jeremiah 11

11:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2 Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 and say to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Cursed is the man who doesn’t hear the words of this covenant, 4 which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so you shall be my people, and I will be your God; 5 that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I, and said, Amen, Yahweh. 6 Yahweh said to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they didn’t obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn’t do them. 9 Yahweh said to me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

11 Therefore thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal. 14 Therefore don’t pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble. 15 What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you rejoice. 16 Yahweh called your name, A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken. 17 For Yahweh of Hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have worked for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.

18 Yahweh gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you showed me their doings. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered. 20 But, Yahweh of Hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause. 21 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, you shall not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, that you not die by our hand; 22 therefore thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; 23 and there shall be no remnant to them: for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

Jeremiah 12

12:1 You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously? 2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart. 3 But you, Yahweh, know me; you see me, and try my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals are consumed, and the birds; because they said, he shall not see our latter end. 5 If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? and though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan? 6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you: don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.

7 I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her. 9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour. 10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it a desolation; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart. 12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace. 13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.

14 Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbours, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 It shall happen, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 It shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Yahweh lives; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.

Jeremiah 13

13:1 Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water. 2 So I bought a belt according to the word of Yahweh, and put it on my waist. 3 The word of Yahweh came to me the second time, saying, 4 Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock. 5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahweh commanded me. 6 It happened after many days, that Yahweh said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there. 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was marred, it was profitable for nothing. 8 Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 Thus says Yahweh, In this way I will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing. 11 For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so have I caused to cling to me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, says Yahweh; that they may be to me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

12 Therefore you shall speak to them this word: Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall tell you, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? 13 Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 14 I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says Yahweh: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them. 15 Hear, and give ear; don’t be proud; for Yahweh has spoken. 16 Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness. 17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock is taken captive. 18 Say to the king and to the queen mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses have come down, even the crown of your glory. 19 The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive. 20 Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north: where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock? 21 What will you say, when he shall set over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? shall not sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?

22 If you say in your heart, Why are these things come on me? for the greatness of your iniquity are your skirts uncovered, and your heels suffer violence. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil. 24 Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passes away, by the wind of the wilderness. 25 This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me, says Yahweh; because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. 26 Therefore will I also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame shall appear. 27 I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?

Jeremiah 14

14:1 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. 2 Judah mourns, and its gates languish, they sit in black on the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 3 Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. 4 Because of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their heads. 5 Yes, the hind also in the field calves, and forsakes her young, because there is no grass. 6 The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage. 7 Though our iniquities testify against us, work for your name’s sake, Yahweh; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. 8 You hope of Israel, its Saviour in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night? 9 Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can’t save? Yet you, Yahweh, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; don’t leave us.

10 Thus says Yahweh to this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Yahweh does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. 11 Yahweh said to me, Don’t pray for this people for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. 13 Then I said, Ah, Lord Yahweh! behold, the prophets tell them, you shall not see the sword, neither shall you have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then Yahweh said to me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I didn’t send them, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I to them: they prophesy to you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart. 15 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I didn’t send them, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 The people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them—them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness on them.

17 You shall say this word to them, Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound. 18 If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, those who are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge. 19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion? why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay! 20 We acknowledge, Yahweh, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of your glory: remember, don’t break your covenant with us. 22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the sky give showers? Aren’t you he, Yahweh our God? therefore we will wait for you; for you have made all these things.

Jeremiah 15

15:1 Then Yahweh said to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. 2 It shall happen, when they tell you, Where shall we go forth? Then you shall tell them, Thus says Yahweh: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity. 3 I will appoint over them four kinds, says Yahweh: the sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the sky, and the animals of the earth, to devour and to destroy. 4 I will cause them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. 5 For who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? or who will bemoan you? or who will turn aside to ask of your welfare? 6 You have rejected me, says Yahweh, you have gone backward: therefore have I stretched out my hand against you, and destroyed you; I am weary with repenting. 7 I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved them of children, I have destroyed my people; they didn’t return from their ways. 8 Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas; I have brought on them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall on her suddenly. 9 She who has borne seven languishes; she has given up the spirit; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she has been disappointed and confounded: and their residue will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, says Yahweh.

10 Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet everyone of them curses me. 11 Yahweh said, Most certainly I will strengthen you for good; most certainly I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. 12 Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? 13 Your substance and your treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all your sins, even in all your borders. 14 I will make them to pass with your enemies into a land which you don’t know; for a fire is kindled in my anger, which shall burn on you.

15 Yahweh, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don’t take me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Hosts. 17 I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of your hand; for you have filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail? 19 Therefore thus says Yahweh, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand before me; and if you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth: they shall return to you, but you shall not return to them. 20 I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says Yahweh. 21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the terrible.