Jeremiah 42:1-44:23 + 2 Timothy 2:1-21 + Psalm 92:1-93:5 + Proverbs 26:3-5
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Old Testament – The three Jeremiah chapters today are quite eventful! It is intriguing that the Israelites ask Jeremiah for a message from God – and that whatever they hear back they will do and obey. But then they don’t obey! Are we like this at times… ? We promise promise promise God that we’ll listen & change… but then do we? If you are going through struggles in your life today will you call out to God? Do you trust that He will answer in His own unique and perfect way and timing? And then will you trust and obey?
Jeremiah chapter 42 gives a good overview of the day’s readings, with these closing 2 verses in this chapter from Jeremiah: "And today I have told you exactly what he said, but you will not obey the LORD your God any better now than you have in the past. So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going." Jeremiah delivered the message from God… but knew that the message would go unheeded.
Chapter 43 reminds me that when we are disobedient to God’s will that our disobedience can affect not only ourselves, but others around us too. Mind you, Egypt was not a "house of the holy" – but the Israelites disobedience is going to bring destruction to themselves and Egypt. They’re carrying their disobedience and curse on to others. Jeremiah 43’s verses 9 & 10 stood out: ""While the people of Judah are watching, bury large rocks between the pavement stones at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace here in Tahpanhes. I will surely bring my servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, here to Egypt." Interesting that God calls Nebuchadnezzar his "servant". Would God have said this about the Israelites at this time? Called them his servants?
Chapter 44 is a great reminder of why it’s a bad idea to pursue idols in our life instead of God! Verse 7 asks "Why are you destroying yourselves?" I love this verse. Why are we destroying ourselves? We bring upon self-abuse, self-destruction, when we pursue things that are not of God. Think about it. They may bring a quick temporary pleasure, but in the long run are they building us up or destroying us? Why are we destroying ourselves?
New Testament – 2 Timothy 2, verse 9 has a great verse for us One Year Bible readers! 🙂 "But the word of God cannot be chained." Amen! Well, I suppose in theory one individual Bible could be chained (as you sadly see below), but not all Bibles. God’s living and active Word overall cannot be chained!
2 Tim 2 is a great chapter today… just jam packed with wisdom. Verse 4 stands out: "And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army." How often do we become tied up in affairs of this life…. ? Every day? Every hour? More often than that… ? If we are constantly "distracted" by the affairs of this life, do we lose sight of Jesus? Do we distract ourselves so much so that we can’t serve Jesus well?
Verse 21 is a great closing verse today: "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work." Will you keep yourself pure? Have you ever realized that you are indeed a utensil for God’s use? 🙂
Psalms – Today in Psalm 92 verse 4 we read a joyful verse! “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.” When was the last time you reflected upon God’s deeds? When was the last time you reflected upon God’s work of his hands? Do you think this might be a good daily habit? Do God’s deeds make you glad? Do you sing for joy regularly for the work of God’s hands?
Bible.org’s commentary on Psalm 92 titled "Worship – Our Delight and Our Duty" is at this link.
Proverbs – In Proverbs 26 today I think we have a catch-22! Someone correct me if I’m wrong here in verses 4 & 5 – "When arguing with fools, don’t answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation." So do we not answer their foolish arguments…. or do we? 🙂 I can see the wisdom in both verses in different circumstances… Let me know what you think on this one in the Comments below!
Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Francesca Battistelli’s song “God is Good:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbXjgwDHNpQ
Do you believe that God is good? Click here for His Goodness;!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2 Timothy 2:16 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you will avoid godless chatter in your life. Pray that you will not indulge in gossip. Pray that you won’t become ungodly by allowing godless chatter to infect your life in any way, shape or form.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
Proverbs 26:3-5 ~~~ Jeremiah 42:1-44:23
To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David. THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right. [Rom. 3:10.] (Psalms 14:1 AMP)
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
(Psalms 107:17 KJV)
Mike—I believe the answer to your question regarding the text of today’s Proverb can be found in our reading of Jeremiah. A fool is someone who has not submitted themselves to the obedience of God and that submission is not based on what they say, what they appear to be doing but on what is in their heart. Jesus said, O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34 KJV). What we speak and how we speak is never limited to what comes out of our mouths. We speak in three ways: words, body and deed; our actions speak louder than our words, our body language as we speak gives BIG hints to what we are saying.
The “leaders” who killed Gedaliah, the leaders who then killed and chased Gedaliah’s assassins, “Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah” were all “guerrillas,” rebels. They were not rebels who carried a righteous indignation against the appointed leadership, they were rebels against God and His Word. A fool by his/her very nature and character will not submit to God and that is why the writer of Proverbs states:
Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you’ll be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he’ll become wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:4-5 HCSB)
No matter how you answer, a fool he/she will still be a fool and believers are in danger of falling into the same pot as the fool if they associate with him or her. A fool is angry that is why they are rebelling against God and established leadership.
