October 17, 2011
The power of free will choice is entirely ours. It was given to us by God. But our free will ends with whatever we choose. God is the One who determines the consequences for the choices we make. God gives Jeremiah the example of the Potter and the clay. The Potter (God) sometimes intends for the clay to be used for one purpose. But something happens, and the Potter (God) uses it to make something else instead.
Psalm 112: "Praise the LORD! Happy are those who respect the LORD, who want what he commands. Their descendants will be powerful in the land; the children of honest people will be blessed. Their houses will be full of wealth and riches, and their goodness will continue forever. A light shines in the dark for honest people, for those who are merciful and kind and good. It is good to be merciful and generous. Those who are fair in their business will never be defeated. Good people will always be remembered. They won't be afraid of bad news; their hearts are steady because they trust the LORD. They are confident and will not be afraid; they will look down on their enemies. They give freely to the poor. The things they do are right and will continue forever. They will be given great honor. The wicked will see this and become angry; they will grind their teeth in anger and then disappear. The wishes of the wicked will come to nothing."
Beside this chapter I have written: April 2008 - God's promise. I wrote this as God's promise. just a few days before Jane spoke her last God-given promise to us—Jeremiah 33.
Psalm 124: What if the LORD had not been on our side? (Let Israel repeat this.) What if the LORD had not been on our side when we were attacked? When they were angry with us they would have swallowed us alive. They would have been like a flood drowning us; they would have poured over us like a river. They would have swept us away like a mighty stream. Praise the LORD, who did not let them chew us up. We escaped like a bird from the hunter's trap. The trap broke, and we escaped. Our help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
Addendum: 2/22/17 ~ I've been thinking about the irony of the people being loyal to false gods and the lack of loyalty to THE God. False gods—loyalty. The One and only True God—no loyalty.
Why is that? I believe the answer is this: False gods are chosen by the people. They are in control of who or what they decide to make a god and so while they are being loyal, they are being loyal to what they chose. On the other hand, to be loyal to the One and only True God, it requires our submission to Him. It requires understanding and accepting the
Next Entry: Jeremiah 21:1 – 23:40
The power of free will choice is entirely ours. It was given to us by God. But our free will ends with whatever we choose. God is the One who determines the consequences for the choices we make. God gives Jeremiah the example of the Potter and the clay. The Potter (God) sometimes intends for the clay to be used for one purpose. But something happens, and the Potter (God) uses it to make something else instead.
"Can't I do the same things with you? You are in my hand like the clay in the potter's hand." (Jeremiah 14:6)
God has the authority and power to "pull up by its roots" or "pull down to destroy." There is a direct correlation between the choices we make and God's decision to bless or discipline.
"But if the people... stop doing the evil they have done, I will change my mind and not carry out my plans to bring disaster to them." (Jeremiah 18:8)
God goes on to say that the opposite is true as well. He can have plans to "build up and plant" or to "pull down to destroy."
"But if I see them doing evil by not obeying me, I will change my mind and not carry out my plans to do good for them."(Jeremiah 18:10)
God sent prophet after prophet to His people trying to get them to repent. He gave them every opportunity and chance to change their ways. But, as Jeremiah 14:10 says, "They really love to wander from me; they don't stop themselves from leaving me." Jeremiah 18:11-12 - This is what the LORD says: "I am preparing disaster for you and making plans against you. So stop doing evil. Change your ways and do what is right. But the people of Judah will answer – It won't do any good to try! We will continue to do what we want. Each of us will do what his stubborn, evil heart wants."
The problem of "I," doing what we want when we want instead of submitting ourselves to God's authority. And God asks, "Have you ever heard anything like this?" After all He had provided; after all He had freely given to them; they still rejected Him. The people and nations who honored false gods were loyal to them. But the people/nation whose God was the one and only true God, rejected Him.
Then God makes a statement that ought to make every one of us shudder. It's found in Jeremiah 18:17 - "Like a strong east wind, I will scatter them before their enemies. At that awful time they will not see me coming to help them; they will see me leaving."
What a horrible, horrible thought. The thought of seeing God leaving. Too late. Done—over. His people were used to seeing God coming. They had become accustomed to being "His people"; having Him part the Red Sea; help them cross the Jordan; provide manna for them; and win great victories over their enemies. But along the way, "they loved to wander from me," and after repeatedly warning them and begging them to change their hearts, minds, and ways, God says—I have had enough. "At that awful time they will not see me coming to help them; they will see me leaving." Then they will know. Then they will know! It will be too late to change the consequences, but they will know, just as Pharaoh and the Egyptians KNEW before they were swallowed by the Red Sea.
Then God makes a statement that ought to make every one of us shudder. It's found in Jeremiah 18:17 - "Like a strong east wind, I will scatter them before their enemies. At that awful time they will not see me coming to help them; they will see me leaving."
