Jeremiah – Chapter 18

Posted on May 5, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

(God says He can change His mind)

Over 30 times in Jeremiah a chapter begins with something similar to “The Lord spoke to me about such and such or said…” Jeremiah was in constant contact with the Lord [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18].

In chapter 18 we find God telling Jeremiah that he is no longer satisfied with the Israel-Judah of His original design and is going to remake them. Remake them into what is a later chapter.

potter wheel

Verse 1: “And the Lord told…” Jeremiah is about to get a visual lesson at a clay potter’s shop. There will be people there, in the streets and commercial center. Jeremiah is instructed to go there, observe the potter at work, and then speak to those around him when God puts the words in his mouth. In the same sentence (v2) Jeremiah may have been in a dream state as God tells him to RISE UP, arise,… The ERV leaves out the word “rise” but such a word indicates he is to get up. We know that in the working and waking hours craftsmen make their wares to sell in the afternoon markets. This is not of real important but we can glean from this that Jeremiah may have been hearing the Lord in a dream; i.e. in the spirit [John 4:24].

When Jeremiah “rises up” and gets there, the potter is busy. The potter however is in a sort of dilemma. He is not in the process of making what he originally planned with the lump of clay but is remolding it to something different. Why? V4 says: (ERV) “He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot.” Before going any further, this chapter is about God re-creating his chosen people of Israel-Judah into something other than his original plans… “But there was something wrong with the pot.” The potter was remaking the original pot into something still of value but different from his original design. But to remake or remold the clay, he had to first lay hands on it, clump it back into a heap, and then begin again.

The Potter represents God
The clay represents Israel-Judah

Verse 5: At this point Jeremiah gets the analogy of the clay, the potter and Israel. Note that it is NOT just Judah to which God is speaking through Jeremiah. How do we know (yada)? V6: “O House of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD…” (ESV). HOUSE OF ISRAEL? The ten northern Tribes of Israel were dispersed by the Assyrians into the neighboring lands far and near 120 years earlier. However, God still holds them as His chosen and His people. He isn’t pleased with them so chapter 18 explains what God plans. He is going to reshape them but using the same lump of clay. This will take many years and up to End Time. We will discuss this further in later chapters in this Jeremiah study.

Verses 7-10 God is declaring once again His total sovereignty over man. He can break us up, cast us out, reshape us or keep us under His thumb. It all depends on the attitude and heart of the kingdom, nation or people to which he is making this declaration; even America. Congress cannot prevent it and neither can some Circuit Court or federal judge. The promise, as we have discussed so often in our bible blogs once again fits the “If you_____, then I will _____.” God tells Jeremiah that if the people of any (v7) nation or kingdom repent, I, God can change my mind. God is not arbitrary in that He is unrelenting or merciless. However, we once again glean from this passage that God includes ANY group of peoples; not just Judah. But it goes both ways. A given people must continue (v10) or return from their evil ways of rejecting God. He will “relent of the good he intended for them” if they don’t. Be careful America. We were once a Christian nation but former President Obama set the record quite straight when in his ignorance declared America to “not just be a Christian nation (anymore)” (emphasis mine).

In this given situation the CEV translation is good: “…but [if or when] its people start disobeying me and doing evil, then I will change my mind and not help them at all” (18:10). In a sense God is still offering Judah-Israel the chance to be redeemed; no 70 year bondage in Babylon but only if…! In carefully reading this passage we can also reason that God’s original plan for man is good, not bad. We still have chapters 19-52 to discuss so it doesn’t end here. However verse 12 tells us the Judeans refuse the offer. How blatant can one be? Proverbs 12:1 tells us “he who loves correction loves knowledge; but whoever hates correction is stupid.”

By using a correlation with the snowcapped mountains of Lebanon and the waters that flow from these mountains in verse 14, God renounces his protection of the people of Judah; the one’s he now identifies as “this people.” God recognizes all the Tribes of Israel as arrogant and self-centered. As he did with the Pharaoh of the time of Moses, he turns them over to their own ways without his intervention, protection or influence. He does not bring the disaster as some teach. He allows it to happen. Babylon is already on a military roll through the Middle East conquering even their former masters the Assyrians. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, is identified as God’s servant in Jeremiah 27:6. This isn’t what it might seem to be at first read. We will discuss this in greater detail when we get to chapter 27. If you can’t wait, go to our study of the Book of Daniel. It is explained in one of these articles.

“For they have forgotten me…” (v15). A better translation of the word “for” in this verse would be “because.” “Forgotten” or epilanthanomai in the Greek, one of the longest Greek words used in scripture, means, to “put out of mind; totally neglect as opposed to reject.” God is not even a consideration by the peoples of Judah at this time. To put this in modern terms, absence does not breed a stronger bond; it breeds total forgetfulness. At this time in history, Judaism is no longer a way of life with God Jehovah, but it is a religion. We can see from this passage why 600 years later the Scribes, Priests, and Pharisees had no recognition of their Messiah Jesus when he was born in Bethlehem.

In verses 16 and 17 we get the purpose of the practice of modern day shunning or excommunication; a severing of all ties with an individual or group ostracized. (V17; ESV) Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity.” The Jewish Publication Society Bible (JPS) puts it differently. They say that God will look upon THEIR backside instead of their faces. Think about this difference.

At this point in chapter 18 Jeremiah shifts gears. He points out to God that his own people are planning ways to remove themselves from the words of Jeremiah. They do it, initially, by declaring the Law of Moses and the insight of the Levite priests to be of a greater value than these words from Jeremiah. They are declared words, not prophecies. Besides, during this time and in previous chapters Jeremiah mentions that there are others who declare themselves prophets with words contrary to what Jeremiah says; i.e. the tickling of their ears. Recall in chapter 7 of Jeremiah these people declare they have the Temple. They forget that it is God not the Temple that is their protection.

There is a saying that goes something like this: “No good deed shall go unpunished.” In essence this is what Jeremiah points out to God in verse 20. “I have been good to the people of Judah but now they are paying me back with evil…” (ERV). The ERV adds that not only are his fellow countrymen plotting to wage a war of tongues (debate) with Jeremiah but they plan to kill him. However, Jeremiah has the divine protection of God (Jeremiah 1:17, 18). By this time and as expounded upon in later chapters, Jeremiah is asking God to pour out His wrath. “Let their children starve and let women lose their husbands” he says to God in verse 21.

If we look closely at what Jeremiah is asking of God, he is asking for judgment upon his own people due to their total rejection of the message he delivered to them from God. Not only do the Judeans reject the message, but plot to kill the messenger. How might we see this in light of today? We are the messenger but is there a limit to our rejection? Is there a point of no return? Might there be a time we “shake the soil from our feet as we leave a place that has rejected God, the message and the messenger? [Matthew 10:12; Luke 10:10-11] Read these passages and judge for yourself.

Rev. Dr. Jstark February 2017

Jeremiah – Chapter 17

Posted on April 21, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

Dr. J “This sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond: It is engraved upon the table of the heart…” (KJV).

