The free love movement has been around for over a century. You may think it began in the 1960’s. There were proponents of sex without marriage since man was created. In Proverbs 5 young men are taught to listen to the instructions of a wise man to avoid adulterous relationships. Remember that this is the man that had 700 wives and 300 concubines. U.S. law only allows one sexual partner, husband, or wife, at a time. Even these laws have been modified to the point that sexual promiscuity is no longer illegal.
Note the description of the adulteress having honey dripping from her lips. Her words are smoother than oil. The results of a relationship with multiple women or men are a direct path to death. The promiscuous partners do not consider how they will affect those they are with.
How will this way of life lead to death and cause your finances and body to be depleted? We know more about sexually transmitted diseases than was known in the Old Testament. Of course, the financial problem comes from the use of prostitute to satisfy our lust.
Drinking water from your own cistern refers to staying faithful to your spouse. The description of your own wife may sound pornographic to some of us. In Hebrew poetry these terms are quite common. Read Song of Solomon for further enlightenment.
As parents we must teach our young men and women to remain faithful until they are married. Read the reasons that are given here. If you do not believe Solomon and I, ask those who have lived this lifestyle of lust and now regret it.
As fathers, we want our children to learn from our mistakes. In Proverbs 4, King Solomon encourages his sons to follow his advice. He learned from his father and the process continues. He recounts the advantages of wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom is described as a woman. She will watch over you, guard you, exalt you, and honor you. She will give you a garland of grace and a crown of glory. She is supreme. Oh, by the way, get understanding also.
Years can be added to your life by avoiding folly. It will lead you into evil and wickedness. The path of righteousness is as bright as the dawn. The way of the wicked is darkness and they stumble in it.
There is a way that is correct and one that is evil. Most of us want to be the type of man or woman who does right. We err without intending to. Some intentionally cause problems for others for their own gain of pleasure. Our actions grow from what is inside of us. We can ask Jehovah for wisdom to become the servants we should be or follow selfish desires that make us useless to others.
We continue to listen as Solomon speaks to his sons. Wisdom and understanding are two separate things that he is attempting to give to them. What is the difference? Understanding is knowledge that can be gained by studying. Wisdom comes from the Lord. We need to understand the fear and respect for our creator
What is the fear of the Lord? Proverbs chapter 2 says that wisdom will enable us to understand that it is not fearing what He will do, but respecting His abilities, power, and judgment. What is correct, just, and fair? Some call this common sense, others believe they act with fairness, while friends and family view them as cruel.
He is our shield and guards our righteousness for us. As our shield he also protects us. You need a God who instructs you in what to do and not do. A father that warns his son to avoid promiscuous women should be common. Despite this candid advice many fall into the sexual trap.
Have you made decisions in your life that you regret today? Have relationships gone bad, jobs turned out to be the wrong position for you, or have you alienated family or friends by incorrect choices? Wisdom from Jehovah can prevent these troubles. Sexual decisions are also an area where we all need advice.
When we are young, we often ignore the advice of parents and older friends and family. Proverbs 3 begins with King Solomon advising his son to listen to these words of wisdom that he wishes to pass along. Love and faithfulness should be our practice all our lives. Verses five and six are ones to commit to memory if you do not already know them.
In this format every group of two verses completes a central idea. Look at a few of these. Pride, wealth, and discipline are these ideas. The chapter continues with a description of what can be gained with wisdom and understanding.
We also look at how we can be profitable. This wealth is not limited to money. Competence and discretion must be considered along with grace and honor.
It concludes with another series of paired comments that illustrate how a wise individual will treat others. A fool is the opposite of a wise person and his lot is described as dishonor.
Today we begin with a study of the book of Proverbs. Chapter one begins with the introduction. Solomon is the recorder of these words of wisdom. The style is poetry. Hebrew poetry did not rhyme, and it would not continue in the same style without a lot of work from the translators. Use the version you prefer. Understand that some do a better job with verse than others.
Wisdom comes from the Lord and the fear or respect of Him is the beginning of knowledge. Instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity are included. Shrewdness and discretion for the young is also discussed here. Verse eight begins the instruction with every parent’s hope. Father’s instruction and Mother’s teaching are compared to a garland for the head and a chain for your neck.
Much of what we will read is what was once called common sense. It is now uncommon in many circles in this country. Start with the ninth verse and understand how simple it is to avoid those who want to involve us in their thefts and murders. As young men and women we might view these as pranks or practical jokes. The proof of what you’re being enticed to do is “how will it affect others?” The 19th verse looks ahead to the end of the life of the criminals.
