 The Recabites are an interesting group of people. They maintained a nomadic order for over 200 years in obedience to what their ancestor, Jehonadab had commanded. As a result they were looked upon favorable. The nomadic lifestyle allowed them to rely on God more and lessened the temptations that came with infrastructure. Think about it, it would take great faith to step out and trust God for you food that day and every other need you have.
-Pastor Doug
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 The buying of the land is a curious thing. Even though the land would be taken by the Babylonians, the jar will contain the deed waiting the day when the people will return to the land…when they do, the jar will be a testimony of God’s promise to bring the people back. We don’t know if 17 shekels were a fair price but it amounted to 1 1/2 years of a wage.
-Pastor Doug  Do you think you could do the work God had for Jeremiah? He is always in danger and God asks him to do some things that were just weird! From hair cutting to not allowing him to marry to smashing that pot to now wearing an Ox Yoke to prophecy the control of everything by Babylon. I’m not sure I could do it!
-Pastor Doug  Have you noticed how much imagery God uses in this book and to the prophet Jeremiah? The cup of the Lord’s anger is a powerful image. The foreigners will punish the people but then God will have them drink of his anger and he will punish them. God is all powerful. We cannot like that and fight against it but it will be in vain…God is God.
-Pastor Doug  What kind of fig are you? I find it amazing that no matter how bad off the people are in their relationship with God, he always keeps a door open for those that want to return to him. It’s never too late to change your way and turn to God.
-Pastor Doug  Well, the people are finally tired of hearing the prophecies of Jeremiah. They have decided that they have enough prophets and priests already and these other ones don’t continue to let the air out of their sails. Do you ever worry that people will get tired of hearing about God and morality and they will call their “hit men” like Pashhur to put an end to it? It could be a reality. The ways of God are offensive to those who want to mock and disobey God.
-Pastor Doug  It might seem a bit strange that God would forbid Jeremiah to attend funerals or specifically the funeral meal in verse 7. What’s so bad about the Jell-O salads and ham sandwiches with margarine on them? Ok, theirs might have been falafel with chickpea spread, but you get the point. Actually, the funeral meals were times to get drunk and engage in all kinds of inappropriate behavior. The people had gone way off the path God wanted for them and there would be consequences…significant ones.
-Pastor Doug  Did you notice Jeremiah’s question of God at the beginning of Chapter 12? We have already seen this question come many times in our read through the bible. I think it is the question most people ask who are trying to follow God but see it as a limiting act. The truth is that following God is freeing (if done correctly). We get so tied up in the materialism and fame that the world offers that we quickly forget that this life is not even measurable on the timeline of eternity. We live for something else. Honestly, why do evil people prosper? Who cares, because I’m living for something much more valuable. Think of it as delayed gratification!
-Pastor Doug  I need the council found in 6:16. If I have the discipline to stop long enough to focus, I’m not sure I always consider what it is God wants me to do. God’s path provides rest because I don’t have to go it alone or carry my burden alone. Some people are looking for some new fangled way of connecting with God but the truth is it is an old way. God has always been reaching out to man and is more interested in how we make it through situations than the success we achieve in our endeavors. Take a moment and stop at the crossroads…walk in that old godly way.
-Pastor Doug  Verses 2:23-24 seem almost comical to our western culture but in the Middle East they would know exactly what is being said here. Even today, a young female camel is extremely unreliable. They wonder around aimlessly. The wild donkey is something very different. They aren’t aimless walkers; they get mad, really mad. They chase down the male donkeys until they get what they want…it’s not a pretty sight! I wonder if we chase these idols like Israel did.
-Pastor Doug |
AboutThis blog was originally written by Pastor Doug Bartel of Hillcrest Church, starting in Spring 2009. Keep that in mind if you read anything that doesn't quite add up to the time of year. Archives
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