14:2-18  The subterfuge of Joab in sending he woman with her ‘parable’ might seem to be rather like the visit of Nathan the prophet in 2Sam 12 . However the two are quite different. Nathan, speaking on behalf of God, was seeking to elicit repentance. On the other hand Joab was seeking something for himself.

14:2  Joab, now in possession of Uriah’s death warrant written by David, asserts his will knowing that David will not be able to withstand him

14:25   The description of Absalom’s beauty ‘from the sole of his foot event o the crown of his head’ in a macabre way contrasts with the description of Godless Israel – Deut 28:35 Absalom had all the outward appearance but inwardly he was like the Godless people that Deuteronomy 28 speaks about.

V.2 etc. David was torn between the roles of father and king.  He allowed himself to act as a father rather than that of a king.  As a father, he had compassion on the son he loved, wishing him to live.  But, Absalom was guilty of premeditated murder. 

As a king, who applied God's law, David should have executed his son as a murderer (Gen 9:6; Num 35:16-18).  By not doing the right thing, in God's eyes, David would incur rebellion from the son he chose to keep alive. 

The question for us is: as parents, do we do the right thing, in God's sight, regarding our children - or do we act out of emotional self-interest?

V.12 This verse illustrates the free will of the people to reject the LORD'S plea. The deceptiveness of sin is shown in their painting their future as hopeless (Isa 17:10 , Jer 25:10). That was the result of the stubborn rejection of the LORD'S warning plea by their evil unbelieving hearts (Deut 29:19 , Jer 7:24 , Jer 16:12).

18:12 In speaking of the imagination of their evil heart Jeremiah is continuing the theme he developed in 17 about the heart. He was not, in 17, simply providing christadelphians with proof passages, he was emphasising the basis for Israel’s problems.

In this world we are constantly striving to develop new paths, innovate, and accept new ideas. We assume that enlightenment is something yet to be found. But this is not true. In v15 God reminds His people of the "ancient paths" which they should walk on. But what are these ancient paths and how can they be relevant today? Surely what we want is progress, not regression?

The ancient path is found in Genesis, the most ancient of books, and both Adam and Enoch (described as "the ancients" elsewhere) walked in it. In Gen 2:8 we see that God used to walk in the garden of Eden with Adam. In Gen 5:22 we are told that Enoch walked with God for 300 years. This path, then, is defined by who we walk with and listen to. It is clear that God revealed His ways to these "ancients" since they had knowledge of sacrifice and possibly as much knowledge of the future as we have (see Jude 1:14).

This brings us to an important conclusion. God is to be found in regression rather than progression. God is to be found by going back rather than forward. We will find Him if we seek to capture what has already been captured by countless others. We will walk with Him if we walk in ancient paths. The world around us, since the time of Genesis, has sought to corrupt the truth which was revealed to the ancients. The world we inherit now has largely achieved this. All we have to go on is our scriptures which have faithfully been kept pure (or near enough) over thousands of years. It is by rejecting anything in addition to this "pure word" that we can, like Enoch, walk with God.

18:15 Doubtless when Jeremiah said that the people had forgotten God they would have been most surprised. After all did they not go to the temple? Did they not offer sacrifices at the appropriate times? Whilst they went through the motions their heart was with their false Gods – as far as God was concerned they had forgotten Him even though they made a show of piety. A warning for us.

18:8 And so we see that it is God’s desire to forgive. It is all too easy to forget that as we read a prophecy which predicts the Babylonian captivity which was a fulfilment of earlier prophecies.

V.2 Jeremiah was used to uttering his prophecies from the temple.  The temple was the high place of spiritual and intellectual thought.  From this magnificent high place, he was told to go down to the lowly potter's house.  Here, the hands were at work.  Spawned by the intellect, these hands created something real and tangible, re-shaped if needed, cast away if necessary, but an actual finished creation was produced. 

The head, by itself, can believe spiritual truths, pervert them, rationalize falsehoods, tell outright lies, or just exist in its own intellectual domain. It needs not produce anything.  But the products of the hands are there for all to examine as indisputable evidence.  Such are the things of Yahweh (Rom 1:20).  Man is also known by what he produces (Luke 6:43-45; James 2:20).

18:12 ‘the imagination of his evil heart’ catches the way in which Jeremiah has spoken of the heart of the people earlier – Jer 17:9

BEGINNING REFORMATION

We are living in a world full of wickedness. The Bible said it would be like this, or even worse, so we shouldn't be surprised. But I am sure that we have all thought on many occasions that  the state of society needs to be reformed. People need to turn back to the Lord, to have respect for their elders and for each other, and not to be so engrossed in the selfishness and greed cycle. So how do we change society?

God had the same problem with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, so much so that he had planned disaster for them. The nation needed to change. So this was the message God gave to them: "Look! I am preparing disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions." (Jer 18:11) While this message was addressed to the nation as a whole, the focus of the action was directed at each individual, instructing them to apply it in their own lives. It wasn't a message for "everyone else," it was for those who heard it - including you and me.