Powerful picture words in the opening verse of Jeremiah 17. In this case the CEV is more understandable and not off doctrine… [The CEV is written plain English. At times excludes important words in a given verse or passage not giving a good picture of the verse’s intent]. engrave forebver

“People of Judah, your sins cannot be erased. They are written on your hearts like words chiseled in stone or carved on the corners of your altars.”

This statement throws the doors of theological debate wide open, as if the doors are torn from its hinges. Unforgivable and eternal? Not really. What message is God telling Jeremiah to convey to his people? He is telling them (Judah) through Jeremiah that he (God) has tried for centuries to make a point they (all Israel) keep rejecting. There is only one GOD and he will not accept any other god before him; nothing; nada; gar nichts…! This is also why we find later in Jeremiah 31:33: (NIV) “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” God simply tells Jeremiah to convey to the people of judah there is a price to be paid for their persistence and pentchant toward departing from or replacing worshiping HIM for other values first in thier life.

Jeremiah 17 is full of things for us to put in our heart and recall daily. Let’s discuss them as we go through this chapter today. An immediate aha moment can be found in the first four verses of Jeremiah 17. The Hebrew 70 scholars and scribes who translated their own Hebrew scrolls into Greek under the instructions of Ptolemy of Egypt opted to not include them in the Septuagint or first Greek translation. If we look closely at these four verses it is easy to see how scolding and incriminating they are to the Jews and their scribes.

Verse 1 is blunt. There is little to NO wiggle room for misunderstanding. Rejection by ideologists, yes! Even the translators of the Hebrew by the hired scribes of Levite descent did not wish for the Greek to see it. But then so is God’s offer to salvation. Their continual sin and returning to it is so reprehensible, God is no longer going to defend them as his pride and joy. Yes Israelis remain Gods chosen, but we might identify this scene as being sent to one’s room for a 70 year timeout.

Judeans at this time is similar to what God did to this in individual Pharaoh of Egypt during the final five plagues. Pharaoh kept hardening his own heart until God finally refused to offer any intervening spirit to convince this ruler to “Let my people go.” He turned Pharaoh lose to his own vises. This example of the time of Pharaoh and his heart is similar to what is happening to those of Judah, civilian and ruler-leaders, at this time in the life of Jeremiah. God released them to their own vises.

Verse 2: The idols and particularly the Asherah poles are seldom discussed or properly identified in other commentaries or from the pulpit. The Asherah Pole is the same thing in practice as the dance poles used in strip clubs. They are for one purpose and it is the youth of Judah who hang around them lusting and fantasizing. This is the “children” referred to in V2. Not really children but more like a den of sin and enticement for those of early ages.

Verse 3: God tells Judah (Israel) that what they had will now belong to others. Possessions are one of the greatest identities of these people. It is all about self, wealth, pleasure and thinking themselves exclusive; nothing about true worship. ..throughout all their borders.” It means not only Jerusalem but all of Judea including the already occupied lands of the former Northern Kingdom of Israel (10 Tribes).

Verse 4: Strangely enough, verse four is Arab-Islam’s claim to what they say was formerly the blessing of Jacob but now the blessing by default to the descendants of Esau and Ishmael. In other words, this passage if out of context could read, “Israel/Judah, you have now forfeited God’s blessing that Jacob stole from his twin brother Esau. I am giving it back to its rightful owner the first born of Abraham (Ishmael) and the first born of Isaac (Esau). I will cause you to serve your enemies; an anger that will be forever.” Only is this true when taken out of context. God will fulfill all of his promises (covenants).

We can easily see why the Hebrew translators DELIBERATELY left these verses out of their writing of the first Greek copy of the Hebrew bible (Old Testament) that being the XXL or Septuagint. They begin their translation with 5^th verse as it can be applied across the identities of the human race; not exclusive to the Jew (Israelite).

Jer 17:5 I, the LORD, have put a curse on those who turn from me and trust in human strength. (CEV)

Jeremiah 17:5-10 are applicable to all (kole in the Hebrew) mankind. Jeremiah steps aside from criticizing Judah specifically and takes a global look at the dynamic nature of God and his original creation. The Contemporary English Version (CEV) mistakenly returns to Judah by inserting their name in verse 9. I am not familiar with any other translation that does the same thing. Taking liberties with God’s true word is dangerous both to the author who takes the liberty and to those who use a given translation exclusively in his or her bible studies.

Quotes to all mankind from 17:5-10…

Bad things happen to those who put their trust in man
Bad things will happen to those who depend on human strength as it means trusting God is not primary.
To be like this is like a bush in an isolated part of a dry parched desert. It lacks any knowledge of fertile, well-watered environments
Those who trust “fully” in the Lord will be blessed. This does not mean or include those who simply believe in God or a supreme being. They fully believe but not fully trust.
To know God is to (study) know his covenants with man.
1. They are confident even during a dry season
2. Like a tree next to a brook that does not seasonally run dry
3. Their leaves are always green
4. They always produce fruit.
The human mind is deceitful and can call bad good and self-justify any evil committed.
V10…”But I am the LORD and can look into a man’s heart (mind)” (ERV).

Although the CEV does miss in its interpretations from time to time, they do put it in plain English. 17:10b…”I [God] will make sure you get what you deserve.” The ERV puts it… “I (God can) give each person the right payment for what they do.”

A unique characteristic of some birds such as the Quale (Partridge) is it will sit on or steal the eggs of another bird until they hatch. But the birds do not recognize the surrogate mother. They will fly the coop. The ERV v11 puts it well in comparison to humans:

“Sometimes a bird will hatch an egg that it did not lay. Those who cheat to get money are like that bird. But when their lives are half finished, they will lose the money. At the end of their lives, it will be clear that they were fools.”

Look closely at this passage (above). It does NOT SAY wealth in and of itself is a sign of misgivings or wrong doing. It is the wealth gained unjustly or by cheating that condemns him or her who selfishly gathers it.

Jeremiah again beginning in verse 13 shifts thought. First he praises God just like the opening of the Lord’s Prayer. We should begin every prayer with a praise to and recognition of who God is. Simply put, He is sovereign.

Verse 13b is something we all need to pay attention to. (KJV) “…and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD,…” Written in the earth means their value is now like the dust. It will easily be swept away.

Jeremiah asks God a question in verse 15. It shows the depth of Judean’s contempt for God. They actually challenge the prophecies of Jeremiah by saying PROVE IT! If God has said it, let it happen now because we challenge your prophecies and HIS authority to accomplish it. WOW! What dangerous grounds to be upon. Jeremiah who once pleaded with God to forego his condemnation of Judah now asks God to fulfill it (V18). Jeremiah aches in heart and soul for his countrymen. Their arrogance and stiff-necked attitudes are the issues at stake and for which God has already condemned them in verse 1. It hasn’t happened (yet again; forgetful memories they have) so they feel immune. Woe onto men who feel their superiority and self-reliance.

