Comments for July 11

v. 2 - Saul had 3000 men, which is 5 times David's men [1Sam.23:13]. This makes the act of David in revealing himself to Saul one of great faith, as in any other context it would have meant his sure death. He had such a great trust in God that he was able to take this 'risk' as it would seem to us not just for himself but for all 600 of his men, knowing that if Saul chose, he would be able, in human terms, to wipe them out easily, being so heavily outnumbered. You can't help wondering what the men that came with Saul thought of this apparent reconciliation! Psa.7:8,9.

v.4 - There is no indication that the LORD had told David that Saul would be delivered into his hand. Indeed David was the anointed king and would doubtless reign in the place of Saul. We must be careful that we do not pervert justice because we think that the end justifies the means.

v.4 - The point was made at our Bible Class last week that the hem of the garment was a special part - Num.15:38-41 tells us that these fringes were for a remembrance of God's commandments. So here David was reminding Saul of how he had disobeyed those commandments and was not worthy of the fringes on his robe. Consider also the woman that had been ill who sought healing of Jesus by touching the hem of his garment. Luke 8:43-44

Maybe Psalm 35 was written out of these events. Notice these links.

:17 Saul's response is an example of the effects of the way of a man of God - Proverbs 16:7

24:5 David had resisted the temptation to kill Saul. However his behaviour had fallen short of his own understanding of what he should have done. Therefore his heart smote him.; Maybe it would have been better if he had not even moved when Saul came into the cave.  So often we think we are strong enough to resist temptation and so take risks with our behaviour - but then how do we feel?

V.21-22 David gave his promise and thereupon he and his men melted away into the hills, finding refuge in another cave. The fact that he did not join Saul and resume his place among the king's followers shows only too clearly that past experiences had taught David that he would never again be able to trust his father-in -law.

There's lessons abundant in these stories of old. I am sure that the Lord's inspiration of these holy men of God made it possible for us to see ourselves in the character studies, and to learn lessons for our lives. David and Saul had talked peaceably, but David was wise enough not to go home together with him
(1Sam 24:17-22). You just can't trust some people.

Saul was given to paranoia, fits of jealousy and rage.  Such was the evil spirit that Yahweh had given him (1Sam 16:14).  In this encounter with David, though, Saul seems to be of rational mind.  And so his statement of v.20 is something that he truly believed, hence, the plea of v.21.

24:7     Such was David’s position with his men that a word from him and they obeyed. This is not the only time we find such obedience to David by his men.  We should be alert to the other examples in his life. Are we so obedient to the greater son of David?

V.3-5 - David spared Saul's life but no doubt this was a reminder not lost on Saul that the kingdom of Israel would be torn from him 1Sam 15:27-28.

V.12; 1Sam 25:33 - vengeance is mine saith the Lord Rom 12:19.

24:15  In this very strange conversation between David and Saul – strange because it does not manifest the thinking of the flesh – David clearly left things in God’s hands. But more than that he wanted Saul to understand this as well.

24:2      3,000 men to try to catch David! One wonders how Saul managed to find so many who wanted David dead. Or maybe they went with Saul but their heart was not in the matter – hence David was not caught.

David was thinking spiritually and not carnally when he spared Saul's life.  He respected Yahweh and the ones He chose, therefore, he did not give in to the actions of the flesh.  Hence, Yahweh could say about David that he was: ...a man after mine own heart... (Acts 13:22).

24:7 In Psa 7 David reflects upon the accusations of Shimei - 2Sam 16:7 - and can confidently invite God to punish him if the accusations of Shimei are true. The way that David behaved here, which was typical of the way that David behaved, enabled him to speak so confidently when Shimei made his accusations

V.2 The KJV has the rocks of the wild goats, while the ESV employs a proper noun: Wildgoats' Rocks.  The reference to goats is in keeping with the place En-Gedi which means fountain of the kid.

V.4 The temptation for David to kill Saul must have been great.  David was afraid of nothing and no-one.  He had faced wild animals, and the giant of the Philistines without fear (1Sam 17:36).  He had Saul, the enemy who had been dogging him, in his grasp.  Killing him would solve all his problems. And yet, David deferred to Yahweh and did not exercise what seemed like a logical, human solution.

David is a great example for us of faith and constraint.  Divine solutions are to be preferred to human ones.  But we need faith not to give in to what seems plausible from a human perspective.  Trust in Yahweh is the key.  Take every problem to him faithfully in prayer and the right solution will follow (Prov 3:5,6; 16:3).

Vs.20-22 Through all the haze of his irrationality, Saul knew that David was Yahweh’s anointed.  With that admission, he wanted to make sure that his name and progeny would be protected.

24:3-4 This opportunity which David did not take to kill Saul highlighted David’s strength of character and would also serve as an object lesson to the men that were with him. One does not raise a sword against the Lord’s anointed even if he is trying to kill you!

1Sam 24:11,16 - David refers to King Saul as "my father" while Saul refers to David as "my son" which perhaps echoes Christ being the son of God.

24:6  Saul was seeking David’s life. One might have thought, using human reasoning, that David could have claimed ‘self defence’ however he was willing to suffer wrong at the hand of the Lord’s anointed.

