Comments for August 22

v.9 - Zarephath, which means Smelting-shop, "a workshop for the refining and smelting of metals", was a small Phoenician town, now Surafend, about a mile from the coast, almost midway on the road between Tyre and Sidon. Jesus also had dealings with a woman from this area - Matt.15:21-22

v.16 - The impression you get here is that there was always just enough oil and flour to manage that meal. To live this way without anxiety requires a great amount of faith. We all like to be able to see that our futures are provided for. This woman had not known that recently. There is much to learn from a meditation upon the thoughts and actions and circumstances of others.

17:1 We might wonder why Elijah prayed specifically that there would not be any rain. The answer, it seems, is to be found in the words of Moses (Deuteronomy 11:16-17)

17:9,12 Zarapheth which was by Zidon was in Asher (Josh 19:28). Moses said Asher would dip his feet in oil (Deut 33:24) The provision of oil for Elijah in this time of famine was a fulfilment of Moses' promise to Asher.

V.1 Here was a true servant of God, a man of faith. Although "of like passions as ourselves" he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and in full confidence that his prayer would be answered he made the dramatic announcement to the king, and to Jezebel the persecutor.  

God had "Commanded the ravens" to feed Elijah.(1Kin 17:4). And they did.  So when the Lord told him that He had commanded a widow woman in Zarephath to sustain him, Elijah would be full of confidence, despite the fact that a Gentile widow in Jezebel's land was not the most likely person to turn to for help.
But when he arrived the dear lady was NOT expecting him.  But God had obviously spoken to her heart, for when he asked her to share her last meal with him, she agreed.  God keeps His word. 

Vs.3,4 Yahweh instructed Elijah to sojourn by the brook Cherith (meaning separation) where He would feed him through ravens.  Elijah stayed there until the brook ran dry. 

Ravens were unclean under the Law. Yahweh was instructing Elijah that he would be subsequently fed by a Gentile (v.9).  The drying of the brook heralded a three-and-a-half year drought (Luke 4:25). These experiences showed Elijah as a Christ-type.

V.9 Elijah fulfilled the object lesson, shown by the ravens, by going to the woman of Zarephath.  Two other women from this region are noted in the scriptures: Jezebel (1Kin 16:31); and the woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter (Mark 7:25,26). 

Jesus uses the episode of Elijah in Zarephath to substantiate that He and His message to His own people would be rejected, and that the message would then be taken to the Gentiles (Matt 12:17,18; Luke 4:25,26).

Chapter 17 perhaps echoes Christ's miraculous feeding and giving his life as a sacrifice. In 1Kin 17:1 we find the land was literally and spiritually dry.  But God always watches over us and feeds us. In v.12  "your God" suggests the widow didn't yet see the God of Israel as her God but v.9 "Zarephath" (6886) suggests a process of refinement while "Zidon" (6721) suggests a fishery or catching fish. In other verses we read of water, bread, flesh, oil, two sticks (echo of a Messianic 'feeding' for Jew and Gentile?), etc. In v.15 she had the faith to obey and God nourished her, her family, and her son as the bit of food miraculously fed them all. In vs. 18-24 we later have her son taken to an upper room (an echo of the last supper?) apparently slain for another's sin. Elijah stretched himself out three times and the son was revived (as Christ was after the three days). The widow spiritually grew and recognized the word of the Lord as truth.

A seemingly similar echo of Christ's resurrection with a Shunammite mother perhaps symbolic of Israel is 2Kin 4:8-37;2Kin 8:1-6.

17:23 The raising of the child forms the basis for Jesus behaviour when – Luke 7:15 – Jesus ‘delivered him to his mother’

17:9 And so Elijah is cared for, at God’s provision, by a gentile. A fact that the Jews of Jesus’ day did not like to acknowledge – Luke 4:24-26 – that gentiles had a part in God’s plan

17:1 One would think that this announcement had little or no effect on Ahab. But, as time went on, and no rain, and as one by one the streams and springs dried up, we see the search for Elijah was intensified. In tomorrow's reading we see that messengers were sent out throughout the kingdom, with the sole purpose of finding the prophet, as he was the one responsible for the drought.

brOUGHT NEARER TO GOD

V.18 All humankind suffers and dies because of the sin of Adam (Rom 5:12; 1Cor 15:22).  However, the woman of Zarephath held the common belief that death (or any incapacity) was the direct result of personal sin.  This was a commonly held view in the Near East. 

Even in Jesus' time people believed that such misfortune was the result of someone's sinning. The Pharisees' statement to the blind man, whom Jesus healed, underscores this (John 9:34).  Jesus' disciples thought the same thing (John 9:1,2). 

But Jesus' reply explains the truth of the matter (John 9:3).  Also, His comment on the demise of eighteen construction workers shows that death is not the result of personal sin (Luke 13:4) ...but time and chance happen to them all (Ecc 9:11).

17:9-12           So there was not much ‘oil’ in this area – the territory of Asher. God had promised – Deut 33:24– that Asher would dip his feet in oil, an indication of blessings. However because of the evil reign of Ahab this blessing has been taken away.

V.16 The woman and her son had been saved from starvation.  Like the Jews, she had experienced the grace and protection of Yahweh, while living.  However, it was only when her dead son was revived that she fully believed Yahweh (v.24).  

Yahweh resurrected His Son, Jesus, which opened the way, for others, to have life (1Cor 15:20-23). This fact has been documented in the Bible, giving men and women, through history, the opportunity for salvation (Mark 16:16).

