when we fear, we live in bondage...
this photo is one in my final portfolio
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Fear Not
it all started with me and two friends sitting in the lobby of the grand lux, waiting for our "party of 25" to arrive. while we waited, i read in my best scottish accent the first few chapters of the book of jeremiah. seems like a strange place to read about God disciplining Israel and the nations that oppress them, i know. [just to give you some context, my friends have to read through the entire old testament this semester, so we were getting through some chapters while we waited...not sure why i read it to them in a scottish accent...]
there is something about reading scripture out loud that makes you hear it, process it, and want to know more. the book of jeremiah would have never been my next choice to read (i just finished 1 and 2 peter), but after reading those few chapters that night, i decided that i would go there next.
Jeremiah 39-44
the context [yes, i go to mbi]
jerusalem has just fallen to the babylonians. this is something that God has been warning the people of judah about for the last few chapters. the people are taken into exile. the captain of the guard allows the poor people who own nothing to stay in the land of judah, and gives them vineyards and fields. [there is a theme throughout scripture that when israel stays in the land God promises-they are blessed, when they leave the land-often because of God's discipline-blessing leaves as well]
the conflict
jeremiah stays in judah with this remnant. the leaders of this remnant tell jeremiah that they will do whatever the Lord tells them to do. they promise to obey the Lord, no matter what.
jeremiah tells the remnant that God wants them to remain in the land. they are not to go to egypt. the Lord says that if they remain in the land, he will build them up and bless them.
the people don't want to hear it. they tell jeremiah he is lieing. they are still in
FEAR
of the babylonians. they think they will be handed over to them.
THEY DON'T OBEY BECAUSE THEY FEAR MAN MORE THAN THEY FEAR GOD.
they go to egypt. their promise to obey God was just lipservice. they have seen God work in mighty ways. yet they still FEAR man, more than this GOD who is
the GUIDER of nations!
and they missed out on this amazing blessing that God had for them.
[sounds a lot like the tendencies in my life]
Ed Welch says "You will either fear man, or you will fear God. What you fear controls you."
but despite our failings, God is faithful.
God judges Israel, and the nations that oppress them. but he will remain faithful in his promise.
jeremiah 46:27 "but fear not, o jacob my servant, nor be dismayed o israel, for behold, i will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of captivity."
there is something about reading scripture out loud that makes you hear it, process it, and want to know more. the book of jeremiah would have never been my next choice to read (i just finished 1 and 2 peter), but after reading those few chapters that night, i decided that i would go there next.
Jeremiah 39-44
the context [yes, i go to mbi]
jerusalem has just fallen to the babylonians. this is something that God has been warning the people of judah about for the last few chapters. the people are taken into exile. the captain of the guard allows the poor people who own nothing to stay in the land of judah, and gives them vineyards and fields. [there is a theme throughout scripture that when israel stays in the land God promises-they are blessed, when they leave the land-often because of God's discipline-blessing leaves as well]
the conflict
jeremiah stays in judah with this remnant. the leaders of this remnant tell jeremiah that they will do whatever the Lord tells them to do. they promise to obey the Lord, no matter what.
jeremiah tells the remnant that God wants them to remain in the land. they are not to go to egypt. the Lord says that if they remain in the land, he will build them up and bless them.
the people don't want to hear it. they tell jeremiah he is lieing. they are still in
FEAR
of the babylonians. they think they will be handed over to them.
THEY DON'T OBEY BECAUSE THEY FEAR MAN MORE THAN THEY FEAR GOD.
they go to egypt. their promise to obey God was just lipservice. they have seen God work in mighty ways. yet they still FEAR man, more than this GOD who is
the GUIDER of nations!
and they missed out on this amazing blessing that God had for them.
[sounds a lot like the tendencies in my life]
Ed Welch says "You will either fear man, or you will fear God. What you fear controls you."
but despite our failings, God is faithful.
God judges Israel, and the nations that oppress them. but he will remain faithful in his promise.
jeremiah 46:27 "but fear not, o jacob my servant, nor be dismayed o israel, for behold, i will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of captivity."
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