24:3-4  The KJV has ‘cover his feet’ more modern translations such as the NIV and ESV have variations on ‘eased himself’ however the Hebrew words for ‘cover’ <5526> and  ‘feet’ <7272>are accurate translations of those words. Further verse 4 implies that Saul was asleep. The context shows that the Hebrew idiom ‘cover his feet’ at least on this occasion means that he had a sleep.  That an idiom is used is not doubted. However what that idiom means is not correctly conveyed in translations which have Saul going to the toilet.

24:1    It might seem a small point but the record says Saul had been “following the Philistines” – an odd way to describe a man in battle. However it contrasts with the fact that Saul should have been following God – which, it seems, he never did.

24:15 In saying that the Lord should be the judge David is echoing the words of the faithful Jephthah – Judg 11:27

1Sam 24:4-7 shows us that, while we might have some scripture to back up what we want to do, we need to weigh it up against other scripture to gain a full view of what is right or wrong. David's men quoted God's wishes to support their suggested course of action. David however realised that he would have to be patient and wait for God to save Him another way.

24:21   Saul’s plea to David shows how little he understood of the way in which David thought about others.

24:20  Saul’s acknowledgement echoes what Jonathan had told David – 1Sam 23:17. One wonders why Saul, knowing this, still sought to kill David. Did he think he could fight against God’s plan?

24:9     Saul had no direct evidence that David sought his life. He relied on hearsay. He heard what he wanted to hear. How often do we presume things with no basis and then behave on our wrong assumptions?

24:9  David was the one who suffered the testimony of “false witnesses” – Psa 35:11 – is a prayer of David in which he speaks of “false witnesses” so possibly this Psalm was a product of David’s knowledge of Saul’s evil, unfounded, attempts to capture him.

24:4       It is clear, despite David’s instructions, for example as seen in Psa 34 – David’s men had not at this time David’s faith and understanding in the way that Saul should be treated.

24:22 the contrast is marked. Saul went home to comfort whilst David continued as a fugitive with no “home comforts”. We see the same in Jesus’ life –John 7:53 to John 8:11

24:22 the contrast is marked. Saul went home to comfort whilst David continued as a fugitive with no “home comforts”. We see the same in Jesus’ life – John 7:53 - 8:1

24:22 We are told here and on two other occasions about Saul and David going different ways. It highlights the difference between Saul and David. Saul “went home” but David continued to be a fugitive. The other occasions are 1Sam 23:28-29, 1Sam 26:25

SHOW ONLY LOVE

There was not a mark on his skin. Neither had he heard any negative comments, insults or threats. In fact, king Saul was completely unaware that he had been in the presence of a man who had not only been strongly urged to take his life, but had a legitimate reason to do so. The only damage Saul experienced was that a corner of his robe had been cut off - which was proof that David could have done anything he liked to Saul.

Saul experienced the good a person can do to his enemy.

Judas had the same experience with Jesus. Knowing exactly who was going to betray him right from the very beginning, Jesus could have treated Judas differently from the rest of the disciples. But right up until the last minute, even washing his feet, the rest of the disciples had no idea that Judas was the betrayer.

The temptation to gossip, insult, talk behind someone's back, or even resort to violence, is huge when we have an enemy. And sometimes we even do these things to people who are not our enemies! But let's be more like David and Jesus, making sure that our enemies (and everyone else) only ever experience our love.
 

24:1-2 Saul’s obsession with catching David is seen here. He and the men with him would doubtless be battle weary having been fighting the Philistines. For a reason not specified the conflict with the Philistines stopped so Saul’s next thought was to catch David. We must presume that catching David was the all-consuming thing in Saul’s mind even when there were bigger problems in the kingdom.

24:8 Notice David’s godly respect for Saul “my lord the king” – even though he had himself already been anointed and he knew that Saul had been rejected by God. As long as he was on the throne David would give him the respect due to the king.

Do we think the same about those who are appointed in the world to govern us, despite their immorality and weaknesses?

24:7 Killing Saul in the gloom of the cave where David and his men were hiding when Saul came in to rest, probably on his own, would have been easy. One or two of them could have quietly killed Saul before David could say anything. But no. These men were  disciplined enough to wait for David’s words. That is what is behind “David stayed his servants with these words”.

v. 5 - Everyone I have met seems to have had at some stage in their life a fascination with this concept of the preknowledge of God. Let us not be confused. We have free will. We can use that free will to ask God for guidance, or to accept our own or fellow man's counsel. But God knows what we will choose, and can see right to the end of our lives. In Jeremiah's case, this is expressed in the words of this verse. Each one of us can be chosen by God in this way for a particular work, but that path is inevitable only in the mind of God who knows the end from the beginning. As we go though life, we have to work it out for ourselves. Let us resolve today to set our will to match that of God. Psa.71:5,6, Isa.49:1,5. And consider the life of Paul, who was able nevertheless to say what he did in Gal.1:15,16.