Those who want the quick and easy way stay in the shadows and want to avoid the public eye. Wisdom calls us from the center of town or the top of a wall. She cries for us to listen and avoid those mistakes that the simple or foolish make. That is the point of this book. We all eat the fruit of what we sow. Waywardness and complacency will kill. Listening to Jehovah and respecting His words provide a defense against the outcomes predicted at the end of this chapter.
Ezekiel is with the Exiles in Babylon at the start of chapter one. Five years into the exile of King Jehoiachin, the Priest received the word of the Lord. This is the first of his visions from Jehovah. The two creatures that he sees will recur often throughout the book. The four faces are unique, human, lion, ox, and eagle. They could travel straight ahead in any direction. They had wings and a wheel that they rode on. Another figure appears above the vault over them. This figure was like God.
Have you ever wanted to speak directly to Jehovah? In Ezekiel 2 he has that opportunity. He is being sent to the Israelites. They may not accept him and his message. Here he is called Son of Man for the first time. The advice given here is for all of us. Do not be afraid of those who refuse to listen. You are to listen to the Lord. He will give us His word as He did Elijah.
We do not eat our Bibles as Ezekiel did in chapter three. God’s word is always sweet to our taste. He is going to people that should be easy to communicate with. They will not be. The wings of the living creatures begin to flap, and the noise is loud. He returned to Israel near Tel Aviv.
His job is to be a watchman. He is warned about what will happen if he fails to warn the people whether they listen to him or not. The Spirit comes into him again and lifts him. His road will not be easy, but he can never say he did not know what to expect.
Injustice, strife, and violence are some of the complaints in Habakkuk chapter one. Babylon will conquer Judah is the answer to the question of when will Yahweh stop this? Violence and injustice will be met with the same. Why is a question every parent of a former two-year-old knows? That is what the Prophet asks next. The dichotomy of this situation is disturbing. Why is one nation that is so evil allowed to vanquish the wicked King of Judah? That does not seem fair. What do you think?
Habakkuk stands his watch and gives the Lord’s answer in chapter two. We are shown the difference between the righteous and the evil. Greed, theft, extortion, murder, and arrogance are traits of the wicked. Drunkenness, sexual sin, and idol worship are other acts that are condemned.
Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter three of his book. Jehovah’s deeds and fame are remembered. His praise and splendor are recalled. None of His enemies will subdue Him. They fall before His might. Those who do His will today will face His wrath, tomorrow. Our strength comes from Him.
Jeremiah is called to go to the house of the potter in chapter 18. Every town of any size had tradesmen that did different kinds of work. This artisan worked in clay. The vessels he made were formed on a turning wheel. Unlike modern potters these times required the worker to purify the material as they created a pot. Lumps would come to the surface and need to be removed. This would spoil the creation and it would need to be reshaped. Jeremiah witnessed this process.
“You are like clay in the potter’s hands” comes from verse six. He is creating us to be what He desires for us. Jehovah as the creator has power over everything in our lives and the lives of nations. We do not see Him at work as the prophet did, but He is there sculpting the world around us. For His children He changes us as well.
You have a choice. Follow God’s plan for your life and obey Him or refuse and suffer the consequences. This is what Judah is being warned about in this scripture. They, like us, can follow the will of the Lord or they can refuse. Their refusal led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Once again Jeremiah is attacked. When you follow God, are you ever challenged by those in authority. I am teaching through Facebook and my website for this reason. My local church leaders have decided not to allow me to instruct as I once did. You are now my class. This is ordained by Yahweh just as our writer was forced into a pit that had been dug for him.
Jeremiah buys a pot from the potter’s shop and takes it to the gate where broken pots are destroyed. The city officials are taken with him. He, again, announces the calamity that will fall on the city. As a word picture he smashed the container in his hands as he proclaims destruction.
Their crime was being stiff-necked and would not listen to what God wanted from them. I am sure that you have never done this. We are perfect and would never disobey the Lord. In 1974 I was accepted to the school of journalism in Columbia, Missouri. I declined that opportunity and transferred to a college in Bolivar, Missouri to study the Bible. My life has been different because of that choice.
Pashhur the priest puts Jeremiah in the stocks in chapter 20. This was punishment for prophesying against the temple. The beating he received before being locked in this wooden restraint was to intimidate him and prevent him from declaring the words he had been given by Jehovah. This seems foolish to us. It still happens to God’s messengers and not only in other countries.
Pashhur is renamed Magor-Missabib which means terror on every side. He will be carried away with his family and will die in Babylon. He will watch his friends be killed by the invaders. It contrasts with the meaning of his previous name that means deliverance will come about. This is not the only time this name was given to a child or taken by an Israelite.
