Jeremias 32
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Jeremias 32
Wiersbe - 428 ratings Chapter summaries. Good but resource above is more detailed. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel Isaiah 40-66 and Jeremiah by Cundall, Arthur Ernest Jeremiah and Lamentations; an introduction and commentary by Harrison, R. K. Rosscup - This famous Old Testament scholar, a conservative, concludes that we have here the basic teachings of Jeremiah under several kings. Lamentations is done by an eye-witness of Jerusalem’s fall. In both books, Harrison offers a brief but well informed commentary that is usually quite helpful in getting at what the text means and not substituting redactional theory from another era. Jeremiah : Prophet of judgment commentary by Jensen, Irving (132 pages) (Also has a self-study guide - Isaiah, Jeremiah : a self-study guide) Rosscup - Jensen has written a concise evangelical commentary for those who wish for a simple survey. The work is premillennial in its orientation, and is done by a man well-known for his helpful expositional works. Jeremiah (Bible Study Commentary) by Huey, F. B. 1981. 157 pp. James Rosscup - Conservative and concise, using a good outline and giving pastors, Sunday School teachers and lay people in general a quick look in a fairly able way. Dyer, Jensen, Kidner and Harrison do it better among the briefer works in overall helpfulness, though this is not to downgrade Huey. HCSB Study Bible : Holman Christian Standard Bible - Conservative. Literal. Brief but good notes. Holman's excellent maps. Believer's Bible Commentary - OT and NT - MacDonald, William (1995) 2480 pages. Conservative. Literal. Often has very insightful comments. John MacArthur, says "Concise yet comprehensive - the most complete single-volume commentary I have seen." Warren Wiersbe adds "For the student who is serious about seeing Christ in the Word." One hour limit. Rosscup - This work, originally issued in 1983, is conservative and premillennial, written to help teachers, preachers and people in every walk of life with different views, explanation and application. The 2-column format runs verse by verse for the most part, usually in a helpfully knowledgeable manner, and there are several special sections such as “Prayer” in Acts and “Legalism” in Galatians. The premillennial view is evident on Acts 1:6, 3:20, Romans 11:26, Galatians 6:16, Revelation 20, etc. The King James Study Bible Second Edition (2013) (Thomas Nelson) contributing editors (only first is listed) include Wayne A. Brindle. There is no restriction on length of time one can use, but there is no copy and paste function Life Application Study Bible: Old Testament and New Testament: New Living Translation. Has some very helpful notes especially with application of texts. 4,445 ratings NKJV Study Bible: New King James Version Study Bible (formerly "The Nelson Study Bible - NKJV") by Radmacher, Earl D; Allen, Ronald Barclay; House, H. Wayne (1997, 2007); 917 ratings Helpful notes. Conservative. KJV Bible Commentary Judges - Hindson, Edward E; Kroll, Woodrow Michael. This is not a study Bible per se, but a one volume commentary with over 3000 pages of comments covering the entire OT/NT. There is no restriction on length of time one can use, but there is no copy and paste function. These are excellent conservative comments that interpret Scripture from a literal perspective. User reviews - it generally gets 4/5 stars from users. ESV Study Bible - Good notes but not always literal in eschatology and the nation of Israel 6,004 ratings Zondervan NIV Study Bible - (2011) 2570 pages The David Jeremiah Study Bible - (2013) 2208 pages. Logos.com "Drawing on more than 40 years of study, Dr. David Jeremiah has compiled a legacy resource that will make an eternal impact on generations to come. 8,000 study notes. Hundreds of enriching word studies"50+ Essentials of the Christian Faith" articles." 2,272 ratings The Defender's Study Bible : King James Version by Morris, Henry M. Excellent notes by well known creationist. 45 ratings Ryrie Study Bible - Charles Ryrie (1978) 2142 pages. Conservative. Notes are brief. 216 ratings Wycliffe Bible Commentary - Charles Pfeiffer - 1560 pages (1962). 214 ratings Conservative. Notes are generally verse by verse but brief. Rosscup - Conservative and premillennial scholars here have been experts in their fields. The work contains brief introductions and attempts to give a verse-by-verse exposition, though it does skip over some verses. The treatments vary with the authors, but as a whole it is a fine one-volume commentary for pastors and students to use or give to a layman. Outstanding sections include, for example: Whitcomb on Ezra-Nehemiah-Esther; Culver on Daniel; Ladd on Acts; Harrison on Galatians; Johnson on I Corinthians; and Ryrie on the Johannine Epistles. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture Keener, Craig and Walton, John. Editors (2017) Jeremiah by Davidson, R Cyril
Jeremias 32
Wiersbe summarizes Jeremiah 32 - It wasn’t enough for the prophet merely to preach God’s promises; he also had to practice them and prove to his hearers that he believed them himself. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26+). Therefore, God directed Jeremiah to give another “action sermon” and purchase a piece of property at a time when the fortunes of Judah couldn’t have been lower. In so doing, Jeremiah got the attention of the people and was able to affirm God’s great promises to them. He had to “put his money where his mouth was” and God blessed him for it. (See context in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: or borrow OT commentary, Jeremiah) The word that came to Jeremiah (similar phrase in Jer 7:1, 18:1, 21:1, 25:1, 30:1, 32:1, 44:1) - A prophet is one who speaks forth the Word he receives from the LORD. What we are reading is the inspired, inerrant Word from God to and through Jeremiah to us the readers. It is God breathed and profitable and in the context it a Word the Jews needed to hear. The first 29 chapters of Jeremiah were primarily (with a few exceptional passages) judgmental. Beginning in Jeremiah 30-33 we have a more encouraging message which most writers have referred to as the "Book of Consolation." Most of this chapter speaks of historical events (Jeremiah's imprisonment and charge to purchase the land of Anathoth in the land of the tribe of Benjamin), prophecy that has been fulfilled (prophetic at the time Jeremiah