v.1 - Anathoth was a city of the priests [for the sons of Aaron] Therefore Jeremiah was 'son' of the high priest Hilkiah mentioned. [2 Kings 22:4] 'Go up to Hilkiah the high priest,' [Jeremiah 1:1]
v.2 - Josiah reigned 31 years [2 Kings 22:1 2 Chronicles 34:1] Jehoahaz reigned 3 months [2Chron 36:1-2] Jehoiakim reigned 11 years [2 Chronicles 36:5] Jehoiachin reigned 3 months [2 Chronicles 36:9] Zedekiah reigned 11 years [2 Chronicles 36:11] So from the 3rd year of Josiah to the taking captive was 31 - 19 + ¼ + 11 + ¼ +11 = 34½ years

v.8 - Oh how many times have these words been so needed in your life? Many times in mine. There is so much in this life, however comfortable we have been blessed to be, that scares us. In simple terms, according to this verse and others like it, it shouldn't.

In Taking up the mantle of prophet and reproving Israel Jeremiah, as the son of the high priest, forsook wealth and approval to serve God.

Jeremiah 1. GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE God said to Jeremiah "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations". God had mapped Jeremiah's life out before he had created him! He had prepared circumstances, tasks and people that would all make Jeremiahs life what it became. But Jeremiahs life is not the only one that God has made plans for. Jesus, all the prophets, the apostles and many others have all been prepared by God for the tasks they were given. God still did not stop there. We too have been predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son (Rom 8 v 29), and God has prepared in advance good works for us to do just as he did for Jeremiah. There is no doubt about it. God has a plan for your life - whether you like it or not. It is up to us to us to fit in with God's plan and to serve him in the ways he has planned for us to do.

:6-7 The response to God's call was 'I cannot speak for I am a child'. One wonders what Jeremiah thought when God's response was a quotation from Deuteronomy 18:18 - a promise of a 'prophet like unto Moses' who would be listened to.

1:9 In touching Jeremiah's mouth God is treating him in the same way that Isaiah (Isa 6:7) was cleansed for his task.

V.6 From the long duration of his office; (35 years) Jer 1:2-3, Jer 40:1 one would think that Jeremiah would have been about 25 years old at his calling. The word "child" is translated "young man" in 2Sam 18:5  In his early twenties he would be a young man. Another thing we see in this verse is that it was not Jeremiah's word, but God's Word.

Jeremiah prophesied in Judah during the reign of Josiah and subsequent kings up until the Babylonian exile.  Therefore, his time of prophesying took place between 626 BC and sometime after 586 BC.

Vs.6,7,9 The humble disposition of Jeremiah is reminiscent of Moses (Exo 4:10-12).

Vs.11,12 There is an interesting play on Hebrew words.  In verse 11, almond = shakad which is related to hasten (KJV) = shakad in verse 12.  Actually, hasten is better translated watch as it is, subsequently, in Jer 31:28; 44:27; 51:12.  The almond blossoms early in spring and so the word that Yahweh gave Jeremiah would be broadcast early.  Yahweh would watch (be alert) to bring His Word to fruition.  The budding almond signified that Aaron was chosen as priest (Num 17:8).  Perhaps, in like manner, the almond signified Jeremiah as a chosen prophet (v.5).

ALL WE NEED
 
Jeremiah had a high calling.  Before he was even born he had been set apart by God to be a prophet to the nations.  This was going to mean a life of dedication to God, of ridicule and persecution, of speaking God's word in public and demonstrating God's message to the people.  As a young man, Jeremiah didn't feel at all qualified or equipped to be the servant God expected him to be.  But when God sets someone apart for a certain task, he also provides them with all they need to perform that task.
 
Jeremiah said, "I do not know how to speak," (Jer 1:6) but God said, "I have put my words in your mouth." (v.9)
Jeremiah said, "I am only a child, " (v.6) but God replied, "I am with you." (v.8)
God said to Jeremiah, "Do not be afraid or terrified of them" (v.8,17)  And God gave Jeremiah a reason for this confidence saying, "I will rescue you," and "Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land ... they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you." (v.8,18,19)
 
No matter what challenges Jeremiah had to face as he went about the work of the LORD, God gave him the strength and abilities to overcome and meet those challenges.  When we serve the Lord, he will provide all we need to do it. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil 4:13)

Jeremiah was the last of the main stream of prophets to speak in Jerusalem.  He had the very unhappy task of speaking of the destruction of the Holy City, which he eventually saw happen.  Then came Ezekiel in Babylon, and after the return there was Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.  Jeremiah was reluctant at first to speak, but God assured him that before he was born God had picked him out as a prophet.
(Jer 1:4-10)  This helps us to understand Eph 1:4-6, where Paul speaks of our predestination.  God is not limited by time, like us.  He sees all the way through.

1:13  The ‘seething pot’ that was to come out of the North was the Babylonian invasion.

V.5 Yahweh is without beginning and without end (Psa 90:2).  He knows all things that will occur before they happen.  That is the reason He can express His foreknowledge of Jeremiah. 

There are other examples, in the Bible, concerning His expressed foreknowledge of people.  These include the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:24; 1Pet 1:20), and His true believers (Eph 1:4). 

