Tag: Jeremiah 23:28-29
“Fire and Hammer”
Scripture reading for August 8: Jeremiah 21-25
“Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My Word speak it faithfully. for what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not My Word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29
As young Christians, we attended a church that learned Scripture through the worship songs. A lady named Laura, playing an autoharp, taught us worship from her King James Bible. One of the songs was from these verses in Jeremiah. It was a catchy tune and my younger son Marshal picked it up and was always singing it. It is interesting to note that Marshal is preaching God’s Word today!
Jeremiah had to deliver some hard messages to his own peers in the ministry of that day. He spoke a Word to the shepherds of that day, accusing them of scattering the sheep and destroying them. (Jeremiah 23:1-3) The shepherds were the kings of Judah, and he warned them repeatedly of coming woe and trouble, but few appreciated his warnings! (Jeremiah 22:11-12) He declared God, Himself, would raise up a ‘righteous Branch’ from the line of David who would restore justice and save the nation. (Jeremiah 23:5-6) This righteous King would bring God’s people out of captivity in the lands where they would be scattered and bring them into their own land. (Jeremiah 23:7-8)
The godless priests and prophets were the cause of the people going astray. They committed adultery and lived a lie. They prophesied by Baal, the false idol of the Canaanites and led the people astray.(Jeremiah 23:13-14) They told people who were living in sin and stubbornness that they would have peace when God’s Word said they would have trouble. (Jeremiah 23:16-17)
Jeremiah understood the Word of God as a Fire. As fire would burn out the dross to refine the metal and burn up the chaff, so it would refine God’s people. Jeremiah saw God’s Word as being a Hammer that could shatter solid rock. Hardened hearts would be broken by this Hammer. Jeremiah’s heart was broken and his bones trembled at the thought of God’s holy Words and their supernatural power. (Jeremiah 23:9)
The sin of partiality
Scripture reading for October 6th: Jeremiah 22, 23, 26, Psalm 77, James 2
James 2: 8-13 “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For He Who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
In the culture of this world, persons with wealth and position are shown favor and often given preferential treatment in hopes of gaining their favor. James warns the believers not to treat people with partiality, but to show equal love for each person as you would want for yourself. James called this the ‘royal law’ as it was part of Jesus’ summary of the commandments in loving God and loving your neighbor. Believers are to show mercy towards each person and avoid judging them. We realize that we need mercy ourselves and have been shown mercy by God. We must not choose which laws to obey either. Failure to obey even one makes us transgressors and liable for all.
Psalm 77:11-13 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember Your wonders of old. I will ponder all Your work, and meditate on Your might deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing Word that reveals truth in every word and paragraph. Help me as a preacher of Your Word to speak the whole of it faithfully and without partiality towards those who hear. Let Your Word be a fire in the hearts of those who hear and a hammer to shatter the rocky hearts and shallow soil of those in need Your mercy. Help me to live out Your Word in truth.
Jeremiah 23:28-29 “Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has My Word speak My Word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. Is not My Word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
The necessity of preaching!
Scripture reading for March 9th: Luke 4
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 4:42-43 “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.“”
Jesus based all His ministry on prayer. He often withdrew from the crowd and His own disciples to seek the Father’s will and direction. People were motivated by His ministry to seek Jesus out. They tried to keep Him with them and begged Him to stay with them longer.
But Jesus had a good grasp on the mission given Him by the Father. He must seek out and save lost people and give all a chance to see and hear about the kingdom of God and the good news of repentance and forgiveness of sins. (Luke 19:10) He did not let crowd pressure determine His agenda, but followed the Father’s plan to reach out to all men. He set an example for all His followers and for us today! God chose the foolishness of preaching to save those who would believe! (1st Corinthians 1:21)
Observations for over-comers: We must be careful of crowd pressure and the desire to please men. Prayer and obedience to God’s call to preach the good news must always take precedence! “”. . .but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. “Is not My word like a fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:28-29)