spoke it but fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem) and a beautiful prayer by Jeremiah. Only the last section (Jeremiah 32:36-44) do we encounter prophetic passages that are yet to be fulfilled at the time of the return of Messiah. THOUGHT - Application of the word that come to Jeremiah - Beloved, while we cannot receive a word of new revelation from Jehovah as did Jeremiah, we can receive a Word from Jehovah in and through His living and active Word. What's the condition? We must come to the LORD, seeking Him with all our heart in His Word (cp Jer 29:13, Mt 6:33+), before His Word comes to us! Draw near to Him today in His Word as you read it prayerfully and expectantly and He will draw near to you (James 4:8+) and speak to your soul by His Spirit through His Word, the same Word that came to Jeremiah! And don't rush through your time in the Word, for you are sitting in the presence of the King and it should be time you cherish because of its (His) inestimable value to your soul and spirit (Be like Mary listening at His feet, not Martha who was distracted with her preparations - Lk 10:38-42+). Learn to mediate on His Word, "chewing" over (meditating on) what you read, asking simple who, what, where, why, and how questions to stir your mind and heart. God's Spirit will lead you (pray Ps 25:4-5), instruct you and feed you with the holy "manna from heaven." And internalize His Word by memorizing it frequently and fervently (see Memory Verses by Topic) as if your very life depended on it...because it does, for Jesus said man does not live on break alone but on every Word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt 4:4+, Lk 4:4+) Open your mouth (Ps 119:131+) and eat and you will experience life, indeed even abundant life! Tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah (about 587 BC - see comment in MacArthur Bible Commentary) - From comparison of 2Ki 25:1-2 and Jer 39:1-2 below we can deduce that the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in roughly the middle of Nebuchadnezzar's approximately 3 year siege of Jerusalem. Stated another way this would be about 587 BC or about one year left in the final siege of Jerusalem. Can you imagine the conditions in the holy city that was surrounded by the enemy and cut off from food and supplies! Nebuchadnezzar begins his siege of Jerusalem - 2 Kings 25:1 (cp Jer 52:4) "Now in the ninth year of his (Zedekiah's) reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and built a siege wall all around it. 2 So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. Nebuchadnezzar breaches the city of Jerusalem - Jeremiah 39:1 "Now when Jerusalem was captured in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it; 2 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city wall was breached. Eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar - "The dating formulas indicate that the date was 588/87 B.C. Zedekiah had begun to reign in 598/97 and Nebuchadnezzar had begun to reign in 605/604 B.C. The dating of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule here includes the partial year before he was officially crowned on New Year’s day. See the translator’s note on Jeremiah 25:1 for the method of dating a king’s reign." (NET Note) Charles Dyer has a detailed note on the dating of this passage - The 10th year of Zedekiah would have ended on October 17, 587 B.C. (using the Judean Tishri-to-Tishri year) while the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar began on April 23, 587 (using the Babylonian Nisan-to-Nisan year). Thus this prophecy occurred sometime between April 23 and October 17, 587 B.C. During this time Babylon was besieging Jerusalem-a siege that lasted from January 15, 588 till July 18, 586-and Jeremiah was under arrest and confined in the palace courtyard of the guard. (See context The Bible Knowledge Commentary) NET Note - According to Jer 39:1 the siege began in Zedekiah’s ninth year (i.e., in 589/88 B.C.). It had been interrupted while the Babylonian army was occupied with fighting against an Egyptian force that had invaded Judah. During this period of relaxed siege Jeremiah had attempted to go to his home town in Anathoth to settle some property matters, had been accused of treason, and been thrown into a dungeon (Jer 37:11–15). After appealing to Zedekiah he had been moved from the dungeon to the courtyard of the guardhouse connected to the palace (Jer 37:21) where he remained confined until Jerusalem was captured in 587/86 B.C. (Jer 38:28). John Butler succinctly divides Jeremiah 32 as follows (I have modified it adding "D")... A. The Prison for Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:1–5) B. The Purchase by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:6–15) C. The Prayer of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:16–35) D. The Prophecy of Jeremiah of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 32:36-44) The Restoration of Israel and Judah Illustrated (Jeremiah 32:1-44) a. The Illustration: Buy a Field in Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:1-12) (1) Jeremiah’s Circumstances (Jeremiah 32:1-5) (2) The Purchase of the Field at Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:6-12) b. The Explanation of the Purchase (Jeremiah 32:13-15) c. The Prayer of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:16-25) (1) His Praise for God’s Greatness (Jeremiah 32:16-23) (2) His Puzzlement over God’s Promise (Jeremiah 32:24-25) d. The Answer of the Lord (Jeremiah 32:26-44) (1) The City Will Be Destroyed (Jeremiah 32:26-35) (2) The City Will Be Restored (Jeremiah 32:36-44) (See context in The Moody Bible Commentary - Jeremiah by Charles Dyer) Jeremiah 32:2 Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah, KJV For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house. ESV At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah. NIV he army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah. NLT Jerusalem was then under siege from the Babylonian army, and Jeremiah was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. then: 2 Ki 25:18. Jeremiah: Jer 32:3,8 Jer 33:1 Jer 36:5 Jer 37:21 Jer 38:6 Jer 39:13-15 Mt 5:12 in the: Ne 3:25 THE PLACE OF JEREMIAH'S PRISON - THE KING'S HOUSE Note - Jeremiah 32 is a good example of the fact that the Book of Jeremiah is not compiled in our Bibles in chronological order. And so in Jeremiah 32, we see that the events described here actually follow the events in a later chapter, Jeremiah 37. In fact to fully understand the events in Jeremiah 32 one needs to understand the background by reading Jeremiah 37. It won't take that long and it will give you a better context for interpreting Jeremiah 32... Now Zedekiah the son of Josiah whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made king in the land of Judah, reigned as king in place of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim. 2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD which He spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. 