There does appear to be a parallel between this widow and the woman at the well in Samaria in John 4. Both were Gentiles, both were asked to provide water and both received that which would sustain there life. There is also a comparison to the widow and her mite, who Jesus said demonstrated greater faith than all to others because she had given to God all her living just as this widow did for Elijah

17:4 That God ‘commanded’ the ravens to feed Elijah confirms God’s care for the prophet – and is an interesting twist on the fact that God feeds the birds – Luke 12:24

V.1 A Tishbite is an inhabitant of Tishbi, which is a town in Gilead.

Vs.12-15 The widow’s faith was being tested by being asked to give a stranger some food before she and her son ate.  This food constituted her, and her son’s, last meal.  The widow believed Elijah and complied with his wishes.  This episode is the perfect example of what is meant by Heb 13:2.

V,16 The widow’s faith brought the blessings of Yahweh.   She believed the Word of God, through Elijah, and her faith was rewarded (Heb 11:1).  If we believe the Word of God, concerning salvation, we will, also, be rewarded 1Pet 1:9).

V.21 The three times is indicative of the three days that Jesus lay in the grave (Matt 12:40).  As the widow’s son was brought back to life, so was the Son of God (Acts 10:40).

Commanding widows and ravens

God had commanded a widow to provide for Elijah (v9). But when Elijah meets up with her, she is getting ready to die from hunger (v12). Does that sound like someone whom God has spoken to? It sounds as if she knew nothing about it. So what did God mean when He said "I have commanded a widow there to provide for you"?

God had commanded the ravens to feed Elijah (v4). What language do you think God used to speak to them? Or does it mean something else? Well, here we have no problems explaining what is meant. God had simply caused the ravens to collect food and bring it to Elijah. Likely as not, they suddenly started instinctively doing what was against their natural instinct, by His power.

So scripture, as it usually does, gives us the answer to our question in the very context of the same chapter. The woman, like the ravens, had been prepared by God beforehand to have the natural inclination to help Elijah. It might have been her husband's death, and perhaps his lengthy illness, that had caused her to be pre-disposed to look after others. Maybe the gap her husband had left in her life needed to be filled so badly that she was desperate to find any man, even a lodger, to fill it. Possibly he had only just died, and with him had gone all their means of livelihood. Any contact with the outside world could lead to help in her difficult circumstances. Every man she met would be eyed for the possibility of marriage, a fact that made her eager to please strangers. These kind of things had prepared her to be the best one to look after Elijah, and it is these things that add up to God's statement: "I have commanded her". And He never said a thing.

17:17 God had provided for the woman and her son during the famine. Now God is proving her through the death of her son

17:3-6 Elijah’s dwelling by the brook Cherith was not an idyllic sojourn.  He was hiding and it seems had to rely on God for his daily food.

17:10-15         The way in which the widow met the needs of Elijah before thinking of herself shows an example of selfless sacrifice – the sort of thing that Paul spoke of the Macedonians in 2Cor 8:5

17:3    Elijah hiding himself marks the beginning of a section which concluded with Elijah being told to Show himself – 1Kin 18:1 to Ahab,  During the drought there was not possibility of communication between the king and the prophet.

A forewarned situation

Notice the severity of Elijah's pronouncement:

"there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."
v1
 

In other words, there would be so little moisture in the air so that neither rain or dew would be possible. This would make growing crops completely impossible. Not even grass would survive, so there would be no pasture for the flocks. This is reflected in 1Kin 18:5. Hardly any animals survived.

Q) What caused this terrible pronouncement?

A) Check reference to rain and pasture in Deut 11 for the answer.

17:9     In commanding the woman of Zarapheth to feed Elijah we gain an insight into God’s view of non-Jews. He uses them and will bless them.  Of course this should not be a surprise as God indicated to Abraham - Gen 12:3 - the gentiles will be blessed in him.

17:4    Adam was given dominion (control) over the animal creation – Gen 1:28. However he lost that dominion through sin. We see, however, that the animal creation was (and still is) under God’s control.

17:1     Whilst the historical record does not mention the exact length of the drought Jesus –Luke 4:25– and James – James 5:17 –tell us the length of time that there was a drought.

17:24     miracles are not random acts of kindness. They serve the purpose of establishing the prophet and God’s credentials. Thus a gentile, at a time when Israel were not displaying a godly way of living and so were no example that one might learn from, God provided evidence of His existence and that he was working in the world.

It is ironic, that Jezebel help corrupt Israel and sought to kill Elijah, yet God had sent Elijah into Jezebel's land (Sidon) to be preserved while the widow was sustained by God's word while Israel starved both physically and spiritually.   

17:6-7 So Elijah did as God commanded. However we must appreciate that Elijah did not know how long he would be by the brook or why he was sent there. All he knew was that God had given a commandment and made a promise that Elijah would not starve. How often do we reflect on the fact that God cares for us and that we do not know for how long that will continue but are confident that it will?

17:9    Notice the irony. It was a woman from Zidon that drew Ahab to idolatry but it was a woman from the same area who was willing to sustain a faithful prophet.

17 The way that Elijah appears on the scene and seems to spend most of his time speaking to Ahab and dealing with godless in Israel in the north is almost unique in the recorded work of the prophets. Most of the prophets spent most of their time in Judah in the south. Elijah is different.

17:9-23 this is the event that Jesus makes reference to – Luke 4:25 – after he had read part of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue where he lived.

17:5 So much is bound up in “So he went and did …” Elijah believed what his God said to him even though what he was told was not something that normally happened. Are we as willing to obey the commands of God written in His word?

