Ezekiel 29:3 "Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself."
There is that boosting again. Of course, we are talking about Egypt in the times of Ezekiel.
There were two basic reasons why Egypt came under judgment here. One is that they did not give God the glory for their good fortune. The river/rivers were the source of the riches of Egypt. We all know about the Nile. I believe there was at one time a river system that made the land rich. I don't know much about what Egypt is like now.
Another reason is that Israel was bad about turning to Egypt when they were in distress instead of turning to God as they should have. But Egypt took advantage in those times and hurt Israel.
Therefore, Egypt was given to Nebuchadrezzar as his wages for the work in Tyre.
Once Egypt was made a base nation, Israel would no longer turn to them as they did when Egypt was full of power and splendor.
II Kings 18:21 "Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him."
So, we can see, in these studies, that during this time the face of the whole region changed tremendously. There was greatness all around but it went to Babylon under the judgment of God.
v13 "Yet, thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered; v14 And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom."
v19 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army."
I would like to have seen these nations in their glory days. It must have been a sight to behold. But they rejected or turned from the Lord GOD and it cost them their kingdoms.
Showing posts with label Babylon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Babylon. Show all posts
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Eagles & Twigs - Ezekiel 17
Ezekiel 17:3 "And say, Thus saith the Lord God; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar;
v4 "He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants."
These stories are beautiful to me. I do not understand the exact meaning but I can see Jesus here. He is telling a truth with a story just as he did in the New Testament.
Telling of two eagles, I believe this first one is Israel and the second one is Babylon. I cannot be sure.
v12 "Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell the, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;"
It seems that the purpose for the invasion of Judah was to bring down the mighty nation so that it would again learn to trust the Lord. They rebelled again by going to Egypt for help.
v14 "That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand."
v17 "Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons."
So Judah was suppose to yield to the captivity but they went to Egypt for help. This caused judgment on Egypt as well and the destruction of many.
There is hope in the chapter.
v24 "And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I the LORD have spoken and have done it."
God's chosen people are to learn that they serve the true God who is able to tear down the mighty and do the impossible with that which seems useless. "...have made the dry tree to flourish..."
Isaiah 53:4 Isaiah 53:2 "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: ...."
v4 "He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants."
These stories are beautiful to me. I do not understand the exact meaning but I can see Jesus here. He is telling a truth with a story just as he did in the New Testament.
Telling of two eagles, I believe this first one is Israel and the second one is Babylon. I cannot be sure.
v12 "Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell the, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;"
It seems that the purpose for the invasion of Judah was to bring down the mighty nation so that it would again learn to trust the Lord. They rebelled again by going to Egypt for help.
v14 "That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand."
v17 "Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons."
So Judah was suppose to yield to the captivity but they went to Egypt for help. This caused judgment on Egypt as well and the destruction of many.
There is hope in the chapter.
v24 "And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I the LORD have spoken and have done it."
God's chosen people are to learn that they serve the true God who is able to tear down the mighty and do the impossible with that which seems useless. "...have made the dry tree to flourish..."
Isaiah 53:4 Isaiah 53:2 "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: ...."
Friday, June 25, 2010
New Spirit & Heart - Ezekiel 11
Ezekiel 11:19 - 20 "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."
In Jeremiah we saw the physical goings on in Jerusalem. We saw one prophet who told the truth to the king and the people. There were many who failed to warn the people and prophesied to them things they themselves made up. In Ezekiel, we see the spiritual side of things. As the leaders turned the house of God into a temple of idol worship, we see the Lord moving out. It is a time when there seems no hope. Then we come to these two verses where hope is revived.
v5 "And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel, for I know the things that come into your mind, everyone of them."
Whoops! They must have thought if they kept it in the head it would be a secret. Not so. Here the Lord reminds us that he knows our intent and our thoughts. I think that is why some were given the mark and spared in the last chapter because the Lord knew the sins of Israel grieved them in their heart and mind.
Pelatiah is given special mention as one that deceived the people:
v13 "And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaliah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?"
This leads to the voice of hope in Ezekiel's ears. Those who came out of this judgment would be given a new heart to replace the stony one. Also, we have a promise that the Lord would not forsake them:
v16 "Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary int he countries where they shall come."
A little sanctuary... hope that the Lord would be there where ever they went.
I thing these things were suppose to be told to the people so that the story would go around and be remembered.
v25 "Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had showed me."
In Jeremiah we saw the physical goings on in Jerusalem. We saw one prophet who told the truth to the king and the people. There were many who failed to warn the people and prophesied to them things they themselves made up. In Ezekiel, we see the spiritual side of things. As the leaders turned the house of God into a temple of idol worship, we see the Lord moving out. It is a time when there seems no hope. Then we come to these two verses where hope is revived.
v5 "And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel, for I know the things that come into your mind, everyone of them."
Whoops! They must have thought if they kept it in the head it would be a secret. Not so. Here the Lord reminds us that he knows our intent and our thoughts. I think that is why some were given the mark and spared in the last chapter because the Lord knew the sins of Israel grieved them in their heart and mind.
Pelatiah is given special mention as one that deceived the people:
v13 "And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaliah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?"
This leads to the voice of hope in Ezekiel's ears. Those who came out of this judgment would be given a new heart to replace the stony one. Also, we have a promise that the Lord would not forsake them:
v16 "Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary int he countries where they shall come."
A little sanctuary... hope that the Lord would be there where ever they went.
I thing these things were suppose to be told to the people so that the story would go around and be remembered.
v25 "Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had showed me."
Friday, May 28, 2010
Ezekiel - Introductions
Ezekiel 1:1 "Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." See also II Kings 23:3 II Kings 24:11-16
We need to understand who Ezekiel was and when he lived. For this I must look to a couple of Bible scholars for help.
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Scofield: "Ezekiel is the voice of God to "the whole house of Israel". As opposed to some being either to Judah or the Ten Tribes, etc.