Jeremiah again switches topics and begins discussing the Sabbath Day. The last few verses of Jeremiah 17 including Exodus 20:8-11 is the basis of 7^th Day Adventists (and Judaism) setting aside Saturday as the day of worship instead of Sunday. We can discuss this topic in the future as it has holes, but not in this blog. One three simple considerations: On what day was man created? Was it identified by God as anything other than sequential day 6? What day of a week was the 7^th day if there were no calendars back them; just a sequence of days?

JIV NOTE: Beginning with verse 24 but prefaced with v19 – 22, God offers another “If you ____, then I will ____. Just like every covenant promise made by God in the Old and New Testament we are given the same condition. If we firs do this or that, then God will fulfill his end of the offer; and offer made by GOD, not man. Somehow this also has hints of End Time conditions. It also includes a promise beyond the 70 year Babylonian captivity they (Judah) has yet to endure.

The Covenant Promise: (in short) Honor the Hebrew Sabbath “Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David…”. For how long? The end of this same verse says forever. Read this passage closely. It refers ONLY to entering the gates of Jerusalem, God’s holy city, bearing a load or work detail (V24). People will come from throughout the lands to worship but the reference to the Sabbath work load is in reference to bringing the work load into the city of Jerusalem via any of its 12 gates.

Once again this supposition of it being exclusive per work on the Sabbath, the concluding verse on chapter 17 states in part… “‘But if you [Judeans] don’t listen to me and obey me, bad things will happen. If you carry loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, you are not keeping it as a holy day…’”

END NOTE: Something for each of us to remember about bad habits “One cannot break a habit. S/he can only replace it with something else, good or bad” (Jstark). Israel replaced their worship of the true God with works of their hands and other motionless and useless gods. They could not simply stop their false worship as many good Kings of Judah tried to do without returning to a full-faith worship of Yahweh.

There is something similar to this passage and a well tilled and cultivated garden. Initially it appears to be without weeds. Then, they begin to appear amongst the crop or garden. They were either hidden weeds (sins) or inherited from it environment. This is Israel of old.

miniJim Rev. Dr. Jstark

February 2017

End – Time Prophecy

Posted on April 14, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

geneiss The first and often least recognized end time prophecy is found in the curses God gave at the Garden of Eden. We know about Adam and Eve being expelled and cursed; we know about the Satan serpent. Man will be expelled from the Garden and labor but the sweat of his brow [Genesis 3:17-19] to feed his family. Women; I will now greatly increase your pain during child birth will *now have pain delivering children [Genesis 3:16]. There will be enmity between the serpent and the woman

This passage as it reads suggests Adam and Eve already had children. If God is going to greatly increase the pain in childbirth. Eve must have something with which to compare labor pain so she already must have a child or two. One can’t greatly increase something with which s/he is not already familiar.

The snake in the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 3:14 & 15 state: God saith unto the serpent, `Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all the cattle, and above every beast of the field: on thy belly dost thou go, and dust thou dost eat, all days of thy life; and enmity I put between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he doth bruise thee–the head, and thou dost bruise him–the heel.’ [YLT]

This highly suggests the snake in the garden was not one that looked like the snake as we know it today…sneaking and sleuthing through the grasses and in the tree branches. Every depiction we have today of the Eve and Satan encounter shows the snake already belly-bound. This is NOT what scripture tells us. It says “from now on…”

Genesis 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.” The obvious is missed. Up to this point in the Garden of Eden incident, the snake did NOT crawl on its belly and eat dust. Our depiction of this moment in the history of mankind is totally wrong per imagery.

Genesis 3:15 tells us an end time prophecy most miss. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” It is found with careful reading…”he will crush your head.” Note the gender change from a woman to “he.” The King James uses the word “it.” None the less, the change in the ‘who’ is in the verse itself.

Israel is often identified as a woman in end time prophecies. Just as the church is the bride of Christ; i.e. an identity of a woman, so is the nation of Israel. As has been true since the start of the church age at the cross, Satan has bit at the heel of the church and the church has tried to crush the head of Satan through prayer and worship of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Genesis 2 continue… (YLT) And Jehovah God doth make to the man and to his wife coats of skin, and doth clothe them.

Gen 3:22 And Jehovah God saith, `Lo, the man was as one of Us, as to the knowledge of good and evil; and now, lest he send forth his hand, and have taken also of the tree of life, and eaten, and lived to the age,’ —

It is obvious after reading v22 that there was another tree in the Garden; i.e. one of eternal life. Two or three conclusions for end time come from this verse in Genesis 3.

1. The other tree in the same Garden is one of eternal live eternal life. Jesus paid the wages of sin on the tree or cross on Golgotha and now we can take of it and live up to, through and beyond the end time.

2. There were never for bidden to eat from the Tree of Eternal life. Just as in end time we will not be forbidden to eat of the tree of life through Jesus or to eat of the deliberate deception of Satan.

3. This (#2) being true, then Angels and Satan’s motley crew are already eternal. This however does not make him, them or us without consequence for our sins.

There is another analogy that needs to be mentioned. The Tribe of Dan is NOT included in the 144,000 mentioned in either Revelation 7 or 14.” Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path that bites the horse’s heels, so that its rider tumbles backward.” (Gen. 49:16-18). Note the similarity of a snake and the biting at the heel; Genesis 3:15 and the prophecy of the Tribe of Dan in Genesis 49:16-18. The question not asked often enough is who is crushing the head of the snake? , “who is the ‘her’ in 3:15 who becomes a he in the next sentence?” Is it the horse’s heel and the rider? This is not as mysterious as one might make it to be.

We cannot write in a single blog the connectivity, but it is there for the student of the bible to seek and to find. What started in the Garden of Eden will end with the people of God (Israel) and the people of the Church (Jesus) having total victory of Satan.

What about the Tribe of Dan? When Dan “leaped out of Bashan” (Deuteronomy 33:22) after migrating north from the land area originally assigned by Joshua to that tribe, they conquered Laish (Judges 1:16-20) in northern sector of the territory of Bashan. They did not take the Lord God with them. They took idols and their wicked ways with them as the marched out of Bashan. They deliberately left the Promised Land refusing to conquer it.

We will go deeper into this historical and detailed filled discussion next fall in a series entitled, Which Way Did They Go?

Needless to say but we will anyway, the 144,000 mentioned twice in Revelation, do not include Dan. Dan left God behind, not the other way around. Dan’s offspring may be those who may be the last and perhaps the least to respond to God’s end time call. They may likely be some of those who respond in or during the tribulation; a time called Jacob’s Great Troubles. But, the Tribe essentially rejects the promise of the Promised Land. Consider this…what about modern day rejection of God even after knowing about the Promised Land in heaven? Can we give up on what Jesus promised us as believers and “do it our way?”

If one no longer feels as close to God as s/he once did; guess which one moved?

