Jul 24, 2022
JEREMIAH 7-8:
In this and several other prophetic books, it
is important to observe where quotes begin and end, and who is
speaking. The section headings are also very helpful to our
understanding. Modern translators and editors use the heading to
help modern readers understand such things as ancient poetic
imagery.
Yesterday's reading had this ironic statement spoken by the Lord:
5:19 When they ask why I did all these things, tell them, Jeremiah, that just as they turned away from me and served foreign gods in their own land, so they will serve strangers in a land that is not theirs.”
PSALM
141:
David received the answer to his prayer in
verse 5, if this was written before his affair with Bathsheba.
Nathan did what David prayed for here. This psalm contains gems
that are well worth digging for and meditating on.
JOHN 19b:
I believe that John saw, and wanted us to feel,
the extreme irony in many events that we have read. The ironic
events and statements also didn’t happen by accident. It was not an
accident that the mob who came to arrest Jesus stumbled back and
fell when he said, “I am He.” That was— and still is, a sign from
God. All of the statements of Pilate and the chief priests drip
with irony which they could not see, but which we can. “I find no
fault with this man!” “Behold your king!” “We have no king but
Caesar!” “What is truth?” “Don’t release him, we want
Barabbas!”
NLT Translation notes:
Jer.
7:8 “‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer
because the Temple is here. [That’s/It’s] a lie!
11 Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple,
which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all
the evil going on [here/there]. I, the LORD, have
spoken!
====
John
19:3“Hail[ to you,!] King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they
slapped him across the face.
12
Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted,
“If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of [the high king]
Caesar.’b Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel
against Caesar.”
24
So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw
dicee for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that
says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for
my clothing.”f So
that is what they did [(without knowing they were fulfilling
Scripture)].
26
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he
loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, [there/here] is your
son.”
[Here and in verse
27, the literal Greek is “See-imperative.” It is a matter of
interpretation whether in the first instance Jesus could be saying,
“See what I have become,” or, “Look at that guy next to you. He is
your son.” The difference would be a nod of the head or a motion of
Jesus’ eyes. I think that Jesus’ intention was correctly
interpreted by John in 27b.]
27
And he said to this disciple, “[That/Here] is your mother.” And
from then on this disciple took her into his
home.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the
Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day,
which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was
the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten [the deaths of the
crucified men//their deaths] by ordering that their legs be broken.
Then their bodies could be taken down.
35
([John writes a parenthetical comment:] This report is from an
eyewitness giving an accurate account. [I speak/He speaks] the
truth so that you also can believe.)
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.