17:13-15 Ahab was a godless king ruling in a godless country. However there was at least one faithful woman who believed the words of a prophet of God. There is no indication that she doubted or questioned what Elijah said. According to the records she simply did what he asked. Truly a wonderful faithful woman living in a godless and faithless kingdom.

v1 There shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except at my word

Elijah had been praying fervently that there would be a drought presumably to bring Israel to its senses (James 5:17). God not only gave Elijah this request; He also gave Elijah the authority to declare the drought's end.

It takes a brave brother or sister to pray for setbacks to the ecclesia to bring about reform.

v6 And the ravens  brought him bread and meat

Where did the ravens obtain this food from, during a severe drought? Possibly from Ahab's palace which would have the most plentiful supplies. What an irony - Ahab unknowingly feeding Elijah!

v7 And after a while the brook dried up

Elijah was not cocooned from the drought that he had prayed for. But look at God's exquisite timing of events. Just as the last drop of water came from Cherith, God was working over the horizon at Zarephath to bring a widow and her son to their last meal. Elijah arrives just in time.

v24 Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.

But surely the widow knew Elijah was a man of God and that he speaks truth. She calls him a man of God (v18 cp v12) and he promised an ongoing supply of food which truly happened (vv 14-16).

Sometimes we need multiple occasions by which God eventually tears down our walls of unbelief, resistance and inertia. Jesus said to Peter: "When you are converted, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32). Peter had been with Jesus a long time but still needed converting.

17:1  Ahab was left in no doubt about the credentials of the prophet Elijah. His appeal had as part of its basis that “the Lord God of Israel liveth”.

How often do we think about the fact that the Creator is alive as a basis for deciding how we should behave?

1Kin 17:9

“… behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.”

“’THE word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.’ Superficially read, we should conclude from this that a message had been sent to the widow woman on the subject of supporting Elijah. It transpires, however, that nothing of the sort had taken place. When Elijah went to Zarephath, he found the woman in the depth of want from the famine, and arranging for a last meal with her son (1Kin 17:12). How comes it then that Jehovah {Yahweh} should say, ‘I have commanded a widow woman to sustain thee,’ when in the ordinary sense He had not done so? Because of another sense, more powerful than the ordinary sense. The ordinary sense is to give orders by word of mouth… But with God there is another mode, which is as high above the human mode as heaven is high above the earth. Speaking of the creation, David says, ‘He spake and it was done: He commanded, and it stood fast.’ If we ask, how? We are informed, ‘By His Spirit.’ What He wills, He accomplishes by His Spirit. For this reason, the fiat of His will executing itself by the Spirit is described as His Word—His command. What God wills or appoints, He can say, ‘I have commanded.’ He had arranged that this widow of Zarephath should sustain Elijah. Therefore, in divine language, He commanded her.”

Robert Roberts, The Ways of Providence, pp. 226,7

We see this same principle in action in vv. 3-6: “… I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there…” It is not a literal verbal command to birds, but Yahweh’s power – His Spirit (cf. 1Cor 2:10).

v.10 - Nebuchadnezzar, my servant, God says. He says the same in ch.25:9. Clearly he was God's servant in bringing about the curses upon Israel that they deserved by their behaviour, but was it more than this. Consider the lengths God went to to debase this proud man and to bring him round to worship. Here was a man to whom God chose to reveal the rest of the future of the earth, and who He worked on all his life to humble him. The last words recorded of Nebuchadnezzar, at the end of it all, suggest a servant of God indeed. Dan.4:37

v.7 - Time and time again the concept of turning away from God is presented in those that 'went down into Egypt'. Let us be sure never to go that way in our lives. Spiritual Egypt, as it were, is a place to be avoided if we desire salvation.

43:2 This is the only 'John' (Johanan) in the Old Testament. Given his Godless behaviour it might not surprise us that the people objected to the naming of John the Baptist as John (Luke 1:13)

In going to Egypt the word of the Lord was disobeyed (:7). Isaiah (31:1) many years earlier had reproved the people for seeking to Egypt. That warning still stood. The word of God does not change. If something is wrong at one point in time it is always wrong. Going to Egypt was not just a physical relocation. It marked an indication of where trust was placed. For that reason it was wrong.

43:2,7  Jeremiah had already said (42:19)  that the people should not go to Egypt and in this he was using the precedent of Isaiah (31:1). Israel had been delivered from Egypt. It was not place to go when God was judging them.  How often do we forsake the company of our brethren and sisters and seek solace in the world when we have problems/? It is not the way to go.

V.7 There can be little doubt that this is a reference to those Jews who disobeying the voice of God. Jer 42:13-18  Had rebelliously left the land covenanted to them and sought refuge in the land of Egypt.

This chapter shows how dreadful an attribute pride is. In v2 the "proud men" wouldn't believe the word of the Lord sent by the mouth of Jeremiah. Jeremiah had pointed out to them the secret thoughts of their heart; the things that they wouldn't even admit to themselves (42:20). They had proudly said "whatever the Lord says, we will do it, whether good or bad". Yet in their hearts they were hoping for one answer, and one answer was all they were going to accept.

How often, I wonder, do we turn down good, sound advice, just because it goes too close to the bone? How often, I wonder, do we proudly fight back when someone rebukes us, instead of listening and taking the rebuke as it was meant. Proverbs is full of advice on this matter. Only the one who learns from rebuke can be wise. Only the one who listens to reproach and learns from it gains understanding. Only the one who humbly bears the faithful wounds of a friend will develop true knowledge, and with it great reward. (Prov 10:17, 13:1,18, 15:10, 27:6).

