The Field is the World (Matt. 13:38)

Imagine the pain in Hosea’s family. We need this kind of imagery to grasp an inkling of the pain of God over His people’s treachery to Him. They’d attributed their blessings to their “lovers” - was this not the idols of the nations round about them? - and not to God who had actually given them (Hosea 2:4, cf., 2:8). Their heart was taken away from Him by their excess indulgence and idolatry (Hosea 4:11). So He determined to make them feel the same kind of betrayal in their marital and parental relationships. (Hosea 4:13) Are we experiencing a similar judgment? It seems so. A quick look at statistics shows Americans are having affairs and divorces at incredible rates. The hook up culture is rampant and shameless among our youth. It sounds as if people have reconciled themselves to the idea that committed marriages and stable homes and self control are unattainable ideals. But this hides enormous pain and shame. How could it not?

Are there, as 1 John 2:18 states, "many antichrists?" Even as he acknowledges that "antichrist shall come"—they know something about the coming beast of Revelation 13—he talks about many antichrists. Is this a hint that Satan always has someone prepared, in case the opportunity for his end-time gambit arises? Possibly Ezekiel 28's mysterious reference to the "Prince of Tyre" who is "wiser than Daniel" (28:3), incredibly wealthy and megalomaniacal enough to call himself God (Ezekiel 28:2, see 2 Thessalonians 2:4) is an example. God goes on to address the "King of Tyre" in Ezekiel 28:11-19, who seems to be the power behind this "Prince" (See John 8:44). Comparing Ezekiel 28 with Isaiah 14, it appears there's a power behind Babylon (14:4) at that time. If so, who is the puppet prepared to be the antichrist of our day?

Is God willing to let His people suffer on earth in order to declare His message? (Romans 8:36) For the answer, we need look no further than Ezekiel, who, when his wife died, he was told not to mourn. This was symbolic of God's destruction of His Temple, the desire of His people's eyes, in which they trusted as the signal of His favor and an assurance that He wouldn't allow them to be taken.

God was looking for a man to stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30) and found none. Yet Ezekiel was begging God for mercy in Ezekiel 9:8, Jeremiah was rebuked for praying for Judah (Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14, 14:11). Were they not standing in the gap? I can only conclude that God was looking for a CATEGORY of intercessor. Someone not of the ruling or priestly or prophet class. 180. Day 180: Ezekiel 24-26 -Is God willing to let His people suffer on earth in order to declare His message? (Romans 8:36) For the answer, we need look no further than Ezekiel, who, when his wife died, he was told not to mourn. This was symbolic of God's destruction of His Temple, the desire of His people's eyes, in which they trusted as the signal of His favor and an assurance that He wouldn't allow them to be taken.

In 21:27 is God promising that there will be no true Jewish King until Messiah? This seems to be the case, as Zerubbabel and those following him were merely governors under another world power (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome)

Sandwiched between two interesting Old Testament Parables is a theodicy by God Himself - the people say His ways are not equal because, they say, the fathers eat sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge. It is by our own iniquity that we are judged and the soul that sinneth, it shall die, He says. Does the father put the son in a bad position by his iniquity? Yes, except the son also has the opportunity to see the father's wickedness and turn from it. Here God states that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked in their sins; He has pleasure in their repentance (18:23, 32; Luke 15:7, 10)

The two parables today tell two stories in a viscerally shocking way. Judah’s unfaithfulness to Jehovah and the rulers’ betrayal of Babylon. Who could forget these? They’re so like Nathan’s “thou art the man.” To David.

With hindsight it’s easy for us to see where this is headed. But how confused must these people have been, with prophets telling them peace would surely come?

Shouldn’t I spend more time mourning about the corruption in my nation? Obviously God’s actions with Judah show that to be the proper response.

Ezekiel sees incredible visions, including the likeness of God enthroned. He’s also greatly humbled, having to weigh out his food, lie on his side, and cook with excrement. Is God humbling him as an example to Judah?

To what purpose is the end note of Jeremiah, that Jehoiachin was shown kindness by the king of Babylon? God’s mercy shown even in judgment?

