10 August 2014
1 Kings 4; 5
Jeremiah 31
Mark 5
"AT THAT TIME … THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE"
Today's chapter in Jeremiah [Jeremiah 31] provides us with a sequel to yesterday's thoughts about God's reaction to the time when the all nations, at the climax of human history, regard Israel as "outcasts … for whom no one cares" It is of the highest interest because of the attitudes today more and more fit this picture.
Today's chapter follows on from the final verse of Jeremiah 30, "The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this. "At that time", declares the LORD. I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people." [Jeremiah 30:24; 31:1 they are consecutive verses]
Jeremiah 31:7 reads, "… raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel." The meaning is not totally clear, but it implies there is a time when leading nations learn the reality of God's existence "and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth" [Jeremiah 31:8]. We know that half of the Jews still live in other lands, also, that the land promised to Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, is a great deal more than Israel possesses at present.
This spirit is totally opposite to what many nations, especially the Islamic, are saying today. As we read on, these words jumped out at us (among a number of others). "Behold the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (all 12 tribes) … this is the covenant I will make … after those days, declares the LORD, I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people." [Jeremiah 31:31-33]
This climax of human history also brings the return of Jesus to earth and the resurrection. These events are the trigger for these verses to be fulfilled.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
10 August 2014
"Food and clothing are a temporary means of maintaining life: but the life to be maintained is a bigger thing than the means used to maintain it, and in the end it can only be given them by God. A straining anxiety after the means of life will not bring life but death: a sorry self-defeat! God who feeds the smallest things of His creation is to them a heavenly Father: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:25-34)."
- L.G. Sargent
The "Blessings" of the Kingdom (1939)
1 Kings 4; 5
Jeremiah 31
Mark 5
"AT THAT TIME … THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE"
Today's chapter in Jeremiah [Jeremiah 31] provides us with a sequel to yesterday's thoughts about God's reaction to the time when the all nations, at the climax of human history, regard Israel as "outcasts … for whom no one cares" It is of the highest interest because of the attitudes today more and more fit this picture.
Today's chapter follows on from the final verse of Jeremiah 30, "The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this. "At that time", declares the LORD. I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people." [Jeremiah 30:24; 31:1 they are consecutive verses]
Jeremiah 31:7 reads, "… raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel." The meaning is not totally clear, but it implies there is a time when leading nations learn the reality of God's existence "and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth" [Jeremiah 31:8]. We know that half of the Jews still live in other lands, also, that the land promised to Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, is a great deal more than Israel possesses at present.
This spirit is totally opposite to what many nations, especially the Islamic, are saying today. As we read on, these words jumped out at us (among a number of others). "Behold the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (all 12 tribes) … this is the covenant I will make … after those days, declares the LORD, I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people." [Jeremiah 31:31-33]
This climax of human history also brings the return of Jesus to earth and the resurrection. These events are the trigger for these verses to be fulfilled.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
10 August 2014
"Food and clothing are a temporary means of maintaining life: but the life to be maintained is a bigger thing than the means used to maintain it, and in the end it can only be given them by God. A straining anxiety after the means of life will not bring life but death: a sorry self-defeat! God who feeds the smallest things of His creation is to them a heavenly Father: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:25-34)."
- L.G. Sargent
The "Blessings" of the Kingdom (1939)
No comments:
Post a Comment