Vs 7-13 show us what happened to the people of Judah because of their unwillingness to listen. It is a warning for us. Alternatively, they could have had what was promised in 42:10-12; complete deliverance and safety, simply by listening to some words which were initially hard to bear.

Vs.9,10 The faithless remnant of Judah would rather run to Egypt, the epitome of idolatry, than trust in Yahweh, who had just saved them from Babylonian harm.  They had refused to heed the words of Jeremiah who was now charged with reminding them of Yahweh's plan (Jer 46:13,14).

V.3 Those men, who had ample proof of Jeremiah's trustworthiness, had the audacity not only to accuse him of lying, but of being incited against them by Baruch(V.6, Jer 36:4,10,26, Jer 45:1-3) in order to betray them into the hands of the Chaldeans. They felt that Baruch was a traitor, because he was in favour with Nebuchadnezzar.

“Don’t go down into Egypt,” God had said through Jeremiah.  And what did the people do? They went down into Egypt, (Jer 43:7).  One of the saddest things for the prophet was that they took Jeremiah with them. But God’s eyes could see them.  He knew where they were.  And on their arrival in Tahpanhes He spoke directly to Jeremiah, and gave him a message of destruction by the Babylonians on Egypt.

Vs.8-13 It was not sufficient for Jeremiah to warn the people not to go to Egypt.  When they did go, Jeremiah went with them to continue his warnings and demonstrations.  It is marvellous that Yahweh allowed Jeremiah to continue to prophesy in the Egypt, the iron furnace of idolatry (Jer 11:4). 

43:7  In going to Egypt the people demonstrated that despite having seen God’s hand at work in their lives they felt they could still work out things for themselves. They thought their ideas and plans were better than God’s provision. How often do we feel confident that we can work out what we should do in life and not rely on God?

V.2 We see here that the mind of man is full of deceit. In yesterday's reading Jer 42:3, 5-6 they acknowledged the trustworthiness of Jeremiah, of which they had for so long many proofs; yet here they accuse him of a lie.

43:3 We might have thought that Baruch was simply a scribe who wrote Jeremiah’s words down and reported them to others. However the little comment about him here indicates that his work for Jeremiah had caused others to see him as being associated with the prophet. He was more than a scribe. In giving the message to the prophet he identified with all that the prophet said. This, of course, should be our position. We are not simply givers of a message. The message should change our lives. We should identify with the message and be willing to accept the consequences of such allegiance.

43:4-7 In verse :7  God says ‘they obeyed not ..’ thus we see that the rebellious nature of the Jews was in no way diminished by the fact that the words of Jeremiah had been fulfilled and Zedekiah had gone into captivity and the city laid waste. One wonders who much more evidence they would need before they would realise that God kept His word.

Vs.8-13 Josephus says that, five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar went to Egypt (approx. 581 BC).

V.10 Yahweh calls Nebuchadnezzar my servant (ebedi in Hebrew). The same phrase is used of David (Jer 33:21,22,26). Jesus, the greater David, is also given the same title (Isa 42:1 cf. Matt 12:18).

Nebuchadnezzar was charged with bringing Yahweh's judgement upon the nations. He typified Christ who will subdue the nations in judgement when He returns (Rev 19:15).

v. 7 Here we have a demonstration that the heart of Israel had not changed for the days of the Exodus, always looking back to Egypt. Here we see a re-enactment of Numbers 14:3 when they were afraid in the land their hearts returned to Egypt.

43:8-13,  This remnant had fled to Egypt to avoid the king of Babylon and so now Jeremiah tells them that their flight to Egypt was of no avail and the Egyptians will succumb to Babylon also. The is no fleeing from God!

V.2 Jeremiah had spent decades speaking the Word of God; predicting dire consequences for Judah and Jerusalem; had exhorted the people to change and come back to Yahweh to seek His forgiveness and mercy; had suffered ridicule, isolation, imprisonment, and other hardships for his efforts; had been proven a true prophet of Yahweh when all the things he predicted came to pass. 

Even with all this, the remnant of Judah accused Jeremiah of speaking falsely. It goes to show, that even after absolute proof has been given, people will still doubt.  Fickleness often wins out over faith.

43:2 Not only did Jeremiah have to contend with the princes of the land. They had their own prophets who repeatedly attempted to undermine Jeremiah’s words. Surely Jeremiah fund this a great trial.

43:2    But now we see Johanan in his true colours. He was not interested in the word of God as spoken by Jeremiah, He had his own ideas.

43:2   Ishmael, the puppet set up by the Chaldeans, brought chaos to the land. Some wanted to revert to a Godly way of living – Jer 42:2-3– so now the people are faced with a challenge. Do we listen to Jeremiah or his opponents?

43:13  It seems that those who had fled to Egypt had not forsaken idol worship. Hence the word that the images in Egypt would be broken up.

43:8-9  Maybe we think of the prophets moving around the land of Israel delivering their messages to the people. However that would be a limited understanding of their activities. Here we see that Jeremiah went to Egypt to pronounce God’s words. 

"YOU ARE LYING'

A few years ago, Sharon and I had some major decisions we were in the process of making. The direction things were going was not looking like the way Sharon wanted it to go. She tells the story of how one day she prayed for right direction and got out a coin. She asked, should we do this or that? Heads we do, tails we don't. She flipped the coin. Wrong answer. What about the best of three? ... Out of five?

After several flips of the coin, she realised that her faith was not at a stage that would allow her to use this method of seeking God's direction with a willing spirit.

A similar thing happened, with much more disastrous results to the people with Jeremiah. They asked him to tell them the word of the LORD for direction. When he did, they said "You are lying." (Jer 43:2). Then they refused to believe the word God had spoken through Jeremiah and did their own thing anyway.

