proven right

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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proven right

Jeremiah 39:1-10 (JDV)

Jeremiah 39:1 In the ninth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against Jerusalem with his entire army and besieged it.
Jeremiah 39:2 In the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, on the ninth day of the month, the city was stormed.
Jeremiah 39:3 All the Babylonian king’s commanders entered and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar, Nebusarsechim the chief of staff, Nergal-sharezer the chief soothsayer, and all the rest of the Babylonian king’s commanders.
Jeremiah 39:4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the fighting men saw them, they ran away. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the city gate between the two walls. They left along the route to the Arabah.
Jeremiah 39:5 However, the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They arrested him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s king, at Riblah in the land of Hamath. The king passed sentence on him there.
Jeremiah 39:6 At Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, and he also slaughtered all Judah’s nobles.
Jeremiah 39:7 Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze chains to take him to Babylon.
Jeremiah 39:8 The Chaldeans next burned down the king’s palace and the people’s houses and tore down the walls of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 39:9 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, deported the rest of the people to Babylon – those who had remained in the city and those deserters who had defected to him along with the rest of the people who remained.
Jeremiah 39:10 However, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

proven right

The last thing Zedekiah would see would be the death of his sons and his nobles. Then he was blinded and taken to Babylon. Besides some poor people left to maintain the vineyards and farms, everyone else was taken away to become plunder.

Jeremiah tells this story in tears, and repeats it in a more poetic fashion in Lamentations. He had spent his life warning his people that God would not tolerate their rebellion. Now he is proven right. He is not gloating. He laments.

Lord, we want to tell the truth of your coming judgment, but plead for you to let us save some from this fate by bringing them to repentance.

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Zedekiah’s oath

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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Zedekiah’s oath

Jeremiah 38:14-28 (JDV)

Jeremiah 38:14 King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah and received him at the third entrance of Yahveh’s temple. The king said to Jeremiah, “I am going to ask you something; don’t hide anything from me.”
Jeremiah 38:15 Jeremiah replied to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, you will kill me, won’t you? Besides, if I did give you advice, you woudn’t listen to me.”
Jeremiah 38:16 King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private, “As Yahveh lives, who has given us this throat, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who intend to cut your throat.”
Jeremiah 38:17 Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, “This is what Yahveh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you really surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned, and you and your household will survive.
Jeremiah 38:18 But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it, and you yourself will not escape from them.'”
Jeremiah 38:19 But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am worried about the Judeans who have defected to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to the Judeans to abuse me.”
Jeremiah 38:20 “They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey Yahveh in what I am telling you, so it may go well for you and your throat can stay alive.
Jeremiah 38:21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is the verdict that Yahveh has shown me:
Jeremiah 38:22 ‘All the women who remain in the palace of Judah’s king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say to you, “Your trusted friends misled you and overcame you. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.”
Jeremiah 38:23 All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. You yourself will not escape from them, because you will be seized by the king of Babylon and this city will burn.'”
Jeremiah 38:24 Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Don’t let anyone know about this conversation or you will die.
Jeremiah 38:25 The officials may hear that I have spoken with you and come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king; don’t hide anything from us and we won’t kill you. Also, what did the king say to you?’
Jeremiah 38:26 If they do, tell them, ‘I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.'”
Jeremiah 38:27 All the officials did come to Jeremiah, and they questioned him. He reported the exact words to them the king had commanded, and they quit speaking with him because the conversation had not been overheard.
Jeremiah 38:28 Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard until the day Jerusalem was captured, and he was there when it happened.

Zedekiah’s oath

I commented on the spiritual implications of this chapter in yesterday’s post. Permit me to comment on the theological implications of verse 16 today. You see, most translations render Zedekiah’s oath as an assurance that he would protect Jeremiah’s life. That is true, but the word usually translated life in that verse is not the same word that corresponds to the adjective in the phrase “As Yahveh lives.”

Instead, the word is nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ), a word often translated “soul.” Common belief has it that the soul is a separate entity that lives inside the body, but survives it after the body’s death.

But in passages like this, where the word obviously refers to something other than an immortal soul, the translators render it “life” as if it is a synonym for chayim (חַיִּים). By so doing, they bypass the figure of speech involved in Zedekiah’s use of the word. The word nefesh is firstly a word indicating the throat. It only became a word for the life inside the body as a metaphor. As the organ for breathing, the throat became a symbol for a body with the breath still inside — a body still alive. To take someone’s throat is to kill him. Zedekiah is promising Jeremiah that he will make sure nobody kills him.