He preached for 21 years. He was there before the destruction of Jerusalem and lived among the people in a community near a river called Chebar.
Ezekiel uses symbols to illustrate his words.
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Comprehensive Bible Helps:
Ezekiel was the son of a priest and a priest himself. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah. (So we see that Jeremiah was not alone as I thought before.) His father was the priest Buzi. He was educated in Judea. He had a house and lost his wife suddenly. Tradition says he was murdered.
The symbols were a mystery until statues were unearthed in recent history that were similar to what he described. The Jews recommended not reading the book until they were 20 years old.
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Ezekiel's words from God were to remind the people of the national and personal sins of the nation so that they would know why they were in captivity. It is also a book of hope that the nation will again be reborn and their oppressors would be punished.
v4 "And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it , and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire." See Isaiah 21:1 Jeremiah 23:19.
We need to understand who Ezekiel was and when he lived. For this I must look to a couple of Bible scholars for help.
--------------
Scofield: "Ezekiel is the voice of God to "the whole house of Israel". As opposed to some being either to Judah or the Ten Tribes, etc.
He preached for 21 years. He was there before the destruction of Jerusalem and lived among the people in a community near a river called Chebar.
Ezekiel uses symbols to illustrate his words.
--------------
Comprehensive Bible Helps:
Ezekiel was the son of a priest and a priest himself. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah. (So we see that Jeremiah was not alone as I thought before.) His father was the priest Buzi. He was educated in Judea. He had a house and lost his wife suddenly. Tradition says he was murdered.
The symbols were a mystery until statues were unearthed in recent history that were similar to what he described. The Jews recommended not reading the book until they were 20 years old.
----------------
Ezekiel's words from God were to remind the people of the national and personal sins of the nation so that they would know why they were in captivity. It is also a book of hope that the nation will again be reborn and their oppressors would be punished.
v4 "And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it , and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire." See Isaiah 21:1 Jeremiah 23:19.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Zedekiah and Jehoiachin - Jeremiah 52
Jeremiah 52:1 "Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah."
I do not think that was the same Jeremiah who wrote the book.
We come to the close of the book of Jeremiah. He prophesied during the time of the end of the Jewish kingdom in Judah. He also prophesied during the captivity. He suffered at the hands of the authorities for the truth he spoke but was given his freedom by Nebuchadrezzar. He went down to Egypt and I lost his trail from there. I wonder if he made it to Babylon and met Daniel or if he went back to Judah to help in the vineyards. I do not know.
I have learned from studying this book again. I learned that Nebuchadrezzar is probably the correct spelling of the king of Babylon's name although we pronounce it Nebuchadnezzar as it was first spoken by the Hebrews.
Zedekiah was the last reigning king of Judah. However, I think Johoiachin lived the longest as described in the last part of this chapter. The real name of Zedekiah was Mettaniah. Zedekiah being given to him by Nebuchadrezzar.
Many names of the Jews were changed in Babylon. Perhaps, it was another way to wipe out their heritage. Fortunately, many remembered and kept up with their family names. I expect some who chose to stay in Babylon, when Nehemiah came back to rebuild the wall, forgot their names. Who knows, except God, where the descendants are today.
This chapter is also found in II Kings 24 and II Chronicles 36. It is the end of an era for Israel and mentioning it three times seems most appropriate.
v31-34 "And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach, king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments, and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of is life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life."
I do not think that was the same Jeremiah who wrote the book.
We come to the close of the book of Jeremiah. He prophesied during the time of the end of the Jewish kingdom in Judah. He also prophesied during the captivity. He suffered at the hands of the authorities for the truth he spoke but was given his freedom by Nebuchadrezzar. He went down to Egypt and I lost his trail from there. I wonder if he made it to Babylon and met Daniel or if he went back to Judah to help in the vineyards. I do not know.
I have learned from studying this book again. I learned that Nebuchadrezzar is probably the correct spelling of the king of Babylon's name although we pronounce it Nebuchadnezzar as it was first spoken by the Hebrews.
Zedekiah was the last reigning king of Judah. However, I think Johoiachin lived the longest as described in the last part of this chapter. The real name of Zedekiah was Mettaniah. Zedekiah being given to him by Nebuchadrezzar.
Many names of the Jews were changed in Babylon. Perhaps, it was another way to wipe out their heritage. Fortunately, many remembered and kept up with their family names. I expect some who chose to stay in Babylon, when Nehemiah came back to rebuild the wall, forgot their names. Who knows, except God, where the descendants are today.
This chapter is also found in II Kings 24 and II Chronicles 36. It is the end of an era for Israel and mentioning it three times seems most appropriate.
v31-34 "And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach, king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments, and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of is life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life."
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Babylon - Jeremiah 51
Jeremiah 51:1 "Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;"
At the end of the 70 years of captivity, Babylon will be judged. I missed a verse in the last chapter that is a good summary of why.
Chapter 50:38 "A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up; for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols."
There are still artifacts of the greatness of Babylon as well as legions. The picture of the place is quite different. It is dried up. I do not know but I am thinking that the river must have had a different course during the time of this great kingdom city.
v7 "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken; the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad."
Babylon could be a long study, but I will highlight only a few verses. I suggest commentaries and books of history to further fill in the details.
v58 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary."
To form a mental of the city, we can see from this verse that the walls were great and perhaps the gates were of fine wood from some foreign land. Sometimes great heaps of dirt are the remains of something magnificent.
Also we can see that the people tried to save the city but were not able to do so. They became weary.
v64 "And thou shall say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her and they shall be weary, Thus far are the words of Jeremiah."
Revelation 18:21 "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."
The Bible Sscholar Scofield tells us that Babylon is used symbolically to represent world power in the last days (our days).
At the end of the 70 years of captivity, Babylon will be judged. I missed a verse in the last chapter that is a good summary of why.
Chapter 50:38 "A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up; for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols."