Dr. jStark

Jeremiah – Chapter 16

Posted on April 7, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

Dr. JJeremiah – Chapter 16

This chapter could easily be described as Jeremiah’s life-style and ordained, like in predestined, message, his life’s mission and a preview of a portion of End Time. Why? It begins with the Lord Jehovah instructing Jeremiah to NOT GET MARRIED AND NOT HAVE CHILDREN.

The “what” in 16:3 and 4 explain bluntly but also seem to have a qualifier.

They will die of horrible diseases and of war and starvation. No one will give them a funeral or bury them, and their bodies will be food for the birds and wild animals. And what’s left will lie on the ground like manure.

This reminds us of chapter 15 verses 3 & 4 where God’s frustration [the why] with “this people,” the Judeans and all Israelis for turning their back on their God and redeemer (salvation) over and over again. God no longer calls them HIS people. He steps back now calling them “this people.” What a horrible position of condemnation. Can one imagine if our own eternal security and salvation was revoked due to our putting other gods before God such as money, pleasure, not studying or neglecting his Word?

This passage gets franker in the message from Jehovah to Jeremiah. Verse 5 instructs Jeremiah the Prophet of Judah to not even lament those he knows who die or visit the families of those who have died from this point forward. This means, as it is today, the usual “after funeral” luncheons. There will be so much carnage that others in Judah or neighboring territories won’t have time to lament the loss of family, neighbor or leaders. No time to even bury them.

If there is an after death luncheon, verse 6 instructs Jeremiah to NOT set foot into a house where this is being offered. Is there sorrow? Yes! What will it take to get these people, God’s chosen, to not only return to him but remain in HIM? This propels us to End Time when God tells Jeremiah in chapter 31 that he will write His word upon their hearts. It is also stated in Hebrews 8:10 and 10:16. However even today we make this mistake of not keeping God first. Charles Spurgeon said, “We write our blessings in the sand, and we engrave our complaints in the marble.”

Taking verse 6 and 7 into context, no one will bring wine of food to comfort those with the loss and if they supply it themselves, don’t attend.

Verse 9 needs some explanation. It reads in the CEV: “Warn the people of Judah that I, the LORD All-Powerful, will put an end to all their parties and wedding celebrations.” This would better translate “their desires to party and celebrate.” Many have experienced something somewhat similar when invited to a party today. The invited person(s) simply have no desire to go. The attempted party is there but there is no celebration. The King James puts it: “…the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.” There will be moments to celebrate. The emphasis in verse 9 is the words to celebrate. It will be gone.

Now Jeremiah gets a bit contemporary. We all know the “what did I do” expression the guilty say when trying to dodge the accusation of wrong doing. When a person back then, as it is true today, answers a question of accusation with a question, s/he is avoiding answering. However, God gives Jeremiah an answer or reply to this or their attempt to defer. He is to tell the people of Judah to realize they are even worse than their ancestors who turned to idols. These people in Jeremiah’s time did whatever came to mind; good, bad, and simply evil. Read verses 11 & 12 of Jeremiah 16. A good read is found at: [Control + Click to follow] https://books.google.com/books?id=zYXhAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA80&lpg=PA80&dq=Judah+is+even+worse+than+the+Tribes+in+the+north&source=bl&ots=Hl2arjbk4K&sig=3rl9M2xOqEQuxvEBf9ZtA-2BALE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiC2IyE2OrRAhXqxVQKHaLeDA4Q6AEIPDAG#v=onepage&q=Judah%20is%20even%20worse%20than%20the%20Tribes%20in%20the%20north&f=false

There is Hope

At 16:14 & 15 God offers an eventual plan of redemption to the people of Israel/Judah. This is the covenant of End Time and Israel. This simultaneous fulfilment of the two covenants, one with Israel and one with the New Testament (church) plan of eternity. (Israel) “…For I will bring them [Israel] back into their land which I gave to their fathers.” Do you want to know the solution to the Palestinian issues today? Reread the previous sentence. The West Bank is former Judah and Samaria. Lands to the east of the Jordan River belonged to the Tribes of Gad, Reuben, and a half tribe of Manasseh.

Beginning with verse 17, Jeremiah explains the “what” and the “why.” But to fully understand chapter 16 in Jeremiah, we must realize God is actually telling Jeremiah of the past, present, and future. God even include a critical but often overlooked portion of verse 19. It explains a time will come when those people and nations that have challenged Israel and Israelis from their time in Egypt through a prophetic End Time Apocalypse, will see the truth. They will admit that they have been deceived by their Gentile ancestors who were and are anti-Semite. The truth will be known as the Kingdom of God is ushered in.

Let’s break down this past, present and future of which Jeremiah is writing using the ESV translation’ verses 17 – 21.

For my eyes are on all their [people] ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their [both Israelite and Gentile] iniquity concealed from my eyes [This is the past and present]. But first I will doubly repay their [the Great Tribulation] iniquity and their sin, because they [both Israelite and Gentile] have polluted my land [Palestine and Canaan] with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance [Promised Land] with their abominations.” O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble [both Israelite and Gentile; i.e. the Great Tribulation], to you shall the nations [Gentiles; future tense] come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers [Gentiles; future tense] have inherited [Gentile nations; past and present tense] nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit. Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!” “Therefore, behold, I will make them [future tense; Gentile] know, this once [one time offer] I will make them [future tense; Gentile] know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.”

This is one of the most powerful and promising chapters in Jeremiah. The same things are echoed in Daniel, Revelation, Isaiah, the Minor Prophetic books (12 books at the end of the Old Testament) and in part, several New Testament books. The challenge to peripheral bible study or reading, the individual seldom realizes these differentiations as identified in the previous paragraph.

But then…don’t take my word for it. Study it for yourself.

miniJim Rev. Dr. Jstark January 30, 2017

Father Forgive Them – Easter 2017 Article

Posted on March 31, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

“Father Forgive Them”… but who is THEM?

A small sentence and request with a global affect; Luke 24:34. Tens of thousands of sermons JESUS onCross have been preached on this phrase and thousands more will be. Some with traditional conclusions but seldom does anyone point out the THEM and what or who it includes or included. It is not proper to say “who it included” as that is speaking in the past, present tense. What it is is a request or agreement consummated and at that moment fulfilled between God the Father and God the Son for past, present and future sin of mankind.

Both Strong and Thayer agree but from a slightly different angle per the word THEM. The translation is ἐγώ is egō; emphasis on the second half of this word.

Strong/Thayer: A primary pronoun of the first person, I (only expressed when emphatic): – I, me.

If the translation was ἡμᾶς; i.e. hēmas it would be “an accusative plural of them.”

JIV NOTE: Pronounce this word (hēmas) and think about one of the arch enemies of Israel today…HAMAS! It is the name of a terror group but written in the Arabic which is closely related to their cousins’ Hebrew language; ???Father, forgive Hamas???

Another applicable translation of the Greek word for THEM is αὐτός; i.e. autos. This use of the word “THEM” has three similar but different points of references:

1) himself, herself, themselves, itself;

2) he, she, it;

3) the same.