Don’t make friends with an angry man, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. (Proverbs 22:24-25 HCSB)
Rebellious people, thus fools, can never be trusted. If they rebel against godly leadership, they will rebel against God and if they rebel against God they will rebel against godly leadership. This mode operand can be found in every area of life, in the man or woman who declares to the husband or wife that is not there’s that they will leave their respective spouses if only …, o the person whose change of behavior or lifestyle is predicated on someone or something else changing before they “get it together.”
Fools approached Jeremiah for a Word from God and God humored and tested them. They got their Word and they remained fools. Change is not change until it’s changed. If you are speaking to a “fool”, either you are trying to effect change in the fools life or you are trying to make yourself look good or wise in the eyes of others. Either way your words are wasted. KNOW your audience and know yourself well enough that you operate out of right motives.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
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I agree. A tough one but like you said seeing the wisdom in both truths. Not allowing ourself to go to the same vile, ignorance responds as the fool. Speaking the truth in wisdom and love would stifle any attemt by the fool to boast in knowledge in his argument.
I want to thank you so much for your daily blog. It accompanies the daily reading so nicley. It is food for thought. Keep up the good work. (Gal 6:9)
Mark
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Well, Prov 26:4,5. I would make an obvious statement of fact or ask a question to provoke the other person to think for himself.
Of late, I lost the friendship of a colleague. I wasn’t making a judgement of her gambling, but by accident pointed out a news of a jackpot winner could be a publicity gimmick.
She was damned mad with me and snapped at me to nail my scepticism on the cross.
I greeted her but she snubbed at me. Till today, she showed her face to me.
Hugh
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I have been struggling with these two arguments for many months now. I work for a board on which sit two men who definitely fit the description of putting forth foolish arguments. I have waivered between arguing with them and at that time losing time and spending energy in a futile effort to enlighten them which never happens and sitting silently through the entire meeting without correcting them or enlightening them with the correct information. They always only give the part of the information which will support their position and never listen to the rest of the information or to any of the other board members. I go home frustrated after every board meeting. To answer them or not, neither course of action corrects the problem – fools never or rarely take advice or change their position. After much discussion with my wife and friends, I believe one must wait patiently until the Lord sees fit to remove such a person from authority and then you can move on. Or you may have to separate yourself from a certain situation and move on with your life if you are not patient enough to bear the burden of working with a foolish person.
Bill
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Ask a foolish Question…
You get a foolish answer.
Is that from an Almanac?
Hmmm…
I like playing with proverbs. I Used to take one a day and try to apply and live by…
Grace and Forgiveness is alot easier but wisdom is foound in the chapters.
When arguing with fools, don’t answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.
When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
This kind of logic is fun because at first it seems like a contradiction…
(though when I asked a child this with no preconceived idea that this could be contrary they seemed to have no problem and gave me the answer immediately…sometimes I overthink a situation….(grin).
I like what Butch wrote, it’s closer to where I am.
Jesus seemed to have a board of elders he had to deal with and quite bluntly even by western mind set, there question once you know the rest of the story is quite foolish:
Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Luk 20:29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
Luk 20:30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
Luk 20:31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
Luk 20:32 Last of all the woman died also.
Luk 20:33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
Hmmmp…given those “set of circumstances…it might not sound like a foolish question.
But Jewish Law and in reality, God’s laws, were a little less severe I think and applied to the whole person…Paul knew the law:
Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband.
Rom 7:3 So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
THIS is the Answer…
But Why didn’t Jesus simply do as Paul did and use the LAW to Answer the Question.
What was the The Foolish Question they said and waht was really the question they had?
Pauls Answer if it had been given would be Proverbs 26:4
When arguing with fools, don’t answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.
They would have argued NEXT about resurrection because that did not believe in it and if you have seen heated discussions, if you start answering what people are asking they ask another question….
BUT…..
Jesus Knew they already HAD the answer according to Law and really weren’t asking about Marriage…,
He said,
Luk 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Luk 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Luk 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Luk 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
Whoops… Ask a Silly question you might get more than you bargained for…
Jesus Eliminated the discussion by answering the questions that were not asked and showing the evidence of the answer from Keen Insight into the real issues.
We all have two languages and maybe a whole lot more…
We might say we want a soda when we really want to get out of the house and the real issue is we don’t know how to past that sticky point in a statement you just made with your spouse so it’s…”I am going to get a soda”
We often resist the Truth and are openly terrified of anyone gettting “inside our skin” or heart to really see what we did and why and what we really mean.
Proverbs knows this and reveals not contradiction, but a “contra-indication”
“When arguing with fools, don’t answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.”