There are still artifacts of the greatness of Babylon as well as legions. The picture of the place is quite different. It is dried up. I do not know but I am thinking that the river must have had a different course during the time of this great kingdom city.
v7 "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD's hand, that made all the earth drunken; the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad."
Babylon could be a long study, but I will highlight only a few verses. I suggest commentaries and books of history to further fill in the details.
v58 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary."
To form a mental of the city, we can see from this verse that the walls were great and perhaps the gates were of fine wood from some foreign land. Sometimes great heaps of dirt are the remains of something magnificent.
Also we can see that the people tried to save the city but were not able to do so. They became weary.
v64 "And thou shall say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her and they shall be weary, Thus far are the words of Jeremiah."
Revelation 18:21 "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."
The Bible Sscholar Scofield tells us that Babylon is used symbolically to represent world power in the last days (our days).
Monday, May 10, 2010
Back to Zion - Jeremiah 50
Jeremiah 50:4-5 "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten."
This is a prophecy from Jeremiah. He is looking forward to the end of the 70 years of captivity. Most of the original captives have probably died by now. When they left Zion, the people were worshipping idols and all sorts of things. I doubt there was much teaching going in in the households about Israel and Judah and the ways of the LORD. But in this prophecy there is a longing for the homeland which most of them have not even seen.
v2 "Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not; say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces."
The punished for rebellion is now over and those who took the Lord's punishment to the extreme of their own volition are now going to be punished. I cannot guess when this chapter may have been written. Jeremiah may have been in Egypt at the time but we cannot tell from this writing. Babylon is going to fall though.
v9 "For lo, I will raise and cause to come against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken; their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain."
Verse 11 explains it for us, as to why the Chaldeans are being judged after they did the Lord's bidding.
v11 "Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls,"
It seems to be that Babylon has gotten proud and boastful as if they brought themselves to greatness. They took the punishment of God's chosen beyond what God intended. We learned that the captivity was to be an instrument to keep Israel together as a people while the land laid in sabbath. The Chaldeans gave out their own punishment.
The passage is a lament over the condition of Israel.
v17 "Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away; first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones."
v18 "Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria."
Then the Promise:
v19 "And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead."
I am bringing my people home.
Not only that but I will take away their sin.
v20 "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve."
I do not think this prophecy has been completely fulfilled. They came back to build the wall again (Nehemiah) but we will have to study more. There are references to Babylon in Revelation which are not all together clear to me. I do believe there was a physical Babylon and I believe there is a spiritual Babylon where the same things worshipped in the old nation are carried forward to a broader kingdom that worshipped or worships the same way. See Revelation. I will leave this difficult subject to the expert Bible scholars of prophecy.
I will leave this chapter with these two verses.
v33-34 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name; he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon."
This is a prophecy from Jeremiah. He is looking forward to the end of the 70 years of captivity. Most of the original captives have probably died by now. When they left Zion, the people were worshipping idols and all sorts of things. I doubt there was much teaching going in in the households about Israel and Judah and the ways of the LORD. But in this prophecy there is a longing for the homeland which most of them have not even seen.
v2 "Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not; say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces."
The punished for rebellion is now over and those who took the Lord's punishment to the extreme of their own volition are now going to be punished. I cannot guess when this chapter may have been written. Jeremiah may have been in Egypt at the time but we cannot tell from this writing. Babylon is going to fall though.
v9 "For lo, I will raise and cause to come against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken; their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain."
Verse 11 explains it for us, as to why the Chaldeans are being judged after they did the Lord's bidding.
v11 "Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls,"
It seems to be that Babylon has gotten proud and boastful as if they brought themselves to greatness. They took the punishment of God's chosen beyond what God intended. We learned that the captivity was to be an instrument to keep Israel together as a people while the land laid in sabbath. The Chaldeans gave out their own punishment.
The passage is a lament over the condition of Israel.
v17 "Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away; first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones."
v18 "Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria."
Then the Promise:
v19 "And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead."
I am bringing my people home.
Not only that but I will take away their sin.
v20 "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve."
I do not think this prophecy has been completely fulfilled. They came back to build the wall again (Nehemiah) but we will have to study more. There are references to Babylon in Revelation which are not all together clear to me. I do believe there was a physical Babylon and I believe there is a spiritual Babylon where the same things worshipped in the old nation are carried forward to a broader kingdom that worshipped or worships the same way. See Revelation. I will leave this difficult subject to the expert Bible scholars of prophecy.
I will leave this chapter with these two verses.
v33-34 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name; he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon."
Monday, May 03, 2010
Pharaoh and Nebuchadrezzar - Jeremiah 46
Jeremiah 46: 1-2 "The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; Against Egypt against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah." See also II Kings 23:29
This begins several chapters which talk about judgments against various peoples. The words seem to encourage the armies to come together so that the judgment is sure. It reads like some of the plays I've heard with its flow of words. It leaves no doubt as to where and when it happened.
v10 "For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries; and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood; for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates."
satiate: to satisfy fully or to excess
Pharaoh had become, according to history, no just a king but was worshipped as a god. They also had many gods of animals and part animals as we see in the stories of the tombs. It is a part of history that seems to have stopped suddenly.
v24 "The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north."
Not only was Egypt defeated by Nebuchadrezzar but the land was changed when they cut down great forest of trees.
v23 "They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable."
For the remnant of Judah that came to Egypt, the chapter closes with a word for them.
v28 "Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD; for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee; but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished."
Special attention goes to the beloved of the Lord. These are the times before Christ came to redeem the world. The last part of the Bible is called the New Testament. It represents a change in how the world is dealt with. It includes a time of grace when people can turn to Christ for salvation. The book of Revelation takes us beyond this time of grace to a time when the world is judged. Everyone should consider themselves seriously while we are given this gift of grace. I prefer this time of grace to the violent times we read about in the Old Testament and in history.
