Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good day, dear people.

I returned from our WOG with nearly 2.5 pounds of blackberries. But picking is getting more selective with many berries bearing mold. That could be a result of the recent heavy rains.

Hopefully, I can knock out a job of crafting and installing graphics on a big rig truck tractor today. I may need to run to town for some materials for completing it. And since it’s already so late, I better get on it.

May your day be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This is not the total contents of that verse. I’ve intentionally quoted only the main body of the verse. My reason was to try and select something from these three chapters that offers positive hope and change rather than pronouncement of doom and gloom—rather than such a constant lambasting over sin and rebellious duplicity—rather than condemnation and the promise of God’s severe judgment and punishment. This is a straightforward appeal by the “LORD Almighty” (This is a title for Sovereign God appearing 77 times in the NIV text of Jeremiah). He is calling His people to “put on their thinking caps” (as my second grade teacher used to say). We are to use that cranial gifting He has provided to objectively evaluate worldviews, their benefits, and/or their consequences. Belief systems are like gardens that yield fruit. The warning of sowing and reaping is indicated just 3 verses following the FOCUS VERSE—“Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law” (6:19). That sure sounds a lot like Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Question: If it is true that people reap what they sow, how can it be valid to blame God for what is reaped—for the results of insisting on doing what one knows to be in violation of God’s laws? How could God’s laws even be laws if violating them had no consequence?

Anyway, the portion of the FOCUS VERSE that I’ve quoted is a very reasonable and positive appeal. The LORD is the author of true science—objective reasoning—the collecting of data and formulating unbiased conclusions according to the evidence. Humans are the only living creatures capable of that. But to exercise that gift with an anti-accountability-to-God-bias is to end up with a bunch of BS—Bad Science. Notice that the FOCUS VERSE ends up both sad and ugly with the Omniscient All-Knowing One adding this PS: “But you said, ‘We will not listen’” (6:16). Make no mistake about it, anti-accountability-to-God-bias is bad stuff (BS again).

Another question: If we are resolving to LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, how much space is left for backsliding, disobedience, or rebellion? None is the correct answer. So any backsliding, disobedience, or rebellion offer glaring evidence of a heart problem—and the charge that the LORD presents through Jeremiah in chapter 4 is of profound importance: “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts” (4:4). I can’t imagine anything much more personal and private than circumcision. EXACTLY!!!! Think about it.