What a horrible, horrible thought. The thought of seeing God leaving. Too late. Done—over. His people were used to seeing God coming. They had become accustomed to being "His people"; having Him part the Red Sea; help them cross the Jordan; provide manna for them; and win great victories over their enemies. But along the way, "they loved to wander from me," and after repeatedly warning them and begging them to change their hearts, minds, and ways, God says—I have had enough. "At that awful time they will not see me coming to help them; they will see me leaving." Then they will know. Then they will know! It will be too late to change the consequences, but they will know, just as Pharaoh and the Egyptians KNEW before they were swallowed by the Red Sea.
Again, what a horrible, horrible thought. When you KNOW God, and you understand (in the limited manner our finite human minds can understand), the Holy, Awesome, Power of the LORD God Almighty, the thought of "seeing" and watching God walking away and literally leaving you, ought to cause all of us to drop to our knees and it should bring tears to our eyes as we contemplate the Holy Wrath of God as He leaves those who refuse to change their hearts and minds and obey Him. And, the fact they will know He is leaving and they will see Him leaving, makes me shudder and tears well up in my eyes. Jeremiah 16:21b - "Then they will know that my name is the LORD." But it is too late.
What a disturbing and sobering thought.
What a disturbing and sobering thought.
And the people's response when God spoke to them, pleading with them and warning them through Jeremiah? Jeremiah 18:18 - "Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah... let's ruin him by telling lies about him. We won't pay attention to anything he says." Notice, they didn't try to ruin Jeremiah by exposing the "truth" about him. No, they tried to ruin him by telling lies about him. They were willing to do anything and everything to avoid accepting responsibility for their decisions, actions, and choices. Choosing instead to try and ruin God's messenger by telling lies about him and refusing to pay attention to his/God's warnings.
It's so hard to understand why or how people who have known God; who have witnessed His faithfulness; who at one time claimed Him as LORD; could possibly become so blinded that they turn their backs on what they knew to be truth.
It's so hard to understand why or how people who have known God; who have witnessed His faithfulness; who at one time claimed Him as LORD; could possibly become so blinded that they turn their backs on what they knew to be truth.
It all starts with that first choice to willfully disobey and the decision to choose self-centeredness and self-sufficiency—pride. It starts us down a path away from God. The farther we go down that path the harder it is to return, and pretty soon the desire to return is gone and Jeremiah 14:10 becomes true, "They really love to wander from me; they don't stop themselves from leaving me." Their response to God's warnings is to make their necks even stiffer and their determination to be in control grows even stronger. The ability to self-deceive increases and pretty soon:
Jeremiah 8:5 - "They believe their own lies and refuse to turn around and come back."
Jeremiah 9:3 - "Lies, not truth have grown strong... they do not know who I am."
Isaiah 29:16 - "(They) are confused. (They) think the clay is equal to the potter."
Jeremiah 5:21 - "They have eyes, but they don't really see. They have ears, but they don't really listen."
Jeremiah 5:12 - They think, "He will not do anything to us!"
They've traded the truth of God for lies; they decide to follow their selfish ways.
Jeremiah 8:5 - "They believe their own lies and refuse to turn around and come back."
Jeremiah 9:3 - "Lies, not truth have grown strong... they do not know who I am."
Isaiah 29:16 - "(They) are confused. (They) think the clay is equal to the potter."
Jeremiah 5:21 - "They have eyes, but they don't really see. They have ears, but they don't really listen."
Jeremiah 5:12 - They think, "He will not do anything to us!"
They've traded the truth of God for lies; they decide to follow their selfish ways.
Jeremiah goes to God and says, "Listen to what my accusers are saying! Good should not be paid back with evil, but they have dug a pit in order to kill me." Jeremiah prayed for God's mercy for them, but they only wanted his destruction. Then Jeremiah prayed for God to hold them accountable. Jeremiah 18:22 - "Let all this happen, because my enemies have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden traps for my feet." (Psalm 140 - Her Name Was Jane)
Jeremiah 18:23 - "LORD, you know about all their plans to kill me." Jeremiah did not seek revenge. He instead took his complaint before the LORD and left it in the LORD's hand. "Vengeance is mine," says the LORD. God knows. And that is enough.
Jeremiah 18:23 - "LORD, you know about all their plans to kill me." Jeremiah did not seek revenge. He instead took his complaint before the LORD and left it in the LORD's hand. "Vengeance is mine," says the LORD. God knows. And that is enough.
God again uses the illustration of a clay jar and describes Judah as a broken jar. God declares that He will bring disaster and destruction upon His people because of their refusal to turn from their evil ways and obey Him. Jeremiah 19:7 - "I will ruin the plans of the people." Jeremiah was prophesying in Topeth. Isaiah 30 talks about Topeth. It was a valley where people burned the bodies of criminals and animals, along with garbage—clearly a place of destruction. Isaiah 30:33 - "Topeth has been made ready for a long time; ... the LORD's breath will come like a stream of burning sulfur and set it on fire." Jeremiah 7:29-34 also talks about Topeth, a horrible place and symbol of destruction.