Romans 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
This begins several chapters which talk about judgments against various peoples. The words seem to encourage the armies to come together so that the judgment is sure. It reads like some of the plays I've heard with its flow of words. It leaves no doubt as to where and when it happened.
v10 "For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries; and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood; for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates."
satiate: to satisfy fully or to excess
Pharaoh had become, according to history, no just a king but was worshipped as a god. They also had many gods of animals and part animals as we see in the stories of the tombs. It is a part of history that seems to have stopped suddenly.
v24 "The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north."
Not only was Egypt defeated by Nebuchadrezzar but the land was changed when they cut down great forest of trees.
v23 "They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable."
For the remnant of Judah that came to Egypt, the chapter closes with a word for them.
v28 "Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD; for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee; but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished."
Special attention goes to the beloved of the Lord. These are the times before Christ came to redeem the world. The last part of the Bible is called the New Testament. It represents a change in how the world is dealt with. It includes a time of grace when people can turn to Christ for salvation. The book of Revelation takes us beyond this time of grace to a time when the world is judged. Everyone should consider themselves seriously while we are given this gift of grace. I prefer this time of grace to the violent times we read about in the Old Testament and in history.
Romans 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Johanan Refuses to Obey - Jeremiah 43
Jeremiah 43:7 "So they came into the land of Egypt; for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD; thus came they even to Tahpanhes."
Tahpanhes: a city in Egypt on a branch of the Nile.
The chapter comes after Jeremiah told the remnant that they would be safe in Judah. The leaders accused Jeremiah of being deceived by Baruch, you remember the scribe who wrote down what Jeremiah told him and the book that was burned.
v3 "But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives in Babylon."
They, apparently, remember the time of Joseph when Israel was protected in Egypt but have forgotten the many years of slavery there and that they had to be delivered by Moses.
They have also 'forgotten' their promise to obey what ever word Jeremiah brought from the LORD. I think often we pray to tell God what to do rather than to submit to his wisdom in doing the thing we need instead of the thing we want.
As a reminder of the words Jeremiah spake from the LORD, a witness was set up in Egypt.
v9 "Take great stones in thine hand and hide them in the clay in the brick kiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;"
These were a material symbol of a prophecy spoken by Jeremiah that on that very spot the king of Babylon would sit after he had conquered Egypt and dealt with the remnant of Judah for disobeying the LORD.
v11 "And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword."
I do not know really, why Egypt tried to come to Judah's rescue earlier nor why they want to shelter them now. I'd think that after the Red Sea and the pestilence inflicted on them because of Israel that they would shun them. Now, the king of Babylon is coming.
v12 "And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace."
Well, it is a far cry from the greatness when David and Solomon were kings. Those kings honored God in their doings and the kingdom was great. The people turned to idols and the kingdom fell. It should be clear which way was best.
Next chapter, tells of the arrogance of the people. They are no longer ashamed of their transgression but lash out.
Tahpanhes: a city in Egypt on a branch of the Nile.
The chapter comes after Jeremiah told the remnant that they would be safe in Judah. The leaders accused Jeremiah of being deceived by Baruch, you remember the scribe who wrote down what Jeremiah told him and the book that was burned.
v3 "But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives in Babylon."
They, apparently, remember the time of Joseph when Israel was protected in Egypt but have forgotten the many years of slavery there and that they had to be delivered by Moses.
They have also 'forgotten' their promise to obey what ever word Jeremiah brought from the LORD. I think often we pray to tell God what to do rather than to submit to his wisdom in doing the thing we need instead of the thing we want.
As a reminder of the words Jeremiah spake from the LORD, a witness was set up in Egypt.
v9 "Take great stones in thine hand and hide them in the clay in the brick kiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;"
These were a material symbol of a prophecy spoken by Jeremiah that on that very spot the king of Babylon would sit after he had conquered Egypt and dealt with the remnant of Judah for disobeying the LORD.
v11 "And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword."
I do not know really, why Egypt tried to come to Judah's rescue earlier nor why they want to shelter them now. I'd think that after the Red Sea and the pestilence inflicted on them because of Israel that they would shun them. Now, the king of Babylon is coming.
v12 "And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace."
Well, it is a far cry from the greatness when David and Solomon were kings. Those kings honored God in their doings and the kingdom was great. The people turned to idols and the kingdom fell. It should be clear which way was best.
Next chapter, tells of the arrogance of the people. They are no longer ashamed of their transgression but lash out.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Jerusalem Fails - Jeremiah 39
Jeremiah 39:2 "And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up."
Zedekiah has been king for nine years when the king of Babylon laid siege to the city, then after about two years they entered the city. These two years or so were are very bad time for Jerusalem. It could have been avoided if they had listened to Jeremiah and the words of the Lord.
v4 "And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls; and he went out the way of the plain."
At this point, there was no mercy from the Chaldeans. They broke up the city, killed the sons of Zedekiah and put out the kings eyes, leading him away in chains to Babylon.
v8 "And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem."
So a great kingdom, created and built up by the LORD, is brought down because they turned from the LORD and would not be corrected.
As for Jeremiah, he remained with the remnant that was left.
v12 "Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee." So said Nebuchadrezzar to the captain of the guard.
As for Ebedmelech the Ethiopian who helped Jeremiah and saved his life. He was given a good word from the Lord.
v17 "But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid."
v18 "For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee; because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD."
Zedekiah has been king for nine years when the king of Babylon laid siege to the city, then after about two years they entered the city. These two years or so were are very bad time for Jerusalem. It could have been avoided if they had listened to Jeremiah and the words of the Lord.
v4 "And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls; and he went out the way of the plain."
At this point, there was no mercy from the Chaldeans. They broke up the city, killed the sons of Zedekiah and put out the kings eyes, leading him away in chains to Babylon.
v8 "And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem."
So a great kingdom, created and built up by the LORD, is brought down because they turned from the LORD and would not be corrected.