In other words…don’t give them waht they already know….or they will feel wise and you look foolish…, but Have God show you what really is the issue and you may get to the rest of proverbs to find out How to reply in such as way as to be like Jesus who when he was done answering got this response
Luk 20:39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
Luk 20:40 And after that they durst not ask him any .
Wise Men listen, they wait, they observe and when they finally speak thier mind, usually all doubt and discussion is removed.
Having created, participated, stirred up circumvented, well every wrong way to do a thing…. in thinking back I get a kick out of thinking about board meetings and watching how silly we make things seem so important,
Donald Trump can’t really get to the bottom of the antics in the board room, but given a few well placed scenes and typical human nature (sinful) everyone seems to know the first part of proverbs 26…
I hope for Bill and all of us we get the chance to answer a fool in his folly……
The response may indicate whether it was from us or from the Lord Jesus who seems to be able to take a lifetime to touch even ahardened soul like mine.
Michael
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‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I am grieved over the disaster I have inflicted on you. ….None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.”
Alot of chaotic changes have been going on in my life for the past few months.By God’s grace,things are beginning to settle down…I read the posts on “church”yesterday,I’m not going to continue the thread but I just want to share with you about the remnant of Israel..
For hundreds of years the church chose to ignore Israel saying God has replaced his promises to her with promises to the gentile church.Now many jews are recognising Jesus as their Lord and a reconciliation process has started.Last week a conference was held in Romania with all the denominations and the messianic jews…the theme,reconciliation and forgiveness.Jesus prayed that we the body be one as the God,Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one,it is a miracle to see this coming to pass and my prayer today is though we are all different,we should love,accept one another so the world may truly know us as followers of Christ.
Just in case anyone wants to know more about this reconciliation proces the website is http://www.tjcii.org/
God bless you all
Anka
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mike, i think the proverbs are meant to be complementary and not mutually exclusive. ie, if you ARE gong to use your time to answer a fool, make sure you do so quickly and efficiently and in a way that means they know you think they are fools and don’t get drawn into ‘endless genealogies and arguments of no value’. If you aren’t going to bother, then make a claer decision not to bother and don’t come back later and waste your time!
Rob
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Mike, I believe attitude is the key to reconciling these proverbs. When arguing with fools and it becomes intense, then you put them on the defensive and they will not listen to what you have to say. The argument will lead to anger and that will only make the fool more determine to stand by his/her incorrect thinking. If you answer their questions quietly with a smile on your face and preface it with “I understand what you are saying but this is what I believe” then you may just plant the seed that will make them reconsider. You are not criticizing them but instead offering them your opinion for consideration. After all, Jesus stands at the door and knocks – He doesn’t beat the door down or demand that the nonbeliever let Him in, and He is our role model. In the same manner, we can’t project Christian attitude and beliefs by beating a person over the head with them. We have to gently and lovingly put forth our love for Christ and His love for us so that the nonbeliever will want to open the door of his/her heart to receive the message.
God Bless!
Pat
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There are so many wonderfully inspiring truths in these chapters.
From Jeremiah 42:3 Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do. For those who wonder about God’s will for their lives, this is a good place to start–ask the Lord to show us where to go and what to do. I have turned to these verses many times for direction.
As well, 2 Timothy is chalk full of great teaching. I love that Paul invests himself in the life of his protege Timothy. Paul knows he is on his way out and one of his legacies is the deep investment of life to life he has had in Timothy’s life. He says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 tim 2:2. But he precedes this by saying, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” We minister to people out of grace environment. I thank God for the “Pauls’ in my life through the years, and I am privileged to be a Paul to people in my own sphere of influence. Keep on investing in SOMEONE!!!
Luch
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Mike, When reading these verses in proverbs I am reminded that I am not a good argurer. One of my daily prayer request is for wisdom in my speech because if I am not careful I will end up being the fool in both instances.
Brandon
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There is a time for everything under the sun.
Steve
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After looking at a few different translations of that proverb, the impression I got was “don’t satisfy a fool’s desire to think he is not a fool by engaging his idiocy in intelligent discourse. Rather, give him an answer that will remind him that he has no mind and help inspire him to go get wisdom for himself.”
Mnyess.
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I too struggled with the verses in Proverbs- I have them highlighted with a bunch of gray smudge from writing and erasing changing thoughts on this verse.
There aren’t any contradictions in the Word of God, so this verse is one of the many God gives to attract us more to study His Word.
I don’t think I could have said it any better than what Michael wrote! Very well put, and it was easy to put two and two together since I just completed rereading the book of Luke!
Thanks for the insight Brother!
Ariane
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Don’t debate with a fool or it will look like you’re on the same footing and will make the fool’s case look stronger. But if your silence would give the impression to others that you have nothing to answer the fool, then make a sharp, ringing retort. (Again, not debating, just presenting truth.)
