Jeremiah 30

 

God promises his people that they will non be destroyed utterly. However, God says that he will discipline them with justice/justly and he won't let them go unpunished. God can't discipline the nations and just let Israel and Judah off when they have committed the same sins. There has to be justice, and God is just. We see his mercy in the promise not to wipe them out, but they have done terrible things. Their sin in made worse because God had blessed them and taught them the right way to go. They had special revelations from God and ignored them, and worse, didn't share them with their neighbors. For God to be just and loving, he has to punish wrong. However, that isn't the end of the story. God said I will restore my people. 

If you don't understand, that is okay, because the chapter ends with this promise, "In days to come you will understand this." 

1 Samuel 25

 

Why does David respond so violently in 1 Samuel 25 against Nabal when he is cheated, and yet spares Saul, who was trying to kill him? He doesn't seem like the same person, but we know he is. Looking at the life of David, we see, he is passionate, and sometimes, as we see with Bathsheba, impulsive and violent. Yet with Saul, he is merciful and very patient. What is going on? We don't know for sure, but I am going to guess that it is because of expectations. David expected that God would deal with Saul, and he didn't have to. He had determined long before the episode in chapter 24 that he wasn't going to attack Saul and followed through. He expected Saul to act a certain way, and when he did, he was able to respond correctly. However, when it came to Nabal, David wasn't expecting someone to take advantage of his goodwill and refuse to give the normal gift to those who offered protection to his flocks. When David's expectations weren't met, he got angry.

Does this sound familiar? I won't ask (or admit) who might have done something similar. Yes, you might not have strapped on a sword, but words can be as powerful. You might not have intended to kill physically (because you would have gotten caught), but you got angry and maybe even held a grudge. These reactions aren't good for Christians, and God gives us commands not to hold on to anger or to plan vengeance or to post nasty comments. Okay, that second one isn't in Scripture directly, but it is included in the commands. Our solution is to follow God's commands, forgive, and set our expectations on God, not on people. Even the best of people will not meet our expectations all of the time. Let's be honest, some people won't even try to be kind, and they won't ever meet our expectations. So, when it comes to humans, understand that they fail and respond as Jesus would have us.   

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Romans 8

In the middle of this wildly victorious chapter, Paul says, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Part of the Christian life is suffering trials and hardships of various types. The promise that all will be well is what we are waiting for isn't going to happen until our bodies are redeemed. In the meantime, when suffering and trials take place, remember that they do not separate us from God's love. We have hope that is beyond this world. 

Psalm 57

 

Commentator Dr. Herbert Lockyer pointed out that David's faith in God to save him and avenge him is strong, but David himself isn't vindictive in his actions.  David proclaims twice that his heart is steadfast (set, confident). David's heart is set on God, not the problems around him, and because his heart (faith) is set that is why he can sing and praise God. David, as it were, can say thank you even before he receives help because he knows God. We can have that same confidence if we truly place ourselves in God's hands. 

1 Samuel 24

 

As bad as Saul was, I have to say, that here, he showed wisdom. Not only did he not attack (truly evil men will attack even if shown mercy), but he also had the wisdom to ask for mercy for his household when David became king. There is much in Saul's life that we can say we shouldn't imitate, but the wisdom shown here to humble yourself and ask for mercy is something we should. 

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Psalm 54

 

Verse three ends with the word, Selah. This means stop/pause and consider. Consider the dangers you face and who you are calling on for help. Why am I pointing this out? It is because there are times when, after a danger has passed, we forget how bad it was. The reason we need to consider is that once we are through, we can praise the God who brought us rather than dismissing it as nothing very bad. If we realize how God has truly saved and helped us, then our hearts can praise Him with greater sincerity. Also, when we consider who we are calling on, then our hearts can have hope and peace because we know it will work out. 

Jeremiah 29

I find it interesting that God tells the people there to settle down, to make peace, that he is going to bring them back later, after 70 years from Babylon, back into the promised land. Yet in the midst of this, he also tells them that, though he has brought them there to keep them safe, they, too, have not been obedient. They, too, have disobeyed and are looking for false answers and looking to false prophets. Yet these are the very people whom God gave the vision to Jeremiah that were the good figs, the good people. These are the ones that God is saving.

 

Just a reminder that sometimes what God is going to do may not be right now. God is going to make these people ready to return. But for right now, many of them aren't looking to God the way they should.

 

But God's got a plan. And God is going to take these, many of these, who are still looking for salvation in their time and deliverance from Babylon, he's going to take them and change them and prepare them so that they will be the people, or their children or grandchildren will be the people that God can take back to the promised land. Because God has a plan. A plan to prosper and take care of them, even if they may not be looking for it right now.

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