The statement makes perfect sense unless you insist that a person’s soul is immortal. If the soul is immortal, then nobody would be able to take Jeremiah’s soul, and Zedekiah would not be in a position to prevent it, so his oath would be meaningless. There are a number of passages like this, which do not make sense if the theological assumptions of traditionalists and universalists are correct. We don’t normally recognize these passages because the translators have “helped” us by hiding the original wording.

I encourage you to learn the original languages, and read the Bible for yourself. You have the right to know what is really there.

Lord, give us open eyes to see what your word really says.

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stuck in the mud

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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stuck in the mud

Jeremiah 38:1-13 (JDV)

Jeremiah 38:1 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard the words Jeremiah was speaking to all the people:
Jeremiah 38:2 “This is what Yahveh says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live. He will keep his life like the spoils of war and will live.’
Jeremiah 38:3 This is what Yahveh says: ‘This city will most certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon’s army, and he will capture it.'”
Jeremiah 38:4 The officials then said to the king, “This man needs to die, because he is weakening the morale of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not chasing the welfare of this people, but their harm.”
Jeremiah 38:5 King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he’s in your hands since the king can’t do anything against you.”
Jeremiah 38:6 So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
Jeremiah 38:7 But Ebed-melech, a Cushite court official in the king’s palace, heard Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,
Jeremiah 38:8 Ebed-melech went from the king’s palace and spoke to the king:
Jeremiah 38:9 “My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.”
Jeremiah 38:10 So the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Cushite, “Take from here thirty men under your authority and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies.”
Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went to the king’s palace to a place below the storehouse. From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.
Jeremiah 38:12 Ebed-melech the Cushite called down to Jeremiah, “Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did this.
Jeremiah 38:13 They pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he stayed in the guard’s courtyard.

stuck in the mud

Two men were stuck in the mud. Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern to die because his words were too offensive for sinners to bear. Zedekiah was trapped in his own fear and stubbornness. Both needed freedom, but only one would be set free. How many times will we be caught in the trap of our own sinfulness, always coming back to the same embarrassing behaviors?

LORD, set us free from the stubborn pride that keeps us from honoring you with our lives. Deliver us by your Holy Spirit.

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a secret word

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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a secret word

Jeremiah 37:11-21 (JDV)

Jeremiah 37:11 This happened when the Chaldean army withdrew from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh’s army,
Jeremiah 37:12 Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion there among the people.
Jeremiah 37:13 But when he was at the Benjamin Gate, an officer of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, and he apprehended the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans.”
Jeremiah 37:14 “That’s a lie,” Jeremiah replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans!” Irijah would not listen to him but arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.
Jeremiah 37:15 The officials were angry at Jeremiah and beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, because it had been made into a prison.
Jeremiah 37:16 So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and stayed there many days.
Jeremiah 37:17 King Zedekiah later sent for him and received him, and in his house privately asked him, “Is there a word from Yahveh?” “There is,” Jeremiah responded. He continued, “You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.”
Jeremiah 37:18 Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “How have I failed you or your servants or these people that you have put me in prison?
Jeremiah 37:19 Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, claiming, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you and this land’?
Jeremiah 37:20 So now please listen, my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Don’t send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.”
Jeremiah 37:21 So King Zedekiah gave orders, and Jeremiah was placed in the guard’s courtyard. He was given a loaf of bread each day from the bakers’ street until all the bread was gone from the city. So Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard.

a secret word

David Guzmic commented on this section:

“Zedekiah made the mistake of thinking there was a personal, secret word for him from God different than what had already been revealed in God’s word, even His written word from Jeremiah. The “secret” word was completely consistent with the written word. God may bring a personal word to an individual; but a secret word should not be sought. Seek God in His written word.”(https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/jeremiah-37/).

Lord, give us the insight to stand by your written word, and not to seek a secret word to avoid to painful truth.