Critical thinking: Note that both translations of the Greek word ‘THEM,’ autos or hēmas, mean a singular factor; I, him, her, me, himself, herself, itself… all personal pronouns in the first person.
crowd

This is the point missed by so most in the church leadership and seminaries today. Jesus identified “THEM,” either autos or hemas, as individuals needing forgiveness. He was not limiting his agreement with God the Father with “Father Forgive Them” meaning those he could see and knew were trying to terrorize him and his followers. It was not limited to his tormentors (terrorists) and those who had a direct hand in his death on the cross. It was global, to the world for which he was paying the wages of sin. In short, with that statement we begin the church or the New Testament. The Old Testament was about a nation; the New Testament is about individuals.

To conclude this short blog, let me give the reader the lyrics of a short chorus this author wrote. It was a song with which his quartet often closed a concert.

God’s grace is sufficient for all of the human race;

God’s grace is sufficient for all who are in this place.

God’s grace is sufficient for each of us, you see.

God’s grace is sufficient for me, yes, just for me.

Dr. jStark

Easter 2017

Jeremiah – Chapter 15

Posted on March 24, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

The sword to kill: the dogs to tear, the birds to feast and beast to devour. Death but no burial is what this passage in Jeremiah 15:3 prophecies. The KJV is specific; the sword to slay and the dogs, fowl, and beasts to destroy and devour. By default this is carnage without honor and burial. There are no funerals. Judgment will be swift. Judeans have pushed the envelope containing God’s covenants with them too far. Remember that every covenant says…”If you ___, then I will ____.” This includes disciplinary action.

In a very real way, this predicts and previews End Time. Death will be so rampant little time will be allowed for burials. Ezekiel 39:12 tells us that after the Battle of Ezekiel it will take Israel (note Israel is still existing) seven months to bury the dead of the enemy to cleanse the land. This battle is better known as the Battle of Gog and Magog. Back up a few verses in Ezekiel 39 and we read information that needs discussion and clarification. There is not adequate time to fit this into our Jeremiah study but this shouldn’t stop the reader from taking this under her or his wings and pursuing it as a person studying to show one’s self approved of God.

This is not a pretty scene. Once again in chapter 15 v1 God addresses His people as “this.” Even the God honoring Moses and Samuel would not be able to deter Gods’ wrath and punishment on Judah. If we recall from an earlier chapter article on Jeremiah, God says Judah is even worse than the Northern Kingdom of Israel that was totally dispersed 120 years earlier. Judah witnessed the punishment of her northern cousins but continued in her evil ways…hiding behind the fact they have the Temple in Jerusalem. Similar to claiming attendance at a given church or synagogue in today’s culture means God is on our side. No matter what we call it, it is the focus of worship that only matters.

JIV NOTE: We can take from this and other passages that up to a given moment God can be reasonable with His creations and change his mind.

The Contemporary English Version (CEV) puts it this way per verse 3: “I will punish you in four different ways: You will be killed in war and your bodies dragged off by dogs, your flesh will be eaten by birds, and your bones will be chewed on by wild animals.”

Now comes one of the mysteries of this chapter. God tells Jeremiah that this punishment of Judah is also due to the actions of King Manasseh of Judah. According to Charles Spurgeon, King Manasseh was not a believer in his own God of Israel-Judah, lead the way in rejecting Him, then in his later years repented. In a sense this parallels the life of Saul/Apostle Paul. Manasseh was the son of *King Hezekiah, a relatively honorable king. What made King Manasseh’s sins so punishable, it was not covert, but overt sin. What makes this verse so curious is that Manasseh was not king during the lifetime of Jeremiah.*King Hezekiah is the king God told he was about to die. He pleaded with God and God extended his life by 15 years. Amazingly, Manasseh was born during Hezekiah’s 15 year extension on life that God had given to him. Yet, Manasseh learned nothing from it as a child even though he was only 12 years old when his father died. (Hint: 15 minus 12 = 3; Hezekiah fathered Manasseh three years after he received his 15 year extension to his life)

King Manasseh put his idols in the Temple of God; one might say in the face of God. WOW! How overt. He had no shame. He was going to do it HIS WAY even though he was a descendent of King David, these choices in life are individual. The church will not save us. Neither will membership. Our bloodline must be with Jesus. The only way is HIS WAY.

Jeremiah is dealing with a people who blatantly sinned and by unanimous consent, their choice. The bible suggests God’s punishment is because of the sins of Manasseh. Let’s understand this better. God is not blaming Manasseh and just now, in the Book of Jeremiah, taking it out on the people of Judah. (Thank you Lord for this insight) It says in verse 4 “…because of what Manasseh did…” It isn’t because of Manasseh personally, but the blatant sins and in-your-face attitude he had before finally repenting. This sinning was still prevalent in Judah at this time. They are just like him in attitude. Manasseh eventually confessed and returned to God seeking forgiveness. One could easily give him the title of “The Prodigal King.” Judah did NOT repent or believe Jeremiah. He ruled Judah for 55 years. jerusalem-2

JIV NOTE: We often hear today much debate about borders and building walls to protect our homelands. Well, after King Manasseh was released from Babylonian captivity, he built a great wall around the city of Jerusalem. Not to keep his people in, but to keep out the enemies who have not been properly vetted from entering the gates of into Jerusalem [II Chronicles 33:14].

II Chronicles 33:9 tells us that the people of Judah exceeded the evil done by the people God drove out of Palestine/Canaan to make room for his chosen 12 Tribes; i.e. The Promised Land. Egregious is what comes to mind using our English vocabulary to describe Judah at this time. This is the scenario found in Jeremiah 15.

We know that God is willing to change his mind when we confess sin and follow Him. Jeremiah 15:6 simply states that God tired of showing mercy (changing his mind) for the sake of what we might call fox-hole believers of but not in YHWH. Once things are good and okay again, as it is stated in Proverbs 26:11, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so do fools repeat their folly”. 2 Peter 2:22 also comments the same. Judah had other idols before YWHW-God. To them they returned so they could have a god they create instead of following the God who created them.

Jeremiah 15:7 gives us an insight many miss by purely reading this chapter…by scattering you like straw blown by the wind. I will punish you with sorrow and death, because you refuse to change your ways. We usually consider the Babylonian captivity a 70 year punishment after which the Jews of Judah (see above archeological clay tablet discovery) would be allowed to return to Jerusalem. This is partially true. The Book of Daniel expounds on this promise and its fulfillment. However, only a remnant returned after Cyrus the Great decreed the captive Judeans in Babylon were free to go home. He even payed their way to return and rebuild their Temple. Only a very small subdivision of Judeans ever returned. Greats like Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego, did not return to resettle in Jerusalem.

An interesting and easily misunderstood word used in some of the translations, as in v9, is the word sword. “…the residue of them [left in Judah after the Babylonians overran them] I will deliver to the sword.” The Hebrew for sword is “cherub” and can also mean drought. Driven by sword, knife or drought. The residue of left behind Judeans were scattered to the winds of the world like chaff.