Jeremiah left Topeth. He went to the LORD's temple, stood in the courtyard and said to all the people. "This is what the LORD, All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: 'I will soon bring disaster to Jerusalem and the villages around it, as I said I would. This will happen because the people are very stubborn and do not listen at all to what I say.' " (Jeremiah 19:15)
Jeremiah left Topeth. He went to the LORD's temple, stood in the courtyard and said to all the people. "This is what the LORD, All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: 'I will soon bring disaster to Jerusalem and the villages around it, as I said I would. This will happen because the people are very stubborn and do not listen at all to what I say.' " (Jeremiah 19:15)
And Pashhur's (the priest) response? He was angry and had Jeremiah beaten (40 lashes) and then bound his hands, feet, and neck in stocks, and left him there over night. When Jeremiah was released he said, "The LORD's name for you is not Pashhur. Now His name for you is Terror on Every Side." Terror was going to happen to him and his friends. They were going to be taken captive, their wealth was going to be taken away, and they were going to be forced away. Terror.On. Every.Side.
Jeremiah complains. He was being faithful. He was declaring the words God gave him to say, but all he got was insults, ridicule and blame from the people. They called him "terror on every side." Jeremiah thought maybe he just wouldn't talk about God's words anymore. But he couldn't stop. He could not hold in the words of God that burned within him. People whispered about him. They plotted against him. The lay in wait hoping he would make a mistake. Jeremiah 20:10b - "Maybe we can trick him so we can defeat him and pay him back."
Pay him back. Hmmm. For what?? His crime? Honesty and faithfulness to God. Compassion and mercy for them. A desire to see them repent and be saved. And their desire is "to pay him back."
Pay him back. Hmmm. For what?? His crime? Honesty and faithfulness to God. Compassion and mercy for them. A desire to see them repent and be saved. And their desire is "to pay him back."
"BUT! the LORD is with me like a strong warrior, so those who are chasing me will trip and fall; they will not defeat me. They will be ashamed because they have failed, and their shame will not be forgotten." Jeremiah 20:11
"Lord All-Powerful, you test good people; you look deeply into the heart and mind of a person. I have told you my arguments against these people, so let me see you give them the punishment they deserve." Jeremiah 20:12
"Sing to the LORD! He saves the live of the poor from the power of the wicked." Jeremiah 20:13Beside these verses I have written two Psalms as Cross References: Psalm 112 and Psalm 124.
Psalm 112: "Praise the LORD! Happy are those who respect the LORD, who want what he commands. Their descendants will be powerful in the land; the children of honest people will be blessed. Their houses will be full of wealth and riches, and their goodness will continue forever. A light shines in the dark for honest people, for those who are merciful and kind and good. It is good to be merciful and generous. Those who are fair in their business will never be defeated. Good people will always be remembered. They won't be afraid of bad news; their hearts are steady because they trust the LORD. They are confident and will not be afraid; they will look down on their enemies. They give freely to the poor. The things they do are right and will continue forever. They will be given great honor. The wicked will see this and become angry; they will grind their teeth in anger and then disappear. The wishes of the wicked will come to nothing."
Beside this chapter I have written: April 2008 - God's promise. I wrote this as God's promise. just a few days before Jane spoke her last God-given promise to us—Jeremiah 33.
Psalm 124: What if the LORD had not been on our side? (Let Israel repeat this.) What if the LORD had not been on our side when we were attacked? When they were angry with us they would have swallowed us alive. They would have been like a flood drowning us; they would have poured over us like a river. They would have swept us away like a mighty stream. Praise the LORD, who did not let them chew us up. We escaped like a bird from the hunter's trap. The trap broke, and we escaped. Our help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
Addendum: 2/22/17 ~ I've been thinking about the irony of the people being loyal to false gods and the lack of loyalty to THE God. False gods—loyalty. The One and only True God—no loyalty.
Why is that? I believe the answer is this: False gods are chosen by the people. They are in control of who or what they decide to make a god and so while they are being loyal, they are being loyal to what they chose. On the other hand, to be loyal to the One and only True God, it requires our submission to Him. It requires understanding and accepting the
God
↓
man
relationship. He is God—I am not. "I" don't get to choose who my god is going to be. "I" have to surrender to the authority to the One and only True God, and that is what people fight against. From the beginning of time, that is the basis of the struggle of humanity because we want to be in control. If we are going to surrender to the One and only True God we must daily die to self, surrender ALL, and change our hearts and minds. It's the only way. Next Entry: Jeremiah 21:1 – 23:40
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