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Links for Sunday, August 23rd
Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.
Bible Study at 10:00 a.m.
Jeremiah 32-33, part 2
Links for Sunday, August 16th
Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.
Bible Study at 10:00 a.m.
Jeremiah 32-33, part 1
Links for Sunday, August 9th
Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.
Bible Study at 10:00 a.m.
Jeremiah 37-39, part 2
Psalm 39
To the choirmaster.
To Jeduthun.
A Psalm of David.
1 I said, I will guard my ways,
so as not to sin with my tongue.
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
as long as the wicked are before me.
2 I was mute with silence
I kept quiet even about the good,
and my anguish increased.
3 My heart grew hot within me.
As I pondered, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 Make me know my end, O YHWH,
and the length of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a handbreadth,
and my lifespan is as nothing before you.
Surely everyone's life is but a breath!
Selah
6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will gather it!
7 And now what do I wait for, O YHWH?
My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the taunt of a fool!
9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
for you have done it.
10 Remove your scourge from upon me;
I am defeated by the hostility of your hand.
11 In punishment for sin, you discipline a man,
like a moth, you consume what is dear to him;
surely everyone is but a breath!
Selah
12 Hear my prayer, O YHWH,
and listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
a stranger, like all my fathers.
13 Look away from me, that I may rejoice,
before I depart and am no more!
Psalm 110
A psalm of David.
1 YHWH declares to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
2 Your mighty scepter
YHWH sends forth from Zion.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
3 Your people will offer themselves willingly
on the day of your power,
in the splendor of holiness,
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.
4 YHWH has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter heads
over the wide earth.
7 From the brook by the road, he will drink,
then he will lift up his head.
Psalm 57
To the choirmaster:
According to 'Do Not Destroy' (al-tashhieth)
A David miktam when he fled from Saul in the cave:
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
and in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge,
until destruction passes by.
2 I call out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples me.
Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul, I lie in the midst of lions
that devour the children of man,
their teeth are spears and arrows,
and their tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit before me,
but they have fallen into it.
Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
ROD REYES — Edited
this psalm is so jam packed with feeling, urgency and faith.
Reading Guide for Jeremiah 11:1-13:27
The Broken Covenant (Jer 11:1-17)
This section begins with the Lord reaffirming the terms of the covenant made at Sinai. He then reminds the people that when their fathers broke the covenant, they incurred the curses. Similarly, now that the current generation is likewise breaking the terms of the covenant, they too will bring the curses upon themselves.
Reaffirmation of the Deuteronomic Covenant (Jer 11:1-5)
Covenant Breaking and the Resulting Curse in the Past Generations (Jer 11:6-8)
Covenant Breaking and the Resulting Curse in the Current Generation (Jer 11:9-14)
The Coming Judgment (Jer 11:15-17)
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First Confession: Jeremiah's Complaint and Response (Jer 11:18-12:6)
This is often called the first of Jeremiah's "Confessions," where the prophet voices his complaints to God. It consists of two sections that follow an identical pattern: 1) Jeremiah's complaint to the Lord over the wickedness around him, 2) a prayer for deliverance from his enemies, and 3) the Lord's response to his prayer.
A. First Prayer and Response (Jer 11:18-23)
Complaint (Jer 11:18-19)
Prayer for Deliverance (Jer 11:20)
Divine Response (Jer 11:21-23)
B. Second Prayer and Response (Jer 12:1-6)
Complaint (Jer 12:1-2)
Prayer for Deliverance (Jer 12:3-4)
Divine Response (Jer 12:5-6)
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Divine Complaint and Response (Jer 12:7-17)
Following a similar pattern of complaint/response seen in the previous section, here we see, in detail, the Lord's own grief over the sin of His people. The response is the Lord's own word in the form of an oracle of divine judgment and restoration.
Divine Complaint (Jer 12:7-13)
Divine Response (Jer 12:14-17)
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Sin Leading to Judgment (Jer 13:1-27)
A Living Parable: The Linen Waistcloth (Jer 13:1-11)
This passage contains a symbolic act where Jeremiah hides a clean loincloth by the river Euphrates. When he retrieves it, it has become spoiled. This is to show that Israel and Judah once clung closely to the Lord, but have become spoiled through the worship of foreign idols outside the land.
