Comments for August 3

20 v.22 - This incident seems to be picked up in Ecclesiastes [7:9, 9:14-18]. The comments refer to a wise man rather than a wise woman, but otherwise fit very well. Verse 18 of Ecc.9 also seems to refer to Sheba the son of Bichri. The whole incident is used by Solomon to prove a point and to make us think about our own conduct and godliness.

20 v.1 - The uprising of Bichri and then Adonijah [1 Kings 1:5] following hard on the upraising of Absalom provide an indication that David was now an old man who was viewed as one who could easily be overthrown. So why had he not anointed Solomon? Maybe he was hoping that Solomon was to be the son promised in 1 Chronicles 17 who would reign when David was dead. [2 Samuel 7:12] So if Solomon was not crowned until after David's death then, David maybe reasoned, the promise would be fulfilled in Solomon.

21 v.15 - David is about 70 years old at this point in the record. he has been very ill [Psalm 41:3] during the time of Absalom's uprising. So it hardly surprising that David 'waxed faint'.

21 v.1 - It is clear that the judgement of the appropriateness of the killing of people in different situations lies with God, as indeed does all judgement. Despite the many people that David himself had killed, this punishment was for the work of Saul with the Gibeonites, which killing was not right. Although the law said 'Thou shalt not kill', it clearly was right to do so when the circumstances were such that God demanded it, but not otherwise.

20:1 This uprising from the tribe of Benjamin shows that till there is animosity between the house of David and the house of Saul. As we are near to the end of David's reign we must realise that this tension must have been a problem all through the reign of David.

21:12-13 So the bones remained in Jabesh Gilead for some 40 years! And David remembered where they were all that time. So why had they not been brought to the land of Benjamin earlier?

20:26 'chief ruler' is actually the word <03548> Cohen elsewhere translated 'priest' - see also 2 Samuel 8:18.

21:7 The fact that even though David has promised to honour the Gibeonites request he still spared Mephibosheth indicates that promises like this one that David made are such that the one making the oath can be selective in how he keeps the vow. So as long as David was able to deliver seven of the house of Saul it would not matter who he spared. So David was able to keep his word to the Gibeonites without breaking his conscience regarding Jonathan.

20:9 In killing Amasa Joab went right to the seat of the problem for Amasa's delay (20:4-5) was doubtless part of the strategy to unseat David.

21:18, :20-21 Giants had always been a problem to Israel. Saul was frightened of Goliath. However David's victory over Goliath seemed to remove the spell that these giants had over Israel. If we could realise that the giants in our lives can be overcome, with God's strength. Maybe we could remember, having achieved success once, that the same is possible again.

V.1 Sheba must have been a person of considerable power and influence. He belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, where the adherents of Saul's dynasty were still numerous; and perceiving the strong disgust of the other tribes with the part assumed by Judah in the restoration, his ill designing heart resolved to turn it to the overthrow of David's authority in Israel. 

(2Sam 20:1)  Sheba, a wicked man, arose against David and succeeded in turning away the 10 northern tribes from him.  His uprising didn't last, and Sheba was killed by the wisdom of an un-named woman..  David surely realised by now that being king over Israel was no easy matter.

20:1,2 The rebellion of Sheba against David, the true king of Israel, mirrors the false Christs who would arise (Matt 24:24; Acts 5:36,37).

21:16-21 The four giants who were slain were Goliath's brothers.  This would account for David's selection of five stones in his encounter with Goliath (1Sam 17:40).  David had absolute trust in Yahweh and needed only one stone to defeat Goliath.  However, he prepared himself to take on Goliath's four other brothers if needed.

20:2  Sheba ‘happened’ to be there – 2Sam 20:1 – and upon blowing the trumpet men followed him. He has not even been mentioned before in the record! This indicates how fickle human nature is and highlights the need for a good king who can lead the people. They were like sheep – easily led astray.

21:1  God had respect to the oath made in Josh 9:15-17. The record here says that Saul did not, hence he slew them. So many years after the death of Saul God judges the nation. 

21:8 One wonders what David thought when he learnt that the son of Barzillai had been killed. Barzillai had been one of those – 2Sam 17:27 – that had helped David when he fled from Absalom.

REPAIRING THE PAST
 
When David enquired of God as to why Israel was experiencing it's third year of famine, the LORD said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death." (2Sam 21:1)
 
According to one Bible commentator, David was 58 years old at this time. If he was 30 years old when he became king after the death of Saul, then this whole episode took place 28 years after Saul's death. We can add to the 28 years the number of years between Saul murdering the Gibeonites and his death. In other words, it was a long time ago.
 
Had the past been forgotten? No. Could old sins lie dead and buried? No. The famine that God called on the land highlighted the fact that Saul's actions needed to be put right even after 30 years or more.
 
Do we have past sins that need to be put right? They may have happened long, long ago, but if they are still causing grief to others, we need to take steps to put them right. Once the Gibeonites had been appeased, the famine was relieved. Just because things happened long ago, let's not hide them under the carpet and hope they will go away. Instead let's deal with them like David did so we can get on with life unhindered by the past.

20:3  It would appear that David did not know whether his concubines had been violated in this uprising – so he takes the precaution of separating them from him lest a child be born whose parentage was not certain. 

20:3 David's concubines had been violated by Absalom.  It had not been their fault.  Nevertheless, David could not have any further sexual relationships with them as they were now defiled.  Nor could he let them be married to other men.  And so, they became widows, secluded and cared for comfortably for the rest of their lives.

20:10 Joab's vengeful killing of Amasa, with the compliance of his brother Abishai, highlights the arrogant, ambitious attitude of the sons of Zeruiah.  David had dismissed Joab as army commander.  He had replaced him with Amasa (19:13).  But Joab was having none of that.