3 Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf.” 4 Now Jeremiah was still coming in and going out among the people (Comment: He had freedom of movement in the city), for they had not yet put him in the prison. 5 Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who had been besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they lifted the siege from Jerusalem. (Comment: The Babylonians apparently drew back from the city which experienced a short respite) 6 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 7 “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Thus you are to say to the king of Judah (Zedekiah), who sent you to Me to inquire of Me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army which has come out for your assistance is going to return to its own land of Egypt. 8 “The Chaldeans (Babylonian armies) will also return and fight against this city, and they will capture it and burn it with fire.”’ (Comment: Not what Zedekiah would want to hear!) 9 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,” for they will not go. 10 ‘For even if you had defeated the entire army of Chaldeans who were fighting against you, and there were only wounded men left among them, each man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.’” 11 Now it happened, when the army of the Chaldeans had lifted the siege from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh’s army, 12 that Jeremiah went out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin in order to take possession of some property there among the people. 13 While he was at the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah the son of Hananiah was there; and he arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are going over to the Chaldeans!” 14 But Jeremiah said, “A lie! I am not going over to the Chaldeans”; yet he would not listen to him. So Irijah arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. 15 Then the officials were angry at Jeremiah and beat him, and they put him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, which they had made into the prison. 16 For Jeremiah had come into the dungeon, that is, the vaulted cell; and Jeremiah stayed there many days. (Comment: This is the first phase of his imprisonment for suspected desertion.) 17 Now King Zedekiah sent and took him out; and in his palace the king secretly asked him and said, “Is there a word from the LORD?” And Jeremiah said, “There is!” Then he said, “You will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon!” 18 Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “In what way have I sinned against you, or against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison? 19 “Where then are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land’? 20 “But now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there.” 21 Then King Zedekiah gave commandment, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guardhouse and gave him a loaf of bread daily from the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guardhouse. (Comment: This is where Jeremiah 32:2-3ff picks up the rest of the story of Jeremiah's "second" phase of imprisonment in the king's guard house.) (Jeremiah 37:1-21) NET Note writes that Jer 32:2–5 is a parenthetical section (in other words Jer 32:1 pauses for these 4 verses and picks back up in Jer 32:6) which provides "the background for the actual report of what the LORD said in Jer 32:7. The background is significant because it shows that Jeremiah was predicting the fall of the city and the kingdom and was being held prisoner for doing so (Ed comment: That is only partially correct - from Jer 37:13 the reason he was arrested in the first place was because the guard accused him in essence of "desertion."). Despite this pessimistic outlook, the LORD wanted Jeremiah to demonstrate his assurance of the future restoration (which has been the topic of the preceding two chapters, Jeremiah 30-31) by buying a field as a symbolic act that the Israelites would again one day regain possession of their houses, fields, and vineyards (Jer 32:15, 44). Charles Feinberg summarizes the background for Jeremiah's status as a prison in the king's house - "During the temporary (lull) of the Babylonian siege (Ed: when news came that the Egyptian army was approaching Jer 37:5), when he (Jeremiah) tried to leave the city to go to the land of Benjamin, Jeremiah was taken and thrown into a dungeon on the pretense that he was defecting to the Babylonians (Jer 37:11-16)(Ed: Jeremiah was accused of "“going over to the Chaldeans!” Jer 37:13). He remained there a good while ("stayed there many days" Jer 37:16) until Zedekiah ordered him to appear before him to be questioned about the outcome of the war. When he told Zedekiah that he would be captured by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 37:17), Jeremiah then lamented about the difficulty of his own imprisonment (Jer 37:20) and begged not to be put back into the dungeon. So Zedekiah ordered him (Jer 37:21) to be moved to the “courtyard of the guard” (Jer 32:2), where he stayed until the city fell (Jer 38:13, 28; 39:14)." (See context in The Expositor's Bible Commentary) Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem - John