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staying with the message

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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staying with the message

Jeremiah 37:1-10 (JDV)

Jeremiah 37:1 Zedekiah son of Josiah reigned as king in the land of Judah instead of Coniah son of Jehoiakim, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made him king.
Jeremiah 37:2 He and his officers and the people of the land did not obey the words of Yahveh that he spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 37:3 But King Zedekiah did send Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, requesting, “Please pray to Yahveh our God for us!”
Jeremiah 37:4 Jeremiah was going about his daily tasks among the people, because he had not yet been put into the prison.
Jeremiah 37:5 Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt, and when the Chaldeans, who were besieging Jerusalem, heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 37:6 The word of Yahveh came to the prophet Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 37:7 “This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: This is what you will say to Judah’s king, who is sending you to inquire of me: ‘Watch: Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you, is going to return to its own land of Egypt.
Jeremiah 37:8 The Chaldeans will then return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it.
Jeremiah 37:9 This is what Yahveh says: Don’t deceive yourselves by saying, “The Chaldeans will leave us for good,” because they will not leave.
Jeremiah 37:10 Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire Chaldean army that is fighting with you, and there remained among them only the badly wounded men, each in his tent, they would get up and burn this city.'”

staying with the message

Pharaoh’s army had (apparently) frightened the Chaldeans away, and king Zedekiah thought surely now Jeremiah would prophesy good news. No deal. God’s truth is God’s truth, no matter what is happening. Jeremiah knew that Jerusalem was doomed. Call him a liar, put him in prison, beat him – it does not matter. He would not forsake his message.

LORD, give us the courage to stay true to our convictions regardless of the circumstances.

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another scroll

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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another scroll

Jeremiah 36:27-32 (JDV)

Jeremiah 36:27 The word of Yahveh came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll and the words Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation:
Jeremiah 36:28 “Take another scroll, and write again on it the first words that were on the first scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah has burned.
Jeremiah 36:29 You are to proclaim concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah, ‘This is what Yahveh says: You have burned the scroll, asking, “Why have you written on it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land and cause it to be without people or animals?”
Jeremiah 36:30 So, this is what Yahveh says concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David’s throne, and his corpse will be thrown out to be exposed to the heat of day and the frost of night.
Jeremiah 36:31 I will punish him, his descendants, and his officers for their violation. I will bring on them, on the residents of Jerusalem, and on the people of Judah all the disaster, which I warned them about but they did not listen.'”
Jeremiah 36:32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch son of Neriah, the scribe, and he wrote on it at Jeremiah’s dictation all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim, Judah’s king, had burned in the fire. And many other words like them were added.

another scroll

By burning the scroll of Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning his downfall, Jehoiakim thought he had put an end to the threat. Just as today, popular culture seeks to discredit the validity of the words of scripture. That did not stop Jeremiah. He and Baruch just took another scroll and got back to work.

The word of God will prevail against all attempts to destroy it, and those who seek to discredit it are simply condemning themselves.

LORD, when we read your word, may we not act foolishly as Jehoiakim did. May we respond in repentance, and preserve ourselves from its judgments.

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cut it, burn it, quick rename it

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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cut it, burn it, quick rename it

Jeremiah 36:21-26 (JDV)

Jeremiah 36:21 The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the hall of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi then read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing by the king.
Jeremiah 36:22 since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in his winter quarters with a fire burning in front of him.
Jeremiah 36:23 As soon as Jehudi would read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut the scroll with a scribe’s knife and throw the columns into the fire in the hearth until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire in the hearth.
Jeremiah 36:24 As they heard all these words, the king and all of his servants did not become terrified or tear their clothes.
Jeremiah 36:25 Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah had urged the king not to burn the scroll, he did not listen to them.
Jeremiah 36:26 Then the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to capture the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah, but Yahveh had hidden them.

cut it, burn it, quick rename it

The king and his servants were reading the very words of God, and they were words condemning them and their people to disaster and death. So, why were they not terrified and appalled? Why did they cut up the scroll and burn it instead of tear their clothes in revulsion at the evil those words exposed?

They had made the conscious choice to reject God’s words from Jeremiah, to rename the prophecy as something else.

We human beings have the capacity to rename those truths we choose to reject. As long as we insist that God’s prophets were lunatics and their words were delusions, we can keep cutting and burning.

But be warned. God does not rename the truth. The more we cut and burn, the quicker our appointment to being cut up and burned up in hell. The judge is coming.

Lord, give us a reverence and respect for your holy word.