As for Jeremiah, he remained with the remnant that was left.
v12 "Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee." So said Nebuchadrezzar to the captain of the guard.
As for Ebedmelech the Ethiopian who helped Jeremiah and saved his life. He was given a good word from the Lord.
v17 "But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid."
v18 "For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee; because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD."
Friday, April 16, 2010
Zedekiah, king of Judah - Jeremiah 37
Jeremiah 37:1 "And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah."
Coniah is a whole other story. Zedekiah is king and Jerusalem is in the end days. The Chaldeans have besieged Jerusalem but Pharaoh's army is on the way so the Chaldeans pull out. It seems that Jerusalem is saved.
v5 "Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem."
Meanwhile, Jeremiah tried to leave the city to go into the land of Benjamin but the princes thought he was going over to the Chaldeans and arrested him. So he is in prison in the scribes house which is nothing more than a dungeon.
v17 "Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon."
Jeremiah is plan with the king. He asked him where the prophets were that told him everything was going to be just peachy. He also asked Zedekiah to not put him back in the dungeon. So he was allowed to stay in the court of the prison.
v21 "Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison."
We should note since the Chaldeans are retreating and Pharaoh's seems to be coming to the rescue that there was a word from the Lord on the matter.
v10 "For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire."
Judah has rejected God and his words from Jeremiah and the Chaldeans are the instrument of their punishment. It was to happen as God said it would.
Coniah is a whole other story. Zedekiah is king and Jerusalem is in the end days. The Chaldeans have besieged Jerusalem but Pharaoh's army is on the way so the Chaldeans pull out. It seems that Jerusalem is saved.
v5 "Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem."
Meanwhile, Jeremiah tried to leave the city to go into the land of Benjamin but the princes thought he was going over to the Chaldeans and arrested him. So he is in prison in the scribes house which is nothing more than a dungeon.
v17 "Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon."
Jeremiah is plan with the king. He asked him where the prophets were that told him everything was going to be just peachy. He also asked Zedekiah to not put him back in the dungeon. So he was allowed to stay in the court of the prison.
v21 "Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison."
We should note since the Chaldeans are retreating and Pharaoh's seems to be coming to the rescue that there was a word from the Lord on the matter.
v10 "For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire."
Judah has rejected God and his words from Jeremiah and the Chaldeans are the instrument of their punishment. It was to happen as God said it would.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Carried to Babylon - Jeremiah 27
Jeremiah 27:22 "They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place."
For us, God's plan does not seem like the best plan when it involves pain on our part. The cleft of the rock may not seem like a very good place until the storm comes.
Jeremiah told the people to submit to the captivity. There were false prophets who told them not to submit and that every thing would be fine if they would just resist. God's plan was for them to go into captivity and stay together until the day he brought them back into Canaan.
The slavery days in Egypt were a trying time and no doubt very bad times for families. But out of that pain came forth a nation. Where 70 entered Egypt, a nation came out. There is travail with birth.
Here is the message sent out to the surrounding area from the LORD:
v5-6 "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. (Isaiah 45:12) v6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him."
God is very specific. Nebuchadnezzar (notice the name now has an 'n' instead of an 'r') would reign then his son and his son's son. God has given all nations to him and his sons, Those who do not submit will be consumed. v8. The LORD even calls Nebuchadnezzar his servant. So the false prophets were wrong.
The purpose of the captivity was punishment in in one respect but also was to preserve the nation.
v9 "Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon.
Many wonderful stories came out of the time of the captivity. We will read them later, the Lord willing.
I'm reminded of Acts where the persecution came and the preachers were dispersed into other nations. I wonder if they would have stayed in Jerusalem where it all happened, if the persecution had not come. It is a bitter cup but the gentiles have the gospel.
So, in compassion, the message is again sent out so that everyone knows the right thing to do.
v17 "Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live, wherefore should this city be laid waste?
For us, God's plan does not seem like the best plan when it involves pain on our part. The cleft of the rock may not seem like a very good place until the storm comes.
Jeremiah told the people to submit to the captivity. There were false prophets who told them not to submit and that every thing would be fine if they would just resist. God's plan was for them to go into captivity and stay together until the day he brought them back into Canaan.
The slavery days in Egypt were a trying time and no doubt very bad times for families. But out of that pain came forth a nation. Where 70 entered Egypt, a nation came out. There is travail with birth.
Here is the message sent out to the surrounding area from the LORD:
v5-6 "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. (Isaiah 45:12) v6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him."
God is very specific. Nebuchadnezzar (notice the name now has an 'n' instead of an 'r') would reign then his son and his son's son. God has given all nations to him and his sons, Those who do not submit will be consumed. v8. The LORD even calls Nebuchadnezzar his servant. So the false prophets were wrong.
The purpose of the captivity was punishment in in one respect but also was to preserve the nation.
v9 "Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon.
Many wonderful stories came out of the time of the captivity. We will read them later, the Lord willing.
I'm reminded of Acts where the persecution came and the preachers were dispersed into other nations. I wonder if they would have stayed in Jerusalem where it all happened, if the persecution had not come. It is a bitter cup but the gentiles have the gospel.
So, in compassion, the message is again sent out so that everyone knows the right thing to do.
v17 "Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live, wherefore should this city be laid waste?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Cup of Fury - Jeremiah 25
Jeremiah 25:15 "For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it."
This seems to be the final warning before the captivity. (We will read on to see.) Jeremiah tells them, I got up early to warn you but you would not listen. Now, the day is at hand.
Proverbs 1:25 "But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and y our destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me, For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof."
So from Proverbs we see a picture of the conditions before the captivity of Israel. The Lord appealed to the people and the leaders but they would not listen. Now, He is angry.
v7 "Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt."
Jeremiah was told to take the cup around to various nations. We are given a list in verses 18-26. I believe it was a symbolic cup to tell them that there was no escape from what was to come. They must drink of the cup.
v28 "And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink."
v32 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth, from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth."
