Aug 5, 2022
JEREMIAH 30-31:
Yesterday we heard more of Jeremiah’s struggle
against false prophets. Just like in this day, the false message is
what people desire to hear, even though the truth is actually
better for us and much better for our preparation. An often quoted
verse from yesterday’s reading is Jer. 29:11:
Jer. 29:11 NLT For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.
I think it good to bear in mind that this was NOT spoken to the Jews left behind in Israel's land, but was part of the letter to the exiles in Babylon.
PROVERBS 3a:
In
yesterday’s reading we heard that following the path of wisdom is
the way of common sense, and that leads one to avoid reckless sin
of all kinds. It is best to follow the example of godly men. Lady
Wisdom appears again in today’s chapter in verses 13-18, although,
for naturalness sake in English, the GNT does not make use of
personification like the Hebrew.
1CORINTHIANS 10:
In
chapter 8, we heard that Christians who have ‘superior wisdom’
sometimes need to give up their ‘rights’ for the sake of not
causing their brothers and sisters to fall or be tempted. (Often
not really ‘rights’, but privileges we get too possessive about.)
And that led Paul in chapter 9 to talk of the rights he and
Barnabas had given up for the Gospel.
GNT Translation notes:
1Cor. 10:2 In the cloud and in
the sea they were all baptized[— so to speak,] as followers of
Moses.
23
[Some people will say,] “We are allowed to do anything,” [0//so
they say.] That is true, but not everything is good. [Okay!] “We
are allowed to do anything”—but not everything is
helpful.
29
that is, not your own conscience, but the other person's
conscience. “Well, then,” someone [will ask//asks], “why should my
freedom to act be limited by another person's
conscience?