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because of Baruch

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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because of Baruch

Jeremiah 36:1-20 (JDV)

Jeremiah 36:1 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from Yahveh. This is what it said:
Jeremiah 36:2 “Take a scroll, and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations from the time I first spoke to you during Josiah’s days until today.
Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps when the house of Judah hears about all the disaster I am planning to bring on them, each one of them will turn from his evil way. Then I would forgive their violation and their failure.”
Jeremiah 36:4 So Jeremiah summoned Baruch son of Neriah. At Jeremiah’s dictation, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words Yahveh had spoken to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 36:5 Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, “I am restricted; I cannot enter the temple of Yahveh,
Jeremiah 36:6 so you must go and read from the scroll – which you wrote at my dictation – the words of Yahveh in the hearing of the people at the temple of Yahveh on a day of fasting. Read his words in the hearing of all the Judeans who are coming from their cities.
Jeremiah 36:7 Perhaps their petition will come before Yahveh, and each one will turn from his evil way, because the anger and fury that Yahveh has pronounced against this people are intense.”
Jeremiah 36:8 So Baruch son of Neriah did everything the prophet Jeremiah had commanded him. At Yahveh’s temple he read Yahveh’s words from the scroll.
Jeremiah 36:9 In the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people of Jerusalem and all those coming in from Judah’s cities into Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before Yahveh.
Jeremiah 36:10 Then at Yahveh’s temple, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of Yahveh’s temple, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read Jeremiah’s words from the scroll.
Jeremiah 36:11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heard all the words of Yahveh from the scroll,
Jeremiah 36:12 he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace. All the officials were sitting there – Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
Jeremiah 36:13 Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard when Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.
Jeremiah 36:14 Then all the officials sent word to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them.
Jeremiah 36:15 They said to him, “Sit down and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing.
Jeremiah 36:16 When they had heard all the words, they turned to each other in fear and said to Baruch, “We must surely tell the king all these things.”
Jeremiah 36:17 Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, how did you write all these words? At his dictation?”
Jeremiah 36:18 Baruch said to them, “At his dictation. He recited all these words to me while I was writing on the scroll in ink.”
Jeremiah 36:19 The officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide and tell no one where you are.”
Jeremiah 36:20 Then, after depositing the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, the officials came to the king at the courtyard and reported everything in the hearing of the king.

because of Baruch

This is the beginning of the story of another dramatic point in Jeremiah’s life and that of Judah. What came to my mind as I read this is that we each have the opportunity that Jeremiah did. He was restricted in that he was no longer allowed access into the temple courts, but his words could get there, because of Baruch.

There are many places where we might want to go and bring the good news of God’s gospel, or even the bad news of God’s coming judgment. We are often forbidden to go to those places for that purpose. Yet God has ways of getting his word where he intends it to go.

Lord, show us how to bring your word to those places where it is not welcomed.

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faithfulness is possible

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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faithfulness is possible

Jeremiah 35:1-19 (JDV)

Jeremiah 35:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Yahveh in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. This is what it said:
Jeremiah 35:2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them, and bring them to the temple of Yahveh – to one of the halls to pass them a drink of wine.”
Jeremiah 35:3 So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons– the entire house of the Rechabites –
Jeremiah 35:4 and I brought them into the temple of Yahveh to a chamber occupied by the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God, who had a chamber near the officials’ chamber, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper.
Jeremiah 35:5 I set jars filled with wine and some cups before the sons of the house of the Rechabites and said to them, “Drink wine!”
Jeremiah 35:6 But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because Jonadab, son of our ancestor Rechab, commanded: ‘You and your sons must not drink wine permanently.
Jeremiah 35:7 You must not build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Rather, you must live in tents your whole life, so you may live a long time on the soil where you stay as a resident alien.’
Jeremiah 35:8 We have obeyed Jonadab, son of our ancestor Rechab, in all he commanded us. So we haven’t drunk wine our whole life – we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters.
Jeremiah 35:9 We also have not built houses to live in and do not have vineyard, field, or seed.
Jeremiah 35:10 But we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done everything our ancestor Jonadab commanded us.
Jeremiah 35:11 However, when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched into the land, we said, ‘Come, let’s go into Jerusalem to get away from the Chaldean and Aramean armies.’ So we have been living in Jerusalem.”
Jeremiah 35:12 Then the word of Yahveh came to Jeremiah; this is what it said:
Jeremiah 35:13 “This is what Yahveh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Go, say to the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem, ‘Will you not accept discipline by listening to my words? – this is what Yahveh declares.
Jeremiah 35:14 The words of Jonadab, son of Rechab, have been carried out. He commanded his descendants not to drink wine, and they have not drunk to this day because they have obeyed their ancestor’s command. But I have spoken to you time and time again, and you have not obeyed me!
Jeremiah 35:15 Time and time again I have sent you all my servants the prophets, saying, “Turn, each one from his evil way, and correct your actions. Stop following other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I gave you and your fathers.” But you did not pay attention or obey me.
Jeremiah 35:16 Yes, the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab carried out their ancestor’s command he gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.
Jeremiah 35:17 Therefore, this is what Yahveh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring on Judah and on all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them because I have spoken to them, but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them, but they did not answer.'”
Jeremiah 35:18 But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “This is what Yahveh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the command of your ancestor Jonadab and have kept all his commands and have done everything he commanded you,
Jeremiah 35:19 this is what Yahveh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before me all the days.'”