– my version of commentaries on this passage, including Matthew Henry’s.
Blessings,
Joanne
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Thank you Ramona, I like your comments also.
I have read a few versions and I like the VOICE Proverbs 26:4-5
Never answer a fool on his own foolish terms,or you will become
like him,
5 Rather, answer a fool on his own foolish terms,or he will become wise in his own eyes.
thanks Mike I enjoy through the Bible
Doug
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Thanks Ramona: I am dealing with a antagonistic man right now. A lot of you and Mike and the Bible say are helping me understand. Sometimes we come across “good Christian” people that act like fools and I don’t think we can reach them without Spiritual help. I think all we can do is extend them is EGR.(extra grace required} However, I feel that we need to be careful because we can easily be pulled into what Vs 4 and 5 say, “or you will be like him yourself.” and ” he will be wise in his own eyes.”
Bob
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I believe we should only answer a foolish argument with the wisdom that comes from the word of God. If we don’t know the word, we are subject to respond just as foolish as those who speak/argue as if they don’t. Therefore we either become like them by responding with our own thoughts or we enlighten them with the Word of God… In a sense satan argued/tempted Jesus in the wilderness by suggesting foolish behavior to prove his true identity. But Jesus was wise enough not to argue about the foolish requests made of Him. He simply quoted the Word of God. End of conversation.
Matthew 1:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Peggy
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Yes, I also found these two proverbs confusing as they seem to advocate opposite actions when dealing with a fool. I thought Ramona’s observations with the Jeremiah’s reading were keen. And it made me think how much I am like Johanan and the rebels. I can see the office politics and backstabbing and how it makes sense to ally with the worldly power for safety and not the perceived enemy… Yet they received advice to to the opposite. So it would seem the fool is not humble enough to receive the advice, because the fool knows better. I am often like this. So in order to reach a fool like me, often someone has to connect with me somewhere on my foolish level (the 2nd part of the Proverb, like what Jeremiah’s doing) and not get caught up in my foolishness (the 1st part of the Proverb, for example- the office politics). Incidentally, isn’t this what Jesus did to save us! 🙂 and furthermore what we are trying to do for those that do not yet believe?
Charles
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In Jeremiah today, the insincerity of the Israelites while seeking the Lord’s guidance is a solemn warning to me. It is a classic case that they already made up their mind to go to Egypt and simply asked God to bless their plan. Even when they seemed open to hear His guidance, their heart was set to do their own will. When the Lord came back with a different plan, they rebelled. Am I ready and humble to take in the ‘different’ plan when I pray? Do I have the right posture even before I approach the throne? God already knows our heart just like Jeremiah told the Israelites he knew they would disobey. Perhaps start examining our motives before we pray.
Karen
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2 Timothy 2:11-13, one of the trustworthy sayings that Paul wrote, has a very direct message. If we die with Jesus (end old life, put on new self) then we will also live with him. If we suffer through persecution patiently, then we will reign with Christ. If we turn our back on Jesus, deciding not to follow him, then he will forsake us also.
But the part that stood out the most was the last verse. In the previous verses, it says that Jesus will do the same to us that we do to him. But here, the saying indicates if we stop being faithful to Jesus, God will still remain faithful! It caught me off guard, but then again, just because we stopped being faithful doesn’t mean God will do that too. He is a loving, faithful God. It reminds me of part of a verse in the Old Testament: “he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Anglea
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We should be hardworking and God will reward us similar to a farmer and his crops. We should also be honest, and not cheat our way to success. Most importantly, we need to be soldiers to Christ, join his suffering and, not be distracted with random affairs but focus on pleasing God and his word. We should also entrust the words that Jesus has spoken with reliable people to spread to others. Finally, abstain from gossip and false statements as those words spread rapidly and become “ungodly.” “The lord knows those who are his.” 2 Timothy 2:19 meaning God knows who is loyal to him and who isn’t so by committing ungodly acts you turn away from him and everyone who wishes to confess must turn away from these acts.
Andrew
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It’s time to answer a fool if & when his/her words are likely to cause others pain. distraction or confusion etc to others.
Allan
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I love how Nebuchadnezzar was being used by God for his purpose and use. The Israelites God’s children were being so difficult and hard to get through and it is hard when we want to hear a word from God but we in the end don’t want tonhear what he has to say. We learn the hard way. Or we want to go somewhere outside of God’s protection and the place in which we strive is the death of us.. hmmm
Yes I want to be God’s utensil. Use me to serve your good purpose.
This past week I reflect on the work of God’s hands. He is so good. My husband too..is wise and gives me advice that I don’t take alot of times but should and God’s hands definitely were orchestrated this week. He is so good.
I believe we answer the fool to an extent but then when it is a competing match of onenupmanship. I say stop, don’t entertain that foolishness.
Dee
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