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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 19 August 2023:
Jeremiah 44:5 – But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods.
God doesn’t accept idols in your life, things that you allow to detract from your wholehearted devotion to God. These things aren’t little statues for most people. The Bible says, “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord….” (1 Samuel 15:23) “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14)
Jeremiah 44:7, 11-12 – And now thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: “Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and child, from the midst of Judah, leaving you no remnant?” Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will set my face against you for harm, to cut off all Judah. I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to come to the land of Egypt to live, and they shall all be consumed. In the land of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine they shall be consumed. From the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword and by famine, and they shall become an oath, a horror, a curse, and a taunt.
To depart from God after discipline is to face judgment.
Jeremiah 44:10 — They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers….
Humility and fear of the Lord lead to obedience. Disobedience is a lack of both humility and fear of the Lord and is a rejection of the Sovereignty of God – this is the highest of all possible treasons. God is patient, but God will humble the proud, particularly those who claim the name of Christ yet play loose with sin. Humility, reverence, and obedience — only the humble will follow Jesus Christ.
Sin is a pride problem. It is always placing yourself higher than God, at least at that moment. For example, holding back forgiveness from someone is saying that you deserve more justice than Jesus, who gave His life for sinners. You may not have considered that even the sin of fear (in the form of anxiety) is the product of pride. Pride demands control, and fear is a response to a sense of a loss of control. Fear is the opposite of faith, and some will have faith in self (pride), which proves inadequate, while others will place their faith in God (real faith, surrender, confidence in Him). When the idol of self proves false, fear enters into the picture. Humble faith in God, however, never proves false and removes fear. Those with faith in Jesus have hope – faith projected forward to the future.
Those without faith and hope have a void in their soul that they try to fill with more self, attempting to strengthen their faith in self. So, they try to build upon the lie of self-sufficiency. They may get more money, more education, more “friends,” more awards, etc. However, the fear that can never replace hope only grows because inside people know that the bigger the house built on a foundation of sand, the more catastrophic the collapse. The Bible says that humility comes before honor, that pride comes before the fall, that without faith it is impossible to please God, that we must build our house on the rock of Jesus, that we must seek the Kingdom of God rather than our own kingdoms. Learn from the Bible and truly place all your faith in God and not in your own abilities or anything else.
Jeremiah 44:15 – Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah….
Both men and women lead a nation to sin; on the other hand, both men and women can also be mighty witnesses for Jesus.
Jeremiah 44:18 – But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.
Israel gave substitutes for God credit for what God had done. People still make the same mistake – “Look what I accomplished!” Don’t try to share glory with God and deceive yourself into thinking you are self-sufficient, even in little things.
Jeremiah 44:21 — As for the offerings that you offered in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them? Did it not come into his mind?
Just because God has yet to judge our nation for the sins we have committed, doesn’t mean He won’t. His delay reflects His patience as He waits for repentance. But God doesn’t wait endlessly. If you find yourself among so many Christians who are hoping for judgment to come quickly, consider whether or not you have God’s heart for the lost, and consider the responsibility God has entrusted you with to share the Truth with those wretched sinners who stand in eternal peril. Are you eager to suffer in this broken world while you can that others might be saved?
Jeremiah 44:22 – Therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day.
Many scoff at the idea that a nation’s sins are the cause of the crisis it experiences. However, throughout the Bible, God punishes nations through wars, famine, disease, natural disasters, economic collapse, bad leadership, etc. God is in complete control. However, nations don’t repent, only people do. Collective personal repentance results in communal change. If you want to impact society, culture, and its institutions, show Christ to your neighbor and make disciples, genuine followers of Christ, right where God has salted you.
Jeremiah 44:26 – Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, says the Lord, that my name shall no more be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “As the Lord God lives.”
God swears an oath to Himself because He is Everything, with nothing higher. God’s promises are sure.
Jeremiah 44:29 – This shall be the sign to you, declares the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that my words will surely stand against you for harm….
