The Jeremiah Project, Week 48

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Week 48

Day 1
(Originally posted Sunday, November 23, 2014)

Overview Jeremiah 48:1-47 - "Reality Moabites". As we read this week, we'll take a little road trip in the land of Moab, going to and fro surveying the payout from city to city that is required for worshiping any god other than Yahweh.

Perhaps we can gain wisdom from their folly.

Day 2
(Originally posted Monday, November 24, 2014)

Jeremiah 48:1-10 - "Really, What's In A Name, After All?". Often when we read passages like today's, we tend to get lost in the place names, and then, not knowing the places, we can miss huge chunks of context that bring a vividness to the text and a pungency to the message that would help us to be more motivated to avoid the behaviors that got these people in the trouble they're in with Yahweh.
So today, let's try reading the text with places we know, like instead of Nebo ("proclaimer"), try San Diego; instead of Kiriathaim ("two cities"), try Minneapolis-St. Paul; instead of Horonaim ("ragings"), try Philadelphia; and instead of Luhith ("tablets"), try Los Angeles.
So now it's time to meddle: What are you putting ahead of God? In your mind name it, because as you read this, you already know exactly what it is. Now, because none of us will feel the impact of Chemosh (To grasp this name, think "Jaws", and you'll get the idea.), replace that name with your thing that currently ranks ahead of Yahweh, and there you go.

Day 3

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Tuesday, November 25, 2014)

Jeremiah 48:11-17 - "A 'Wah'-ning Against 'Wah'-shiping All 'Wah'-ng". Let's be aware as we read today that these people who are Moab are a young people, untested, untried, and unseasoned--bland. All this time, from the birth of Moab himself in the wake of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (See Genesis 19), Moab has had faith in gods other than Yahweh, and even faith in themselves as their own gods.

They're about to get a brutal wakeup call.

Day 4

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Wednesday, November 26, 2014)

Jeremiah 48:18-25 - "Judgment's Everywhere, Man" or "Yahweh Makes An Example". In reading today, realize that Yahweh is not simply bringing judgments to the cities of Moab, but He is also doing it very publicly. He wants the whole neighborhood of His Promised Land to know what is going on in the house of Moab. In verse 18, He is bringing them down out of their ivory towers, down to the level where everyone and anyone can talk with them. In verse 19, He encourages those who live on the riverside of the Arnon river to inquire of these refugees who are escaping the malaise. Verse 20 means tell everybody, because wailing by the river is like us going to the mall, where all the people are shopping, and announcing what's going wrong with you. And verses 21-25 give this rapid-fire listing of all the cities specifically that are receiving Yahweh's judgment. This really communicates that troubles are going on absolutely everywhere in their country. There is no escape or respite from a Yahweh Who will have justice.

He's the same God now. We should take grave notice, and be more thankful than ever that Jesus came to help us out of spots like these. See what I mean-a?

Day 5

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Thursday, November 27, 2014)

Jeremiah 48:26-30 - "They're DRUNK!".

Before we read today's portion, let's give thanks to our Heavenly Father, our God Yahweh who allows us to have access to His word, that we may read it, and know more about Him, and be blessed in the reading and in the knowing. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of Their Holy Spirit, amen.

A little alcohol removes inhibitions and numbs pain. This is why people act more fearless and overconfident and foolish in a drunken state. And this is the picture we are given of the people of Moab in our passage today. In their prideful arrogance stemming from their cult worship of a fish god, in their drunkenness from loving a statue idol of some sort, Yahweh makes them into caricature, letting them be as those who drink like fish, and those who faint over heavily promoted idols.

And we shudder.

Day 6

Link to video clip
(Originally posted Friday, November 28, 2014)

Jeremiah 48:31-39, 40-47 - "Cries Of Lament, Cries Of Pain, Cries Of Freedom". As we close out our chapter this week, we'll encounter three kinds of crying. There is the cry of lament in verses 31-39, expressing the emotional distress and existential despair that comes in times of crisis. Then there is the cry of physical pain in verses 40-46 as the Moabite people are brought to the brink of extinction. And finally in verse 47 there is the cry of freedom that comes with restoration.
Crying is part of the human experience. Jesus wept. As human beings, we NEED to cry. It really is okay. Pressures and pains of life build up and crying is an important release valve to relieve that pressure.

Really good road trips are life-changing experiences. When they end, there should be a few tears. Tears of growth, like rain; salty like sweat. Tears of joy, as if sunset were upon us; bittersweet like love in passing.
We'll meet up again, but for now our songs of lament come from this place.

We weep.
We sing.
In the end, we'll praise.

Day 7
(Originally posted Saturday, November 29, 2014)

Review Jeremiah 48:1-47 and REST in the actuality that
Just as Yahweh dispenses judgments to later dispense judgment's inverse,
So also He dispenses disparate judgments to many others in verse.

