Devotions: Ps 131-33, 140, 142; Jer 26:1-16; Rom 11:1-12; Jn 10:19-42
Lord, I keep my head down and my heart humble. I have calmed and quieted my soul like a child resting at its mother's breast. Let Israel rest in faith under YHWH's care. And let us honor God, Who has chosen His people, and Who cares for us at all times. How pleasant it is when members of God's household live together in unity, as we await our welcome into eternal life with our Lord. Father, deliver me from evil men, violent people who plot evil and do harm whenever they can. YHWH is my God, my strong Deliverer. And I commit my enemies to His judgment and punishment. I cry out to You, Lord; hear my prayer; answer my concern. Be my Refuge and deliver me from my persecutors, I pray.
YHWH assigned Jeremiah this message at the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign in Judah: Stand in the court of the Lord's temple and say all I tell you. They may listen, or they may not. Tell them this for Me: If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, and to heed the words of My servants the prophets I have sent you, then I will make this Jerusalem temple like the shrine at Shiloh; and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth. The priests and prophets and all the people of Jerusalem heard Jeremiah's words, but instead of repenting, they were angry and threatened to kill the prophet. The princes of Judah also heard what had been said, and they came up and sat in the New Gate, where the priests and other prophets brought their charges against Jeremiah. Jeremiah answered: YHWH sent me to prophesy against this house and this city; the words are His, not mine. Now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of YHWH your God, and He will repent of all the evil He has pronounced against you. Just know this for certain: if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and this city and its inhabitants. For in truth, YHWH sent me to you to say all these words before you.
Paul argued: has God rejected His people? Of course not! I am an Israelite myself—descended from Abraham, a member of Benjamin's tribe. God has not rejected the people whom He foreknew. Recall when Elijah pleaded with God: 'Lord, they have killed Your prophets and destroyed Your altars, and I alone am left—and now they're seeking to kill me?' And what did God reply? 'I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' So too now, there is a remnant, chosen by grace—not on the basis of works. Israel failed to obtain what it sought; the elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened. Scripture says, 'God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that couldn't see, deaf ears, down to this very day.' David wrote, 'Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.' So I ask now: have the Jews stumbled beyond recovery? By no means! Through their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. If their trespass means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
The Jews were divided in their opinions about Jesus. Many said He was demon-possessed, and should not be heeded. Others said, 'He doesn't talk like a possessed man; and a demon wouldn't open the eyes of the blind.' It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem—winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon's portico. The Jews came to Him there and said, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us straight out.' He said, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works I do in My Father's name bear witness to Me. But you do not believe, because you are not among My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than anything, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are One.' At this, the Jews again took up stones to kill Jesus. He said to them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these would you stone Me?' They said, 'Not for good works but for blasphemy! You are a man, but you equate yourself with God.' Jesus replied: 'It is written in your law, isn't it: 'I said you are all gods.' If he called them gods to whom God's word came (and scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him Whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming' because I said 'I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe Me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe in Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand dthat the Father is in Me and I Am in the Father.' Again they tried to arrest Jesus, but He escaped their hands. He departed and crossed the Jordan, to where John had baptized at first. Many came to Jesus there, saying 'John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.' And many placed their faith in Jesus there.
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