Parable of the Wine Jars (Jer 13:12-14)
Similar to the previous oracle, the Lord makes a point through symbolism, except this includes a pronouncement of judgment. The oracle begins with an affirmation of a popular saying that displays the people's carefree attitude and love of carousing. The Lord says the cup will now be filled with His wrath as destruction comes upon them.
A Plea for Humble Repentance (Jer 13:15-17)
In light of the imminent judgment spoken of in the previous oracle, Judah is called to repent before it is too late.
An Oracle to the King and the Queen Mother (Jer 13:18-19)
Now that the people have received their warning, the royal family is addressed. In this case, it is a lament over the end of the monarchy and the exile of the nation.
The Coming Judgment for Persistent Sin (Jer 13:20-27)
This poetic oracle centers around the great and unrelenting sin of Jerusalem that has become their default way of life. Because of it, judgment is inevitable. This ends the unit of oracles that began in 13:1 with an explanation of why judgment must come.
Reading Guide for Jeremiah 8:4-10:25
Introductory Notes
- Jeremiah 8:4-10:25 is regarded as a miscellaneous collection of prophetic oracles.
- Most of these oracles are generally believed to have originated during Jehoiakim's reign (ca. 609-597 B.C.).
- The major themes that bind these oracles together are 1) indictments against the sin and idolatry of the people, 2) the coming judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem, and 3) the lamentations over the disaster.
Outline
Judgment on the Unrepentant, the Unwise, and the Deceivers (8:4-12)
- An Unrepentant People (8:4-7)
- An Unwise People (8:8-9)
- Judgment Through Conquest (8:10-12)
Judgment and Response (8:13-9:1)
- Israel Left Desolate (8:13)
- The People of Judah Lament (8:14-15)
- Divine Judgment (8:17)
- Jeremiah's Lament (8:18-9:1)
The Lord's Lament (9:2-11)
- Divine Lament (9:2-3)
- Oracle About a Lying Tongue (9:4-6)
- Oracle About a Lying Tongue (9:7-9)
- Divine Lament (9:10-11)
Why This Judgment? (9:12-16)
A Call to Lament (9:17-22)
- The Command to Call the Mourning Women (9:17-19)
- The Command to the Mourning Women (9:20-21)
- The Command to Jeremiah to Speak an Oracle (9:22)
True Wisdom, Might, and Wealth (9:23-24)
Israel Has Become Like the Nations (9:25-26)
The Foolishness of Idolatry (10:1-16)
- The Call to Hear (10:1)
- A. The Powerlessness of Idols (10:2-5)
- A. The Power of the Lord (10:6-7)
- B. Idols as the Creation of Man (10:8-9)
- B. The Everlasting Lord (10:10)
- C. Idols that Cannot Create (10:11)
- C. The Creating God (10:12-15)
- D. The Futility of Idol-Worship (10:14-15)
- D. The Blessing of Worshiping the Lord (10:16)
Lament Over the Coming Exile (10:17–25)
- The Coming Exile (10:17-18)
- A Lament Over the Disaster (10:19-25)
A pastoral encouragement as we enter 2022
Dear brothers and sisters,
As we enter 2022 I hope that each member of our church will be prayerfully considering what pursuing God will look like in the year ahead. Growth in our Christian life does not happen accidentally. The New Testament calls us to be diligent in our pursuit of Christ and our growth in grace. As Paul reminded Timothy, growth in godliness requires hard work and diligence:
"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Tim. 4:7 ESV)
As disciples of Jesus, our growth in godliness should be our number one priority each day and each year. So I want to share with you a couple of resources that I've found helpful over the years.
The first resource is an article by Donald Whitney (click here). Whitney helpfully gives us 10 questions that we can use to strategically pursue spiritual growth for the next year. These include questions like:
I've personally found this list of questions super helpful for "recalibrating" my pursuit of God each new year.
The second resource that I've used for many years is a list of Bible reading plans that Ligonier (R.C. Sproul's ministry) publishes each year (click here). Each new year this list helps me choose a Scripture reading plan that suits my current needs. Super helpful resource.
Whether or not you're into New Year's resolutions, I'd encourage you to plan for this next year. Let's be diligent to grow, pursue Christ faithfully, and exercise ourselves in godliness in 2022! "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 3:18 ESV)
Your brother in Christ,
-aj