October 17th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Jeremiah 30:1-31:26 ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-15
Psalm 87:1-7 ~ Proverbs 25:18-19

Old Testament - Wow. These two chapters in Jeremiah today are about the most hopeful I think we've read yet in the book of Jeremiah. These chapters give so much joy to my heart to read them, as the promises of deliverance and hope of restoration are given by God.  In Jeremiah chapter 31 verses 15 through 17 today we read - "This is what the LORD says: "A cry of anguish is heard in Ramah--mourning and weeping unrestrained. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted--for her children are dead." But now the LORD says, "Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you. Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy. There is hope for your future," says the LORD. "Your children will come again to their own land."

Jeremiah 31:18 gives a great example of the true relationship we can have with God - "I have heard Israel saying, `You disciplined me severely, but I deserved it. I was like a calf that needed to be trained for the yoke and plow. Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the Lord my God." Israel was finally beginning to repent and return to God. I know the word "discipline" can maybe be a tough one for us - we've probably all experienced some unjust discipline. I pray that you can see that God's discipline for us is ultimately very loving - training us, turning us, restoring us. If you feel that God is disciplining you in your life now, will you let him? So that he can train you, turn you, restore you?

I love the last verse in Jeremiah's readings today! 31:26 - "At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet." Very sweet readings in Jeremiah today indeed!  When is the last time you've had sweet sleep?  Think this kitten below is having some sweet sleep?  :)  (Sorry, I can't resist the cute cat or dog pictures lately...)

New Testament - 1 Timothy 2 starts of with yet another reminder to pray for others... I love and need this type of reminder... often! "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity." This is powerful. Pray for all people. Make requests for them. Plead God's mercy upon them. Give thanks. Pray for those leading our government. I think these verses are very appropriate during this time of local elections coming up. Pray for all of the candidates. Make requests for them. Plead God's mercy upon them. Give thanks.  Pray.

The other thing these opening two verses remind me of is to "Pray the News." I think often times we read about all of the bad news in the world and maybe feel a bit helpless / hopeless in the midst of it all. However, I strongly believe that God has blessed us with the ability to "Pray the News." Pray for the hurricane victims, the people starving and dying in other parts of the world, the person who was in a car crash in your town, etc. etc. Pray for them. Make requests for them. Plead God's mercy upon them. Give thanks.  Will you join me in "Praying the News" each day?

I realize that Paul's instructions for women in today's readings may seem a bit controversial.  This is one of those days that if you have the Tyndale Publishers One Year Bible companion to please read the 3 questions & answers for today.  All 3 relate to these instructions of Paul's.  Basically, the instructions for women in today's readings can either be interpreted as being 1. historically conditioned - instructions just for the women of the church in Ephesus at that time & place or 2. universal and timeless instructions.  Honestly, different Christian denominations will interpret these verses different ways - but probably along 1 of the two lines above for the most part.  The One Year Bible Companion does a great job of going down these 2 paths, with great detail placed on why the instructions could be being historically conditioned because of the Ephesian church having a unique case of prevalent false teachings.  Overall, know that Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching or being active in church life.  Priscilla taught Apollos, a great preacher from Acts.  Phoebe worked in the church (see Romans 16:1).  Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Eudia and Syntyche were all women who were the Lord's workers in the New Testament as well (see Romans 16:6, 12 and Philippians 4:2).

Psalms - Psalm 87 is a celebration of Jerusalem as the City of God, as we read in verse 3 - "O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!"  As we continue to read through the One Year Bible this year it is amazing to reflect upon how much focus there is on Jerusalem as the city of God.  Truly, so many of the Psalms glorify Jerusalem, often as a foreshadowing of the Heavenly City of God.  Indeed, as this verse suggests, many glorious things are said of Jerusalem in the Bible!

Proverbs - Proverbs 25:18 today reminds me of the danger of rumors... please be so careful not to spread rumors... they indeed can indeed be "as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow." I am reminded of the words of some song way back in the 80's (can anyone remember this artist?) "Look at all these rumors, surrounding me every day. I just need some time. Some time to get away. From all these rumors. Can't take it no more. Stop spreading these rumors around. Stop spreading the lies!" A modern day proverb? :)

What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up in the Comments section below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

Jeremiah 30-31:26

There is a difference between being “happy” and having “joy.” Happiness is based on circumstances, but Joy is knowing the final outcome. God didn’t promise us “happy;” however, He did promise us Joy. I believe for one to trust in the Lord the vision of the immediate must be exchanged for sight that sees the future. In chapters 30 and 31, we see Israel’s “current” state against her future, her final outcome. Knowing our glorious outcome as Believers in the midst of trials and pain, should cause us, like Jeremiah to wake up from a “Sweet” sleep.

I Timothy 2:1-15

I’m going to throw a little fire into an already controversial passage. When Paul wrote this in his letter,

13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was the woman, not Adam, who was deceived by Satan, and sin was the result.

What really happened to Adam back there in the garden? If Eve was deceived and Adam was not, then did Adam deliberately violate a command of God? To me it seems that it wasn’t until “both” ate, Eve by deception and Adam by deliberate choice, possibly, that they were put out of the garden. What would have happened if Eve had ate and when she offered it to Adam, who was probably right there observing the entire conversation with the snake (Anybody ever wonder why Eve wasn’t shocked that the snake was talking to her? Could they have been “talk’en to the animals” long before Dr. Doolittle.