TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Jeremiah 2:31-4:18
Colossians 1:1-17
Psalm 76:1-12
Proverbs 24:21-22
Jeremiah 2:35 — This echoes Luke 5:32. God is begging sinners to acknowledge they are sinners.
Jeremiah 3:1 — This is in sharp contrast to Islam which states that if a man divorces his wife a third time, she cannot go back to her ex-husband unless she marries someone in between! To get around this, there arose “Nikah Halala,” a temporary marriage/consummation/divorce to permit the woman to remarry the first husband. However, the Prophet Muhammad cursed those who practiced Nikah Halala.
Jeremiah 3:3 — God can withhold physical blessing from those who are in spiritual rebellion.
Jeremiah 3:10 — Notice the word “feignedly” (KJV) which means “simulated, pretended, or insincere.” Do we have whole-hearted repentance or just simulated repentance? Have we admitted that we have not obeyed His voice (Jeremiah 3:13)?
Jeremiah 3:16 — Ellicott highlights the contrast between this verse and 2 Maccabees 2:4-5 because the symbol of the presence of the LORD will be replaced with the Presence of the LORD Himself!
Jeremiah 4:3 — ”Break up my fallow ground!”
Colossians 1:4-5 — In contrast to the Corinthians who had to be taught about faith, love, and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13), the Colossians are commended for their faith in Jesus, love for the saints, and hope in heaven!
Colossians 1:9 — I’m usually quick to let people know I’m praying for them – and I try to pray right away for them – but how often do we cease to pray as opposed to ceasing not to pray?
Colossians 1:10 — May we walk worthy of the LORD!
Colossians 1:17 — From Chuck Missler:
There is thus an active force imposed on the universe, which actively holds the very atoms of the material world together moment by moment, day by day, century by century.
https://www.khouse.org/articles/1997/60/
Psalm 76:7 — From Charles Spurgeon:
Thou, even thou, art to be feared.
Not Sennacherib, nor Nisroch his god, but Jehovah alone, who with a silent rebuke had withered all the monarch’s host.“Fear him, ye saints, and then ye shall have nothing else to fear.”
http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/treasury/ps076.htm
The fear of man is a snare, but the fear of God is a great virtue, and has great power for good over the human mind. God is to be feared profoundly, continually, and alone. Let all worship be to him only. And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Who indeed? The angels fell when their rebellion provoked his justice; Adam lost his place in Paradise in the same manner; Pharaoh and other proud monarchs passed away at his frown; neither is there in earth or hell any who can abide the terror of his wrath. How blest are they who are sheltered in the atonement of Jesus, and hence have no cause to fear the righteous anger of the Judge of all the earth.
Proverbs 24:21 — And speaking of the fear of the Lord … yes, it is good to fear the LORD!
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