God carries out the judgment about which He warns.
Psalm 94:11-13 — The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
Throughout the Bible, God points out that “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8) So, Proverbs counsels: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil…… Do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:5-12) Today’s Psalms remind us that it is from the study of God’s word that we learn to walk in spiritual discipline and are subsequently blessed.
“Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law.” The Hebrew word used for discipline here is “yâsar”, which literally means to chastise with a beating – to get spanked, and the Hebrew word for teach is “lâmad”, which means to goad – goads were very sharp sticks used by shepherds to poke animals to make them go the right direction. So, basically, this verse talks about painful correction, and the blessing which can come from it. You will either suffer the painful correction of the conviction of the Holy Spirit through God’s word (“Blessed are those who mourn”) or you will suffer the greater pain of living life outside of God’s will, which is sin. You will either have internal discipline (being guided by the Holy Spirit and producing the fruit of the Spirit), or you will receive external discipline (punishment). The wise respond to the Holy Spirit and walk joyfully in the Spirit. Romans 8:28-29 reveals that God uses all discipline for good, so we would be “conformed to the image of his Son.” In the Great Commission Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus’ plan for His disciples is that they live disciplined lives obeying all of God’s commands, but you can’t obey them unless you first know them from study and are coached in them daily by the Holy Spirit – “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
How important is prayerful Bible study in our daily walk with the Lord? Here are just a few thoughts from Psalm 119: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”
Never have Christians had such access to God’s word along with so many resources and tools with which to study His Word. I pray that more and more Christians would return to God’s Word and receive the daily coaching of the Holy Spirit in order to win the prize –
- 1 Corinthians 9:24 — Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
- Philippians 3:14 — I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Today, the Psalmist reminds us of the convicting power of God’s word and that God uses His word along with circumstances to teach us, rebuke us, correct us, encourage us, reward us, train us, and discipline us that we would grow up, or mature, in His word and our relationship with Him — “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) Better to be wise and respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit through God’s word and to obey God’s word than to learn the hard way by experiencing the consequence of disobedience and sin – “A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10) No need to experience a hundred needless blows. “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” (Proverbs 26:11) Don’t act like a sick fool and return to sin; instead, return to God’s word, and respond to the daily conviction of the Holy Spirit.
As a perfect, loving Father, God applies discipline when needed. God’s discipline is often painful but is intended to be a blessing to teach you how to live in the fullness of joy while growing closer to God each day. Those who don’t despise God’s blessings and who are willing to learn will be blessed. Those who defy God’s discipline and insist on repeating their folly will continue to suffer needlessly.
Proverbs 19:1 – Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Satan is the father of lies. When your words are crooked or deceptive, you become an ambassador for Satan rather than Jesus.
Proverbs 19:2 — Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
Think before you act.
Proverbs 19:3 — When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.
Don’t blame God when you face the consequences of your own foolish actions.
Proverbs 19:4 — Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Truly loving people are those who will love others for love’s sake, not for personal gain. Many people who claim to love don’t really love the other but merely what the other can provide them, whether that other be another person or God. Do you love God or merely the blessings which come from God? If God promised you no blessings, would you love Him nonetheless? This is the question Satan asked of Job.
Proverbs 19:6, 7 – Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him!
People often approach friendship selfishly, choosing friends based on what the friend can do for them. People often approach their relationship with God the same way. How would you be treated by your friends if you had nothing left to offer them (including emotional benefits)? How would you treat a friend who could no longer offer you anything, not even the benefit of encouragement? How much does the quality of your relationship with God depend upon His blessings upon you? If God removed the blessings, would you love Him just the same?
Proverbs 19:9 — A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
All lies are destructive.
Proverbs 19:10 – It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.