21:15-17 The condition of David, as described here, suggests that these events were near the end of his reign.

20:12-13 The way in which the people, on seeing Amasa dead on the ground just stood and looked indicated their horror at the behaviour of Joab.

20:1,2 Saul’s followers were alive and well: first Shimei, and now Sheba.  Sheba can mean either oath or seven.  He, obviously, commanded a following, as the men of Israel obeyed him.

20:8-10 It is probable that Joab, accidentally-on-purpose, dropped his sword.  Then, when he picked it up, Amasa would have no idea that the sword in Joab’s hand was meant for him.  Joab betrayed Amasa to death with a kiss.  Judah did the same to Jesus (Matt 26:48).

20:16-19 This wise woman must have known the Law.  The prescription for attacking a city is given in Deut 20:10-12.

20:21,22 And so, a trade was made – the head of Sheba for the peace of the city.

20:23 The Cherethites and the Pelethites were two Philistine tribes which were very loyal to David.  They became David’s bodyguards.

21:1 Joshua should have obeyed Yahweh and wiped out the Gibeonites.  But, the Gibeonites duped Joshua, and he swore to keep them alive (Josh 9:18-23).  Yahweh honoured the oath that was sworn by His Name.  Later, Saul, in his misguided zeal, slew most of them.  For that act, there came this three-year famine.  Yahweh always needs to have a wrong compensated.

21:6-9 David gave the Gibeonites seven of Saul’s men as compensation. The KJV says: the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul.  Michal should read Merab (1Sam 18:9).

21:14 Zelah was one of the fourteen Benjamite towns, and the seat of the Kish clan (Josh 18:28). Yahweh was satisfied with the compensation to the Gibeonites, and He lifted the drought.

21:22 Were these four giants all the brothers of Goliath? Remember that David selected five stones when he faced Goliath (1Sam 17:40).  He was prepared to face all five giants. 

20:10 Joab continues to show his scheming and evil character in the way he slew an innocent man by deceit.

2Sam 20:1-2 - Sheba, another false king (false Christ? symbol of sin?) who has the men of Israel deserting king David not unlike Absalom who, like Judas, betrayed with a kiss (2Sam 15:5-6,10); the mention of "Bichri" [(1075) means "youthful"] a possible inference that Sheba might have been youthful in appearance in comparison to the ageing David.   2Sam 20:3;18:15;19:43;20:1-2 - direct mentions and inferences of "ten" (a number thought to be representative of judgment, completeness, the perfection of divine order) and though David was a type of Christ, he didn't have ten virgins (Matt 25:1) waiting to receive 'the bridegroom' as his concubines had been defiled by sin and as concubines were in bondage (perhaps figuratively in bondage to sin and in a similar state to the 10 tribes of Israel who had broken off from serving the true king) living as widows not brides. 2Sam 20:4,8,10-12 - unlike Christ, "Amasa" [(6021) means "burden"] didn't "assemble" [Heb. "za'aq" (2199) means "to assemble, call, cry (out), gather"] all men to himself in three days (John 12:32), nor did he make their burdens light (Matt 11:28-30) and he was in the way vs Christ who is the way (John 14:6); they are similar in that they were picked to gather men, were at a large stone in death and were killed unjustly. 2Sam 20:14 - "Berites" [(1276) means "my well, of the well" though coupled with 'Sheba' perhaps suggests those seeking spiritual refreshment but who are deceived]. 2Sam 20:15 - "Abel of Bethmaachah" [(62) means "meadow of the house of 'depression, pressure'"] and is a word related to "Maacha" [(4601) means "depression, pressure, she has pressed" and both (62,4601) are from "maach" (4600) meaning "depression, pressure, pressed, struck, bruised, to pierce, squeezed, crushed"] which was the name of Absalom's mother (2Sam 3:3); both Absalom and Sheba lifted up their hand against the king and were bruised in the head (2Sam 18:9;20:22) so perhaps this suggests they were representative of the serpent's seed (Gen 3:15). As Sheba means "seven"  might he echo the false Christ/man of sin who opposes Christ at his millenial (day of rest) second coming?

2Sam 21:1-6 - atoning for Saul's killing of the Gibeonites involved turning over seven of Saul's offspring to the Gibeonites so they might be killed and have their bodies desecrated (1Sam 17:44;Deut 21:22-23). 2Sam 21:8-10 - Rizpah, in mourning, protected the hung bodies from being consumed and thus did her best to honour them until it rained which suggests God's wrath had been appeased. 2Sam 21:11-14 - David then gathered the bones of the seven with those of Saul and Jonathan and had them respectfully interned.

2Sam 21:20 - "six" is the number of man (Rev 13:18) with his limitations and defects of human nature; man was created on the 6th day and Christ was crucified on the 6th day. 

21:10  So we see that the bodies were left hanging for a period of time. This violated the command of the law of Moses which said that bodies had to be taken down at the end of the day –Deut 21:23

21:2   So the men of Gibeon appear again. This is the city whose men had deceived Joshua – Josh 9:3-18

21:10-13         Rizpah’s behaviour moved David to action. One wonders what he thought about the period of time that the bodies were left hanging contrary to the law.

2Sam 20:7 Notice Joab has now been demoted and put under his brother's authority. In 2Sam 20:23 he appears to be back in charge of the army again. This change can be explained by his killing of Amasa, who David had placed over the army instead of Joab. With Amasa out of the way, Joab was free to resume his earlier role.

20:11-12        We saw in  19:19 that David’s lack of leadership during Absalom’s uprising had confused the people. Now Amasa is dead the people need to be galvanised into following David.

