Jeremiah 21:1-23:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
The second section of Psalm 119, verses 9-16, tells us that the Word of God guides us into the path of purity. As sinners, we all live impure lives in an impure world, and all the impurities of this life only add dreadful disorder and compounding complexity to our days. Dragging dirt all around is exhausting, and living with mess only adds more stress to our lives. God desires that we live pure, clean, and well-ordered lives and in a quiet place of rest. This doesn’t relate just to our homes; it also affects the temple of our bodies and touches upon Him Who dwells therein. Some people’s lives are so shabby – cluttered with nonsense – dirty minds, filthy hearts, and nasty lips. This whole section alludes to our hearts (verses 10-11); our lips (verse 13); and our minds (verses 9, 12, and 15). Impurity is the product of universal sin, and it follows naturally hand-in-hand with sinners. To find and stay on the path of purity, we need constantly to “live according to God’s Word” (verse 1). Psalm 119:9-16 teaches us that God’s antidote for our impurity is His Word, and He calls on us to “meditate on His precepts and hide [His Word] in our hearts, so that we might not sin against God” (verses 6-16).
With compassion, Jeremiah continues to hammer home the promise of God’s judgment on Judah. In Jeremiah 21:1-23:8, we read again of God’s continuing death sentence on Jerusalem and Zedekiah’s selfish and evil administration. Here we see how King Zedekiah requests that “God would perform miracles as in times past so that Nebuchadnezzar would withdraw from Judah” (verse 2). One of the problems with our culture of unbelievers is the foolish hope within their unbelief that God should somehow – on their demand – save them miraculously out of a desperate, uncomfortable situation and transfer them to an immediate state of comfort and joy. Where does that idea come from? If they will have nothing to do with God in the good times, why should He have anything to do with them in the bad times? Zedekiah – a foolish and wicked king – obviously thought that God must be like some magic Genie who might come to his aid whenever summoned, but after he had had enough of Him, Zedekiah could just put Him back into the lamp. Zedekiah’s low concept of God is not worthy of his kingdom, so God instructed Jeremiah to tell him, “the God of Israel says, ‘I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands;’ and God Himself would fight against Zedekiah” (verses 4-5). Amazingly, Jeremiah warned him repeatedly, but the king and his peers only dug deeper into their sins and unbelief. In chapter 22, we read one of my favorite verses of Scripture which reveals God’s superlative patience: “O land, land, land, hear the Word of the LORD!” (verse 29). This verse should be inscribed on all of our public buildings – to remind us that our nation and our lives are in God’s hands alone.
I always appreciate reading Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. The words of 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 are encouraging to me because Paul communicates his reception of so much joy from the believers there – even in the face of adversity. Paul’s compassion and love for the Thessalonians emerge right through this text as He writes, “We were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought); out of intense longing we made every effort to see you” (verse 17). People who truly love each other also miss each other, and they long to be together with one another. They find it lonely and difficult to be apart, and though they may be removed from each other, they think often about each other. This is how God made us. In chapter 3, we see Timothy’s encouraging report over which Paul rejoiced. He wrote, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you” (3:13). Clearly, Paul had a great love for the Thessalonians and a wonderful relationship with them. May God grant us similar feelings about one another! The Word of God is also His antidote for our adversity.
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