It was, undoubtedly, to be a great time of upheaval. But there is an end to it. Isn't it true, that if we can see an end to something, we can hope at least.
v12 "And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations."
So, although Babylon is used to punish Israel, they themselves will receive judgment in 70 years. You can study Daniel to learn what it was like for those who remained true to God.
This seems to be the final warning before the captivity. (We will read on to see.) Jeremiah tells them, I got up early to warn you but you would not listen. Now, the day is at hand.
Proverbs 1:25 "But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and y our destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me, For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof."
So from Proverbs we see a picture of the conditions before the captivity of Israel. The Lord appealed to the people and the leaders but they would not listen. Now, He is angry.
v7 "Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt."
Jeremiah was told to take the cup around to various nations. We are given a list in verses 18-26. I believe it was a symbolic cup to tell them that there was no escape from what was to come. They must drink of the cup.
v28 "And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink."
v32 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth, from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth."
It was, undoubtedly, to be a great time of upheaval. But there is an end to it. Isn't it true, that if we can see an end to something, we can hope at least.
v12 "And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations."
So, although Babylon is used to punish Israel, they themselves will receive judgment in 70 years. You can study Daniel to learn what it was like for those who remained true to God.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Two Baskets of Figs - Jeremiah 24
Jeremiah 24:1 "The LORD showed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple o f the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon."
(Note: I noticed that in Jeremiah the king of Babylon's name was spelled with an 'r' after Nebuchad- while in Daniel it is an 'n' and makes the name as we pronounce it today.)
We have in this chapter a very simple illustration. One basket of figs would go off into captivity in Babylon and would be looked after by the LORD. The other basket of figs would try to stay in Jerusalem/Judah but would be scattered far and wide, never to return.
Jeremiah preached that trouble was coming but the local prophets preached that everything was just fine and not to worry. Jeremiah apparently told the people to submit to the king of Babylon. It was chastisement and so would have been the correct thing to do.
v5 "Thsu saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them tht are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the chaldeans for their good."
The last phrase being key "for their good." and "I have sent".
v7 "And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."
People sometimes drift away from the LORD. It is then that as children they are punished. Punishment not from hate but from love. Punishment that is meant to draw the children back to doing the right thing. So it was with Israel, the remnant.
Not so for those who rebelled.
v9 "And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them."
If one just picked up the Bible and read this passage without reading the previous chapters, it would seem a cruel thing. But look back and it will be justified.
II Kings 24:4 "And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon."
Just one verse that tells of the evil that was going on in Israel.
They had been given a way to avoid this captivity and the scattering:
II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
But they would not.
(Note: I noticed that in Jeremiah the king of Babylon's name was spelled with an 'r' after Nebuchad- while in Daniel it is an 'n' and makes the name as we pronounce it today.)
We have in this chapter a very simple illustration. One basket of figs would go off into captivity in Babylon and would be looked after by the LORD. The other basket of figs would try to stay in Jerusalem/Judah but would be scattered far and wide, never to return.
Jeremiah preached that trouble was coming but the local prophets preached that everything was just fine and not to worry. Jeremiah apparently told the people to submit to the king of Babylon. It was chastisement and so would have been the correct thing to do.
v5 "Thsu saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them tht are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the chaldeans for their good."
The last phrase being key "for their good." and "I have sent".
v7 "And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."
People sometimes drift away from the LORD. It is then that as children they are punished. Punishment not from hate but from love. Punishment that is meant to draw the children back to doing the right thing. So it was with Israel, the remnant.
Not so for those who rebelled.
v9 "And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them."
If one just picked up the Bible and read this passage without reading the previous chapters, it would seem a cruel thing. But look back and it will be justified.
II Kings 24:4 "And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon."
Just one verse that tells of the evil that was going on in Israel.
They had been given a way to avoid this captivity and the scattering:
II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
But they would not.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Life and Death - Jeremiah 21
Jeremiah 21 : 8 "And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death."
This verse illustrates why we should always read scripture in its context. We would think of this verse (for the Christian) as a choice between choosing salvation or rejecting salvation. That is not the case for this verse.
v9 "He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine and by the pestilence; but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey."
Jerusalem is surrounded and the judgment of God is being finalized. Under a siege, a city is basically starved out. The enemy knows that if they wait long enough, the people inside will run out of food. Disease will set in and victory will come without a frontal assault.
In the first part of the chapter, the very man who smote Jeremiah (Pashur) was sent by the king to Jeremiah to try to get some help for their situation. It must have pressed on the man's ego to have to go to Jeremiah.
v1 "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur, the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,"
The Bible makes it clear who these men were that went to Jeremiah. It is important to have a witness with credentials.
They did not hear what they wanted to hear.
v4 "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
v5 "And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath."
After begging Israel to repent of their idol worship and the form of 'obedience' they had, the LORD has had enough of rebellion and it is time for chastisement. I find it interesting that the LORD still introduces himself as the LORD God of Israel. They knew who he was.
v14 "But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD; and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it."
See the Kings for the story.
This verse illustrates why we should always read scripture in its context. We would think of this verse (for the Christian) as a choice between choosing salvation or rejecting salvation. That is not the case for this verse.
v9 "He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine and by the pestilence; but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey."
Jerusalem is surrounded and the judgment of God is being finalized. Under a siege, a city is basically starved out. The enemy knows that if they wait long enough, the people inside will run out of food. Disease will set in and victory will come without a frontal assault.
In the first part of the chapter, the very man who smote Jeremiah (Pashur) was sent by the king to Jeremiah to try to get some help for their situation. It must have pressed on the man's ego to have to go to Jeremiah.
v1 "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur, the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,"
The Bible makes it clear who these men were that went to Jeremiah. It is important to have a witness with credentials.
They did not hear what they wanted to hear.
v4 "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
v5 "And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath."
After begging Israel to repent of their idol worship and the form of 'obedience' they had, the LORD has had enough of rebellion and it is time for chastisement. I find it interesting that the LORD still introduces himself as the LORD God of Israel. They knew who he was.
v14 "But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD; and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it."