These passages do not suggest that either Jeremiah or the followers of Christ pre-existed.  And yet, many people ascribe the same sort of passages, referring to Christ, as proving His pre-existence.  This, of course, is an attempt to give credence to the false doctrine of the Trinity.  

1:11,13 Jeremiah was shown two visions. The doubling of the vision guaranteed the things that God was saying – Gen 41:32

1:5 Whilst we might have difficulty understanding God’s foreknowledge we must accept that He had selected Jeremiah before his birth. This is the wonderful position the children of God are. Rather than trying to rationalise it we should simply accept it knowing that God’s thoughts are different from ours – Isa 55:8

1 As we start to read Jeremiah we doubtless are aware that the prophecy of Jeremiah is not in chronological order. Rather than try to re-organise the chapters maybe we should try to understand, from the way the book is constructed, what the purpose of the order is.

V.1 Anathoth was a city given to the priests, the sons of Aaron (Josh 21:18).

V.6 Jeremiah felt inadequate to carry out Yahweh’s commission.  This is reminiscent of Solomon’s feeling as he assumed the throne (1Kin 3:7).  But, Yahweh gives the required wisdom to His servants, as he did to Solomon (1Kin 4:29). Likewise, Yahweh gave Jeremiah the wisdom he needed (v.9).

And so, we should not be prevented from expanding our spiritual horizons because we feel inadequate. If we approach all things in faith and prayer, Yahweh will add the necessary wisdom (James 1:5).

V.13 a seething pot (KJV); boiling pot (ESV) indicates the fury of Yahweh which can be expressed in the turbulence of war as He sends nations to do His bidding. In this case, he used Babylon to punish Judah and Jerusalem.  For another example of this figurative expression of Yahweh’s anger, see Job 41:20.

V.19 The servant of Yahweh must expect that the Truth will not be accepted.  People do not want to hear bad things.  They did not in Jeremiah’s day, and they do not today. Nevertheless, we must be bold and speak the Truth, like Jeremiah did, even if it means ridicule, or worse. Jeremiah was ill-treated, but he will be in the Kingdom.  What about us?

The context of Jeremiah

God had turned over Israel (Samaria) to the Assyrians. They had laid the land waste and then resettled it. But Jerusalem had been spared. The time of Hezekiah was a time of prosperity and return to the worship of the true God. But Hezekiah only had 15 years. During this time Manasseh was born and became the most evil King in Judah's history. He immediately set about to undo the good Hezekiah had done (2Kin 21:3). So great was his evil that he caused Judah to practice greater abominations than the nations God had driven out of the land, and that's saying something!

So God said He would overturn Judah with the same punishments as Samaria, wiping it clean like a bowl (2Kin 21:10-15). After Manasseh was his son Amon who followed his father's ways, and then Josiah reigned, his 8 year old son who again began to restore worship of the true God. This is where Jeremiah fits in. He began to speak out when Josiah was 21, and interestingly his message was not to be of hope but of judgement. To explain this we need to look at two important verses. 2Kin 23:25-26 explains how, though Josiah's heart was wholly to follow God, it wasn't enough to blot out the damage Manasseh had done. So in v27 of that chapter, a repeat of the promise "I will cast off this city Jerusalem".

God said to Jeremiah "I am ready to perform My word" (v12). He was to bring upon them a repeat of the Assyrian invasion, this time with the Babylonians, and this time without hope (v14-16). And Jeremiah was there to read them the accusation.

1:19  As God had chosen Jeremiah He also assured him that he would take care of Him. This is true of those of us who are chosen. Our lives are not a haphazard series of events.

1:2-3  There could not be much more of a contrast between two kings that between Josiah and Zedekiah. But Jeremiah had to speak to both of them.  As Jeremiah’s life moved on his experience with the kings of Judah deteriorated.

1:8     Whilst Jeremiah is given this assurance, because of the strength of the opposition to his words, he laments – Jer 20:7 – that God has, by implication, not kept His promise.

1:5   This is one of a number of times we learn that God knew people before their birth. How does this knowledge that God has of us impact on the vexed question of abortion?

v19 God had a task for Jeremiah to carry out, to say things that would be uncomfortable for the leaders of Judah. This would result in their "fighting" against him, like an aggressor's army against a fortified city. Do we act this way when someone tells us something we don't want to hear?

1:3    Jeremiah’s ministry started with a good king and ended with the captivity of an evil king and the end of the kingdom of God on earth. So we have to realise that Jeremiah’s fellowship with the kings degenerated as his ministry progressed. So as we read the prophecy we should try and reflect on the increasingly lonely life of the prophet. 

1:6     Jeremiah’s excuse “I cannot speak” echoes that of Moses – Exo 3:10. Maybe this is just the sort of person that God is looking for – the man who does not see himself as having any particular skills.

1. the book of Jeremiah contains 51 prophecies and 8 acted out parables. It is not arranged in chronological order. Jeremiah was contemporary with Ezekiel, Daniel, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Nahum, Obadiah - and prophesied (c. 626-586BC) about 100 years after Isaiah. Like Jesus, Jeremiah had a difficult life, was mocked, and was single.

