The Jeremiah Project, Week 23

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Week 23

Day 1
(Originally posted Sunday, June 1, 2014)

Overview Jeremiah 23:1-40 - "Words Like Sheep Can Go Astray; Pay Attention". As we graze on the good green grass of God's Word this week, we will get a glimpse of our Glorious Savior in Whom we should trust, the Good Shepherd, the Genuine Article; as well as a good long look at counterfeit, profitless prophets in close proximity.

(Note on image: the word in this literal word picture is more clearly seen if you can visualize an underscore proceeding from the left of the right eye and down to the shoulder. And that's no lie.)

Day 2

(Originally posted Monday, June 2, 2014)

Jeremiah 23:1-4, 5-6, 7-8. "The Good Shepherd, The Bad Shepherds And The Shear Beauty". As we read our portions today, it is possible to be so enraptured by the sense of epic sweep that we miss the more basic straightforwardness of what it all means.
For example, these eight verses can give a thumbnail view of Israel's history from nearly 600 years Before Christ to at least The Year Of Our Lord 1948, May 14, when the State of Israel was proclaimed. And beyond. But the concern of the moment is that corrupt leaders will be dealt with justly, and those they lead will be dealt with mercifully, and all will be dealt with righteously by Yahweh Tsidkenu, that is, Yahweh Our Righteousness
See also John 10. And yes, He loves you that much.

Day 3

(Originally posted Tuesday, June 3, 2014)

Jeremiah 23:9-12, 13-14. "For An Honest Day's Dishonest Work...". Today's passages are yet another description of what the corrupted leaders of Judah have been doing, and what damage that corruption is doing, not only to the people, but also to the land.

P.S. Sodom and Gomorrah were UTTERLY DESTROYED. By Yahweh.

What'cha gonna do...?

Day 4
(Originally posted Wednesday, June 4, 2014)

Jeremiah 23:15, 16-22. "...An Honest Day's Pay.". Our reading today inspires a riddle:

A child wanders toward a busy street;
A grownup will gently call the child back.
The child continues;
The grownup will sprint to save a life.
The teen shrugs and takes their chances.
***Now, is the teen the child or the grownup?***
That answer greatly affects the outcome of the situation.

As Christ-followers, we are obligated and ultimately pleased to do what He had explicitly told us to do: to make other followers, to immerse them in His name, and to teach them to do all that He has taught us to do. See Matthew 28:18-20.
In Jeremiah's time, the false prophets--those fake speakers in Yahweh's name--were actually being consoling and comforting, positive and encouraging to those who were actively engaging in that which DISPLEASED YAHWEH.
People want to have their sin and be off the hook for it. But it doesn't work that way, and Jeremiah's just telling the truth.
If someone is heading down the wrong road, positivity and encouragement are far less effective than confrontation. If they're heading off a cliff, what WOULDN'T you do to prevent it?
THIS is what a proper prophet is supposed to do, and also to be certain it has been read:

"But if they had stood in My council,
Then they would have announced My words to My people,
And would have turned them back from their evil way
And from the evil of their deeds."
-Jeremiah 23:22

You see, we're all on the hook. If we're going to live upside-down, then Jesus is the Hook.

Day 5
(Originally posted Thursday, June 5, 2014)

Jeremiah 23:23-24, 25-32. "Grain Of Truth". Main points today: 1.) From verses 23-24, Yahweh sees it all; nowhere to hide from Him, so stop trying. 2.) From verses 25-28, Yahweh is REALLY for real... 3.) From verses 28-29, Yahweh Himself likens His Word to grain, to fire, and to a hammer. Just add oil and you've got bread; another term for adding oil is "anointing". 4.) Yahweh God loves people, and so He is actively against people who are against people. Confusing? To us perhaps, but not to Him. The true prophets and people of Yahweh God do like true grain, we bow our lives, not just our bodies, to Him. ALL the false ultimately do like the tares or chaff; they stand up tall on their own.
See also Matthew 13:24-30

Day 6

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Friday, June 6, 2014)

Jeremiah 23:33-40 - "OMG In The ANE (Ancient Near East)" or "Casting Off 'Burden'". To get a handle on what's happening in our reading today, we should try to sketch out a contemporary parallel. A good one is the shorthand OMG. Does anyone even know what it stands for anymore? That is precisely what has happened with this word translated variously "burden" or "oracle" or "message".
Furthermore, without getting technical, it should be enough to know that Yahweh is prefacing the passage with what is a laserbeam-like piercing wordplay in verse 33.
The fakers were starting to make fun of Jeremiah's messaging by saying, "Oh, what's the heavy burden message you got for us today?" And the scathing response back is "Oh, what burden? it WAS you, man, but now Yahweh's setting you down."

***ZZZAP!***

Hoping Hebrew's on your bucket list.

So bottom line, beloved ones, is this: Those who make light of Yahweh's Word, Yahweh will make light of them.

Day 7
(Originally posted Saturday, June 7, 2014)

Review Jeremiah 23:1-40 and REST in the idea that
Yahweh our God and Everlasting Father
Shepherds us, a flock of lions;
His Son and Their Spirit give comfort
Even in the face of mocking giants.