22:18 The phrase 'and it came to pass after this' is a recurring phrase in 2 Samuel. [2Sam 2:1, 8:1, 10:1, 13:1, 15:1] It marks the introduction of a new topic which is related to the previously mentioned event. There may be years between the events but they are thematically linked.

2 Samuel 21

The word "zeal" in v2 is translated everywhere else in the Bible as either "envy" or "jealousy". The word "zeal" seems ill chosen also for the reason that it is an overly positive word for an act of murder. What could Saul have been envious of? I would suggest that he had what is called today "impostor syndrome", where he didn't feel up to the job that had been given him. For this reason he used every trick to try and appear to be the strong King that he thought the people wanted. Killing some defenceless minority group that were no doubt despised by the majority may have seemed to him an easy way to curry favour with the populace but God remembered and punished him for it even after his death.

20:4-6 Abishai implied that he would do what David requested. His delay, however, showed otherwise. It seems having been a faithful supporter of David up to this point he now sees an opportunity to unseat David (and Joab also) and gain the position of Sheba’s military leader.

21:21   “Shimeah” seems to be the “Shammah” of 1Sam 16:9 who, it would seem, was Jesse’s third eldest son. Consequently he was older than David. Any yet his slaying of a giant is recorded here. So we must conclude that he was over 70 years old when he did this or the event is not recorded in chronological order.

20:3     The confined widowhood of the ten women is yet another awful consequence of David’s actions towards Bathsheba. Our actions have fare reaching and often unexpected consequences. Maybe if we tried to think through the things that might flow from our sins we would be more able to resist temptation.

21:2  So the men of Gibeon appear again. This is the city whose men had deceived Joshua – Josh 9:3-18

21:12 Whilst the record here says that “the bones” were collected from Jabesh-Gilead we learnt – 1Sam 31:13 – that the bodies were burnt. So we have to conclude that “bones” here refers to the ashes which had been retained.

21:12 Whilst the record here says that “the bones” were collected from Jabesh-Gilead we learnt – 1Sam 31:12-13 – that the bodies were burnt. So we have to conclude that “bones” here refers to the ashes which had been retained.

15:15 Jesus uses the word “friend” very rarely in the gospels. Do we really value being the friend of the son of the Creator of everything? If we truly are to be his friend then his teaching must motivate our lives.

20:1-3 we are close to the end of David’s 30 year reign and there are still those of the house of Saul who are trying to overthrow David – God’s appointed king. They were actually fighting against God. Their pride got in the way of them accepting God’s will. The challenge for us is to learn to accept our “lot” recognising that our Father is in  control of our lives for our eternal good.

20:6  We should appreciate that even at the end of David’s reign there was not stability  and tranquillity. Absalom’s uprising had almost toppled the king. But notice that David sees Sheba the son of Bichri’s attempt to take the throne as even more of a challenge than that of Absalom.

19:24 The lame – 2Sam 4:4 –Mephibosheth would have to give more attention to his feet than an able bodied man. That he had not indicates his feelings toward David, even though he was of the house of Saul.

21:3 Notice, on learning of the reason for the “famine” David spoke ot the Gibeonites asking them what retribution they would like.

It is always good, when one has been wronged, to find out what the one wronged feels rather than trying to decide on their behalf what should be done.

We can learn a valuable lesson from the way that David behaved on this occasion.

v.5 - Clearly Israel here is the fig tree, but the figs are the fruit. 'By their fruits you shall know them' [Matt.7:16-20]. There is still a chance for those even in Israel, which has been quite clearly cast off, to bring forth fruit unto righteousness. Another indication that the promises under the old covenant still stand. Jude v.10-19.

v.6 - bring ... plant echoes the song of Miriam and Moses [Exodus 15:17] when speaking of the destruction of the Egyptians. 'I will bring them' is a recurring message of Jeremiah, who spoke just before the exile and Ezekiel, who spoke to the captives. [Jeremiah 16:15 24:6 31:8 32:37 Ezekiel 20:38 34:13] Zechariah picks up the refrain, speaking to the returned exiles [Zechariah 8:8 10:6,10] in order to encourage them.

v.6 - plant = to fasten, or fix, or establish. It has an idea of permanence about it, like a tree planted by the water, as it were. It refers especially to God's placing of the people in the promised land, and consequently to his choosing of us for His kingdom. Psa.44:2, Isa.5:2

24:5-6 These words - suggesting that to yield to the Babylonians - would be construed as treason by the Jews. Yet is was the Word of God.

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM
It was one of the moments Jeremiah had been predicting and all Judah had been dreading and trying to wish away. Nebuchadnezzar had the upper had over Judah and carried away all the best of the people of the land in exile to Babylon. At that time it must have seemed like those taken captive had drawn the short straw. They had been taken away from their land, from their temple, their families, friends, houses and everything they knew to go into slavery in a land they did not know, speaking a language they did not understand. But in actual fact they had been given the better deal. God was to watch over them for good in Babylon, renew their lives and eventually bring them back to their land. Those that were left were to be persecuted and destroyed - although initially they must have thought they were better off.
Recently I too went through a very difficult time in my life. At the time I prayed that God would take the trials from me but he worked me through them. While I wondered why God put me through it all, I can now see that things were working for the best even in the bad times. From those bad times came these little comments. Things aren't always what they seem.

:10 The promise of this verse quotes Leviticus 26:25. The 'sword, famine, pestilence' also echoes Jeremiah 14:12 and is re stated again (Jeremiah 27:8)

24:1 In speaking of baskets of figs Jeremiah is echoing the language of Amos (8:1) when Amos spoke of the northern kingdom going into captivity.

