A Reason to Boast

Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV) Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Three things that lead us to pride: Our own wisdom, strength, and money. And we seek them constantly. Israel had them under Solomon, and they ended up doing to the nation what they did to Solomon. They became self-indulgent behaviors that attracted the attention of others but lost him his heart for God. 

Jeremiah brings the nation back to the things that made David their great king. The knowledge of God. When David first knew the Lord he did not have wisdom, might, or riches. God gave David these throughout His life as David faced greater trials and challenges along the way. And when David struggled, he learned the unbeatable value of depending on God. 

Absolutely nothing in your life is better than knowing the Lord. 

In the New Testament, Paul will quote this verse twice to the church at Corinth. The first time to the corrective letter of 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 1:31 (ESV) so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

At this point, the church was on the Solomon trajectory. They had come to God as nobodies and unimportant people. But before they knew it, they were vying for prominence and growing divisive as they propped themselves up by their favorite preacher, their spiritual gift, or their place in the community. Paul cautions them away from a Solomon-type mistake. Boasting in who you are and what you've accomplished is the fastest way to stop depending on the Lord and what He gives. 

Later in 2 Corinthians Paul uses this passage again regarding his own ministry. He was an accomplished missionary, evangelist, and Apostle. He started multiple churches and led thousands to Christ in places where churches did not exist. He wrote letters, encouraged, challenged, and discipled people from all areas of the known world. He was honored and followed by many. Yet he kept himself from the boastful inclinations of his contemporaries. 

2 Corinthians 10:15–17 (ESV) We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Notice the application here. As the Corinthians grew stronger in faith, Paul knew he could move beyond them to other people since the Corinthians could become self-reliant as a church. Paul knew that he could only go further if he was dependent on the Lord and not on himself. 

Jeremiah 9 ends as follows:

Jeremiah 9:25–26 (ESV) “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”

He equates the people of Israel to those pagan nations who also practiced outward circumcision and even some who did no such thing. And then the dagger: Israel is actually uncircumcised in heart. Meaning they had the outward form of religion but no inward transformation. Why? Because the failed to trust in the Lord and started to depend on what He had made them. 

The warning is important for us. There is nothing better in your life than knowing the Lord. And in truly knowing Him we realize how much we always need Him. 

That's a great place to be.