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Wiersbe adds that "God’s Word came to Jeremiah telling him to do a most illogical thing: Buy a piece of the battlefield!" (Comment: As Feinberg states the land Jeremiah was to purchase lay outside the besieged city and was under the control of the Babylonians!) (See context in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary) Wiersbe goes on to ask "Of what use would a field be to Jeremiah who couldn’t possibly live for another seventy years? That, however, is what faith is all about: obeying God in spite of what we see, how we feel, and what may happen. It’s well been said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence but obeying in spite of consequence, and Jeremiah’s actions illustrate that maxim. When word got out that Jeremiah was investing in worthless real estate, many people must have laughed, others shook their heads in disbelief, and some probably thought he was crazy....The witnesses attested to the signature and the deeds and probably went away wondering whether Jeremiah had lost his mind. The transaction was the talk of the city, you can be sure, with Hanamel the hero. Hanamel may have thought he engineered a shrewd deal, but he only gave evidence of his unbelief." (See context in The Wiersbe Bible Commentary) Hanamel has an interesting name which is derived from chanan meaning to be gracious and El which means God. And so his name is "God is gracious." So the God of all grace (1Pe 5:10+) used a man named "God is gracious" to call Jeremiah to buy land which would be a symbol of His grace to restore His people to the land, first after their exile in Babylon and finally in the last days after their "exile" (dispersion) in the world (so to speak)! And surely Hanamel did not come up with this idea on his own but was instructed in some way by Jehovah to convey this message to Jeremiah. THOUGHT - Hanamel did not play a "big role" in the Bible but he was faithful to follow through with the good work God had prepared for him. Beloved, we too need to be faithful "For we are His workmanship ("masterpiece" - poiema), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand (before we were born, before we were born again and before the heaven and earth were "born!"), that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10+) Buy (imperative = a command) for yourself my field which is at Anathoth - The relative issues this command to the prisoner Jeremiah. We are not told how Jeremiah acquired silver to redeem the land. But from the text discussed above (Jer 37:11-13) he clearly had funds. And while we cannot be dogmatic, it seems very likely that his trip to the land of Benjamin in Jer 37:11-13 was to redeem the land of his kinsman. Anathoth (06068)(anathoth presumably from anath) was the name of both two persons and a place. Anathoth was a city located about three miles northeast of Jerusalem in the region assigned to Benjamin (Jer 1:1) which had been given to the Levites (Josh 21:18). It was the home of Abiathar the priest and was the place Solomon sent him when he removed him as high priest (1Ki 2:26-27). Anathoth is probably the most famous as the birthplace of the prophet Jeremiah who himself may have been of the priestly line (Jer 1:1; 29:27). Two of David’s distinguished soldiers, Abiezer (2Sa 23:27) and Jehu (1Chr 12:3), also lived in Anathoth. Another fact that makes the purchase of land in Anathoth very strange is that Jeremiah had been opposed and threatened by the citizens of Anathoth (Jer 11:21-23)! Who would want to purchase (or redeem) land next to those who were hostile to him? Yes, God had said he would punish them but it still makes Jeremiah's purchase an act of faith (faith obeys) as discussed elsewhere in these notes. It is notable that although Anathoth was overrun by the Babylonians at the time, Jeremiah was instructed to purchase the land, it was resettled following the 70 year Babylonian exile (Neh 7:27, 11:32). Of course, Jeremiah would not have been alive to see the land resettled (which God had promised Jer 32:15), which again makes his act of purchase even more an act of great faith! Jeremiah had faith in God's Word. And as the Scripture clearly teaches genuine faith obeys. (see discussion of Paul's phrase "obedience of faith" in the commentary on Romans 1:5). To reiterate an earlier comment faith is not believing in spite of evidence but obeying in spite of consequences! Anathoth 6/15 uses in Jeremiah - Josh 21:18; 1Ki 2:26; 1Chr 6:60; 7:8; Ezra 2:23; Neh 7:27; 10:19; 11:32; Isa 10:30; Jer 1:1; 11:21, 23; 32:7-9 You have the right of redemption (geullah derived from ga'al) to buy it - How did Hanamel know Jeremiah had this right? Clearly some of the Jews in the largely apostate nation of Judah still knew and held to precepts of the Torah (and he may have known Jeremiah had come to the land of Benjamin as described in Jer 37:11-13. Even so, it is likely that Hanamel was aware of the instructions of Moses "If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest (qarob) kinsman (NET = "redeemer" - goel/ga'al) is to come and buy back (redeem - goel/ga'al; Lxx - lutroo) what his relative has sold." (Leviticus 25:25+) John Gill on buy it - "that is, had it been sold to another, it would have lain upon him to have redeemed it, as being next of kin, that so it might not pass to another tribe and family." Adam
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Wiersbe adds this comment on why Achan's (means "troubler"!) entire family was judged by God (Joshua 7:24-26+) - "Since a law in Israel prohibited innocent family members from being punished for the sins of their relatives (Deut. 24:16), Achan’s family must have been guilty of assisting him in his sin. His household was judged the same way Israel would deal with a Jewish city that had turned to idols (Josh. 13:12–18+). Achan and his family had turned from the true and living God and had given their hearts to that which God had said was accursed—silver, gold, and an expensive garment. It wasn’t worth it!" At the beginning of a new period in Bible history, God sometimes revealed His wrath against sin in some dramatic way. After the tabernacle had been set up, Nadab and Abihu invaded its holy precincts contrary to God’s law; and God killed them. This was a warning to the priests not to treat God’s sanctuary carelessly (Lev. 10+). When David sought to restore the ark to its place of honor, and Uzzah touched the ark to steady it, God killed Uzzah (2Sa 6:1–11); another warning from God not to treat sacred things carelessly. At the beginning of the Church Age, when Ananias and Sapphira lied to God and God’s people, the Lord killed them (Acts 5:1–11+). The death of Achan and his family was certainly a dramatic warning to the nation not to take the Word of God lightly. The people and the animals were stoned, and their bodies burned along with all that the family possessed. The troubler of Israel was completely removed from the scene, the people were sanctified, and now God could march with His people and give them victory. (See context in The Bible Exposition Commentary) EL GIBBOR - MIGHTY GOD O great and mighty God, the LORD of hosts is His Name - Note that Jeremiah calls Jehovah "Mighty God," which is also how Isaiah described Jesus in Isaiah 9:6. What's the point? Jehovah is Jesus. He is great in power. He is mighty. He is the great and mighty God, the LORD of hosts! Mighty (01368)(gibbor) is from a root commonly associated with warfare and has to do with the strength and vitality of the successful warrior. And God is ultimate "successful Warrior!" Related Resource: El Gibbor - Mighty God (Play El Gibbor and El Gibbor v'El Elyon) JEHOVAH SABAOTH - LORD OF ARMIES The LORD of hosts is His name - God's Name speaks of the essence of His being, His character, His conduct. Here we see He is Jehovah Who is over all the armies of heaven, who stand ready to do His bidding. Jeremiah acknowledges this great Name, knowing that what God has planned, He will accomplish - his land purchase will not be in vain! THOUGHT Dear child of God do you have a similar confidence in Your Father's ability to cause all things in your life to work together for good. Ask the Spirit to enable you to not look so much at the awful circumstances but at your Awesome God, for He is able! (e.g., Eph 3:20+, Heb 7:25+). Related Resources - Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts (of armies) Jehovah Sabaoth: Pt2 Jeremiah 32:19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; KJV Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: NET You plan great things and you do mighty deeds. You see everything people do. You reward each of them for the way they live and for the things they do. ESV great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. NIV great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve. NLT You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve. Great (KJV): Isa 9:6 28:29 40:13 46:10,11 Ro 11:33,34 Eph 1:11 work (KJV): Heb. doing, Ex 15:11 Da 4:35 for (KJV): Jer 16:17 23:24 2Ch 16:9 Job 34:21 Ps 33:13-15 34:15 Pr 5:21 Heb 4:13 to give (KJV): Jer 17:10 1Ki 8:32 Ps 62:12 Ec 12:14 Mt 16:27 Joh 5:29 Ro 2:6-10 2Co 5:10 Rev 2:23 22:12 MORE PRAISE OF ATTRIBUTES OF GOD THE ALL WISE GOD Great in counsel - This speaks of Jehovah's perfect wisdom. See discussion of His attribute Wise. Jesus of course is called "Wonderful Counselor." (Isa 9:6). Paul wrote "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?" (Ro 11:33-34) Mighty in deed - Lxx translates with dunatos which the One Who possesses power THE ALL SEEING GOD Ryken observes that "Jeremiah had been reminded of God’s universal knowledge, or omniscience, when his cousin Hanamel showed up at his prison cell. God knew all about the visit even before it happened, as he always does." Whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men - This description speaks of God's Omniscience. This attribute of God is described elsewhere in Jeremiah and multiple other Scriptures. Jeremiah 16:17 "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes. Jeremiah 23:24 "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. Job 34:21 "For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps. Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths. Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. THE GOD WHO REPAYS PERFECTLY Giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds - This is the immutable principle of reaping and sowing (Gal 6:7-8-note, cp Job 4:8; Ps 62:12, 126:5; Pr 22:8; Hos 8:7; 10:12-15; Lk 19:21-23; 1Cor 3:12-15; 9:11; 2Cor 9:6). (cp "repays the iniquity" in Jer 32:18) Fruit...deeds = Pr 12:14, Micah 7:13-note Earlier Jeremiah had recorded this same basic principle quoting Jehovah "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds." (Jer 17:10, cp Eccl 12:14) REVIEW OF THE ATTRIBUTES FOR WHICH JEREMIAH PRAISES GOD... Omnipotent - Creator Merciful Wisdom Omniscient Just Ryken sums up Jeremiah's prayer commenting that "This prayer is rich in its praise of the attributes of God. Jeremiah worships God for his omnipotence and omniscience, for his love and justice. The prayer is highly theological, informed by his understanding of the rich doctrine of God. The same thing ought to be true of the prayers of every Christian. You must have a theology before you can have a prayer life. Knowing the character of God precedes having intimacy with him through prayer. Too many prayers are superficial in their grasp of the character of God. Instead, they ought to be saturated with the praise of his glorious attributes." After exalting God as Creator, he then rehearses God as Redeemer (Jer 32:20-21) Jeremiah 32:20 who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. KJV Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day; NET You did miracles and amazing deeds in the land of Egypt which have had lasting effect. By this means you gained both in Israel and among humankind a renown that lasts to this day. ESV You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. NIV You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. NLT You performed miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt-- things still remembered to this day! And you have continued to do great miracles in Israel and all around the world. You have made your name famous to this day. hast set (KJV): Ex 7:3 10:2 De 4:34 6:22 7:19 Ne 9:10 Ps 78:43-51 105:27-36 Ps 135:9 Ac 7:36 and hast (KJV): Ex 9:16 2Sa 7:23 1Ch 17:21 Ne 9:10 Isa 63:12 Da 9:15 PRAISE THE GOD OF SIGNS AND WONDERS Play God of Wonders by Third Day REDEMPTION OF ISRAEL FROM EGYPT Who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt - ("You did miracles and amazing deeds" = NET, "You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt" = NIV) Even to this day - NET = "which have had lasting effect." Both in Israel and among mankind - What does Jeremiah mean "in Israel"? This question is answered by examining the context -- Jer 31:21 alludes to God's "signs and wonders in the land of Egypt." The fact that the signs and wonders were also performed among mankind is clear evidence that God desired that the Gentiles would also come to know Him and not just the Jews. You have made a Name for Yourself - Exodus 6:6-7,7:5 - "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 'Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians....And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst." As at this day - "that lasts to this day" (NET) Jeremiah 32:21 'You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; KJV And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror; NET