See the Kings for the story.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Pride - Jeremiah 13
Jeremiah 13:9 "Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem."
Pride is a subject that could take up many pages. Here we discuss the pride that is associated with arrogance. It is not, (I don't think) the way we use the word when we speak of our children.
Pride: conceit; haughty behavior - I think is the definition we are looking for.
arrogance: offensive exaggerating one's own importance
My thought on the matter is that we can be blessed by God to do certain things which put one in a position of leadership (and power) then the individual forgets that it is through God's power that they do what they do and begin to feel it is within themselves that they perform. That is arrogance and pride.
Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
So we find Jerusalem and Judah about to fall. They have been begged to turn back to God even while the enemy is approaching with a great army, but they would not. After Jeremiah reasoned with God in the last chapter, we find here and illustration of the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.
v1 "Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water."
v4 "Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates and hide it there in a hole of the rock."
So Jeremiah does as he is told and after some days he is instructed to go and get the linen cloth and he sees how it is soiled and good for nothing. Such is the pride of Judah and Jerusalem, the LORD tells him.
v11 "For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear."
He goes on to say that the people will be drunk and staggering against each other and there will be no pity for them. The kingdom is lost because of pride. Although a physical enemy is approaching, the real enemy is within the nation itself.
v23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
v27 "I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?"
II Kings 24:15 "And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon."
Pride is a subject that could take up many pages. Here we discuss the pride that is associated with arrogance. It is not, (I don't think) the way we use the word when we speak of our children.
Pride: conceit; haughty behavior - I think is the definition we are looking for.
arrogance: offensive exaggerating one's own importance
My thought on the matter is that we can be blessed by God to do certain things which put one in a position of leadership (and power) then the individual forgets that it is through God's power that they do what they do and begin to feel it is within themselves that they perform. That is arrogance and pride.
Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
So we find Jerusalem and Judah about to fall. They have been begged to turn back to God even while the enemy is approaching with a great army, but they would not. After Jeremiah reasoned with God in the last chapter, we find here and illustration of the pride of Judah and Jerusalem.
v1 "Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water."
v4 "Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates and hide it there in a hole of the rock."
So Jeremiah does as he is told and after some days he is instructed to go and get the linen cloth and he sees how it is soiled and good for nothing. Such is the pride of Judah and Jerusalem, the LORD tells him.
v11 "For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear."
He goes on to say that the people will be drunk and staggering against each other and there will be no pity for them. The kingdom is lost because of pride. Although a physical enemy is approaching, the real enemy is within the nation itself.
v23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
v27 "I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?"
II Kings 24:15 "And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon."
Monday, December 14, 2009
First and Last Isaiah 48
"Isaiah 48:18 " O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea;"
Isaiah looks beyond the captivity to the calling out of the remnant. Babylon and the Chaldeans are about to be destroyed and in a move of grace (for Israel is still rebellious) the Lord brings them out.
"from the time that it was, there am I"
The Lord speaks of Israel still claiming to be of the holy city but not acting like it.
v2""For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name. but verse one declares "...but not in truth, nor in righteousness."
To further convince them, the Lord tells them that he has told them things that would happen before they happened. He says from the start I told you the truth and didn't hid things from you.
v6 "Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them."
Nevertheless, the Lord still loves Israel and will rescue them again. If he cannot do it for their obedience He will do it for his own name's sake.
v9-11 " For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it; for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another."
Israel could have followed the commandments told Moses and again David and Solomon, and flourished in their new land. They chose idols and suffered chastisement for it. Yet the Lord will still fulfill his promise (for His name's sake) and as He often said for his servant David's sake.
v20 "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob."
Isaiah looks beyond the captivity to the calling out of the remnant. Babylon and the Chaldeans are about to be destroyed and in a move of grace (for Israel is still rebellious) the Lord brings them out.
"from the time that it was, there am I"
The Lord speaks of Israel still claiming to be of the holy city but not acting like it.
v2""For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name. but verse one declares "...but not in truth, nor in righteousness."
To further convince them, the Lord tells them that he has told them things that would happen before they happened. He says from the start I told you the truth and didn't hid things from you.
v6 "Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them."
Nevertheless, the Lord still loves Israel and will rescue them again. If he cannot do it for their obedience He will do it for his own name's sake.
v9-11 " For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it; for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another."
Israel could have followed the commandments told Moses and again David and Solomon, and flourished in their new land. They chose idols and suffered chastisement for it. Yet the Lord will still fulfill his promise (for His name's sake) and as He often said for his servant David's sake.
v20 "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob."
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Party's Over for Royalty
Isaiah 47:10 "For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me."
The royalty of Babylon, of the Chaldeans have basically taken the description of the LORD and applied it to themselves. They were but a tool to chasten Israel but they took it beyond mere chastisement to outright abuse.
v6 "I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst show them no mercy, upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke."
We learn from this verse that the LORD is aware that we as people get old and are not able to withstand the demands of life as a young person would. These limitations should be respected and allowances made for them. Fact is if we survive, all are headed for old age.
Further, the royalty did not trust int he LORD but turned to enchantments and such.
v10 "For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me." Our text verse.
Also, it seems that in secret places, they carried on their parties and get togethers to study the elements to determine the future.
v13 "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."
It was not as if these people were unaware of the LORD. Israel is a chosen people but that does not mean that God just forgets the rest of the world. All men are aware of the LORD and the LORD cares about what happens to them.
v7 "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady forever; so that thou didst not lay these thins to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it."
Here we have learned the destiny of Babylon and its inhabitants.
The royalty of Babylon, of the Chaldeans have basically taken the description of the LORD and applied it to themselves. They were but a tool to chasten Israel but they took it beyond mere chastisement to outright abuse.
v6 "I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst show them no mercy, upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke."