V.1-8 In Bible symbolism the fig tree is closely associated with the nation of Israel. The good figs of this parable are symbolic with the wholesome part of the Jewish nation going into captivity, while the others, we would suggest, stand for the demoralised section of the nation still in the land. 

V.2 The good figs and bad figs had their embodiment in the kings Jeconiah and Zedekiah respectively.  Jeconiah, also known as Coniah (Jer 22:24), later became known as Jehoiachin (2Kin 24:6). 

After reigning three months, Jeconiah was taken captive to Babylon (2Kin 24:15).  He and the people with him did not resist the will of Nebuchadnezzar and were ultimately rewarded (2Kin 25:27-30). 

On the other hand, Zedekiah who was appointed king in place of Jeconiah (2Kin 24:17), rebelled (2Kin 24:20) and suffered the consequences (2Kin 25:7).  Yahweh had counselled: submit and live, or rebel and die.

TERRIBLE TIMES
 
One of the most terrible things that has ever happened to Israel was the captivity by Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon.  It was at that time that the book of weeping, Lamentations, was written, and the nation reached it's lowest ebb.  We could say that this disaster happened because of the wickedness of the people, and we would be right.  But it is interesting to note that the worst people did not go into captivity, it was only the good ones who were sent away and punished like this. 
 
God said, "I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.  My eyes will watch over them for their good." (Jer 24:5-6)  But about the wicked, God said, "I will make them abhorrent and an offence to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, an object of ridicule and cursing wherever I banish them.  I will send the sword, famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their fathers." (v.9-10)
 
So why were the good people sent into captivity?  It was because in their trouble they would turn back to God.  "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD.  They will be my people and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart," says the LORD. (v.7)  It is the same with us.  It is our most testing times, when things seem really bad that we learn to turn back to God with all our hearts.  When it happens let's be sure that we do not miss the lesson.

May I today give a short note on the chronology?  Jeremiah started to prophecy during Josiah’s reign. He spoke through the last 18 of Josiah.
                           Josiah
   ______________|________________    
   |                                                            |
  Jehoahaz (23yrs old)                     Jehoiakim (25)
    reigned 3 mths, taken to Egypt          reigned 11yrs, taken to Babylon (with Daniel)
       ______|__________
       |                                |
  Jehoiachin (8 or 18)       Zedekiah (21)
  reigned 3mths 10days       reigned 11yrs 
    taken to Babylon              taken to Babylon

This makes Jeremiah prophesying for 40 ½ years, and then being taken to Egypt.

24:9  Jeremiah quotes Deut 28:25  to show that the curses Israel said they would accept if they were faithless were being fulfilled on the people.

Here, again, we have a stark contrast between the two kings Jeconiah and Zedekiah. Both of them were evil kings as recorded in 2Kin 24:9 and 19. Yet one of them is described as good and the other as evil in the symbol of the figs. The only difference between them, as we know, is that one made the correct choice to give up to Nebuchadnezzar, whilst the other tried to save himself. As a result of this choice God would bless the people who had gone with Jeconiah, and curse those who stayed with Zedekiah.

There are many things to learn from this. Firstly, we are all evil, and just as worthy of death as the next man. 2) It is only those who obey God's decree that will be blessed. Doing things our own way will lead nowhere and is an insult to Him.  3) It is the obedience that matters, not the extent of our good works. 4) We must give up on our pretence that we are holy or good. 5) We must repent and show this by turning our backs on the previous way of life.

All these things are demonstrated perfectly by contrasting the two kings and those that followed them. For this reason they are worthy of our further study. Looking in to the history of he Jewish nation often seems dull and boring to us. It can even seem completely pointless. However, when we see how much time God has spent preparing the nation of Israel so that their exploits, and His reaction, can be recorded for our learning, can we dare to hold that opinion any longer? Our example is Jesus, whose teaching was taken from scripture just like this (e.g. Luke 14:31-33, 17:33).

24:5 That being sent to Babylon was ‘for their good’ is part of an ongoing teaching in Scripture about the benefit of chastening. It starts with Adam – ‘Cursed is the ground for thy sake ‘ (Gen 3:17 and finished with us Heb 12:7 ‘If ye endure chastening God dealeth with you as with sons’

The Lord's condemning of the barren tree (Mark 11:14) was a type of God's rejection of natural Israel, for the most part, from this time forward the fruit would be taken from the Gentiles. The bad class of fruit in Jeremiah's time, were punished by Divine retribution, and the Romans completed the desolation in A.D.70, when the Jewish "fig tree" became "withered". Today we see signs of the revival of the fig tree; and the judgements of our Heavenly Father are about to be poured out on the Gentiles, who like the Children of Israel during the time of Jeremiah have almost become barren.

The young trees bear no fruit if they are not cultivated, and soon degenerate if left to themselves; once again a fitting type in relation to the effectiveness of the Word of God; both for the young and the older members within an ecclesia.

24:5 In saying that they would go to Babylon ‘for their good’ Jeremiah is echoing the words on an earlier prophet – Mic 4:10

24:8 The Chaldeans have already taken captives to Babylon but the city has not yet been overthrown. Jeremiah tells Zedekiah that the remainder in the city will be taken captive. One might have thought that the king, having seen what had already happened with his subjects being taken to Babylon, would have heeded the words of the prophet.

GRACE

There were two different groups of people in Jerusalem, both represented in Jeremiah's vision by baskets of figs. One group was good and the other was very bad. What was the difference between the two groups of people? What made one good and the other bad? We are not specifically told what sort of behaviour they showed, but rather are told how God would treat them.