2. "Jeremiah<3414>" was born in the reign of kIng Manasseh (circa 697-642BC) who was followed by king Amon (c. 641-640BC); Jeremiah began his ministry in Jerusalem to Judah during a time when Babylon was ascending and Assyrian rule was nearing its end in the 13th year (c. 626 or 627 BC) of the good king Josiah (reigned c. 639-608BC); many of the people of Judah were still idolaters during Josiah's reign; Nineveh was destroyed by Babylon (c. 612 or 607BC); king Jehoahaz (reigned 3 months c. 608BC and was carried to Egypt); Eliakim renamed (by Pharoah Neco) Jehoiakim (was kIng of Judah c. 608-597BC and an idol worshipping enemy of Jeremiah); Judah was subdued by Babylon and captives were taken  and Jerusalem was partly destroyed (c. 606BC); Babylon defeats Egypt at the battle of Carchemish (c. 605BC); Jehoiachin (reigned 3 months c. 597BC and was carried to Babylon, Jerusalem further devastated); Mattaniah renamed (by Nebuchadnezzar) Zedekiah (reigned c. 597-586BC, a weak king friendly to Jeremiah, Zedekiah's visit to Babylon c.593BC, Jerusalem burned and desolated by Babylon c. 586BC).

OUTLINE OF JEREMIAH

PART ONE -- THE CALL OF JEREMIAH

I. Jeremiah's Call (Jeremiah 1:1-10):

   A. Jer 1:1 - "Anathoth<6068>" (3 miles north of Jerusalem) is where Jeremiah buys a field before Jerusalem is taken by Nebuchadnezzar in 586BC (Jer 32:6-16,25) - perhaps Jeremiah will possess/redeem this field in the millennial kingdom age.

   B. Jer 1:2-3 - the word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah in the 13th year of Josiah's reign until the 11th year of Zedekiah

 and the carrying away of the Jerusalem captives in the 5th month (about 40 years, some sources say 41 1/2 years).

   C. Jer 1:5 - Jeremiah pre-existed as a plan in the mind of God (the saints of Ephesus pre-existed in the mind of God Eph 1:4-5; and Christ pre-existed as a plan in the mind of God also Gen 3:15;1Pet 1:20;John 1:1-2,14); V5 "...unto the nations(<1471> i.e. Gentiles)" - apostate Judah would fall to Babylon.

   D. Jer 1:6 - Jeremiah felt inadequate in speech as did Moses and of course we have Christ who at times was silent as a lamb (Exo 4:10-15;Isa 53:7).

   E. Jer 1:7-10 - VS 7-8 (NIV) "say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you"; VS 7-9 God put His words in Jeremiah's mouth (Jer 20:8-9;Jer 36:1-4,17-18); VS 7-10 the young Jeremiah was qualified by God's power not his own (Acts 7:22;Deut 18:18;Luke 12:11-12).

II. Jeremiah's Signs (Jeremiah 1:11-16):

   A. Jer 1:11-12 - V11 (NIV) "I see the branch of an 'almond tree<8247>'" (perhaps this was similar to Aaron's rod as a sign of acceptance); VS 11-12 the almond tree is an awakener as it has the first flower to bloom in Palestine's Spring (similarly, Christ was the first fruit of the new creation Num 17:8;Col 1:18;1Cor 15:20).

   B. Jer 1:13-16 - V13 (KJV) "a 'seething<5301>' 'pot(<5518> can mean pot, thorn, hook'" from the North referred to the Babylonian army and perhaps also has application to the latter day Assyrian Gogian host who will be turned around with hooks and come from the north to invade (Eze 38:2-16); VS 14-15 (NIV) "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms"; VS 13-16 because of

their wickedness, Judah and Jerusalem would be conquered by the boiling cauldron of Babylon from the north who would act as the agent of God's judgment.

III. Jeremiah's Assurance (Jeremiah 1:17-19):
   A. Jer 1:17-19 - commanded to gird up his loins (i.e. prepare for action) and give bad news to the officials of Judah and Jerusalem. God made Jeremiah "a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land [of Judah]", a similar verse in Jer 15:20. Jeremiah was assured that God was with him and would rescue/protect him.

1:5    Whilst Jeremiah spoke to Judah about the need to repent else they would go into captivity in Babylon he was sent to prophesy to the nations. We will see later in the prophecy that indeed he did speak to the gentile nations of his day.

1:1         As Jeremiah was from Anathoth which was a city given to the sons of Kohath 1Chron 6:54,60 it seems reasonable to conclude that Jeremiah was a Kohathite.

1:11    Seeing the rod of an almond tree may well have prompted Jeremiah, himself a priest, to think of Aaron’s rod that budded – Num 17:8 – as an indication of God’s choice of Aaron which may have prompted Jeremiah to appreciate that God had chosen him to give the message about God’s coming judgments on Jerusalem and Judah.

1:2-3    When Jeremiah started his ministry Josiah had already shown that he was a faithful king. So Jeremiah’s work, initially, would have been good. However after the death of Josiah it was a time of unrelenting wickedness. We should reflect on this deteriorating experience of Jeremiah.

