October - Reading 2

Good morning -

Our Scriptures for today's reading are:

John 1:19-28

James 1:12-18

Ecclesiastes 2:1-16

Jeremiah 3-4

May God bless this reading of His Word.

[ October 01, 2003, 09:23 AM: Message edited by: Clint Kritzer ]

 

Good evening –

In today’s reading, Jeremiah continues his theme of “unfaithful Israel.” I believe the most striking feature of this particular passage is when the prophet ceases his narrative as directed by the Lord and begins his own lament. We see an example of this in 4:10 and in 4:19-26. The anguish of Jeremiah is obvious. He obviously feels compassion for these people, his kinsmen and countrymen, but is unable to do any more than prophecy their fate. The destiny he sees for these people are pitiable. There is a conflict in my own mind about how the Israelites could have really avoided this. When Jeremiah calls the Lord, sovereign, does he not also recognize the exile as part of God’s plan for mankind? Remember that Jeremiah is preaching just a single generation before the exile. The fate has already been sealed despite the good acts of Josiah (2Kings 22-23).

In John today we see the meeting between the Pharisees and John the Baptist. Though John denies the question as to whether he is a prophet, he IS the “voice crying in the wilderness,” Isaiah’s sign that would immediately proceed the Messianic age (Isaiah 40:3). We also know that Christ asserts that John WAS Elijah. What John is, is the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5.

I very much appreciate the way that James sums up temptation. We should not blame God, nor our brothers, nor any other entity. The root of temptation is from our own evil desires. Satan plays upon these desires but he does not plant them. They exist already in our own carnal flesh. If they did not, the temptations would not exist at all.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Conclusion of Sunday School Lecture 7/27/03:

James 1:12-18

4. Trial and Temptation: (Read verses 1:12-15) Verse 12 is reminiscent of the Beatitudes but James takes it a bit further with an explanation of the blessing. The conclusion of bearing temptations is Eternal life and is evidence of one’s love of God. James then draws the conclusion that because God is Holy and therefore incapable of being tempted, logic dictates that He does not tempt. The effort to blame God for temptation is as ancient as the Garden where Adam blamed God for giving him the woman who tempted him. It did not hold water in the garden, it did not hold water for James, and it does not hold water now. Man succumbs to temptation because of his own weakness of flesh. While resisting temptation yields Eternal Life, succumbing to it concludes in death. James is not discussing evil from a theological or philosophical perspective but rather from the perspective of man’s responsibility.

5. God and Good Gifts: (Read vs. 1:16-18) This section relates to the previous and is tied in with “Do not be deceived (err – KJV).” God does not send temptation but rather Good and Perfect Gifts. Unlike other sources of light that produce varying shadows and degrees of magnitude, the Light of God is steady. The term “neither shadow of turning” is a bit of a textual problem for scholars. It may mean that God will not be eclipsed” if the astronomical analogy is still being applied. It may also mean “no possibilty of change.” Either way, the message is clear that God nor His gifts vary. The “firstfruits” is more of the clear Judaistic influence of James. Firstfruits were to be given to God according to Deuteronomy 18:4. The point being that Christians belong to God and demonstrate His Goodness in their character and actions.

 

Our Scriptures for 10/3 are:

John 1:29-34

James 1:19-27

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Jeremiah 5-6

 

Our Scriptures for 10/3 are:

John 1:29-34

James 1:19-27

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Jeremiah 5-6

 

Our Scriptures for 10/3 are:

John 1:29-34

James 1:19-27

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Jeremiah 5-6

 

Our Scriptures for 10/3 are:

John 1:29-34

James 1:19-27

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Jeremiah 5-6

 

Our Scriptures for 10/3 are:

John 1:29-34

James 1:19-27

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Jeremiah 5-6

 

Our Scriptures for 10/3 are:

John 1:29-34

James 1:19-27

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26

Jeremiah 5-6