Jeremiah complains to the Lord about this treatment. He cannot hold the words of Yahweh in his mouth. He must proclaim what has been given to him. He is considered terror on every side by Pashhur and his friends. The proclaimer of God’s words knows that he will be defended by his God and that his oppressors will be defeated. He still wishes that he had never been born. This is a common lament for many of us.
We see another of these men called Pashhur in Jeremiah 21. King Zedekiah sent Jeremiah to Pashhur the son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah. The attack by Babylon is imminent and the king wants the prophet to tell him that Jerusalem will be saved by God as in previous times. It ain’t gonna happen.
Jehovah will fight against Zedekiah and his rulers. They will die by plague, sword, and famine. They will not be delivered but will die or go into captivity for their disobedience and worship of false gods. If they want to live, they must surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
In Jeremiah 22 he goes to the king and tells him personally what God wants him to know. The way they have been treating people must change. Everything could be different for them if they stopped the violence and oppression. We need to listen to this in our world today. I as an individual must become more attuned to what my friends and neighbors need. I should be the solution not the problem.
A woe is declared by Jeremiah on those profit from others without paying them a decent wage. Some of the kings of Judah obeyed Yahweh and their kingdoms were blessed by Him. Zedekiah has failed to be the kind of ruler that was needed. That is why his kingdom will soon fall.
We are approaching the time for another Presidential election in this country. We choose our own leaders. Read what Jeremiah listed as the wrongs done in Jerusalem. Doesn’t this sound like Washington, DC. Many are endeavoring to make themselves rich and powerful and do not care about anyone else. We must look at their past decisions, both personal and governmental. Are they the leaders we need? The king of Judah was a descendant of David. He was not doing what he needed to do for the people. We have a choice. Exercise your right to vote.
Part of the distress that is going on in Judah according to Jeremiah 14 is drought. The cisterns are dry. The ground is cracked. This is no symbolic lack of rain. The deer have nothing to eat.
They have no self-control. Once again God tells Jeremiah not to ask Him for anything for them. The prophets are speaking lies and arguing with the message that Jeremiah brings. He proclaims woe and they declare prosperous times. Even the other nations have no better luck.
Moses and Samuel could not change the heart of Yahweh to the Judeans is given in Jeremiah 15. There are only four choices for them: death, sword, starvation, or captivity. The life of a slave appears to be the best choice. Repentance is the only answer. Words are worthless.
How would you feel if God told you to never marry? In Jeremiah 16 this is what our prophet is instructed to do. Funerals, drinking, and feasting are also off limits. The exodus from Egypt will be eclipsed by the return from Babylonia.
Language in Jeremiah 17 expresses the engraving of Judah’s sinfulness as being marked on their hearts and altars. They lose their inheritance. The encouragement comes from verse eight where it says, “They will be like trees planted by waters.” God knows who is wicked and who innocent. He searches the heart and examines the mind.
Instructions for the observance of the sabbath day are included here. Obedience is still the rule of the day. Nothing else will bring forgiveness. The result of disobedience is the destruction of Jerusalem.
The Lord speaks again in Jeremiah 10. We often want to be like others that we know and envy. Trying to be who they were not led to the fall of Israel and Judah. No one is like Jehovah. In contrast to idols that are manmade, He should be feared and respected.
We know He is the true God because He made the Earth. Genesis tells us that in the beginning Yahweh created everything that we have today.
There is a covenant between Yahweh and Israel that began in Genesis and is being restated in Jeremiah 11. We must obey Him. If we do not, we face the curse. They are suffering from the curse because they failed to follow His will. Jeremiah must proclaim this to all of Judah.
The disaster of being driven from their land is the final step in the curse they have brought on themselves. The city of Anathoth has developed a plot to Murder the prophet. They will be the ones who are destroyed because they oppose God and His messenger.
Justice is described in Jeremiah 12. Why do wicked people not suffer the consequences of their actions? God is just. Why does He allow this? These evil people are the ones that have caused the devastation of Israel and Judah. This will be corrected.
The dishonest will be uprooted like a weed. They will be carried away. Eventually the Judeans will return to their homeland and anyone who tries to lead them astray again will be removed and destroyed. We know that happened because of the nations that no longer exist.
Jeremiah tells us in chapter 13 that he has been told to buy a linen belt and wear it. Then he is told to hide the belt in the rocks at Perath. Of course, the belt is ruined. This is a visible example of what is being done to Judah. They will also be filled with drunkenness. They will go into captivity.
We want people to change their actions and become honest and courteous. Our society is going the opposite direction. Yahweh says that we can’t change our skin any more than a leopard can change its spots. If God asks you to change, you can change. It must be your desire. It cannot be something you are forced to do.
Charles (Chuck) Kensinger 