Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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September 15, 2013

Good morning, dear ones.

Lots on the objective list for the day…besides just taking off soon for our Gospel Sing session at Country Meadows in Woodburn…followed by church…then delivering the little boys to their mommy…etc.

May your day, that was as much made by the LORD as mine, be blessed. I guess it kind of depends on us, doesn’t it?

Love, Dad/Ray.

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15, September
Passage: Jeremiah 52-Lamentations 2
Focus: "Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is none to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.” Lamentations 1:2.

We keep circling the same themes over and over. I acknowledge that. Very likely you ask, “Why?” I do too. Is it because I am in rut and can’t seem to come up with any original thought? Maybe. But as I ponder the matter, two answers come to mind:

1. Our primary concern with this trek through the Old Testament is devotional—attempting to focus on principles and lessons that flow from the text rather than emphasizing technicalities of history, language, and cross-commentary research.
2. The Biblical text itself keeps circling the same themes over and over—and for good reason.

These basic themes address our most basic problem (our most common point of failure) and guide us to our most basic and urgent solution. BASIC PROBLEM: The deceptive effects of the NATURAL SIN NATURE—the stupid notion that one can ignore or violate the authority of the Sovereign Maker/Owner and still win—still avoid the ultimate consequences of the BASIC PROBLEM—which is confirmed not so much by the course one takes, but by its outcome—which outcome is fully realized after one’s death, not entirely during one’s life (Hebrews 9:27). BASIC SOLUTION: Seeking God on His terms, accepting His gracious offer of spiritual and heart-level transformation on His terms—which allows for loving Him and serving Him rather than resisting Him—which we repeatedly encapsulate in the phrase, A HEART AFTER GOD. BASIC BOTTOM-LINE CONCLUSION: If the BASIC SOLUTION is not sought, found, embraced, and applied, the BASIC PROBLEM remains in place to rule and reign within every human heart. BASIC PARADOX: This basic Gospel truth is simple enough to be received by a child, yet revolutionary enough (for one governed by the BASIC PROBLEM) to be rejected by a PhD.

This emphasis on a devotional approach with the prioirity of a HEART AFTER GOD does not require that we annul the importance of Biblical and doctrinal accuracy. Let us never give up doing our utmost to get it right. However, it must be accepted that doctrinal differences will continue. The debate, for example, between Calvinism and Arminianism is not expected to end this side of Heaven. But I cannot avoid the basic conclusion that the practical and personal success or failure of both theological systems is determined by a practical and personal HEART AFTER GOD. Each system succeeds with it, and fails without it.

These simple ideas can be detected even through this reading that moves into Jeremiah’s collection of laments (Lamentations). For good reason he mourns the disasters that have befallen Israel, his beloved homeland and people group. The very people that the LORD intended to demonstrate the blessings of His rule are now forced to demonstrate the results of violating His rule.

Jeremiah mourns with Biblical balance. It’s not just a big gush of subjective human emotion and sentimental nostalgia, beholding the reality of human suffering. He mourns appropriately over the reality of SIN and its deceitfulness—over the fact that loving God is a choice of wonderful wisdom, and choosing to love other gods or any other stupid substitute is incredibly foolish and terrible—just like God said—JUST LIKE GOD SAID! Duh!