Here is the lesson. If you are going to ask God for direction, and He gives it to you, make sure you follow it. Take His answer in faith, and refuse to doubt, no matter how strange it may seem. He knows best. He can see future things that we cannot see.

43:10  This is not the first time that Nebuchadnezzar has been described as God’s servant. We see this also in Jer 25:9 and , Jer 27:6. Judah had to learn that even though evil had befallen them at the hand of the Chaldeans it was because God had decreed it – Hab 1:6.

43:2,7               Jeremiah had warned against going to Egypt to escape from the Chaldeans –Jer 42:19 – but we see that they disregarded the words of the prophet. But to no avail. The king of Babylon invaded Egypt as well – Jer 43:11

43:2     Azariah is the same person as called Jezaniah in Jer 42:1

43:2    The warning that God would be against the “gods of Egypt” should have reminded the people of an earlier incident – the plagues in Egypt at the time of the Exodus – Exo 12:12. It should have made them realise that God would fulfil His will not matter whether they fled to Egypt of not.

OUTLINE OF JEREMIAH

PART TWO -- THE PROPHECIES TO JUDAH (JEREMIAH 2:1 to 45:5)

IV. The Present Fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 34:1 to 45:5)

   D. messages after the fall (Jeremiah 40:1 to 44:30)

      4. Jer 43:1-13:

         a. Jer. 43:1-7 - the rejection by the Jewish Remnant of God's word:

            i. V2 Jeremiah accused by Azariah and Johanan of lying and not being sent by the Lord; V2 "proud<2086>"

            ii. V3 Baruch (Jeremiah's scribe) apparently argued against fleeing to Egypt but the leaders of the remnant rejected his argument and feared being killed or carried into exile by the Babylonians; V3 "Babylon<894>" (Gen 11:9 "Babel<894>")

            iii. V4 "captains<8269>"

            iv. Jer 43:5;Jer 40:11-12 - the jews who had returned to Judah now followed the lead of Johanan not Jeremiah

            v. V6 "captain<7227>" is different from that in V4; V6 (probably a stretch but I wonder if the following names with their meanings suggest an echo of Christ along with his mission ("Nebuzaradan [<5018> a given seed]"; "captain [<7227> can refer to many or abundant and of course Christ's mission gives abundant hope to many]"; "guard [<2876> executioner or guard]"; "Gedaliah [<1436> Jehovah is great]"; "son [<1121> could this refer to Jehovah's son? Son is mentioned 3 times in this verse and three might refer to seed or in the grave three days or resurrection on the third day or divine perfection or an emphasis on son]"; "Ahikam [<296> could this echo Christ's resurrection?]"; "Shathan [<8227> implies hiding and may refer to a rock rabbit or hyrax]"; "Jeremiah [<3414> can mean Jah will rise or whom Jah has appointed]"; "prophet [<5030> means inspired man]"; "Baruch [<1288> according to Smith's Bible dictionary Baruch means blessed]"; "Neriah [<5374> means light of Jah or lamp of Jehovah]"

            vi. Jer 41:10;Jer 43:6-7 - the kings daughters fled into Egypt

            vii. V7 - they entered Egypt; V7 "Tahpanhes [<8471> is now called Defenneh or Daphnae]"

      4. Jer 43:1-13:

         b. Jer. 43:8-13 - a soon to be fulfilled prophecy of what Nebuchadnezzar would do in Egypt:

            i. VSS 8-13 the site of "Tahpanhes<8471>" has been identified as an important fortified frontier town about 70 miles north-east of Cairo and 10 miles west of the Suez Canal, in 1886 Sir Flinders Petrie uncovered the ruins of a large castle and in front of it was a large open platform of brickwork paving and Petrie belived this is where Jeremiah hid the stones referred to in VSS 8-9; Eze 30:17-19 refers to Heliopolis (Gen 41:45 "On" refers to Heliopolis) and Tahpanhes; V8 Jeremiah continued his work in Egypt.

            ii. V10 after the death of Gedaliah the remnant disregarded Jeremiah's warnings and took refuge in Egypt taking Jeremiah with them; V10 "my servant" refers to Nebuchadnezzar as noted by Peter Cresswell in his 2001 comments; V10 Josephus says 5 years after the destruction of Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar went to Egypt (circa 581 BC) as noted in Michael Parry's 2008 comments; V10 Nebuchadnezzar's annals state he invaded Egypt in 568 BC which was 18 years after Jeremiah uttered the prophecy that he would, also, 3 of Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions have been found near Tahpahnes; V10 Nebuchadnezzar would set his throne over these stones and perhaps the weak clay brick represented Egypt and the hard stones represented Babylon

            iii. V11 Nebuchadnezzar would bring death, captivity, and a sword to Egypt

            iv. V12 with ease (like a shepherd putting on a garment) Nebuchadnezzar will burn Egypt's temples and carry away their gods captive (done with ease because they are not gods at all).

            v. V13 "Bethshemesh<1053>" (the Bethshemesh in Egypt not Palestine) means house of the sun and can also be called Heliopolis or ON and it was the center of sun-worship (it is about 10 miles north-east of Cairo).

43:11  We should be careful to realise that the Babylonians did not only take Judah captive. They subjugated the whole of the middle east in the days of Jeremiah.

43:1-7 Having asked in the previous chapter for instruction from God Johanan now disregards what Jeremiah has said and takes men to Egypt, contrary to Jeremiah’s words.