At 15:10 we actually have a new topic, change in paragraphs, and change of thought. Jeremiah complains once again to the Lord God. He basically falls into self-pity saying it would be better had he never been born. The ERV puts it: “…[I am] a man [Jeremiah himself] of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.” Woe is me is the context of Jeremiah’s declaration to God.

Verses 11 and 12 state that God will protect Jeremiah, and he did, but the people or army of Judah would not defeat their Babylonian enemies. All that is in the land of the Kingdom of Judah will be spoils of war. If it can be removed, the victorious Babylonians will take it. Even their wives, daughters and possessions will fall plunder to the invading Babylonians. But Jeremiah isn’t finished trying to put the blame on God’s shoulders instead of the Kingdom of Judah. The CEV in verse 15 says “You can see how I suffer insult after insult all because of you God.” Jeremiah is still suffering from the human nature born into us. What he says per it being God’s fault is not inaccurate. It is for the cause of God that Jeremiah is suffering a very limited social life, a single man without family, and an outcast in his own country. Jeremiah is trying to remind God of something God already knows. God anointed Jeremiah just for this purpose in life. Jeremiah knew this from the beginning yet he opts to make mention of it to God.

We are getting ahead of ourselves but we already discussed it in our Book of Daniels studies. When the opportunity arose for Jews (Judeans) of Babylon to return to their land only a very small number answered the call. This was largely because they had carved out a niche for themselves in Babylon. It was not perfect, but it had a lot of advantages. Millions of those who now live in and around this same area today now known as Iraq, Iran, Syria, and the Mesopotamian Valley area, don’t even know they descended from the Tribe of Judah; the captive Judeans who remained in Babylon 2500 years earlier.

As we close our look at chapter 15 and move on, it is paramount that we fully grasp the final verse in 15. Why? Because of the debates over what happened to Jeremiah at life’s end. We will discuss this in later articles but for now…

Jer 15:21 “I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

God makes a covenant with Jeremiah and God is a person of His word. He will be delivered out of the hand of the wicked AND redeemed from the grasp of the ruthless (his own people). Remember this passage as we continue going through the Book and life of Jeremiah.

Rev. Dr. Jstark
January 22, 2017

Jeremiah – Chapter 14

Posted on March 10, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

Drought, drought and more *drought. This does not mean a season of little or no rain. It means several seasons of dry arid weather. The oddity of drought in this land can’t be avoided. It is or WAS the land of milk and honey [Deuteronomy 31:20].What happened? Rabbi Yuval Cherlow once said, “The health of the land depends on our responsible behavior.” This is secular thought. What he didn’t say was what God told Israel over and over, “If you worship me, I will bless the land I have given you. It is a Promised Land. If you don’t then…” Jeremiah was the last prophet before the demise of Israel as an independent kingdom; this chapter and a few others is his warning from God to them.

*Prolonged drought in California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, the Southeast and northern east coast states. Hmmmmmm? Since October of 2016, huge amounts of moisture have refilled the reservoirs or places where water levels had dropped to serious lows; i.e. October of this year. Prayers for this country have gone up from many Christians and churches per saving this country and the national elections. Franklin Graham prayed on the steps of every State capital this past summer. He prayed for God to forgive America. One can’t help but wonder if there is a connection. I report the facts. You decide for yourself!

The Talmud interpreters try to minimize God’s involvement by identifying the milk as that from goats and honey meaning the figs grown there [http://www.myjewishlearning.com]. But that does not support the fact God called it “an already existing land of milk and honey.” Did someone forget the huge crop of grape clusters brought back by the original 12 spies sent into the land by Moses [Numbers 13:27]? This was hundreds of years before this drought in Israel.

Now, what does chapter 12 hold for us:

Drought is the theme of chapter 14. Other than God telling Jeremiah to “not pray for these people of Judah” [V14], Jeremiah’s confessional plea, and questioning God’s ability to keep the promises to the fathers of his chosen people are of chapter 14. Let’s consider these points as a basic chapter 14 outline. But we need to fill in and explain some of the details for the bible student.

The Drought…

Since both Judah and Israel kingdoms [once the nation of Israel] existed in the Levant. It is an area of great lands, fertile for crops, grass for herds, and well-watered. God used its strength against them as a form of punishment. God was once again trying to get their attention. Jeremiah writes in verse 12 that God sees them as wanderers; not place to place, but god to god. The very first verse says “God came to Jeremiah concerning the drought [dearth].” Obviously it was a serious subject. There was no debate that a great need for reservoir water existed; and a great need for rainfall.

Here is an interesting side note about the idol-god Baal, the predominant idol in Judah during this time. One of the defining characteristics of Baal is, as the David Guzik Commentary puts it: “Baal was thought to be the god of weather and rain. Many ancient Israelites were drawn to Baal worship because they wanted rain.” How ironic. The very god that Judah was worshiping as the god of weather and rain was a god that could not provide conducive weather and desperately needed rain. This rain-god theory is supported many years earlier by the confrontation of the Prophet Elijah, the 600 priests of Baal and Jezebel in I Kings 18:19-40. The northern Kingdom of Israel under King Ahab was in a drought situation and for the same reason, worshiping false gods.

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-stories/chapter-34-elijah-and-the-priests-of-baal?lang=eng

Their situation was the same then, years of no rain in the northern Kingdom of Israel. Ahab was king at this time. Jezebel was queen and devoted to Baal. Once again God was punishing the Kingdom of Israel for their unfaithfulness (wandering feet that go god to god while ignoring the only God; (Jeremiah 14:10). The idol-rain-god Baal failed them back then also.

JIV NOTE: The existence of King Ahab is historically; i.e. secularly supported outside of the Bible. Shalmaneser III documented in 853 B.C. that he defeated an alliance of a dozen kings in the Battle of Qarqar; one of these was King Ahab of the northern Kingdom of Israel. [Kurkh Monolith, discovered in 1861 by the British archaeologist John George Taylor]

In verse 2 we read that Judah mourned…but for the wrong thing. They did not mourn their lost relationship with God, but their loss of water and comfortable way of life. It is suggested by some theologians including us, the reason verse 3 says the nobles (fathers) sent their little ones to fetch water was that the drought had become a self-survival exercise; their servants had left to seek a life of self-existence since their landlords could no longer provide them a living or life.

Even the animals of the wild and open fields suffered greatly; the deer; the cattle; the sheep and goats; the wild donkeys [14:4-6].

Now Jeremiah, the ever faithful Judean, pleads with God to make things right for God’s name sake [v7 and again in v14]. He admits the sins of Judah are great but does not confess or speak for the people. Why? God appointed him as a young prophet to condemn Judah for their sins; not to plead for them. He identifies God as “the hope of ISREAL” (not just Judah) and the one who has redeemed them from other troubles. In short, Jeremiah pleaded “God you did it before so do it again.”