<==== Back to Menu <== Back to Week 47 Proceed to week 49 ==>

Week 48
Day 1		(Originally posted Sunday, November 23, 2014) Overview Jeremiah 48:1-47 - "Reality Moabites". As we read this week, we'll take a little road trip in the land of Moab, going to and fro surveying the payout from city to city that is required for worshiping any god other than Yahweh. Perhaps we can gain wisdom from their folly.
Day 2		(Originally posted Monday, November 24, 2014) Jeremiah 48:1-10 - "Really, What's In A Name, After All?". Often when we read passages like today's, we tend to get lost in the place names, and then, not knowing the places, we can miss huge chunks of context that bring a vividness to the text and a pungency to the message that would help us to be more motivated to avoid the behaviors that got these people in the trouble they're in with Yahweh. So today, let's try reading the text with places we know, like instead of Nebo ("proclaimer"), try San Diego; instead of Kiriathaim ("two cities"), try Minneapolis-St. Paul; instead of Horonaim ("ragings"), try Philadelphia; and instead of Luhith ("tablets"), try Los Angeles. So now it's time to meddle: What are you putting ahead of God? In your mind name it, because as you read this, you already know exactly what it is. Now, because none of us will feel the impact of Chemosh (To grasp this name, think "Jaws", and you'll get the idea.), replace that name with your thing that currently ranks ahead of Yahweh, and there you go.
Day 3	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Tuesday, November 25, 2014) Jeremiah 48:11-17 - "A 'Wah'-ning Against 'Wah'-shiping All 'Wah'-ng". Let's be aware as we read today that these people who are Moab are a young people, untested, untried, and unseasoned--bland. All this time, from the birth of Moab himself in the wake of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (See Genesis 19), Moab has had faith in gods other than Yahweh, and even faith in themselves as their own gods. They're about to get a brutal wakeup call.
Day 4	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Wednesday, November 26, 2014) Jeremiah 48:18-25 - "Judgment's Everywhere, Man" or "Yahweh Makes An Example". In reading today, realize that Yahweh is not simply bringing judgments to the cities of Moab, but He is also doing it very publicly. He wants the whole neighborhood of His Promised Land to know what is going on in the house of Moab. In verse 18, He is bringing them down out of their ivory towers, down to the level where everyone and anyone can talk with them. In verse 19, He encourages those who live on the riverside of the Arnon river to inquire of these refugees who are escaping the malaise. Verse 20 means tell everybody, because wailing by the river is like us going to the mall, where all the people are shopping, and announcing what's going wrong with you. And verses 21-25 give this rapid-fire listing of all the cities specifically that are receiving Yahweh's judgment. This really communicates that troubles are going on absolutely everywhere in their country. There is no escape or respite from a Yahweh Who will have justice. He's the same God now. We should take grave notice, and be more thankful than ever that Jesus came to help us out of spots like these. See what I mean-a?
Day 5	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Thursday, November 27, 2014) Jeremiah 48:26-30 - "They're DRUNK!". Before we read today's portion, let's give thanks to our Heavenly Father, our God Yahweh who allows us to have access to His word, that we may read it, and know more about Him, and be blessed in the reading and in the knowing. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of Their Holy Spirit, amen. A little alcohol removes inhibitions and numbs pain. This is why people act more fearless and overconfident and foolish in a drunken state. And this is the picture we are given of the people of Moab in our passage today. In their prideful arrogance stemming from their cult worship of a fish god, in their drunkenness from loving a statue idol of some sort, Yahweh makes them into caricature, letting them be as those who drink like fish, and those who faint over heavily promoted idols. And we shudder.
Day 6	Link to video clip	(Originally posted Friday, November 28, 2014) Jeremiah 48:31-39, 40-47 - "Cries Of Lament, Cries Of Pain, Cries Of Freedom". As we close out our chapter this week, we'll encounter three kinds of crying. There is the cry of lament in verses 31-39, expressing the emotional distress and existential despair that comes in times of crisis. Then there is the cry of physical pain in verses 40-46 as the Moabite people are brought to the brink of extinction. And finally in verse 47 there is the cry of freedom that comes with restoration. Crying is part of the human experience. Jesus wept. As human beings, we NEED to cry. It really is okay. Pressures and pains of life build up and crying is an important release valve to relieve that pressure. Really good road trips are life-changing experiences. When they end, there should be a few tears. Tears of growth, like rain; salty like sweat. Tears of joy, as if sunset were upon us; bittersweet like love in passing. We'll meet up again, but for now our songs of lament come from this place. We weep. We sing. In the end, we'll praise.
Day 7		(Originally posted Saturday, November 29, 2014) Review Jeremiah 48:1-47 and REST in the actuality that Just as Yahweh dispenses judgments to later dispense judgment's inverse, So also He dispenses disparate judgments to many others in verse.