Jul 22, 2022
JEREMIAH 3-4:
In yesterday’s reading there
was a play on words in Jer. 1:11-12, where the Hebrew word for
‘almond tree’ sounds like the word for ‘watching’:
11 Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you
see?”
And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond
tree.”
12 And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am
watching,* and I will certainly carry out all my
plans.”
*footnote: The Hebrew word for “watching” (shoqed) sounds like the
word for “almond tree” (shaqed).
Yesterday we also read Jeremiah 2:13, which is one of the most frequently quoted verses from this book. Look at it in context starting at verse 11:
Jer. 2:11 NLT Has any nation ever traded its gods for new
ones,
even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols!
12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing
and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
says the Lord.
13 “For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me—
the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
that can hold no water at all!
PSALM 139:
What a contrast with what we just read! Our God
searches us out and knows all about us. This psalm has been a great
comfort to many.
JOHN 18b:
Jesus knew he was walking inexorably to the
cross. To me it is interesting that in Jesus’ short time with the
governor of the land, he brought the focus to the concept of
‘truth’.
NLT Translation notes:
Jer.
4:2 Then when you swear by my name, saying,
‘As
surely as the LORD lives,’
you
could do so
with
truth, justice, and righteousness.
Then
you would be a blessing to the nations of the
world,
and all people
would come and praise [Me//my name].”
====
John
18:22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus
across the face. [He snapped,] “Is that the way to answer the high
priest?” [/he demanded.]
24
Then (retired high priest) Annas bound Jesus and sent him to
Caiaphas, the (current) high priest.
28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early
hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the
Roman governor.f His accusers didn’t go inside because it would
defile them, and [they would not be able//they
wouldn’t be allowed to] celebrate the Passover.
30
[The Jewish leaders replied,] “We wouldn’t have handed him over to
you if he weren’t a criminal!” [/they retorted].
35
[Pilato snapped back,] “Am I a Jew?” [/Pilate retorted.] “Your own
people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why?
What have you done?”
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.