1 A feature we might look for as we read through Jeremiah’s prophecy are the conversations between Jeremiah and God. The prophecy is not just God telling Jeremiah what to say. Regularly Jeremiah discusses with God His message and its implications.

1:11-12 As has been noted by brethren previously, the Hebrew for “almond tree” <8247> is a play on “I will hasten” <8245> with ‘watch’ being a better translation. The almond was incorporated into the lampstand (see Exodus 25:33-34). The lampstand represented the Word of God as a whole, not just prophecy or the words given through Jeremiah. Therefore God watches over each of our Bibles “to perform it”, that we might be “perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:17).  That God is watching over our Bible should make us tremble when we read it and encourage us not to neglect it. 

1:7      One of the most powerful evidences for verbal inspiration is to be found in examples like Jeremiah who claimed unable to speak God’s words and was told that God’s words would be put in his lips.

Jer 1:11-13

“… I see a rod of an almond tree… Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. And the word of the LORD came unto me a second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north. Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.”

“Here an almond rod is constituted the symbol of speed in the execution of the Lord’s purpose…

The same prophet was shown as seething pot with its face towards the north… - namely, a military invasion, as the next verse [v. 14] shows… Consequently, a seething pot would become a symbol of the sore affliction arising from war.”

Robert Roberts, A WORD IN SEASON, p. 195

1:9 We might ask why Jeremiah was anxious not to speak when we know that Josiah was a good king. Here is possibly one of the first indications that whilst Josiah was faithful in his service to God there were many powerful people in his kingdom who did not share his godly views. We learn very soon that even some in Jeremiah’s own family were opposed to Josiah’s reforms and Jeremiah’s prophesying. 

So God gave him assurance that he would be delivered. However we see, as the book develops, that this assurance did not mean that Jeremiah would have a trouble free life. This is something we need to remember. Whilst He desires to give us the kingdom – Luke 12:32 –there is no promise of a trouble free life now.

1:7  The reluctance of Jeremiah  to do the work that God called him to is not uncommon in other servants of God. We saw it in Mosses and also in Isaiah and Ezekiel. One might expect faithful men of God to be reluctant to take up the clear challenge that the Creator gave them. However such reluctance should not be our response when we are asked to do some quite simple task to help our fellow believers – be it lead the reading at the meeting or take care of the door on a Sunday or even offer one of the prayers at one of our services.

1:10 By the time that Jeremiah was called to prophesy the northern kingdom of Israel and Hoshea had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians. We , therefore,  see that Jeremiah was sent to other nations. So we will not be surprised as we read through the prophecy to often see God speaking to and against foreign power.

v. 7 - The quote is from Hos.6:6, and Jesus used it before in ch.9:13, where he said "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance". The "knowledge of God is greater than burnt offerings", Hosea tells us. See also 1Sam.15:22.

v.3 - Details concerning the shewbread tell us that it was changed on the Sabbath [Leviticus 24:8] Notice that Jesus and his disciples were walking through the corn on the Sabbath. The appeal to the events of 1 Samuel 21:3 must have taken place on the Sabbath day or the shewbread would not have been available for David and his men. The issue in Jesus case is that he is 'lord of the Sabbath' marking that a man's need comes before the letter of the Sabbath law. This is a point which occurs a number of times in the gospels. This event is recorded in three of the gospel records highlighting its importance in laying down a principle. [Matthew 12:3 Mark 2:25 Luke 6:3]

12:5 The question that Jesus asks demonstrates that there are elements of the law of Moses which took precedence over other elements. Judgement had to be made as to which law had to be observed. Likewise in Christ we have to use judgement on issues rather than simply quoting one principle and disregarding others.

:41-42 When Jesus introduced the idea that the men of Nineveh or the Queen of Sheba will rise in the judgement and condemn the Jewish leaders of his day Jesus prime focus does not relate to whether these individuals will be raised from the dead. The point he is making is that whilst they - Jews - would not recognise the power of God vested in him both the men of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba - gentiles - recognised that God was at work in their lives and responded to what they knew.

It is very unfortunate to be born into a family with no mother, father, brothers, or sisters. Jesus was the first of a "new creation", and he wanted to have a family round him. In v47-50 Jesus emphasises the fact that he has left his earthly mother and siblings, and now has a new spiritual family. Jesus demonstrated how seriously he took this change in where he belonged. He had completely divorced himself from the ties of the flesh, and only recognised the ties of his new "spirit family". I wonder if we always see it this way, or whether we hold on to our family connections and status, long after we have been "born again" into a new family. Do we treat our spiritual brothers and sisters as well as our fleshly ones? Jesus is suggesting that we no longer have any fleshly relatives.

A further point to ponder:
v 36 seems very harsh, until we read it in context. Jesus has just stated that out of the abundance of the heart come our words and speech. If this is the case, then the idle words (or those that weren't pre-meditated) we utter will betray what is in our hearts. Our idle words, then, will be the vehicle by which our hearts are exposed at the judgement. It will be the heart that is being judged, rather than the words themselves. An example of this is in verse 24. Jesus "knew their thoughts" (v25) because of what they had said.