Why does 47:10's warning against deceitful service to the Lord, and unwillingness to execute bloody justice, appear in the midst of a lament over Moab? Because all this judgment being pronounced against Moab would be executed by God's people. In our day, one of the most difficult critiques of God's Word is the Israelites' so-called genocide against the Canaanites. Seen through the lens of an unbeliever, it does seem cruel; and yet it was part of God's calling on the Israelites to execute this judgment. (Gen. 15:16)

What “great things” did Baruch seek for himself? (Jeremiah 45:5) I think about this little passage a lot, compared to its size, and I don’t know the answer. I suspect Baruch expected to be vindicated after having been faithful as the scribe of Jeremiah. Maybe more than that, he expected to hold some position of high honor or material reward when Jeremiah’s predictions were all proven right. God’s word to him here reminds us all that we are creatures of our own times, and though we may be faithful to our calling, if that calling is during a time of decline or chastisement, we can expect only preservation for the purposes of God. (Romana 8:36) Not an earthly destiny conformed to our own selfish ambitions.

Gedeliah, governor of Judaea under Nebuchadnezzar, was set to rule modestly and according to God’s plan for the Jews. Why then was he killed, and his avengers likewise set up for judgment? It seems that by this time no one knows who to believe, which makes sense, because we know God says the kings, princes, prophets, priests and all the people were corrupt. (32:32) Moreover the good Gedeliah refused good intelligence (40:16) and the suspicious Johanan refused to believe the word of the Lord they had pledged to follow (43:2-4, 42:2). What confusion! Are we not even now in such a day of confusion? God’s people who want to do good are gullible; the more suspicious refuse to be led by God. The wicked deceive and destroy. Ultimately this is more of the Lord’s chastisement until we learn to seek His face.

Why does king Zedekiah call for Jeremiah, to hear his prophecy, only to disregard it? Maybe he also knew of Ezekiel’s prophecy in 12:13 that he would not see Babylon though he would die there. Jeremiah’s prediction in 34:5 was that he would not die by the sword though he would not escape. If he had surrendered, his house would have lived according to Jeremiah 38:17. But truly a net was spread over him.

Was God prepared to restrain His judgment if the people had repented? (Jeremiah 36:2,3) Yes. This shows there is always hope while judgment has not yet fallen, as the Ninevites somehow understood (Jonah 3:9, cf., Joel 2:14). While we definitely have those in our country who would burn the scroll as Jehoiakim did, we also have those who would tremble at His Word.

Jeremiah has had a tragic message to deliver, and now he’s shut up in prison for doing it. How hard must it have been to buy the field in obedience to the word of the Lord in the face of all this? And yet it seems this is the reason he receives the encouraging revelation of the next two chapters: there will be return and restoration, they will have a new heart and God will be their God with an everlasting covenant, (Jeremiah 32:37-42), Jerusalem will be a name of joy and praise, (Jeremiah 33:9), and God’s people will never be cast away, (Jeremiah 33:25/Romans 11:1).

In a situation in which they are hearing prophets, priests and kings telling them one thing and young Jeremiah telling them the other, how are the people to evaluate who is faithfully sharing God’s Word? By watching the short term outcome of Jeremiahs vs. that of zedekiah, ahab and shemeiah.

What would have happened if the authorities had listened to Jeremiah and ignored the lying prophets like Hananiah, who recklessly broke the wooden yoke God instructed Jeremiah to make for himself? God told Jeremiah that if they listened and turned away from the evil, He Himself would turn from what He planned to do to them. This is an astonishing and hope-giving revelation for anyone experiencing the chastisement or judgment of God. This was a major turning point in the Old Testament, leading to the captivity of Israel for 70 years and their essential end as an independent kingdom. 163. Day 163: Jeremiah 29-31 -In a situation in which they are hearing prophets, priests and kings telling them one thing and young Jeremiah telling them the other, how are the people to evaluate who is faithfully sharing God’s Word? By watching the short term outcome of Jeremiahs vs. that of zedekiah, ahab and shemeiah.

God’s case against the prophets is an open-and-shut one: “But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭23:22‬) But did not Jeremiah himself do all this from the 13th year of King Josiah? (Jeremiah 25:3) God had told Jeremiah they would fight against him, (Jeremiah 1:19), so why did He not call a sufficient number In unity to cause the people to hear His words? This makes me think of the statement of Jesus over Bethsaida and Chorazin in Matthew 11:21.