Psalm 115:1-11 guides us biblically into the proper direction for the expression of our praise, honor, and worship: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness” (verse 1). Only God is worthy to receive our praise, honor, and worship. Verse 3 reveals His authority and His capacity: “He does whatever pleases Him.” In reality, this is true of no one else. Only God can do whatever He likes. By contrast with humanly conceived or concocted gods, our God can “speak, see, hear, smell, feel, and walk” (verses 4-7). He can “help, and shield us” to the superlative level (repeated three times in verses 9-11). Our God is able to do all this without instrument or agency. The text states that “Those who make idols of silver and gold will be like them” (verses 4 and 8). One of the natural outcomes of every worldview is that men become “like” the objects of their worship and their belief systems. Idol worshipers take on the characteristics of their gods. This truth is an evidence of the greater spiritual law, and it is inviolable. So this Psalm indicates that we have a choice about whom we will serve, worship, and eventually emulate – either the living God – or a dead idol “made by the hands of men” (verse 4).
Having finished the book of Isaiah and looked at the prophecies of Nahum and Zephaniah, now we come today to another great prophetic work – the book of Jeremiah. Our reading for today is Jeremiah 1:1-2:30. Earlier, we saw that Isaiah lived “during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah” (cf., Isaiah 1:1) as the Assyrian empire began to decline. However, Jeremiah prophesied under Josiah during the reigns from Josiah to Zedekiah “when the people of Jerusalem went into exile” to Babylon (verses 1-3). Jeremiah was a young prophet who warned the Judean people of Babylon’s coming destruction on them for their sin, but the people outright rejected Jeremiah’s message, plotted against him, and wanted to kill him (cf., Jeremiah 11:18-21). Jeremiah was heartbroken over Judah’s violation of God’s covenant, but God carefully protected him and enabled him to continue his prophetic work – ever in the face of danger. Jeremiah begins his book by telling us that, God – in His sovereignty – “knew us before He formed us in the womb” (verse 5). Chapter 1 presents God’s call to Jeremiah: “‘Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you … they will fight against you but will not overcome you for I am with you,’ declares the LORD” (verses 17-19). Chapter 2:1-30 describes Jeremiah’s initial proclamations against Jerusalem for forsaking God.
In Philippians 1:27-2:11, Paul encourage us to make the smart and right choice now. He says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ … without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you” (verses 27-28). He reminds us that it has been “granted to us, not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for Him” (verse 29). That doesn’t sound very encouraging to us, but our encouragement is bound up in “our union with Christ – that we are one in spirit and purpose with Him” (cf., 2:1-3). We should imitate the humility of our Lord by developing “the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus” (verse 5). Paul points out that, eventually, “every knee will bow" – either willingly or forcefully – before “the name of Jesus,” and “every tongue” will “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (2:10-11). Thus, we are admonished that the time and place to resolve this issue in our hearts and minds is in the certainty of the here and now – not in the uncertain and nebulous hereafter. Then it will be too late.
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