12:7 Jesus quotation of Hos 6:6 and his observations ‘if ye had known’ demonstrates that actions should be determined not just by clear statements in Scripture – for example ‘thou shalt not ..’ but also by an understanding of the principles behind statements in Scripture.

V.8 The Sabbath was made for man, not vice versa. The Sabbath was instituted to be a blessing for man; to keep him healthy, to make him happy, and to render him holy. Man was not created to be the Sabbath's slave. Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, not only honoured it by regularly attending the synagogue, but He also honoured it by performing acts of mercy and healing on that day.V.9-14

V.24 Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of performing miracles by Beelzebub.  In Hebrew Beelzebub is Baal Zvuv which literally means Master (or Lord) of the fly.  Its derogatory connotation is Lord of Dung (the place where flies gather most). 

Vs.31,32 Thus, the Pharisees, instead of welcoming the miraculous power of God, cast aspersions on the Holy Spirit.  The Lord issued the sternest of warnings about this. 

We should be careful also to respect the Word, which is an expression of the Spirit, lest we be judged unworthy.  Disobeying the Word, by conducting ourselves inappropriately, is equated with blasphemy (Titus 2:1-5).

V.50 "whosoever" This means exactly what the apostle wrote to the believers at Galatia (Gal 3:28) there are no national differences; there are no social differences; there are no sexual differences. All those who do the will of our Heavenly Father are Christ's brothers and sisters, and heirs of the promises made to Abraham.

12:5 Jesus' appeal to the way that the law was broken to ensure that another aspect of the law was kept should alert us to the problems associated with rules. It is not possible to make rules that cover all eventualities. We have to use judgement in the application of rules.

12:14 The Pharisees had already decided the answer to the question that they raised in 12:10 Their intention was not to learn truth. Rather it was to trap Jesus in his words and actions. We can be like this, having decided that someone is wrong we question them in a way which enable us to confirm our prejudice against that person.

12:35 One must be careful to point out that this verse does not offer any excuse for a fatalistic view of life. It does not make it right for a man to say: "I did not make myself, can I help what I am? can I help what I think? can I help the way I act?" The next verse states clearly that a man remains fully responsible for what he is, what he thinks, what he speaks, and what he does.

12:41 Jesus is presented as ‘greater than Jonah’. There are a number of ways in which he was ‘greater than Jonah’. One is that he was willing to preach to sinners, Jonah preferred not to. Jonah knew that God was gracious – Jon 4:2 and so did not want to preach to Nineveh. Jesus, knowing the God was gracious, preached to sinners.

A MIRACULOUS SIGN

"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, 'Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.' He answered, 'A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'"(Matt 12:38-40)

It is interesting that right through his ministry, Jesus gave sign after sign that he was a man of God, and that he was no less than the son of God. Many people saw those signs and believed. The ones that should have seen them first were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They were the ones with their noses in the Bible, who knew by heart all the prophesies of the Messiah, and yet they just couldn't see who he was. God had given them all the signs that they needed, but they refused to believe.

Even today people ask for signs. Just like it was in the days of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, there are signs all over the place that God exists and is alive and active. There may be times where God has to give us a special sign, but for the most part we have all the evidence we need right in front of us. Lets not close our eyes to the signs in the word of God, in the world around us, and in our individual lives, but open them up to see the evidence of God in the ways he has chosen to reveal himself to us.

12:10 Earlier in the day they had confronted Jesus about Sabbath breaking with the matter of the corn. Now in the synagogue on the same day they try again to discredit Jesus.

V.7 See Hos 6:6; Mic 6:6-8

V.14 The Pharisees were furious because their pride had been pricked (Luke 6:11).

Vs.18-21 See Isa 42:1-4.

V.30 One is either 100% with Jesus, or 100% against Him.  There are no half-measures, although a lot of people do try to mix and match. The choice is as clear today as it was in Joshua’s day (Josh 24:15). There are going to be many people at the judgment who are going to be hugely shocked and disappointed (Matt 7:22,23).

Vs.36,37 These verses should be very sobering, as it is easy to speak inappropriately.

12:22 Jesus’ miracles were not simply acts of kindness. They had deeper spiritual significance also. The man who was blind and dumb represented Israel’s leaders. Jesus taught that they were ‘blind’ Matt 15:14. Because they were ‘blind’ to the teaching of the law they were ‘dumb’ also – that is they were unable to teach the law.

In v38-45 Jesus calls his generation evil and adulterous, a generation that would be condemned at the judgement. So we can see that Jesus already knew that his preaching would have no effect on them. They would inevitably be judged unworthy and the gospel go to the Gentiles instead. Hence his reference to the Gentiles who repented in v41-42 and the quote in v18 and 21 "in his name the Gentiles will hope".

12:25-27       Jesus’ use of logic is most powerful here. One would have thought that the Pharisees would have seen the point before they ever made it but their hatred was so implacable that reason was ignored. We must be careful that in our discussion we don’t allow ourselves to be blinded by our objections into ignoring the clear evidence that might be before us.

