Jeremiah 1:1-2:30; Philippians 1:27-2:11
Biblically, Psalm 115:1-11 guides us in the right direction for expressing our praise, honor, and worship: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness” (verse 1). God alone is worthy to receive our praise, honor, and worship. Verse 3 reveals His authority and His capacity: “He does whatever pleases Him.” In reality, this can be true of no one else. Only God can do whatever He likes. By contrast with humanly conceived or concocted gods, our God can “speak, see, hear, smell, feel, and walk” (verses 4-7). He can “help, and shield us” to the superlative level (repeated three times in verses 9-11). Our God is able to do all this with no effort, instrument, or agency. The text states that “Those who make idols of silver and gold will be like them” (verses 4 and 8). One of the natural outcomes of every worldview is that men take on the characteristics of their beliefs. We become just like the objects of our worship. Idol worshipers begin to act like their own ridiculous gods. This truth is an evidence of an inviolable spiritual law. Thus, Psalm 115 reveals that we have a choice about whom we will serve, worship, and eventually emulate – either the living God, or a dead idol – “made by the hands of men” (verse 4).
Having finished the book of Isaiah, we come now to another great prophetic work – the book of Jeremiah. Our reading for today is Jeremiah 1:1-2:30. Earlier, we saw that Isaiah lived “during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah” (cf., Isaiah 1:1) as the Assyrian empire was in decline. However, Jeremiah prophesied during the reigns from Josiah to Zedekiah, “when the people of Jerusalem went into exile” to Babylon (verses 1-3). Jeremiah was a young, sensitive prophet who warned the Judean people of Babylon’s coming destruction on them for their sin, but the people outright rejected Jeremiah’s message, plotted against him, and wanted to kill him (cf., Jeremiah 11:18-21). Jeremiah was heartbroken over Judah’s violation of God’s covenant, but God carefully protected him and enabled him to continue his prophetic work – even in the face of danger. Jeremiah begins his book by telling us that, God – in His sovereignty – “knew us before He formed us in the womb” (verse 5). Chapter 1 presents God’s call to Jeremiah: “‘Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you … they will fight against you but will not overcome you for I am with you,’ declares the LORD” (verses 17-19). Chapter 2:1-30 describes Jeremiah’s initial proclamations against Jerusalem for forsaking God.
In Philippians 1:27-2:11, Paul encourages us to make the smart and right choice now. He says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ … without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you” (verses 27-28). He reminds us that it has been “granted to us, not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for Him” (verse 29). That certainly doesn’t sound very positive to us, but our encouragement is bound up in “our union with Christ – that we are one in spirit and purpose with Him” (cf., 2:1-3). We should imitate the humility of our Lord by developing “the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus” (verse 5). Paul points out that, eventually, “every knee will bow” – either willingly or forcefully – before “the name of Jesus,” and “every tongue” will “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (2:10-11). In other words, we are admonished that the place and time to resolve eternal issues in our hearts and minds is in the present certainty of the here and now – not in the absent uncertainty of the nebulous where and when. We have no other option, so to put it off until later will certainly be too late.
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