The bad people, God had decided, would be persecuted and destroyed, so we can leave them there. The good people, on the other hand, were given various promises. "My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." (Jer 24:6-7)

It was not so much what these people had done, but because of what they would do. These were the people who would respond to God and would grow their relationship with him. God's grace outshines all our failings - and even when we do things right, it is still only by God's grace that we are saved. The promises to us are no less. God does it all. We only need to turn to him with all our heart.

V.8 Some people of Judah escaped and fled to Egypt.  They were not safe, as Yahweh deemed safe only those who willingly went to Babylon.

V.9 The behaviour of Zedekiah, and the people with him, became grist for the mill of social comment (Jer 29:22,23).

24:9 In saying Israel would be a ‘proverb’ we have yet another quotation from the curses – Deut 28:37.

24:7  Even though God is speaking of the captivity of Judah He speaks of their restoration – not just to the land but to full spiritual renewal. These ideas are presented again to the same captives in Babylon – Eze 36:25-26

24:7   Jeremiah will return – Jer 31:21, 34 in more detail to explain how this heart will be seen in Israel

24:1-7  The Babylonian captivity was a punishment – it was the chastening hand of God. Those who were exercised by the chastening would benefit – Heb 12:11 – the benefit would be a “new heart” – they would “flee idolatry”.

24:1    Jeconiah is the “Coniah of Jer 22:24 – that is Jehoiachin 

TAKEN CAPTIVE

The people who were taken captive to Babylon were the special ones. It might not have felt like it as they trudged away into captivity into a strange land, but they were the ones in whom God saw something beautiful that would give glory to Him. The rest of the people that were not taken captive at that time were doomed to more terrors and a slow death.

As God spoke about those who had been taken captive, He said this: "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. they will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." (Jer 24:7). The captives from Jerusalem were being taken away from the evil influences of the rest of the nation so that their hearts could be renewed and they could return to the LORD with a new love and a new dedication.

Like the captives from Jerusalem, we too will have times in our lives when everything is turned upside down. It will feel like you are walking through the desert in chains. It might be hard to take in, but God allows that to happen for our good. Like the captives, He plans that we too will turn our hearts toward Him, and when we return, we will return to Him with all our heart.

24:6   So despite their sins those who willingly went to Babylon were told that they would return to the land of Israel.  Jeremiah returns to this theme a number of times in his prophecy One is Jer 29:10

24:5 That Judah was to benefit from the captivity – it was for their good – we see that God presents chastening as beneficial for the one who both experiences and responds to it – Heb 12:11

OUTLINE OF JEREMIAH

PART TWO -- The Prophecies To Judah (Jeremiah 2:1 to 45:5)

I. The Condemnation Of Judah (Jeremiah 2:1 to 25:38)

   K. Eleventh Sermon - The Two Baskets Of Figs (Jeremiah 24:1-10):

      1. Jer 24:1-10 - the fig tree puts out its earliest fruit (in February) before the leaves (April or May), so when the leaves are out the fruit should be ripe (Matt 21:19); the incident of the barren fig tree (Matt 24:32;Mark 11:12-14,20-21) is closely connected with Jeremiah's prophecy in this place; the fate of the barren fig tree was typical of that of the nation with the fig tree and God's vine being symbols of Israel (Luke 23:27-33;Joel 1:7;Isa 5:7); the "fruits" of the nation were the determining factors in its fate (Matt 7:15-20); the figs of Jeremiah 24:1-10 can be connected to Jer 29:16-18. Israel as a basket of summer fruit ripe for judgment (Amos 8:1-3).
      2. Jer 24:1-10 - V1 the fig tree often represents Israel (Judah in this case); VS 1-2 etc. as David Simpson notes in his 2005 comments, Jehoahaz went to Egypt where he died, Jehoiakim went to Babylon along with Daniel, the good figs is referencing Jehoiachin and those who went to Babylon (2Kin 24:15;2Kin 25:27-30) and who faired better than the bad figs who rebelled along with Zedekiah (2Kin 24:20;2Kin 25:7); VS 1,8 chronology referencing Zedekiah's reign; VS 1-10 the good figs represent the best of the people, here it represents those who had been carried to Babylon in Jehoiachin's captivity (597 BC) and earlier including Ezekiel and Daniel, they didn't rebel against authority like Zedekiah, and somewhat similarly believers are not to rebel against God and God's authority; VS 1-10 the bad figs refer to those like Zedekiah who remained in Jerusalem (with Egyptian aid) to unsuccessfully resist Babylon (2Kin 24:10-20); VS 1-10 those left in Judah after 597 BC or those seeking refuge in Egypt (Jer 26:20-28) were like figs so bad they could not be eaten (VS 2,3,4), the good figs were those taken prior to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

   K. Eleventh Sermon - The Two Baskets Of Figs (Jeremiah 24:1-10 con't):

      3. Jer 24:1-10 - V2 (KJV) "naughty<7451>", "bad<7455>"; VS 2-8 the two kings (Jeconiah/Jehoiachin and Zedekiah) represent the two different types of fruit; V3 (KJV) "evil<7451>"; VS 5-7 the good figs will return to the land and to God with all their heart; VS 5-7 Daniel who was taken captive prior to 586 BC was one of the good figs and he was comforted by the angel Gabriel (Dan 9:21;Dan 10:11-13) and Daniel lived to see the beginning of the promised restoration, and died with the divine assurance of salvation at the end of the days (Dan 12:13); V6 (KJV) "will build<1129>", "pull them down<2040>", "will plant<5193>", "pluck them up<5428>"; V8 some of Judah fled to Egypt but they were not safe including Jehoahaz; V8 (KJV) "so evil<7455>"; VS 8-10 the destiny of the bad figs; VS 8-10 Zedekiah (Jer 29:22-23) and the bad "figs" were overtaken by the divine "curse" with the Roman's completing the desolation in AD 70, when the Jewish "fig tree" became "withered" but from 1948 therre was a revival which will culminate when Christ returns (Zech 12:10); V9 (KJV) "for their hurt<7451>".

