I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
The king, his attendants, and the majority of the people refused to listen to what God had instructed Jeremiah to say. Yet, when Nebuchadnezzar invaded once more, the king sent to Jeremiah and asked him to pray to the Lord for them. Shortly after this, Nebuchadnezzar turned aside to face the Egyptian army which had marched out to relieve the siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah told the king that the Egyptian army would turn back and the Babylonian army would return and sack Jerusalem.
While the Babylonian army was off engaging the Egyptians, Jeremiah attempted to leave the city in order to claim some family property elsewhere. However, as he left the city, a relative of one of the king’s courtiers arrested him, accusing him of attempting to defect to the Babylonians. There were two factions in the court. One faction wanted to kill Jeremiah, although they wanted to do so in an indirect manner. The second faction wanted to protect him. The king seemed to favor the latter group, but lacked the power to stand up to the former group.
At one point the king asked Jeremiah for his advice on what he should do. Jeremiah advised the king to surrender, telling him that he and his family would live if he did so and that Jerusalem would be burned, the king would not escape, and his wives turned over to the officers of the Babylonian army if he did not. The king was afraid to take Jeremiah’s advice, even though Jeremiah assured him that God had promised his fears would not be fulfilled.
How often have I suffered because I was afraid to follow the advice I received from God? I always struggle to know whether what I am hearing is God’s word for me or my own desires. I need to learn to pray more faithfully so that I can learn to distinguish God’s voice when He speaks to me.
I believe that what Paul wrote here concerning slaves and masters applies to employees and employers as well. I need to show respect for my employer so that I do not bring shame on God, and it is even more important to do so if my employer is a fellow believer. The passage goes on to emphasize that we should not quibble over the meaning of words. This is a challenge for me because I have known people who have used words with subtly different meaning in order to lay the groundwork for a false teaching. On the other hand, Paul continues by telling us that those who are doing this are doing so because they are seeking to appear godly in order to acquire wealth. Paul tells us that godliness with contentment is more valuable than material wealth. I will be content with sufficient funds to provide for food, shelter, and clothing. Those who love money, sooner or later, stray from the faith in pursuit of more of it.
Paul concludes by giving Timothy some final instructions which will benefit us all if we follow them. I will seek to live a life filled with righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. It is by these tactics that I can fight the good fight and cling to the eternal life which God has promised me through Christ Jesus. I will not be proud nor trust in money. Rather I will use my money in order to do good. I will strive to avoid foolish discussions and arguments. This is a challenge to me because not all arguments and discussions are foolish, but I struggle with keeping quiet when someone says something I view as foolish.
Reading this psalm is a reminder that life is short. The time to serve the Lord is NOW. We may not have a later in which to do it.
Those who lack self-control will be defeated in everything they attempt.