faithfulness is possible

Jeremiah knew that one did not offer a Rechabite wine. They had vowed never to take it. But the LORD told Jeremiah to invite Rechabites into a temple chamber and offer them wine. Of course, they refused. The LORD told Jeremiah to make the offer to show him that it is possible for people in Jerusalem to live faithful to their commitments. Jeremiah commended the Rechabites for this, but condemned the people of Jerusalem for their unfaithfulness.

LORD, make us people who swim against the current. Make us as faithful to you as the Rechabites were to their fathers’ oath.

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they changed their minds

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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they changed their minds

Jeremiah 34:8-22 (JDV)

Jeremiah 34:8 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Yahveh after King Zedekiah made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom to them.
Jeremiah 34:9 As a result, each was to let his male and female Hebrew slaves go free, and no one was to enslave his fellow Judean.
Jeremiah 34:10 All the officials and people who entered into covenant to let their male and female slaves go free – in order not to enslave them any longer – obeyed and let them go free.
Jeremiah 34:11 Afterward, however, they changed their minds and took back their male and female slaves they had let go free and forced them to become slaves again.
Jeremiah 34:12 Then the word of Yahveh came to Jeremiah from Yahveh:
Jeremiah 34:13 “This is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, saying,
Jeremiah 34:14 ‘At the end of seven years, each of you must let his fellow Hebrew who sold himself to you go. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free from your service.’ But your fathers did not obey me or pay any attention.
Jeremiah 34:15 Today you repented and did what pleased me, each of you proclaiming freedom for his neighbor. You made a covenant before me at the house that bears my name.
Jeremiah 34:16 But you have changed your minds and profaned my name. Each has taken back his male and female slaves who had been let go free to go wherever they wanted, and you have again forced them to be your slaves.
Jeremiah 34:17 “Therefore, this is what Yahveh says: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming freedom, each for his fellow Hebrew and for his neighbor. I hereby proclaim freedom for you – this is what Yahveh declares – to the sword, to plague, and to famine! I will make you a horror to all the land’s kingdoms.
Jeremiah 34:18 As for those who disobeyed my covenant, not keeping the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat them like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.
Jeremiah 34:19 The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf –
Jeremiah 34:20 all these I will hand over to their enemies, to those who intend to cut their throat. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land.
Jeremiah 34:21 I will hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies, to those who intend to cut their throat, to the king of Babylon’s army that is withdrawing.
Jeremiah 34:22 I am about to give the command – this is what Yahveh declares – and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it. I will make Judah’s cities a desolation, without inhabitant.”

they changed their minds

Zedekiah thought that he could save his throne, his city and his people from God’s judgment via the Babylonians. He had figured out that all they had to do was find one commandment that they hadn’t been keeping, and covenant to keep it. It struck him that freeing the slaves in obedience to the command (Exodus 21:2-4) should do it.

Right after the slave owners went through the calf-cutting ritual, it seemed to have worked. The Babylonian armies retreated to fight against the Egyptians.

But then the slave owners noticed all this work that needed to be done, and all this potential free labor standing around that could do it. They changed their minds.

God knew that they would change their minds because they had not changed their hearts.

When you repented, did you change your mind or change your heart. God knows.

Lord, make us people of integrity, who obey you because it is the right thing to do.

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