You used your mighty power and your great strength to perform miracles and amazing deeds and to bring great terror on the Egyptians. By this means you brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt. ESV You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror. NIV You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. NLT "You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, with a strong hand and powerful arm, and with overwhelming terror. YLT 'And Thou bringest forth Thy people Israel from the land of Egypt, with signs and with wonders, and by a strong hand, and by a stretched-out arm, and by great fear, brought: Ex 6:6 13:14 Ps 105:37,43 106:8-11 with a strong: Ex 6:1 13:9 De 26:8 1Ki 8:42 Ps 89:8-10 136:11,12 Related Passage: Deuteronomy 26:8-9+ and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and wonders; 9 and He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. PRAISE GOD THE REDEEMER You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders - God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a repeated theme in the OT - Ex 6:6, Dt 4:34, 7:19, 26:8, 2Sa 7:23, 1Chr 17:21, Ps 136:11. THOUGHT - It is always good to remember God's past deliverances beloved, for He is " he same yesterday and today and forever.." (Hebrews 13:8+) With signs and with wonders - This same phrase occurs 11x in the OT - Deut 4:34; 6:22; 26:8; 29:3; 34:11; Neh 9:10; Ps 135:9; Isa 8:18; Jer 32:20; Dan 4:2; 6:27. God wanted Israel to remember His signs and wonders which pointed to His power and His protection. For example in the context of His soon to come deliverance of Israel out of Egypt Jehovah issued this promise - "I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt (cp Ex 9:16, 11:9). "When Pharaoh will not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. "And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst." (Ex 7:3-5, see also Ex 10:2, Dt 4:34, 6:22, 7:19, 26:8, Neh 9:10, Ps 78:23-51, Ps 105:27-36, Ps 135:9, Acts 7:36) With great terror - The signs and wonders God wrought in Egypt brought great fear. Fear here is not primarily reverential fear, but more of a shaking type of fear as when He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians (Ex 12:30-33+). Pharaoh had been able to rationalize the other plagues, but could not rationalize the trauma of the death of his own son. He called for Moses and Aaron that night and gave them permission to go, this time without insisting on any concessions. Notice how Moses records not just an outcry but a "great cry in Egypt" (Ex 12:30+). While I am not absolutely certain of the following description from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, it certainly paints a picture of that fearful night in Egypt - "No people were more remarkable and frantic in their mourning than the Egyptians. When a relative died, every one left the house, and the women, with their hair loose, and their bosoms bare, ran wild about the street. The men also, with their apparel equally disordered, kept them company; all shrieking, howling, and beating themselves. What a scene of horror and distress must now have presented itself, when there was not a family in Egypt where there was not one dead!" With a strong hand - This anthropomorphic description conveys God's great power in rescuing Israel from their Egyptian bondage. This phrase is found 5x once referring to Edom coming against Israel but all other times referring to God - Nu 20:20; Dt 3:24; Neh 1:10; Ps 136:12; Jer 32:21. Related Resource: The Hand of the Lord. An outstretched arm (see comments on v17) - The second anthropomorphic description symbolizing God's strength. Jeremiah 32:22 and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. KJV And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; NET You kept the promise that you swore on oath to their ancestors. You gave them a land flowing with milk and honey. ESV And you gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. NIV You gave them this land you had sworn to give their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. NLT You gave the people of Israel this land that you had promised their ancestors long before-- a land flowing with milk and honey. YLT And thou givest to them this land that thou didst swear to their fathers to give to them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which (KJV): Ge 13:15 15:18-21 17:7,8 24:7 28:13-15 35:11,12 50:24 Ex 13:5 Nu 14:16,30 De 1:8,35 6:10,18,23 7:13 8:1 Jos 1:6 21:43 Ne 9:15 Ps 105:9-11 a land (KJV): Jer 11:5 Ex 3:8,17 13:5 33:1-3 De 26:9-11 Eze 20:6,15 GOD'S GIFT OF THE LAND TO ISRAEL Gave them this land which You swore to their forefathers to give them - See Dr Walvoord's excellent discussion of The Promise Of The Land To Israel. Rosscup observes that this passage refers to "His gift of the covenant land (Jer 32:22). He had sworn that Palestine (“this land”) would be the possession of this people, and had given it to them. This meant the land that Jeremiah’s one example purchase illustrated; in integrity it can be no other than that very land, the land the Israelites were in the process of losing to the Babylonian attackers." A land flowing with milk and honey - This description is repeated in 16 verses - Ex 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3; Lev 20:24; Num 16:13f; Deut 6:3; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 27:3; 31:20; Josh 5:6; Jer 11:5; 32:22 Jeremiah 32:23 'They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have made all this calamity come upon them. KJV And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them: NET But when they came in and took possession of it, they did not obey you or live as you had instructed them. They did not do anything that you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them. ESV And they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. NIV They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster upon them. NLT Our ancestors came and conquered it and lived in it, but they refused to obey you or follow your word. They have not done anything you commanded. That is why you have sent this terrible disaster upon them. YLT And they come in, and possess it, and they have not hearkened to Thy voice, and in Thy law have not walked, all that which Thou didst lay a charge on them to do they have not done, and Thou dost proclaim to them all this evil. possessed (KJV): Ne 9:15,22-25 Ps 44:2,3 78:54,55 105:44,45 but (KJV): Jer 7:23,24 11:7,8 Jud 2:11-13 10:6-18 Ezr 9:7 Ne 9:26-30 Eze 20:8,18,21 Da 9:4-6,10-14 Zec 1:2-4 they have (KJV): Lu 17:10 Joh 15:14 Ga 3:10 Jas 2:10 therefore (KJV): Lev 26:14-46 De 28:15-68 Jos 23:16 Ezr 9:7 La 1:8,18 5:16,17 Da 9:11,12 ISRAEL SOWS SIN AND REAPS GOD'S JUDGMENT They came in and took possession of it - But they did not completely drive out the idolatrous pagan nations when became thorns in their sides because they were ensnared by their so-called gods. (Jdg 2:1-3) They did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do - Israel had been warned that in a prophecy that they would "be left few in number" because they did not obey the LORD your God. The rejected the promised blessing of obedience in Jer 26:4-6. The psalmists' lament They did not keep the covenant of God, And refused to walk in His law; And they forgot His deeds, And His miracles that He had shown them. (Ps 78:10-11) My people did not listen to My voice; And Israel did not obey Me. (Ps 81:11) Earlier Jehovah had declared this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.' Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. (Jer 7:23-24) For I solemnly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, warning persistently, saying, "Listen to My voice." 'Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.' (Jer 11:7-8) NET Note on they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do - Jeremiah has repeatedly emphasized that the history of Israel since their entry into the land has been one of persistent disobedience and rebellion (cf., e.g. Jer 7:22–26; 11:7–8). The statement, of course, is somewhat hyperbolical as all categorical statements of this kind are. Therefore (term of conclusion) You have made all this calamity come upon them - God had set before Israel life and prosperity versus death and adversity (Dt 30:15). Tragically for most of their history Israel had made the foolish choice of death and adversity. Read the lengthy list of calamities enumerated in Lev 26:14-46 and Dt 28:15-68. God had clearly warned Israel... I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. (Dt 30:19-20) Jeremiah 32:24 'Behold, the siege ramps have reached the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence; and what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it. KJV Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. NET Even now siege ramps have been built up around the city in order to capture it. War, starvation, and disease are sure to make the city fall into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. LORD, you threatened that this would happen. Now you can see that it is already taking place. ESV Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. NIV "See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said has happened, as you now see. NLT "See how the siege ramps have been built against the city walls! Through war, famine, and disease, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, who will conquer it. Everything has happened just as you said. YLT 'Lo, the mounts -- they have come in to the city to capture it, and the city hath been given into the hand of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it, because of the sword, and the famine, and the pestilence; and that which Thou hast spoken hath come to pass, and lo, Thou art seeing; mounts (KJV): or, engines of shot, Jer 33:4 Eze 21:22 The mounts were huge terraces raised up to plant their engines on; and so formed as to be capable of being moved forwards towards the city. See Note on 2 Sa 20:15. the city is (KJV): Jer 32:3,25,36 21:4-7 37:6-10 because (KJV): Jer 14:12-15 15:1-3 16:4 24:10 52:6 La 2:21,22 4:3-10 Eze 14:21 what (KJV): De 4:26 31:16,17 32:24,25 Jos 23:15,16 Zec 1:6 Mt 24:35 JEHOVAH'S PROPHECY OF JERUSALEM COMES TO PASS Behold - see note on Jeremiah 32:3. Ryken observes that "The final part of Jeremiah’s prayer concerned his situation. It is worth noticing the proportions of his prayer. The prophet spent more time praising God than he did talking about his problems. John Guest says he “offered seven parts of praise to one part of puzzlement.”" Siege ramps have reached the city to take it - Click to see a depiction of a siege ramp. The city has been given - This is the so-called "prophetic perfect" which views the action as good as done. The sword, the famine, and the pestilence - This is a key phrase in Jeremiah as this combination is used approximately 14 times (Jer 14:12, Jer 21:7, 9, Jer 24:10, Jer 27:8, 13, Jer 29:17, 18; Jer 32:24; Jer 34:17; Jer 38:2; Jer 42:17, 22, Jer 44:13) Pestilence (01698) (see note below on deber in Jer 32:36). Deber is a key word in Jeremiah. Jeremiah 32:25 'You have said to me, O Lord GOD, "Buy for yourself the field with money and call in witnesses"--although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.'" KJV And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. NET The city is sure to fall into the hands of the Babylonians. Yet, in spite of this, you, Lord GOD, have said to me, "Buy that field with silver and have the transaction legally witnessed."'" ESV Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, "Buy the field for money and get witnesses"--though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.'" NIV And though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, you, O Sovereign LORD, say to me, 'Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.'" NLT And yet, O Sovereign LORD, you have told me to buy the field-- paying good money for it before these witnesses-- even though the city will soon be handed over to the Babylonians." thou (KJV): Jer 32:8-15 for (KJV): or, though, Jer 32:24 Ps 77:19 97:2 Joh 13:7 Ro 11:33,34 JEREMIAH'S PUZZLEMENT OVER GOD'S PROMISE Although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans - NET = "The city is sure to fall into the hands of the Babylonians." Ryken makes an interesting comment - Jeremiah had just settled a land deal. Arguably, it was one of the worst real estate investments in the history of the Middle East. Jeremiah himself was in jail. Judah was at war. Jerusalem was surrounded by the Babylonians. Yet the prophet carefully counted out seventeen shekels of silver and bought the family farm from Cousin Hanamel. It was a bad time to buy, especially since the property in question lay in enemy-occupied territory. The strangest thing about the whole transaction was that it was God’s idea. Why would God tell Jeremiah to make such a risky