43:2 we can explain how it was that the men were “proud”. Their pride was seen I the way that they would not listen to God’s words spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. Their pride made them think that they knew better than God. Do we ever think that our ideas are better than those He has revealed in His word?

43:8-12 The people should have remembered that Yahweh fought against the gods of Egypt – Exo 12:2 – and defeated them. That is why the people were delivered from Egypt. Yahweh had said He would bring the Chaldeans against Jerusalem. Yet those that had fled to Egypt saw salvation in the Egyptians! How blind is it possible to be?

But before we are hard on those who fled to Egypt consider. What do you place your trust in? Are we always 100% confident in our God? Or do we sometimes think that security comes from the things this world offers?

Jer 43:2 Notice eh inspired word calls those that were not willing to listen to Jeremiah as “proud men”. It may be that at times we think we know better than God. Maybe we would dispute that saying we always are willing to follow His words. However there are times when we “do our own thing” and are, therefore,  classed as “proud”. Is this how we want God to think of us?

43:10 Egypt had been a country that Judah had thought would save them from the Chaldeans. They also thought that there would be safety in Egypt as if fleeing form God would help them!

1:23 In saying that Christ was a 'stumbling block' Paul is quoting Isaiah 8:14. The apostle Peter (1Peter 2:8) makes a similar point.

2:9 Whilst some would use this verse to suggest that we can not know anything about the kingdom of God we should read on to the next verse. This shows us that what Paul is talking about is the mystery of God in Christ which has been revealed to the saints.

ch.2 v.5-7 - The true understanding of God's word is not to be found in man's wisdom (also ch.1:17). We know this, and yet we still try to apply our own thinking to situations. Our ways are not God's ways. It is often hard to remember this. It is only God who can save. We can speak the words, but it is God who opens the heart. ch.3:6 2Cor.4:7 6:7

1:29 That no flesh should glory is a fundamental aspect of understanding God's dealings with man. Human nature always seeks to justify itself. However it is God that is just and we who are not - saved through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus (Romans 3:19)

2:10 Often we use the word 'deep' to mean involved and beyond the understanding of many of us. However this is not how Paul is using the word. Another use of 'deep' which is helpful is Ephesians 3:18 where it is used to speak of the extent of God's love.

There is here in these chapters an amazingly clear explanation of the difficult chapter of John 1. In John 1v1 we have "in the beginning was the word", compared with "the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages" (2v7).

In John 1v14 we have "and the word became flesh and dwelt among us", compared with "Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God" (1v30).

In John 1v14-18 we have "and we beheld his glory, as of the only begotten of the father…. he (Jesus) has declared Him" compared with "God has revealed them (the hidden things of God) to us… these things we also speak" (2v9-13).

In John 1v10 we have "the world did not know him" compared with 1 Cor 2v14 "natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God…neither can he know them".

Paul is using this illustration not of Christ only, but also of himself. Not himself only, but also of us. If we allow God to influence and change our lives and thinking by His word and His chastening, then He will develop in us heavenly wisdom, rather than earthly. We will then, like Jesus, show forth the glory of God in our characters.

1:11-16 There were many serious doctrinal and behavioural problems in Corinth. However the first issue that Paul addresses is disunity. Without unity there is little benefit in addressing any other problem.

2:1 When Paul says he has not come with 'wisdom' he is not speaking of the wisdom which is from 'above' James 3:17. He is speaking of the wisdom of the wise in this world which was a major cause of the tensions in Corinth.

 2:9-10 The things which He had "prepared", besides remaining undiscovered by eye, ear and the heart, had been destined solely for "them that love him". A fact which the Corinthians all too easily forgot. What God had done, affirmed Paul, had been to reveal these things "by his spirit".  

1:10 There would be neither disputes nor divisions in the body of Christ if its members always employed Godly wisdom and did not allow worldly wisdom to influence them (2:5).  God considers worldly wisdom foolish (1Cor 3:19).  The solution is to always let the Spirit guide (2:13).  For us, that means basing our reasoning on the Scriptures.  The Scriptures were created by the influence of the Holy Spirit; and it is this Spirit Word which reveals to us the wisdom of Yahweh (2Tim 3:16; 1Pet 1:21).

1:31 A problem in Corinth was pride. So the antidote – quoting Jer 9:24 – is to glory in God, not ourselves. In the days of Jeremiah the temple was to be destroyed and still the people did not glorify God. In like manner we are the temple of God 2Cor 6:16 so we should glorify God in our lives, not men.

2:4 ‘Enticing words’ do not form part of the gospel – they are the trademark of the serpent.

POWERFUL CHANGES
 
Have you noticed the changes in your life since you gave yourself to Christ? Since that day we have been blessed with a power at work in our lives that we never had before.
 
Think about what Paul told the Corinthians:
* "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." (1Cor 1:4)
* "In him you have been enriched in every way - in all your speaking and in all your knowledge." (v.5)
* "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift." (v.7)
* "He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v.8)

God is so keen for us to live full, blameless and powerfully effective lives in Christ, that he supplies all we need to do it. He gives us grace - the grace to give us the hope of eternity even when we don't deserve it, the grace shown in forgiveness and grace to help in times of need. He has enriched our lives in giving us help when we speak to others of the hope we have, and enriching our knowledge so that we can effectively preach his word. There are no spiritual gifts we lack for the tasks he has planned for us to do. And he will give us strength - all the strength we need to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong.
 