Isn’t this like many Christians today? One gets into trouble then pleads with God to get him or her out of that trouble. Frightfully, making promises during the plea-bargaining with God that they do not fulfill. Jeremiah is getting quite pointed in his comments to God by his time. Why are you (God) a stranger like one to whom only occasionally visits this land? Are you (God) a powerless warrior? Where are you (God) in this time of need?

Jeremiah already knew the answers but was hoping to change God’s mind as had some of Reminder Israel and Judah’s ancestral prophets and leaders. V10 should have scared these Chosen People right out of their evil ways but it didn’t. It only made Jeremiah more determined to petition God for relief. God points out Judah’s sin: “The people of Judah really love to leave me. They don’t stop themselves from leaving me. So now the LORD will not accept them. Now he will remember the evil they do. He will punish them for their sins.” If the Lord God will now “remember the evil they do,” it defaults back to a time when God opted to not remember their sins. The word ‘remember’ in the Hebrew is zâkar. It means to “make note of; to put it to record.”

At this point God changes the subject while Jeremiah continues to act as an intercessor (attorney) for Judah. God heats up the pending punishment of Judah by telling Jeremiah to not even pray for these people because he will turn a deaf ear to his and their prayers. In other words, at this point God has spoken and the consequences are now irreversible. There is an often unspoken reason that God will bring them into punishment even if (v11) they repent, fast, cry, wail, use sackcloth and ashes, or offer burnt offerings. It is because the people of Judah do not want to return to God. They want to return to their life style, worshiping other gods AND feel protected since they have the Temple of God. They got caught and this is now their sorrow. WE have the Temple they say, but forgot to worship God in it.

In v13, Jeremiah points out to God that there are other “so-called” prophets in the land making contrary prophecies; like God didn’t already know this? These are what is called “tickle the ear” prophets; something like “tickle the ear ministers” today. Their messages are anything but from God, the bible or the scrolls. They sound wonderful if only they were truthful, but they aren’t. After all, Israel has the Temple so why would God leave them? He didn’t! They left HIM!!!!

The word “consume” in v12 needs to be understood. It is “kâlâh” in the Hebrew. The intent is to convey that the fertility, milk and honey of Judah that once knew will come to an end; cease to exist. This is precisely what happened including during their 70 banishment to Babylon. They had gone from a land of plenty to a land that is now desolate, without much water, wind torn territory, and greatly reduced in population. This became the opportunity for the surrounding Gentile neighbors to move in and claim it as their own land. This is still the debate and issue today in the Middle East. Arabs believe the Jews (Israelis) lost their right to the land. They forget as conquered people themselves; Assyrians and Babylonians (Persians) moved them to this land when they removed them from their original home lands. This was a common practice of victorious nations at this time.

Consumed by the sword can simply mean that the existence of a self-ruling Judah would be the result of and under the rule of someone’s sword. Conquered or controlled by the sword.

JIV NOTE: Most people do not connect the Judah Jeremiah is talking about in chapter 14 is today called the West Bank. The West Bank is the territory Jordan captured from the new Israel in 1948 and then occupied it with undesirables in their own land. Today’s West Bank IS THE JUDAH OF JEREMIAH. Today’s Palestinians have a home land. Jordan is 80% Palestinian Arab. Jordan occupied this part of Israel in order to force its undesirables into that territory. Yasser Arafat was one of them. The PLO didn’t exist until 1963. (To not know history is to delete it –Jstark)

What the false prophets of Judah are saying in their ‘tickling of the ears’ prophecies, God calls a LIE in v14. However, the people prefer to believe them over Jeremiah. How closely this resembles Daniel’s and Revelation’s end time message when people will totally fall for the lies rather than the honest truths. Even if one only considers the two witnesses [Revelation 11:1-14], the people of this world or in this case of the two witnesses, most of the people of Judah will once again opt to not side with the truth. “When one does not understand their own history, they are destined to delete it from memory” (Jstark, 2017). In other words, within one or two generations, it never happened.

If one questions God’s anger and deep disappointment of Israeli’s from the Tribe of Judah, re-read v10a. It says. “Thus said Jehovah concerning this people: Well they have loved to wander,…” THIS people? He doesn’t even call them His people at this time. This is very similar in meaning when in the New Testament Jesus on the cross cries, “Father, why have you forsaken me?” [Matthew 27:46].

It will be bad for these people of Judah (Prophets, priests, rulers and residents) who fake a worship of the true God because they have the Temple, but put other values in front of God and first in their lives while actually sacrificing to Baal and other false gods. V16…And the people to whom they prophesy shall be slain and cast out in the streets of Jerusalem,…There will be no one to bury them.” Their death will be so sudden and their removal from the Promised (West Bank) Kingdom of Judah will be swift. Those who try to resist the Babylonians will die on the spot and left for the wild beasts and birds to devour.

Note in V16d God says it is not his punishment but “the calamity they deserve” (NIV). He simply allows it to happen. After all, Babylon is already invading, rampaging and conquering the former lands of the Assyrians and Egypt. God simply removed his protection. If the king and the leaders of Judah did as Jeremiah instructed them to do, just surrender, none of these consequences would have happened. God promised in a later passage that the Babylonians will suffer for their brutality.

V18 explains the vast dismay of Judah. Those in the field of battle will be slain by the Babylonians. Those who are sick and starving within the walled cities of Judah and particularly Jerusalem will be left to die; those already dead in the streets will simply be ignored by this invading army of Nebuchadnezzar. Their leaders and most of the remaining population will be transported to Babylon; a place and a language they do not know. This is explained in the historical reference to what happened to Daniel, *Hananiah, **Mishael and ***Azariah (Hebrew) also known in the Babylonian Chaldean language; *Shadrach, **Meshach, and ***Abed-Nego.

Now Jeremiah gets down right pointed in his conversations with God. Do you despise Judah? Why have you afflicted *us? We cannot be forgiven or healed? FOR YOUR NAME’S SAKE (putting the responsibility back onto God’s shoulders a second time) SAVE JUDAH [v21].

*Jeremiah already knew the consequences of Judah’s sins. Why he would include himself in their ranks by saying US is a human attempt at avoiding the obvious. If I tell God that he is also doing this to Jeremiah, then perhaps Jeremiah’s credentials will bring salvation (forgiveness). God doesn’t bite.

V32 God immediately challenges Jeremiah with a counter-question. He asks, ”Do the worthless idols bring rain or the skies themselves send down rain?” This is enough to snap Jeremiah back into God’s reality reminding him with whom he is arguing to whom he is offering a defense. Jeremiah simply replies in the last verse, ”No, it is you oh Lord.”

In our next chapter, God gives Jeremiah a very good counter-explanation as to the irreversible consequences for Judah’s continuing sins.

