365 Reflections

For years, Jeremiah preached about the destruction and restoration of Jerusalem. In the chapters before Jeremiah 32, he announced the good news of return, the New Covenant, and God's good plan for the people despite their present turmoil. Now, in Jeremiah 32, the prophet is asked a curious question.  Jeremiah 32:6–8 (ESV) Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me: 7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ 8 Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. Jeremiah follows through. He buys the field and calls his assistant Baruch to put the deed of purchase in a long-lasting container.  Jeremiah 32:13–15 (ESV)...

Moses is called. Moses is commissioned by God. Moses has met with God. Moses is on his way to fulfill God's grand and glorious purposes. And then something shocking. Exodus 4:24–26 (ESV)  At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision. This is a hard moment for us to understand. We want to question God here. Why is He one moment commending and commissioning Moses and the next moment about to slay him? It is because your calling in God NEVER trumps your inward response toward God. Moses had not to this point circumcised his son. He knew the importance of this sign. He understood it's implications. He was taught the stories of his people. But in the hustle and bustle of life, Moses neglec...

Faced with accusations and evil intentions from his enemies, David turns to the Lord and His presence. He speaks profound if not fearful words for many of us. Psalm 26:1–3 (ESV) Vindicate me, O Lord , for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Prove me, O Lord , and try me; test my heart and my mind. 3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. What a prayer! To walk before the Lord with this kind of confidence seems unimaginable. But notice, it is not before the Lord he's walking but before people. That is, in this particular case, David knows he hasn't done wrong.  He says to the Lord, "I have walked in my integrity" because... "I walk in your faithfulness."  God's faithful love should produce a change in character when people attack and malign us. His faithfulness toward His people produces an uprightness the world cannot know or understand. The Lord mak...