<==== Back to Menu <== Back to Week 22 Proceed to week 24 ==>

Week 23
Day 1		(Originally posted Sunday, June 1, 2014) Overview Jeremiah 23:1-40 - "Words Like Sheep Can Go Astray; Pay Attention". As we graze on the good green grass of God's Word this week, we will get a glimpse of our Glorious Savior in Whom we should trust, the Good Shepherd, the Genuine Article; as well as a good long look at counterfeit, profitless prophets in close proximity. (Note on image: the word in this literal word picture is more clearly seen if you can visualize an underscore proceeding from the left of the right eye and down to the shoulder. And that's no lie.)
Day 2		(Originally posted Monday, June 2, 2014) Jeremiah 23:1-4, 5-6, 7-8. "The Good Shepherd, The Bad Shepherds And The Shear Beauty". As we read our portions today, it is possible to be so enraptured by the sense of epic sweep that we miss the more basic straightforwardness of what it all means. For example, these eight verses can give a thumbnail view of Israel's history from nearly 600 years Before Christ to at least The Year Of Our Lord 1948, May 14, when the State of Israel was proclaimed. And beyond. But the concern of the moment is that corrupt leaders will be dealt with justly, and those they lead will be dealt with mercifully, and all will be dealt with righteously by Yahweh Tsidkenu, that is, Yahweh Our Righteousness See also John 10. And yes, He loves you that much.
Day 3		(Originally posted Tuesday, June 3, 2014) Jeremiah 23:9-12, 13-14. "For An Honest Day's Dishonest Work...". Today's passages are yet another description of what the corrupted leaders of Judah have been doing, and what damage that corruption is doing, not only to the people, but also to the land. P.S. Sodom and Gomorrah were UTTERLY DESTROYED. By Yahweh. What'cha gonna do...?
Day 4		(Originally posted Wednesday, June 4, 2014) Jeremiah 23:15, 16-22. "...An Honest Day's Pay.". Our reading today inspires a riddle: A child wanders toward a busy street; A grownup will gently call the child back. The child continues; The grownup will sprint to save a life. The teen shrugs and takes their chances. *Now, is the teen the child or the grownup?* That answer greatly affects the outcome of the situation. As Christ-followers, we are obligated and ultimately pleased to do what He had explicitly told us to do: to make other followers, to immerse them in His name, and to teach them to do all that He has taught us to do. See Matthew 28:18-20. In Jeremiah's time, the false prophets--those fake speakers in Yahweh's name--were actually being consoling and comforting, positive and encouraging to those who were actively engaging in that which DISPLEASED YAHWEH. People want to have their sin and be off the hook for it. But it doesn't work that way, and Jeremiah's just telling the truth. If someone is heading down the wrong road, positivity and encouragement are far less effective than confrontation. If they're heading off a cliff, what WOULDN'T you do to prevent it? THIS is what a proper prophet is supposed to do, and also to be certain it has been read: "But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds." -Jeremiah 23:22 You see, we're all on the hook. If we're going to live upside-down, then Jesus is the Hook.
Day 5		(Originally posted Thursday, June 5, 2014) Jeremiah 23:23-24, 25-32. "Grain Of Truth". Main points today: 1.) From verses 23-24, Yahweh sees it all; nowhere to hide from Him, so stop trying. 2.) From verses 25-28, Yahweh is REALLY for real... 3.) From verses 28-29, Yahweh Himself likens His Word to grain, to fire, and to a hammer. Just add oil and you've got bread; another term for adding oil is "anointing". 4.) Yahweh God loves people, and so He is actively against people who are against people. Confusing? To us perhaps, but not to Him. The true prophets and people of Yahweh God do like true grain, we bow our lives, not just our bodies, to Him. ALL the false ultimately do like the tares or chaff; they stand up tall on their own. See also Matthew 13:24-30
Day 6	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Friday, June 6, 2014) Jeremiah 23:33-40 - "OMG In The ANE (Ancient Near East)" or "Casting Off 'Burden'". To get a handle on what's happening in our reading today, we should try to sketch out a contemporary parallel. A good one is the shorthand OMG. Does anyone even know what it stands for anymore? That is precisely what has happened with this word translated variously "burden" or "oracle" or "message". Furthermore, without getting technical, it should be enough to know that Yahweh is prefacing the passage with what is a laserbeam-like piercing wordplay in verse 33. The fakers were starting to make fun of Jeremiah's messaging by saying, "Oh, what's the heavy burden message you got for us today?" And the scathing response back is "Oh, what burden? it WAS you, man, but now Yahweh's setting you down." *ZZZAP!* Hoping Hebrew's on your bucket list. So bottom line, beloved ones, is this: Those who make light of Yahweh's Word, Yahweh will make light of them.
Day 7		(Originally posted Saturday, June 7, 2014) Review Jeremiah 23:1-40 and REST in the idea that Yahweh our God and Everlasting Father Shepherds us, a flock of lions; His Son and Their Spirit give comfort Even in the face of mocking giants.