Jeremiah 7-9

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%207-9&version=ESV

Jeremiah 9:23-24: "Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23-24 are some of my favorite verses. The focus of these verses is on the Lord. That is where our focus always needs to be.

It is as John the Baptist said in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

But let's look at the context of these verses. In chapters 7, 8, and 9 - Jeremiah is continuing to detail the woes and sins of Israel and Judah.

In chapter 7 we read that the people of Judah, not just the evil kings of Israel, have offered their children as sacrifices in the fire. This is such a detestable act.

Continuing on in chapter 8, we read about how the people are backslidden, and how they refuse to repent and return to the Lord.

In chapter 9, verse 1 Jeremiah writes, " Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!"

It is from this verse that many people have referred to Jeremiah as "The Weeping Prophet." But Jeremiah does more than weep for the people, he perseveres and encourages them to repent of their ways and return to the Lord. The ESV Study Bible says, perhaps a more accurate name for Jeremiah, would be "The Persevering Prophet."

This leads us up to Jeremiah 9:23-24. In verse 22, Jeremiah wrote, "Speak, "Thus declares the LORD: 'The dead bodies of men shall fall like dung upon the open field, like sheaves after the reaper, and none shall gather them.'" Then we come to these great 2 verses.

So what is the connection? My study Bible has a great not on this. It reads, "The truly wise man learns what God teaches; he knows why Judah will fall and is grieved and humbled by that knowledge; thus he will not boast in his wisdom. Knowing God means knowing his steadfast love (covenant faithfulness), justice (right judgment), and righteousness (right behavior, esp. in keeping his promises)."

The Apostle Paul references these verses when he writes in 1 Corinthians 1:31, "so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

What about y'all? Who or what do you boast in? Your job? It comes from the Lord. Your health? It comes from the Lord. Your relationships? They come from the Lord. Your possessions? They come from the Lord and He enables you to use them.

Paul also speaks of boasting about the Lord again in one of my favorite passages.

Galatians 6:14 says, "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

As we live in the Church Age, we have the completed Canon Scripture. We know more of God's revelation to us than Jeremiah did, as we have access to the New Testament, whereas he did not.

So, when we boast of God, let's boast of His steadfast love, justice and righteousness, and let us also boast in the cross of Christ, in which Jesus Christ showed His steadfast love and justice to us!!

Meditate on these verses today. Jeremiah 9:23-24 would be a good set of verses to know and memorize.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.