Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good late afternoon.
We have just completed our sing time at Pheasant Pointe and need to run off again. More places to go, things to do, and people to see.
Blessings on your evening.
Love, Dad/Ray.
That’s the last verse of this passage of three chapters. I believe it is of huge importance for us to detemine whether this declaration is authentic and TRUE, or a man-made fabrication and FALSE. It cannot be both or partial. If it is authentic and TRUE, as I believe it is, do you see anything there that would cause us to worry or be concerned over the safety and protection of our own nation? To be sure, America has many enemies—with some of the worst being right inside her—some even leading her—but if Sovereign God is one of America’s enemies, is she not in serious trouble? My own insides are being made to tremble as I process these oracles of Jeremiah. While Israel and Judah are the main contemporary recipients of these warnings, the universal principles they bear cannot be ignored.
In typical form according to our typical morning routine, I delivered tea to Becki in bed just after 6am and asked, “How are you feeling?” At our age, feelings emitted from our old bodies are significant. She said she didn’t feel like she was done sleeping. Then she reciprocated with, “How are you?” I had just finished reading and pondering these three chapters of Jeremiah and answered after a thoughtful pause, “I’m feeling encouraged with my depression—trying to figure out if I’m feeling optimistic pessimism or pessimistic optimism.” By that I mean that I am very pessimistic about man’s ability to solve his own “anti-accountibility-to-God” mess—but very optimistic about my own security and the future of anyone living to love and please our Maker—eager to comply with His terms of engagement.
This passage presents resources for building a very strong case—a case you and I are wise to establish and get nailed down so tight that it cannot rattle loose. Let me list things out this way:
- God is real, and He made everything (10:10, 12, 16).
- Every idol or ideology that does not begin with that premise is WORTHLESS (10:3).
- Whereas Creator God is your Maker and Owner—you do not belong to you (10:23).
- Therefore, the Sovereign Maker/Owner not only has every right to set the rules for His human creatures to follow, but to also determine the consequences for their violating His rules—which appears here as “cursed”—the extreme opposite of His blessing (11:3, 8). (See 11:1-8 for “the terms of this covenant.”)
It makes so much sense to me that Genesis 1:1 is the premise for everything else. So here’s another good question: WHAT PART OF GOD MADE AND OWNS EVERYTHING DO WE NOT UNDERSTAND?