24:1       The mention of the captivity of Jeconiah informs us that this is the second wave of captives that have been taken to Babylon.

24:5   It went completely against the Jews way of thinking that the good figs represented those who went to Babylon. They would have though the right thing would be to stay in the land of Israel.  However God had determined differently – so the good figs represent those who accept God’s word.

24:1    this is the captivity spoken of in the historical record in 2Kin 24:12

24:5 those who were not taken captive might well have thought that they had escaped the Chaldean threat. Life could continue as normal, they might have thought. So it would have been a shock to them to learn that God had more regard for those taken captive.

24:1 Mordecai and Esther were among those in this captivity: “Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away” (Est. 2:5-6). They enabled the Jews to be delivered from Haman so their captivity was “for good“ (Jer. 24:5).

24:8 We might suppose that no one thought of Zedekiah as an evil fig.  However Yahweh did. We do not need to ask “why?” the way his behaviour is describes is the evidence.

24 Clearly Judah thought those that remained in Jerusalem were “good” and that those who had been taken to Babylon were, in some way, inferior to those that remained. Those that remained would, doubtless, be even more patriotic than they had been up to this point. However their patriotism was misplaced. They were found to be fighting against God. It was His plan to take them into captivity.

It is all too easy to identify with a cause or group of individuals and consequently forget our position as “strangers” who have no part with the frivolities of patriotism which we see in various guises.

24:1-10 Again we see Jeremiah being shown, in the form of two basket so figs, how God was dealing with the captives taken to Babylon. It would appear from the chapter that the whole process was for Jeremiah’s benefit.

24:6 The book of Jeremiah is often seen as a book of woe and destruction. Well it is in that it speaks of the overthrow of the kingdom of Judah and the destruction to the temple that Solomon built. However scattered right through the book we find promises of a restoration.

Against the background of suffering and punishment we should recognise the love and mercy of Yahweh in that he was not going to totally destroy His people.

24:5 I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.

Sometimes trial is difficult to accept. We may resist it (like Zedekiah v8) or run away from it (like those who sought sanctuary in Egypt v8) or we can accept it (Jeconiah and others v5). God will help those who accept His trials and endure them. Resisting trial or avoiding trial will not work.

v.9 - There is a clear attitude required here. We are not to tolerate evil. This brings about a cleaving to that which is good. The warning 'without dissimulation' warns us against the ones that convince us they are good when really they are evil. Psa.55:21, Prov.26:25, Eze.33:31, and of course Matt.26:49.

v.13 - Whilst being hospitable is seen to be a requirement for those holding ecclesial office:- 1 Timothy 3:2 Titus 1:8, such an attitude was not to be confined to those in such positions. Rather it was to be a way of life amongst all believers. 1 Peter 4:9. However we all fall short of the ideal at some time. The exhortation about ecclesial officers indicates that they should be good examples in this area.

12:1 If we wonder how we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice Daniel 3:28 provides us with an example of men doing just that. Nebuchadnezzar recognised that those three men, in not bowing down to his image, had not yielded their bodies to him. Thus a living sacrifice is a life which is not compromised by the things of the world.

ZEAL

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." (Romans 12 v 11)

Isn't it just amazing to watch those people who seem to be eternally enthusiastic? Nothing seems to get them down, they rise to the top of every mountain with a smile and a positive frame of mind, and then are ready for the next challenge life will bring. They are the type of people everyone feels good being around. This is what we should be like in our daily walk with the Lord.

"Never be lacking in zeal." In other words, always be enthusiastic. And what a hope we have to be enthusiastic about! We have an Awesome God, a Mighty Savior, the hope of immortality in perfection, and the chance to be at one with our Creator. How can we ever lose our zeal when we think of all the blessings God pours out on us, and the promises he has given us? There may be moments in our life when the trials, problems or pressures of this life take over, but when we put those temporary things in perspective with Gods eternal things, we can't help but to filled with zeal for the Lord.

"Keep your spiritual fervor." Never let it go. Work hard. Let's be keen and give the Lord all our heart, mind, soul and strength as we serve him every day and every moment of our lives.

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord"

:1-3 So we return to the theme of being 'conformed' which we first noticed in 8:29. This activity is first an intellectual one - doctrine is understood - which then must have a practical outworking in the life of the believer.

What a glorious freedom has just been presented to us in the last chapter! The hope of the gospel having been brought to the Gentiles, who previously had little or no access to it! Can you imagine the feeling of a prisoner, having been chained to the dank, cold, foul wall of his dungeon cell for most of his life, being set loose from his chains and emerging into the warmth and sunshine for the first time? This is the feeling we should have at baptism! No more bondage to sin, no more accountability for transgressing the law. No more feeling of guilt, or unworthiness. No more being afraid of a merciless judge who picks up on every fault, and punishes it. No more being reminded of our faults over and over again.

Do we think like that? Or do we carry on persecuting ourselves with guilt, even though we are a new creation? Do we feel free, or do we become prisoners of our own guilt again?

The prisoner upon emerging from his captivity, has a choice to make. Do I run headlong into my new life, relishing and wallowing in my new found freedom, sucking every ounce of marrow out of each and every day; or do I shrink from the sun, remembering every day the misery, the pain, and the cold of that prison cell? Do I put down roots and grow, reaching up to the sun and making the best of every day, or do I hide in the shadows and stunt my growth by fear of going back to that cell?