So let us not rely on our own weak selves, but instead live our lives relying on the power and grace of God

THE CHAMELEON ECCLESIA

As a chameleon changes colour to adapt to it's surroundings, so can brethren, sisters and especially our young people can do the same with respect to blending in with the world around us. The brethren & sisters in Corinth were struggling with their environment, so Paul wrote to identify the problems in the Corinthian ecclesia, to offer solutions and to teach the believers how to live IN CHRIST in a corrupt society.

The first step to solving a problem is to identify and acknowledge the problem.

1:8 How would we write to brethren who we knew had serous moral and doctrinal problems? Doubtless we would start by castigating them and reproving them. Paul, by the Holy Spirit, does not. He speaks of their wonderful hope. This would be an incentive to those who wanted to be faithful to mend their ways.

1:23 Jesus is described as a stumblingblock. The word stumblingblock is translated from the Greek skandalon which defines a sapling, bent to act as a snare to catch game. Isaiah describes Jesus as a tender plant, root, rod (shoot), branch (Isa 11:1; 53:2).

The English word scandal is derived from skandalon. Scandal means something disgraceful or offensive. Jesus is depicted as a rock of offence that can cause men to stumble (Rom 9:33; 1Cor 2:8 KJV). The word offence is skandalon in the original Greek.

2:13-14 Whilst we may use the idea of comparing spiritual things with spiritual things to explain how we interpret Scripture this is not how Paul is speaking. He is emphasising that one cannot use worldly thinking to understand spiritual tings. The mind of the flesh cannot be used to understand the mind of the spirit as is borne out by the rest of the chapter.

1:1,2 Having spoken of his own calling Paul includes the brethren and sisters at Corinth in this calling. So he is cementing his association with them in exalted things. A basis on which he will build in the rest of the letter.

1:2 Paul established the ecclesia at Corinth in about 52 AD (See Acts 18:1).

1:10 Spiritual unity, in the household of Christ, is of optimum importance. And, it is just as important today as it was in the first century. Those who would cause divisions by errant beliefs must be opposed (2Tim 2:25).  It they cannot be persuaded to change and harmonise with the Truth, they should be avoided (Rom 16:17).

1:27,28 If worldly criteria were used to choose our brothers and sisters in Christ, we would not be looking at the same kind of group that we see now.  But, the choice has not been made on the basis of worldly criteria. Yahweh has chosen weak and foolish vessels to strengthen and educate with His spiritual wisdom and guidance.

But, we must remember that Yahweh can only mould what is mouldable (Isa 45:9; Rom 9:21). And so, let us be malleable and allow Yahweh to teach us of His ways (Psa 25:4).

1:17 ‘not with wisdom of words’ does not mean that the wisdom of God was not relevant in understanding of the gospel message. Rather Paul was countering those in Corinth who used human reasoning to complicate the gospel and enabled them to set themselves up as teachers to draw a following. We need to be careful that we always speak God’s truth in clear terms which do not cloud the simple message with any agenda of our own.

Everyone knew who the twelve apostles were. They had automatic authority. But Paul was called later, and his authority wasn't as readily accepted. There are some clues in chapter 1. v1 Paul has to state his calling at the start of his letter. In v2 he needs to claim to worship the same Lord. In v10 he speaks in the name of Jesus. And in v12 it appears there were some who accepted Jesus or Peter's testimony, but not Paul's.

1:26-28        Notice the way that ‘calling’ is associated with ‘called’ to remind the believers in Corinth that it is not the ‘wise’ that can boast because of the way God has ‘chosen’ men and women is not based upon the world’s wisdom.

1:29   A classic example of this principle is seen in Haman in the book of Esther who boasted of all his wealth – Est 5:11 – but ends up hanging on the gallows that he had built  for Mordecai.

2:6   In speaking of those who are ‘perfect’ Paul is reminding the believers that this is their high calling as Jesus had taught –Matt 5:48

1Cor 1:30

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

The book of 1 Corinthians is filled with strong rebukes, and we must take its message to heart. We, too, are in the midst of a godless society desperately in need of the mind-transforming, and life-changing message of Christ Jesus.

Self-righteousness is well rooted in the minds of many. However, Scripture does not support this idea. It is not in our ability, our self-worth, or our education that obtains for us a right standing before God. Our right standing before God may only be obtained through Christ.

It is important to remember that knowledge without application tends to produce pride. Real growth and maturity comes when our knowledge is applied inwardly, which changes our attitudes outwardly. Changed attitudes inevitably produce changed lives.

It is because of Him, God, that we are in Christ. It is because of Him, God, that we obtain grace and love in Christ. Christ became wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption through God, and Christ became to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and we have nothing to boast about (1Cor 1:31; Eph 2:8-9). God demands Christ-esteem, not self-esteem.

2:4   The comment of Paul here should alert us to the dangers of wishing to try to make the gospel message more appealing simply to entice others to listen to it.

1:10   The call to “no divisions” is based on “the name of our lord Jesus Christ”. Unity is not simply something that is nice amongst a group of believers. It should be a consequence of our relationship with God and His son Jesus Christ. All personal ambition and pride must be subjugated as it was in Jesus – Phil 2:6-7

2:5      A major problem in Corinth was that they trusted in human reasoning – “!wisdom”. Paul contacts that with God’s wisdom which is powerful.

1:23     In the first century in Corinth the gospel message about a crucified saviour was a hard message to accept. Both Jew and Greek resisted the message. The same is equally true in the 21^st century. Does this mean that we should change the message?

1:2      The “theirs” and “ours” is both Jew and gentile. They are the Jews and we are the gentiles.