The best way we can change society is by changing ourselves first. Society is made up of individuals who are each responsibile to God. So let's turn from our evil ways and reform both our ways and our actions.

V.4 The thing that is remarkable about Yahweh is His mercy (1Chron 16:34). As the potter, Yahweh could have taken the corrupted clay and just thrown it away; taken new clay and made another vessel.  After all, Yahweh is capable of creation at will (Matt 3:9).

And yet, Yahweh did not discard the spoiled clay.  Instead, He worked with it, kneaded it until it was able to be moulded according to His will.  However, if the clay refused to be malleable, then it could not be worked, and would have been thrown away.

Jeremiah’s excursion to the potter’s house was a metaphor relating Yahweh and His people Israel.  Although His people had sinned, Yahweh was willing to work with them to re-shape them into a fit vessel. Success, of course, depended upon the willingness of Israel to bend to Yahweh’s will.

The same thing applies to Spiritual Israel.  If we, the followers of Jesus, are willing to cleanse ourselves of impurity, then we shall be moulded into fit vessels for the Lord’s service (2Tim 2:21).

V.14 A farmer in the shadow of the high mountains of Israel would not move, especially to a dry desolate place. The mountains provide abundant water to nourish the fields and produce superior crops. And so, why would Israel leave the abundant care of Yahweh to reside in the dry and desolate place of idolatry.  

V.20 Those in opposition to Jeremiah were in opposition to Yahweh. Scriptural wisdom says that the one who sets about to harm another will themselves be harmed by their own implement of harm (Ecc 10:8).

18:12 In saying ;there is no hope’ the people are dismissing God’s willingness to forgive as outlined in verse :8– because they wanted to behave as they wished. Repentance was not even in their mind as a possibility.

1 v.3 - That Jesus was 'of the seed of David according to the flesh' marks his human origins. But more than that it draws on the fact that Jesus was the rightful heir to David's throne. This is demonstrated in the genealogies in Matthew and Luke. That he is 'declared to be the son of God' v4 links with the divine origin of Jesus. These two simple phrases provide the authority for showing Jews that Jesus is, to use the language of Hebrews 'better than' the law of Moses. An important point when writing to the ecclesia in Rome where there were many Jewish believers.

2 v.5 - Notice that hard heartedness is first seen in Pharaoh Exodus 4:21 7:3,13 8:15,32 9:12,34 10:1,20,27 11:10 14:4,8. So when it is used to speak of how Israel behaved the message is very pointed. You are being like the oppressing Egyptians from whom you have been delivered. Deuteronomy 15:7 2 Chronicles 36:13 Psalm 95:8 Isaiah 63:17 Mark 10:5 16:14 John 12:40

2:29 having a circumcised heart is not a doctrine which started with Jesus. We find it extensively in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 10:16 30:6 Jeremiah 4:4 showing that it is the way that a man thinks that God is interested in.

1:32 In speaking of some who 'have pleasure in them that do them' Paul, quoting Psalm 50:8, is not simply speaking of individuals who sin. Rather the focus is on those who see some virtue in sin. Rather like those he will speak of later who say 'shall we continue in sin ...' (Romans 6:1)

1:4 'Declared' draws on Psalm 2:7 where God 'set' - Hebrews Anointed' Jesus as king after his resurrection.

2:24 In quoting Isaiah 52:5 Paul shows that Israel had a history of a corrupt life style which had the effect of causing gentiles, rather than to glorify God because of what they saw, to count the things of God to be derided. What do our friends, neighbours, family or work colleagues think about God when they see our behaviour?

2:4 'Longsuffering' quotes an attribute of Yahweh seen Exodus 34:6. The point being is that God's mercy should not be used as a basis for 'continuing in sin' rather it should cause speedy repentance.

Paul launches into a scathing reproach of the nation of Israel, explaining how they had been supplied with all the knowledge of God they needed, yet chose to serve an image instead. (1v25) and how they would be judged for their evil (1v26-32). But what was the image they were serving? Verse 23 says "like corruptible man", and v25 "served...the creature rather than the Creator". Chapter 2v8 "those who are SELF seeking". They were serving themselves! The image they were worshipping was themselves!

Throughout the history of Israel this had been obvious, because of the long list of selfish and abhorrent practices listed in v26-29 (echoed in Eze 16) which they did to gratify their own desires. More difficult it was in the time of Christ, because although they had stopped these practices by and large, they had replaced them with pride, arrogance, selfishness, self sufficiency, hypocrisy, and judgmentality. These were the things Jesus condemned the Pharisees and rulers for, and were now the things that were set to take hold on the early church. The apostle Paul had a struggle on his hands.

1:1,6,7 Notice the repeated use of ‘called’ Paul starts by emphasising that those to whom he is writing have an exalted status – this will provide a platform from which Paul can argue that his audience have high responsibilities.
 
