In Proverbs 25:1-10, we read that this section contains “more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah” (verse 1). As Solomon’s great-grandson – nine generations removed (cf., Matthew 1:7-10) – Hezekiah, who was a good king, must have genuinely appreciated his great-great-grandfather’s writings. He seriously desired that they should be “copied” and further disseminated for reading. In verse 2, we read that "matters which are concealed by God" serve to glorify Him. This means that God, Who is omniscient, is properly glorified even by the knowledge that we don’t have about Him. Whatever we do know about God comes to us by revelation (i.e., by His Self-disclosure) – whether by special revelation or general revelation – and this is a glorious truth. However, God – because He is God – reserves the right to conceal or withhold from us whatever He chooses, and this concealment also glorifies Him in that our ignorance requires us to humble ourselves before Him in simple recognition that our Creator possesses knowledge which is far beyond our comprehension. This truth inherently and automatically establishes that He is greater than we are, and it exalts Him high above us. We may rightfully say that “He is out of our league.” If we honor a wise man because his wisdom and insight are greater than our own, how much more should we praise, honor, glorify, trust, and worship a God Who is omniscient and knows things that we can never know? The truth of verse 2 logically brings us to our proper place before God – we must admit that He knows, but we do not.
In Jeremiah 31:15-32:25, we come to a messianic section of Jeremiah, and we read about God’s glorious promise of the New Covenant. Jeremiah begins this section with “a voice of mourning in Ramah … mourning and great weeping; Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more” (verse 15). Rachel typifies Israel’s mothers who have – over generations – wept for their children throughout their sufferings and many losses. Here, Jeremiah prophetically sees the children of Israel going into the Babylonian exile in the near future, but he also sees Herod’s coming attempt to destroy the Messiah by killing all the boys – two years and under – in Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth. Matthew indicates that this prophecy “was then fulfilled” at that time (cf., Matthew 2:17-18). Appropriately at this point, Jeremiah announces that the LORD intends to “show His great compassion to Ephraim … bring them back from captivity … plant them in the land … and make a new covenant with them … not like the old covenant … but He will put His law in their minds and write it on their hearts … they will all know Him … and He will remember their sins no more” (verses 20-35). In chapter 32, even as the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem, we see Jeremiah’s incredible trust in the LORD. God tells him to go out and buy a field – just before the fall of the doomed city. The prophet writes, “I knew that this was the Word of the LORD, so I bought the field” (verses 8-9). Who buys property in the face of impending disaster? Truly, God’s knowledge is out of our league.
In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul requests the prayers of the believers at Thessalonica so that “the message of the Lord may be spread rapidly, and that it may be honored," and He requests their "prayers for deliverance from wicked and evil men” (verses 1-2). In the next section, Paul warns them – and us – to remain busy and avoid idleness, which allows our minds, hearts, and hands to wander toward silly speculations and nonsense. We need to be active in wholesome, productive work which also glorifies God. Paul teaches the simple rule that, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (verse 10). This reminds me of the sluggard about whom we read so often in the book of Proverbs. Paul also reminds us, “never tire of doing what is right (verse 13).
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