1Cor 2:13

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

The apostle Paul gives us the only one true rule of interpreting Scripture, and that is comparing spiritual with spiritual, which Paul declares is the testimony of God, being both the Old and New Testaments (v. 1). Man’s wisdom is leaven, which is nothing short of disastrous, spiritually speaking. Paul had to contend with those Corinthians who were disposed to worldly pleasures and with the Corinthian philosophers who were inclined to add something of their own interpretations and amend the Gospel rather than to accept the simplicity of Paul’s preaching of the Gospel.

There were those who were too lax, and those who rejected what they did not understand. They failed to realize that the Word is meant to cleanse our hearts, purify our affections, and transform us into new beings. Instead, they acted the opposite amidst a lot of strife and contention, scribbling over God’s Words with the words of man’s wisdom! Without examining the whole of Scripture, no right judgment or conclusion of a matter can be formed.  Error is inseparable from man. Errare humanum est – to err is human - is the honest evaluation of our human nature, hence the urgency of comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 “Many will discover that they have been wasting their time and hurting their brethren by bootless and embittering controversy, instead of redeeming the evil days by the consolations of the truth. They will see too late that instead of imbibing the sincere milk of the word, they have been feeding on ashes; that instead of dispensing a portion of meat to the household in due season, they have been giving them gall and vinegar; that instead of strengthening the hands of fellow-labourers, they have been casting stumbling-blocks in the paths of the weak, and discouraging the hearts of the strong; that instead of rejoicing in the Lord, they have been fretting their souls with barren contentions; that instead of filling up a good account with works of humility and mercy and faith, they have been sowing a harvest of envy and strife and every evil fruit; that instead of helping to purify a peculiar people, zealous of good works, their influence has been only mischievous, and that continually—obstructing the work of the Lord, pulling down the work already done, and throwing clouds and darkness over the beacon intended to guide the feet of the stranger to life eternal. Let us aim to be out of the ranks of this number, that the Lord, at his coming, may approve our faithfulness in small things and give us higher work to do.”

Robert Roberts

2:2     In the Greek as in the English “Jesus Christ and him crucified” is five words. So possibly this Is what Paul is speaking of – 1Cor 14:9 -  when he says that he would rather speaks “five words” for the statement here is the essence of the gospel.

1:15 There were some in Corinth who were developing a following - -  1:12 – so Paul is emphasising that he was not trying to build a following. Maybe this is why “Jesus Christ” is mentioned so many times in this chapter

THE ANTIDOTE TO DIVISION

Knowing what is coming in the letter to the Corinthians, that Paul would severely tell them off for their divisions, immorality, lawsuits, petty arguments, attitudes toward sexuality, disorder and selfishness, we should be inspired by his first words to them. "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way - in all your speaking and in all your knowledge - because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you." (1Cor 1:4-5).

Any one of the issues Paul addresses in his letter has the potential today to split any strong minded group of believers into fragments, each doing their own thing and rejecting the unity Christ desires his body to have. But Paul has the antidote to any potential division. This is what he did: He thanked God for them. Not just once, but always.

If you meet with a group of believers, I am sure that there is at least one person in that group that you don't get on with or see eye to eye with. Maybe there are a whole lot! Thank God for them. Thank God for them by name. Be specific in your thankfulness. Thankfulness can tip the balance on the side of unity.
 

1:14  Crispus, before his baptism, had been a ruler of the synagogue – Acts 18:8.

1:8 The problems that the Corinthians had did not deter Paul from looking to their salvation when Christ returns. Here and 2Cor 1:14 Paul focuses on the hope of eternal life. In this we see Paul’s inspired comments reminding the believers of the future prospects as an encouragement rather than just reproving them for their errors.

1:8 The promise of being counted blameless” is such a wonderful thing. Justified by God we are no longer condemned – Romans 8:1. We see a similar idea in Col 1:22

1Cor 1:30; 2Cor 5:21

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

“For he hath made him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

“THE sentiment that Christ’s righteousness alone is to be the basis of our acceptance, is one of the countless and pernicious corruptions of clerical theology. It doubtless originated in the misapplication of a certain element of apostolic truth, namely that which informs us that all are under sin, and that our salvation is not of works: but through the righteousness of faith that is in Christ. Men have long ceased to perceive that this principle applies only to unjustified sinners, and not to those who have been placed in a justified or forgiven position, through the obedience of faith. Christ is righteousness for sinners in this sense, that God offers to forgive them for Christ’s sake, and to grant them a coheirship with Christ, of what Christ, as a manifestation of God, has achieved for himself. But when sinners become saints, they come into relation to a new principle. They are responsible to Him as servants to a master, and He will judge them according to their works.”

Robert Roberts, Seasons of Comfort, p. 164

1Cor 2:7

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”

“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets” (Rev 10:7}.

What is the mystery of God? “Mystery” is something that had been concealed at one time, but now revealed to God’s people (Mark 4:11; Eph 3:4-8). The mystery of the Kingdom of God had been prophesied, but as to its implementation and consummation was not understood till Christ (Col 1:25-29; 2:2,3). Those who “have heard” and “have learned” of the Father come to Christ (John 6:44,45). So then, the mystery is about God’s plan of salvation through Christ (John 3:16-21. God reveals to us who His people truly are.

“Blindness in part is happened unto Israel. A remnant to the apostolic era were wise enough to understand that, through *them (including Paul), we Gentiles are privileged to see clearly… (Italics added).

God hath given him [Christ] a name above every name, even His own name, the name of God… He is the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Resurrection, the Hope.”

Robert Roberts, SEASONS OF COMFORT, Consolation, p 41.  

*Salvation is of the remnant Jews (Judahites) of the first century ecclesia. This is what Scripture teaches.