investment? Jeremiah was willing to do it, of course, even to pray about it, but his prayer ends with more than a hint of reproach in Jeremiah 32:24–25. What Jeremiah offered was a “Lord, look what you’re doing to my life” prayer. He worded it as a statement, but it sounds more like a suspicious question: “Lord, seriously, you’re really telling me to buy this field? Are you sure? Is that your final answer?” Jeremiah 32:26 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, Then - This "time sensitive word" should always prompt at least a "When?" and sometimes a "Why?" type question. Jeremiah has just told the Lord God that he has been given a command to buy land in Judah in the face of Judah's certain defeat. It does not seem to "add up." But like Paul Harvey used to say "And now for the rest of the story!" The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah - This phrase occurs 11x in 11v - Jer 28:12; 32:26; 33:1, 19, 23; 34:12; 35:12; 36:27; 37:6; 42:7; 43:8 Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" God (KJV): Nu 16:22 27:16 Ps 65:2 Isa 64:8 Lu 3:6 Joh 17:2 Ro 3:29,30 is (KJV): Jer 32:17 Mt 19:26 JEHOVAH ANSWERS JEREMIAH: "IS ANYTHING TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME?" The answer to this rhetorical question is a resounding "NO!" Behold - see note on Jeremiah 32:3. Here behold introduces the reason for the rhetorical question which follows. Jeremiah was asking the same kind of question Sarah asked in Genesis 18:10, 13,14, wondering if God could really make good on His promise. The answer is “Since I am the LORD, the God of all mankind, there is indeed nothing too hard for me," including the ability to make your bad real estate transaction into a successful business venture! As Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:26). Ryken adds "The Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck put it like this: “He possesses absolute power in regard to everything.” Enough said!" THOUGHT - This "behold" is one of which all saints need to "take hold," for it is the great truth that our God is the God of the impossible. What circumstance in your life seems impossible? I have a son who was "high" on some substance literally every day of his life for 20 years, from about age 17 to age 37. He would call me from the cemetery and speak of hanging himself. I tried everything humanly possible. I spent more money than I care to mention. Nothing worked. I continued to pray but it seemed like God did not hear. But one day in 2014 the God of the impossible broke through my son's hard heart and caused him to be born again (1Pe 1:3). I learned that day that nothing is too difficult for our God! I don't know what your situation is, but I know God knows and God cares and God is active in some way in your situation. He is worthy of our trust today and forever. Amen! Ryken asks "What was the point of Jeremiah’s prayer? He did not actually make a request. He did not ask God for anything. He simply told God what God already knew—namely, that the Babylonian siege engines were at the gates and that he had just made the worst financial decision of his life. Jeremiah’s prayer sounds like a complaint. The word “though” is not in the Hebrew text, but it properly captures the reproach in Jeremiah’s voice: “And you, you tell me, ‘Buy the field!’ ” (Jer 32:25). Jeremiah called attention to the fact that God told him to buy property even though it did not take a military genius to figure out that Jerusalem was on the verge of ruin. The prophet was perplexed by the whole thing, even flabbergasted. He did not understand what God was doing. So his prayer ends with a question mark. “You’re really telling me to invest in real estate, Lord? Seriously?” Or perhaps Jeremiah did not even make it to the question mark. It sounds as if he ran out of prayer before he figured out what to pray, which is the way bewildered prayers often end. The only one who never gets bewildered is God!" I am the LORD - Literally "I Yahweh." Jewish Bible = "Look, I am ADONAI." (see 'adonay) The Savior can solve every problem, The tangles of life can undo. There’s nothing too hard for Jesus; There’s nothing that He cannot do. —Author unknown The God of all flesh - "Of all mankind." This speaks of His sovereignty, His rule over every created being. He is free and able to do all that He wills (Ps 135:6). God possesses all power and is the ruler of all things (Da 4:34, 35). God rules and works according to His eternal purposes, even through events that seem to contradict or oppose His purposes! The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia adds that the sovereignty of God is "the absolute, irresistible, infinite, and unconditional exercise of God’s self-will over every area of His creation. God is the Disposer of all events throughout both time and eternity, as well as the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. God “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11). Related Resource The Sovereignty of God In Jeremiah 27:5-6 we see God's sovereignty as Jehovah declares "I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I have given him also the wild animals of the field to serve him." Is anything too difficult (wonderful, miraculous, amazing, extraordinary) for Me? - Jeremiah had already affirmed this truth (Jer 32:17). Obviously this is a rhetorical question calling for a negative response. This speaks of God's unquestioned, incontestable omnipotence. Ryken - So God’s answer to his prophet’s prayer was to say, “That’s right, Jeremiah, you have the right God!” If Jeremiah would only listen to his own prayer, he could answer his own question. Nothing is too difficult or wonderful for God. If God says he will rebuild Jerusalem, then rebuild it he will. And if God says it is a good time to buy, then it is a buyer’s market for men and women of faith. Jeremiah’s example shows the value of praying with an informed view of God, especially during desperate times. Approach God with a proper sense of his power, love, justice, and knowledge and you will find the faith to trust him, even if he tells you to fork over seventeen shekels to Cousin Hanamel." Compare God's promise to give elderly Abraham and Sarah an heir in Ge 18:14 “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Difficult (06381) see pala - Difficult means not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish, comprehend, or endure. Not easy to do; requiring effort. Not easy to understand or solve.