1:23 The quotations ‘changed … beasts’ quoting Psa 106:20 shows that Paul is speaking of Jews here in Romans 1.

2:13 In saying that the ‘doers of the law’ will be justified Paul beings his argument about justification which develops in chapters 3 and 4. Of course no one did obey the law fully – except Jesus. So justification through the law was impossible.

1:26  That ‘God gave them up’ is a sobering thought. It seems that when Israel had set their heart on turning away from God He left them to their own devices.

2:4 God’s ‘longsuffering’ is not simply an attribute of God that we can admire. It is an attribute which should, of itself, produce a reaction on our part. The reaction? ‘repentance’. We should wan to repent because God is longsuffering. Consider how you respond to other people You re more gracious to those who, themselves, are gracious. God’s nature is so designed that it will – or at lest should – cause us to want to keep His word.

1:28 The ‘reprobate mind’ is the state of rebellious Israel – Deut 32:28

2:5   The hard heart that Paul speaks of is the heart of the man who will not acknowledge the evidence that Jesus is the Messiah.

1:20 Yahweh has left His physical creation, in all its forms, as a witness to His being and to the greatness of His imagination and power. 

With all the sophistication of modern science, no one is able to create a natural item.  Cloning does not count, as it is merely the copying of genetic structure from existing DNA.  This is not original creation, which only Yahweh is able to do.  

To deny creation is to deny the existence of God.  Those who do this will die in their sins.  Those who do recognize God and His creation, and seek to please Him, will live forever (2:7; Heb 11:6).   

The Gospel (lesson 1 of 20 from "Outline of Basic Bible Teachings" by Wes Booker)

I. Is it important to know and believe it? Rom 1:15-16;Mark 16:15-16.

II. What is it? Good news or glad tidings concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ:

     A. Acts 8:12,25;28:30-31  B. Before his death and resurrection, it was the gospel of the kingdom: 1.) Mark 1:14;Matt 4:17,23 - Jesus preached it. 2.) Luke 9:2,6,11 - the disciples preached it. Yet they didn't know that Jesus had to suffer, die and be raised - Matt 16:21-23. So at that time it was not an essential part of the gospel; afterward it did become an integral part of it. C. The gospel was preached to Abraham - Gal 3:8,16

III. Many churches teach a different gospel - oversimplified. "Jesus died for you - accept this and that's all that's necessary." But see Gal 1:6-9. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things  shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33.   

Eternal Life (lesson 14 of 20 from "Outline of Basic Bible Teachings" by Wes Booker)

I. NOT a present possession - Rom 2:6-7;Gen 3:22; Titus 1:2 compare with Rom 8:24; 1Cor 15:53-54;Matt 19:16-17

II. To be granted after the resurrection of the dead, and at the judgment - Dan 12:2;John 5:28-29;Matt 25:31-34,46

III. Involves the change of the body - Phil 3:20-21;1Cor 15:50-58

IV. Wrested scriptures - 1John 5:13;John 3:36   A. Possible explanations of verses like this in John's writings:  1.) John's special terminology for a QUALITY OF LIFE NOW   2.) See Rom 4:17

1:2 Paul clearly grounds the gospel in the Old Testament.  Therefore, anyone seeking to understand the gospel must read the Old as well as the New Testament.

1:7 This epistle was written 57-58 AD, and was directed to a mainly Gentile ecclesia at Rome. It is not likely that the ecclesia was founded by Paul (or Peter).  Perhaps, converts from the Day of Pentecost went back to Rome and established the ecclesia (Acts 2:10).

Paul was imprisoned twice at Rome: 61-63 AD; 65-67 AD. It is believed that in 67 AD Paul was beheaded by the Emperor Nero.  After that, Nero began persecuting followers of Jesus.

1:26,27 These homosexual practices are recognized and supported by modern society, especially in the western World.  One has to decide whether to believe and serve Yahweh, or to capitulate to a politically correct world.  Salvation is only possible by rejecting these practices and worshipping God.

2:1 Judging in the sense of condemnation is not acceptable, but judging in the sense of discernment is recommended (e.g. 1Cor 10:15; 11:13).

2:28,29 Here, the difference between a natural Jew and a spiritual Jew is highlighted.  All true followers of Jesus are spiritual Jews.

PEOPLE PLEASER OR GOD PLEASER?

Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." We could probably interchange the word fool with the word please, and the fact that we cannot please all of the people all of the time would still be true.

Some of us try to please everyone all the time. This is a very difficult road to walk and no matter how hard we try, we are going to fall off it eventually. So if we can't please everyone all the time, then we need to choose who we want to please.

In Paul's day a number of believers tried to please their fellow believers by a show of religion - outward appearances. They kept the law, they were circumcised, dressed appropriately, and kept the Sabbath. This may well have kept a good number of people happy but a show of religion is not what God wants.

Paul explained, "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." (Rom 2:28-29)

If we cannot please everyone and receive praise from men, let us make it our aim to please God and be praised by him.