We learn from this verse that the LORD is aware that we as people get old and are not able to withstand the demands of life as a young person would. These limitations should be respected and allowances made for them. Fact is if we survive, all are headed for old age.
Further, the royalty did not trust int he LORD but turned to enchantments and such.
v10 "For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me." Our text verse.
Also, it seems that in secret places, they carried on their parties and get togethers to study the elements to determine the future.
v13 "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."
It was not as if these people were unaware of the LORD. Israel is a chosen people but that does not mean that God just forgets the rest of the world. All men are aware of the LORD and the LORD cares about what happens to them.
v7 "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady forever; so that thou didst not lay these thins to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it."
Here we have learned the destiny of Babylon and its inhabitants.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Hezekiah's Mistake Isaiah 39
Isaiah 39:6 "Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left,s aith the LORD."
Hezekiah has been sick and since he is king, the word gets around.
v1 "At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered."
Merodachbaladam means Merodach, worshipper of Baal. Merodach means slaughter and was an idol of the Babylonians and often used as a surname.
Hezekiah liked the attention and did some showing off.
v2 "And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures; there was nothing in his house, not in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not."
That was like showing a bank robber around a bank. He could see that there was much more to steal besides what was in the registers. Isaiah found out about this and told the king what would happen.
v4 "Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them."
Which leads us to the text verse. What they saw, they would take away.
Next is the part of the chapter that I find shocking for such a good king. Isaiah also told Hezekiah that his sons would be taken away. Hezekiah, himself, would be spared this even but his sons would suffer. Hezekiah's attitude was very selfish.
v7 "And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."
Then the first that shocked me. It is as if Hezekiah cares only for himself.
v8 "Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken, He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days."
Hezekiah has been sick and since he is king, the word gets around.
v1 "At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered."
Merodachbaladam means Merodach, worshipper of Baal. Merodach means slaughter and was an idol of the Babylonians and often used as a surname.
Hezekiah liked the attention and did some showing off.
v2 "And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures; there was nothing in his house, not in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not."
That was like showing a bank robber around a bank. He could see that there was much more to steal besides what was in the registers. Isaiah found out about this and told the king what would happen.
v4 "Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them."
Which leads us to the text verse. What they saw, they would take away.
Next is the part of the chapter that I find shocking for such a good king. Isaiah also told Hezekiah that his sons would be taken away. Hezekiah, himself, would be spared this even but his sons would suffer. Hezekiah's attitude was very selfish.
v7 "And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."
Then the first that shocked me. It is as if Hezekiah cares only for himself.
v8 "Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken, He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days."
Monday, November 16, 2009
Indignation of the Lord Isaiah 34
Isaiah 34:1 "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people; let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it."
Indignation is a very strong word. It means anger aroused by something unjust. While Assyria and others were used to execute judgment on Israel, there was instance of nations going beyond this chastisement and abusing Israel. I do not totally understand all that is involved here but I think of parents and their children. A parent may do something that seems extreme prompted by a single event but is actually a result of cumulative infractions of parental rules. It was like the straw that broke the camel's back. But one thing for sure, no stranger should think they will get away with stepping in and correcting the child. So, it is with Israel.
v2 "For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all nations, and his duty upon all their armies; he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter."
It is a scary thing to be on the wrong side of the Lord's anger. It will happen to the unsaved when judgment day finally comes. There will be those looks of 'why me' and I've done so much for everyone and given to charity. The problem is we will not be judged by how we followed our plan of salvation but by how we followed God's plan of salvation. It will be an awesome day. Even as a child of God, I dread facing him.
v6 "The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea."
That verse escapes me for meaning but my thoughts, as I read it, were two fold: one of the word of God which is said to be sharper than a two edged sword, and of all the sacrifices Israel made even while they were turning away from the Lord. Sacrifices were an indication of their belief in God but without loyalty they meant nothing.
Then we see a description of a great nation and city which I think refers to Babylon.
v13 "And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court of owls."
Finally, we are told as was Israel, to search through the book of records to see if things did not happen as the Lord said they would.
v16 "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read; no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate; for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them." Speaking of the owls and vultures. See also Psalm 56:8 and Malachi 3:16
So Isaiah, is going about preaching of the coming days of trial and the judgment that follows. Also, he speaks of a future day when the people will be gathered and there will be joy with their true worship of the Lord.
Indignation is a very strong word. It means anger aroused by something unjust. While Assyria and others were used to execute judgment on Israel, there was instance of nations going beyond this chastisement and abusing Israel. I do not totally understand all that is involved here but I think of parents and their children. A parent may do something that seems extreme prompted by a single event but is actually a result of cumulative infractions of parental rules. It was like the straw that broke the camel's back. But one thing for sure, no stranger should think they will get away with stepping in and correcting the child. So, it is with Israel.
v2 "For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all nations, and his duty upon all their armies; he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter."
It is a scary thing to be on the wrong side of the Lord's anger. It will happen to the unsaved when judgment day finally comes. There will be those looks of 'why me' and I've done so much for everyone and given to charity. The problem is we will not be judged by how we followed our plan of salvation but by how we followed God's plan of salvation. It will be an awesome day. Even as a child of God, I dread facing him.
v6 "The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea."
That verse escapes me for meaning but my thoughts, as I read it, were two fold: one of the word of God which is said to be sharper than a two edged sword, and of all the sacrifices Israel made even while they were turning away from the Lord. Sacrifices were an indication of their belief in God but without loyalty they meant nothing.
Then we see a description of a great nation and city which I think refers to Babylon.
v13 "And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court of owls."
Finally, we are told as was Israel, to search through the book of records to see if things did not happen as the Lord said they would.
v16 "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read; no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate; for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them." Speaking of the owls and vultures. See also Psalm 56:8 and Malachi 3:16
So Isaiah, is going about preaching of the coming days of trial and the judgment that follows. Also, he speaks of a future day when the people will be gathered and there will be joy with their true worship of the Lord.
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