12:34-37         Jesus had been accused of performing miracles by Beelzebub which was blasphemy. Now Jesus advises any that would listen to him that their words showed exactly what was in the heart of men.

12:38  So being condemned for their blasphemy a leader tries to deflect attention from their blasphemy by asking for a sign – as if the sign of the healing were not enough!

 Matt 12:7.

12:34   Jesus’ counsel here where he observes that our hearts determine what we say re-presents the words of the wise man – Prov 16:23

12:20   Isa 42:3 ends with “truth” Jesus changes that to “victory”. Truth gains supremacy over error – eventually.

12:11  The law of Moses required that a man should help his neighbour when his animal was suffering –Exo 23:4 Deut 22:4 – Even if the owner was an “enemy”! This requirement of the law should have taught the Jewish leaders that they should care for their fellow men. In1Cor 9:9 Paul shows that such provisions of the law are to teach lessons about how men are to respond to men.

DISCIPLESHIP

What a privilege it is to be called a friend of Jesus, or better still, a brother or sister of Jesus. It is one thing to know about Jesus. We can learn everything possible about Jesus, and we would know a lot about him. Knowing about him doesn't make us his friend or family. It all comes down to discipleship. To be a disciple of Jesus means to follow his way of life and teaching. It's about walking in his footsteps, living the way he lived, doing what he tells us to do.

Discipleship is much more than knowing, it is knowing and doing. It is the people who live the way Jesus instructs us to live that he promotes from being a disciple and calls then friends and family.

When Jesus' natural family came to see him, "Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside , wanting to speak to you.' He replied to him, 'Who is my mother and who are my brothers?' Pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister and mother.'" (Matt 12:47-50).

So let's not be content with learning about Jesus, but instead become his disciples by living the way he lived. Let's become his family by living to do the will of our Father in heaven. There is no greater calling.

12:31   It seems that John – 1John 5:16 -  when speaking of the “sin unto death” is commenting on Jesus’ words here.

Matt 12:31,32; Mark 3:28,29

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men…”

These passages of Scripture have been more often than not misinterpreted and misunderstood. The term blasphemy is generally defined as “defiant irreverence.”

The Pharisees lived in a very unique moment in time. They had the Law and the Prophets, they had the Holy Spirit stirring at their heart strings; they had the Son of God standing right in front of them witnessing the very miracles he did (cf. Heb 2:4)! But, instead of penitence, they hardened themselves; instead of confessing their sins they were busy plotting against their Messiah. They were completely and inexcusably callous.

Never in the history of the world before and since had so much divine light been granted to them, yet, in defiance, they refused to recognize the Son of God and attributed his miracles to Beelzebub. Thus, this kind of sin was not forgivable. Today, the unpardonable sin is to stay in a continued state of unbelief. There can be no pardon to the unrepentant (cf. John 16:8-11).

Although blasphemy is a sin, in these passages they are treated separately, blasphemy being the extreme form of sin. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a denouncing and rejection of Yahweh. It is a sin of intentionally and openly speaking evil against the Holy Spirit of Yahweh. Under the Law of Moses, such blasphemy was punishable by stoning (Lev 24:16). It is the spirit of rebellion and of insolence in opposing Yahweh.

On the other hand, all other manner of sin and blasphemy is forgivable. Sin here represents the full gamut of ungodliness in thoughts and actions. The apostle Paul was a blasphemer in ignorance, but was forgiven (1Tim 1:13). We, as believers, can also blaspheme. Any thought, any action that sullies or defames Yahweh’s name constitutes blasphemy. To question God’s goodness, wisdom, fairness, truthfulness, faithfulness or love is blasphemy. To misjudge, belittle, and discredit Christ from the vantage point of incomplete revelation or inadequate perception is blasphemy against Christ but, it is forgivable by His grace if we confess and repent of it (1John 1:9).

Verse 31:

Another practical outworking of the principle Sis Valerie has highlighted above would be as follows:

Whilst one could regard Peter's denial of his Lord as blasphemy (Matt 26:74), he was forgiven because it was done in the context of fear for his life and in the heat of the moment in weakness rather than to coldly and wilfully undermine our Lord - as the Scribes & Pharisees demonstrated so graphically as they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit.

When it suited them, the Scribes & Pharisees claimed they KNEW our Lord to be "true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest for any man and regardest not the person of men." (Matt 22:16).

But when they felt they could discredit our Lord in front of the people to their advantage, they stated that they KNEW our Lord to be possessed by demons (John 8:52) and KNEW he was a sinner too. (John 9:24)

Both of these last two statements were complete fabrications by the Scribes & Pharisees as our Lord was not possessed by demons but by the Holy Spirit and neither was he a sinner, (1Pet 2:22) otherwise we are still, to quote Col 2:13 "dead in our sins" and to quote Eph 2:12 "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world"
 

Whilst Peter denied his Lord, he never claimed that his Lord was demon-possessed or a sinner - in fact quite the contrary - Matt 16:16

12:21  One wonders how Jesus’ audience thought that the gentiles would trust in God. This is one of many places where both in the Old and New Testament we see that gentiles are called to be involved in the purpose of God.

Matt 12:34,35

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Cf. Luke 6:45).