Paul has the answer to this in verse 1. "therefore, …. present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Having been made entirely free, there is only one way of capitalising on this freedom, and that is to try and return the great favour God has done for us, to Him. Before us lies a clean slate, a mind and a life given to us to fill with whatever we wish. It is our choice whether we fill that new mind with wonderful new things, or with the miserable old things. The new things are described by Paul in vs 4-18. The choice is to develop the new mind of Christ, or to go back to the pitiful old mind of the flesh. (12v2; Eph 4v22-24).

12:21 overcoming evil with good runs counter to our inclinations. However it embodies the spirit of the law of Moses with respect to how one should deal with one’s ‘enemies’ for example Exo 23:4.

V.1 We can not be reminded too often of just what Paul is saying: A complete commitment is the only logical or reasonable thing that is acceptable to God.

V.3 The definition of faith is clearly given: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1), or as the NIV puts it: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

The more we read the scriptures, the more certain we are (Rom 10:17).  However, it is Yahweh who gives the increase to our efforts, which differs from individual to individual according to His will. The apostles understood that Yahweh could give this increase (Luke 17:5). 

V.6 There has to be a balance between any talent with which Yahweh has graced us, and the amount of faith we possess.  Consideration of this should allow us a more realistic understanding of our position in Christ.  It should also keep us humble by preventing us from thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. 
 

V.2 The renewing of the mind is an inward spiritual transformation as makes the whole life new; New in its motives and ends, even where the actions differ in nothing from those of the world. New, considered as a whole, and in such a sense as to be wholly unattainable except through the constraining power of the love of Christ.

The Pharisees loved to be seen and be greeted in the market places (Mark 12:38), after all, they were the separate chosen ones.  Rom 12:3,16 cautions us against conceit. 12:10 notes we are to honour one another over ourselves. The key is love, and beginning at v.9 the chapter refers to the various behaviours and attitudes manifested by a transforming love.

12:8  ‘simplicity’ does not mean in simple words. The Greek carries the sense of ‘singleness’ – that is honestly.

WORSHIP
 
When we talk about worship, the picture that is conjured up in our minds is often one of singing, praise and prayer. But worship is so much more than that. Worship is what we do because we love God. Worship does not just happen at certain times - it is a way of life. It is a response to the grace of God we have received.
 
Paul says, 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." (Rom 12:1) He follows on from here explaining that worship is about transforming our lives from worldly things to becoming like God and doing his will; thinking less of ourselves while thinking more of him and each other. As we give our lives in worship, Paul goes on to explain that we have all been given individual gifts and talents to use to God's glory in serving each other, and especially in loving one another. Worship is doing the things that God wants us to do because we love him and are thankful for his grace and love.
 
So let's give our bodies, our hearts, and our lives to God, not just for a short time each week as we pray or praise, but continually as we worship him in our actions all day every day.

12:12 Being ‘instant in prayer’ speaks of an attitude of mind which sees prayer to God as the first, not the last, avenue in our thought processes.

12:9  ‘Abhor … cleave … good’ quotes Amos 5:15 where it is associated with just judgement. It is not possible to judge rightly with a double mind.

Romans 12 This chapter shows how a follower of Jesus should think and act.  Its advice is opposite to the world's wisdom.  We should be careful not allow the world into our spiritual lives.  It is easy to be expedient and to rationalise that things are o.k.  Therefore, we need to read the scriptures every day to remind ourselves what is right and what is wrong.  Even the kings of Israel were commanded to do just that (Deut 17:18,19).

12:6 ‘Having gifts differing …’ might be seen by us as the reason why we find difficulty getting on with brethren and sisters but Paul says that is a reason why we should be united. Not a reason why we should be divided.

V.2 The only way in which the (spiritual) mind can be renewed is by the daily reading of the Word, and by praying. Only after that, can one prove (test, discern) what is good. But, added to scriptural knowledge and understanding must be works.

Paul continues this chapter by giving a list of works that brethren of Christ ought to do. Knowledge, understanding, and faith, gained from reading the Word, are useless unless works are performed, as James points out (James 2:20).

Furthermore, the correct attitude about performing works is essential. If one performs an honorable work with a negative attitude, rather than one of love, it does not count. Paul points this out to the Corinthians (1Cor 3:13).

V.12 This advice should keep us focused and grounded in Jesus. However, if we do not have a firm and continuous hope in the Kingdom, it means that we are too sidetracked by the world. If that is the case, then we will not be in the Kingdom (Matt 6:21).

12:10 ‘In honour preferring one another’ is not the way in which the flesh thinks. Indeed in the modern business world we are taught to elevate ourselves. So Paul’s injunction runs completely counter to the world’s way of thinking.

WHEN WE RECOGNISE GRACE

Recognising the grace of God in our lives makes an incredible difference to our relationships with other people. Speaking from his own personal experience of God's grace, Paul said, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Rom 12:3) And a little later he says, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (v.16)

The grace of God takes us from a position of absolute hopelessness and debt, and as a gift to us from God, brings us to life, hope and freedom. We can not buy our freedom, earn it or do anything at all to gain it. It is a gift from God given to us solely because he loves us when all we deserved was punishment for our sins.

When we recognise this grace in our lives we will be humbled in our own eyes because we are not the great people we think we are.  And as humble children of God we will not be proud but will pass on the grace God has given us and honour our brothers and sisters in Christ.

12:13 We know that the bishop must be ‘given to hospitality’ 1Tim 3:2 but here we realise that this quality is not the exclusive responsibility of the bishop – it is an obligation that we all must meet.

Rom 12:1

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Emperor Charles V was one of the most powerful rulers in Europe for nearly half a century. After his abdication, he lacerated his flesh with thorns and various torture instruments, ordered his coffin and lay in it, conducted his own burial service, and went through many physical sufferings with the idea that by going through those sufferings he would appease Yahweh God for all his misdeeds! A common misconception even in our day, this is not what is meant by presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.