A fool and luxury: Many people want abundance but aren’t willing to become the sort of person who can handle abundance, who can be trusted by God with abundance. A blessing given to someone who can’t handle it would only be a curse to that person. A ten-year-old might be eager to drive a car, but a responsible parent, a parent looking forward to the day when the child can drive, wouldn’t hand that child the keys, knowing that the child would only hurt himself and others. The child must first become a responsible driver. Then, and only then, is the car a blessing. Likewise and influence require responsibility, and responsibility requires character which takes time to cultivate. God is a God of abundance who promises His children an inheritance of all things (see Romans 8), but our perfectly loving Father only gives us what we are prepared to handle. If you desire abundance, seek first the kingdom (God’s rule and rein in your heart, soul, mind, and strength). Be faithful with little that you may be entrusted with more. The fool merely seeks comfort without character to their demise.
Ruling slaves: Those without character are slaves to their selfish passions, desires, and ambitions. They often seek greater positions of power and influence, only victimizing themselves and others. God intends for His people to have dominion (responsibility) and “subdue” (control) the earth (the aspects of life which provide for needs and enable growth), to be the dominant influence on earth for His glory. What if Christians controlled Hollywood, the government, the education system, industry, banking, etc. and ran things according to His law? It is not fitting that Christians have surrendered the systems of power over to the world and are now controlled by them.
Proverbs 19:11 — Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
God expects us to show mercy and grace to people as He has shown us mercy and grace. Mercy is not giving people the punishment they deserve, and grace is giving them the forgiveness they don’t deserve. Judgment is giving the punishment deserved. Why is it we often want justice for those who offend us and mercy and grace for ourselves?
Proverbs 19:13, 14 – A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Family stability is critical to life success. Families are not built with money, education, or opportunity. They are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 19:15 — Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.
God expects you to be a hard worker. He does not bless laziness.
Proverbs 19:21 — Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Trust the LORD with all of your circumstances. Focus on walking in obedience and faith rather than worrying about what is going to happen next. Faith is trusting God now, enough to obey at the moment of decision; hope is trusting God with the future.
If what you are doing is not what God intends, you are wasting your time and energy. If you find yourself harried, stressed out, and resentful, you are likely doing something God never asked you to do. Most people are struggling to build a life for themselves while God intends us to live our lives solely for Him, having denied ourselves.
The psalmist warns, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1) The problem is that we don’t like the house God is building because in that house we are but servants, the lowest of the low. We are like the disciples who come to the dinner table fighting over who will get the best seat and who will be served first while Jesus prepares to wash feet (John 13:1-15). Jesus says, “let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.” (Luke 22:26)
In God’s economy, the person who serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint and without seeking any recognition is the prominent one in the Kingdom. We Christians like to refer to ourselves as servants, but we are seldom content with being treated as servants! Pride and fear tend to take over. But the true measure of character is selflessness. Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13) You cannot serve God and others while serving your own self-interest. Pride and fear seem to be the two primary motivators for selfishness – we want credit in order to feel important, and we fight for our own self-interest because, deep down inside, we don’t really believe that God will provide if we walk the selfless, humble, servant walk. Therefore, we seek first our own kingdom rather than the Kingdom of God. If we are not careful, even our service to God can become a prideful thing and our security blanket.
Jesus also said, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10) Pray that God will help you eliminate pride and fear within your heart. Pray that God will teach you selflessness. Stop jockeying for position, rest in the peace of the Lord.
- Psalm 84:10 — For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
- Ecclesiastes 7:29 — See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
- Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 — My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
- Matthew 11:28-30 — Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- Luke 12:22-34 — And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Proverbs 19:22 — What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.
Character is invaluable and very rare. Love and faithfulness go hand-in-hand. What God seeks is the person who will be faithfully obedient in love.
Proverbs 19:24 – The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Opportunity awaits those who will take it.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 19 August 2023: Today, seek first the kingdom (God’s total rule and reign in your life). Don’t just seek increased abundance or prosperity in your life; seek first to be the sort of person who can handle, or be entrusted with, increased abundance and prosperity. God is ready to give you all that you desire when all that you desire is what He desires. There is no limit to God’s treasures, only limits to our trustworthiness. Don’t labor in vain trying to achieve what you aren’t ready to receive.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 