One can sense the earnestness and urgency of the apostle Paul’s appeal. Presenting ourselves appropriately to Yahweh and to the world is not “just a song sung,” but is something that goes deep into our hearts and impacts about the way we ought to live (Gal 5:22-26).

“Bodies”  # <4983>, soma, is also translated as “slave.” It comes from the root # <4982>, sozo, “made whole, saved.” What the apostle Paul is telling us is our bodies once slave to sin has been redeemed by Christ. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Thus, it behooves us in kind to surrender ourselves to Him by walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16), making it a manifest reality to be seen by all. We are to be living testimonies of the Word (Isa 33:14-17). “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ” – Mahatma Gandhi. May this never be said of us!

Rom 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The word “transformed” is Strong’s # <3339>, “metamorphoo,” from which we get the English word, “metamorphosis.” We are commanded to change ourselves into beautiful human beings by beautifying our human nature, and this all begins in our mind.

It is well known that caterpillars turn into butterflies and maggots into flies, but the process by which this transformation takes place is not that well known. The key to this metamorphosis is the DNA molecules that act as a “blueprint” for cellular function. As the larvae grow from the egg, it produces by means of the DNA coded into its cells all the bodily parts needed for that stage of its life. As one Scientist put it, “A biological miracle is going on inside that caterpillar.” In time, the intricate sequence of events result in a beautiful butterfly, or a fly. The transformation is dramatic, and the apostle Paul says such a dramatic change must take place in us!

Human nature is seen at its best and felt at its best only when it is in harmony with the requirements God set out for us. The Word is our "blueprint." God wants us to be malleable in conforming to His will. Troubles will either soften us or harden us. Every circumstance in our lives has this dual potential, and whatever goes wrong for us, or right for us can lead us either toward, or away from God. It all depends on how we react to what happens to us. Every event has either a positive or negative impact on us, but the positive or negative is not in the events, but in us! A philosopher once wrote: “We see the world not as it is, but as we are.”

The hand of God is in all the events, and if we are able to see it, then we can submit positively to the challenges life presents us and accept that in all things His will and not ours be done. What a beautiful biological transformation has thus taken place in the mind!

Rom 12:19-21 – Under inspirationPaul combines at least three Scriptures in the statement in Romans 12:20.

See, Matt 5:44  “Love your enemies, bless them that hate you, do good to them that hate you, …”

See, Psa 140:8-10 -  “burning coals fall on them”) on their heads.

He also draws on the incident in 2Kin 6:21-23 where the prophet Elisha, instructed the Samaritans to show mercy and kindness to their Syrian enemies.  They gave them “great provisions” of bread to eat and water to drink and sent them home. 

However, under King Benhadad the Syrians had returned (2Kin 6:24) to afflict Israel.  The Lord delivered Samaria from the Syrian siege (2Kin 7:5-8) and the Syrians fled for their lives!  This incident of God’s judgements on the Syrians is an example where feeding the hungry enemy and quenching their thirst can heap coals of fire of God’s vengeance on their heads. 

12:2  Whereas Paul’s use of the word is translated “conformed”  when warning us against identifying with the things of this world when Peter – 1Pet 1:14–uses the same word the translates give us “fashioned”. It is not that one is a better rendering of the Greek than the other. Both aspects are true and putting together Paul and Peter’s comment provides us with a powerful exhortation as to how we should not live.

12:13  The two issues spoken of here – hospitality and meeting needs are not unrelated. Paul is not talking about being hospitable to those we like but rather he is speaking about a hospitality which sees the needs of others rather than our own pleasure. Luke 14:12

12:15   Empathy is paramount. It does not come naturally to us. Paul’s inspired injunction here is teaching us to forget “self” and think of others. 

12:8   When Paul says that the things we do should be with “cheerfulness” we should realise that our service to Him must be willingly, not grudgingly. It is all too easy to do things halfheartedly. God loves a cheerful giver –2Cor 9:7. So whatever we do it should be done with enthusiasm.

12:19   Being of the same mind is not the same as agreeing on everything. The “same mind” relates to a common focus on the things that really matter. Such a same mindedness will mean that when we do not share the same view on non-fundamental issues we will not become heated and agitated.

12:2      The word translated “transformed <3399>  is also found in 2Cor 3:18 where it is translated “changed”. Thus the force of the Apostle’s inspired comment is seen. The change takes place, not in some uncontrolled way. But rather through our application to the word of God .

12:16   “Being of the same mind” is not the same as agreeing with everything the other says. Rather it is a matter of acknowledging that others might have a better pinion than our own. Be not wise in your own conceits clearly makes this point.

12:8 those who ruled were Spirit appointed in the first century. However they had an obligation to manifest their position “diligently”. They could not rely on the fact that they had been selected as a basis for doing or saying what they wanted. Whilst we do not have Spirit appointed brethren today those brethren must still be “diligent” in their service. Seeking to implement Bible principles rather than their own preferences.

Rom 12:20,21

"Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

As with Christ, Paul calls upon us to love our enemies (Matt 5:44,45), therefore, to interpret heaping coals of fire on our enemies' head, is not the intended message (cf. Prov 25:21,22), and contrary to the spirit of Christ and to God who is Love.

When we do good to someone who has wronged us, heaping coals fire upon his head is a metaphor, perchance, it melts his hardened heart and feels remorse over what s/he had done. It is to be interpreted in the context given. By showing kindness in face of meanness, we overcome evil. We feel no bitterness or animosity. With such a behaviour the LORD is please and He will reward it even if s/he does not repent.