Rev. Dr Jstark
January 2017

Jeremiah – Chapter 13

Posted on February 24, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

Book of Jeremiah No empire, kingdom or nation has survived since the beginning of history up to and including today. However, the only nation to resurrect from the lost and gone is Israel. Autonomy lost in 620 B.C. and resurrected in 1920 but officially in 1948. I am attaching a brief history of how Israel came back into existence along with this study of Jeremiah 13. Why? Jeremiah saw a new Israel although during his life he only witnessed the existence of Judah; i.e. the Southern Kingdom of the former Nation of Israel under the reign of three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon.

Those who do not study history are bound to delete it. Others are called history revisionists. This website is dedicated to simply providing the facts, then, let the reader or student of the Word decide. Many fail to understand that the current Arab nations and the State of Israel were carved out of the Ottoman Empire after WWI (please read the appendix document per history as it really is).

Jeremiah 13 begins with God telling him to dress in the priestly order. He is told to buy a linen loin cloth (something like a pair of undershorts), put it on, wear it for a while, do NOT wash it. Then Jeremiah is told something that to us sounds odd. God said to wear these shorts for a while, then take them off and hide them in between rocks in Parah (Parath), an area near his home town of Anathoth but along the Euphrates River.

JIV NOTE – an aha-moment: In medicine we know of a disease called Parathyroid tumor. It is something that can easily be remedied by surgery but if not done, it will lead to death. There may be a parallel between the name of the place Jeremiah is told to hide his loin cloth, its relative ease in correction, and its fatality if not removed. http://www.parathyroid.com/

The stubbornness of the people of Judah was an abomination to God. Earlier we studied that the people were convinced that nothing could happen to them as did their northern cousins (Kingdom of Israel). After all, they had the Temple, right [Jeremiah 7:1-7]? They wanted to believe that God would protect them because it is His Temple. Jeremiah knew better. He knew that the Temple structure was not the dwelling place of God but a place of sacrifices and worship of God. Their worship of other gods made God look upon Judah as useless loin cloth. Once very close to Him but now trashed.

Verse 4-6 of chapter 13 states (CEV): “Take off the shorts. Go to Para[t]h and hide the shorts in a crack between some large rocks.” And that’s what I did. Jer 13:6 Some time later [after many days] the LORD said, “Go back and get the shorts“ [loin cloth].
Jeremiah observes in verse 7 that the shorts (loin cloth) “…were spoiled and it [now] good for nothing” [ESV]. As God so often does in scripture, he uses object lessons. In the New Testament they are called parables. Jeremiah 13:9-11 is summarized in v9 regarding the spoiled linen loin cloth: “Thus says the LORD: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem…”

We must note in v11 that once again God includes both Judah and Israel in his proclamation. A JIV thought… even today the Jews are looked upon in disdain as a people. Much of this self-serving attitude has been the plague they have lived with since originally entering Palestine, the Promised Land. In a very real sense, the loin cloth also depicts the sensitivity and personal closeness of his relationship with God’s Chosen People.

In 13:12, Jeremiah shifts gears. Now the comparison of [Israel and] Judah is to a jar of wine. Jeremiah tells them that “every jar will be filled with wine,” something symbolic of a good life. The people of Judah and their leadership laugh at him saying in their conceit and contempt that they are God’s Chosen. Of course they will live the good life, they say to Jeremiah. This is not just jars of wine God is comparing to their successes and good life, but that consumption of too much strong drink makes them symbolically drunk; a people possessing no reasonable sense due to too much wine often think they are invincible and infallible. Just like the drunk in a bar or at a party, s/he can whip anyone. Neither do they care what the neighbors think. Judah has no respect for Jeremiah and no concerns about their security. They also have to fear of their neighbors. It isn’t that God will make them drunk. He will allow them to have the same confidence of a drunk; father, sons, priests, rulers, (false) prophets, daughters and mothers. (Also see Isaiah 51:17 & 63:6)

God will NOT RESCUE them this time until the 70 dispersion to Babylon is compete. As we learned in our Daniel studies, when this 70 years is past the large majority will continue in their pious ways and NOT return to their homeland. PS: Hundreds of thousands of them still live in this area: Babylon, Mesopotamia, Iran, and Iraq. What is the difference today? Many former Judeans who still live there do not even realize they are of Israeli DNA.

Verse 16 is similar to a common phrase today… “it is the eleventh hour.” God is giving his 11^th hour warning for Jeremiah to carry to the people of the Kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah states “If you are too proud to listen, I will weep alone. Tears will stream from my eyes when the LORD’s people are taken away as prisoners” [CEV]. Jeremiah truly loved his country and countrymen. It was a one-sided love, but love them he did.

Let no stone be left unturned. In verse 18, God says to Jeremiah, inform the king AND the queen-mother. It sounds like King Jehoiakim may listen to the queen-mother, but history tells us neither of them followed Jeremiah’s pleas. Neither did King Zedekiah. Recall that later Nebuchadnezzar removed Jehoiakim from the throne in Jerusalem replacing him with Zedekiah. Once again to solidify the pious attitude all Judah, even after the overthrow of Jehoiakim by Nebuchadnezzar, Judeans still believed they were safe. Sin can blind a person to actualities as they continue to live in the false environment of their personal realities. It can happen to them but not to me, right?

NOTE: To those who want to keep it somewhat straight per bible names of kings and others. Jehoiakim had a son named Jeconiah. He is also known as King Jehoiachin.

Jeremiah 13:20 puts it straight and on the line yet the king and queen-mother still fail to understand. “Where is your (lovely) flock [citizens of Judah] gone” is the question posed to them? Nebuchadnezzar has emptied the cities of Judah either by captivity or scattering them by fleeing his occupation of Judah. The king is told that those he has thought to be friends of his and the Kingdom will soon be in charge over him and the kingdom.

Verse 23 is a common phrase today but few realize it comes from Jeremiah 13:23. It is by comparison the odds that Judah will listen and avoid calamity. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you [who] can do good who are accustomed to do evil”. God gets very blunt at this point. He says that he will “show your shame by personally lifting up the skirt of Israel and its people. In other words, they no longer have a chance at being pious, stiff necked, ceremoniously religious; have the Temple to protect them, nose in the air attitudes. All things personal will now be exposed.

“I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighing; your lewd whoring on the hills [and] in the field. Woe to you, O Jerusalem!”

In this sense, even though I do not recommend the CEV (Contemporary English Version) for doctrine or deep bible study, they make it clear as to what the other translations seem to avoid saying flat out.

[CEV] v26, 27: You were married to me, but you were unfaithful. You even became a prostitute by worshiping disgusting gods on hilltops and in fields.

v27: So I’ll rip off your clothes and leave you naked and ashamed for everyone to see. You are doomed! Will you ever be worthy to worship me again?

This is far from the end of our Jeremiah study, but it is the end of both the Kingdom of Israel and Judah as recognized and independent territories. It is the reason the New Testament and Jesus the Messiah of Israel and the world is born into this world some 600 years later. Chapter 13 has three arguments against Judah.

Spiritual adultery;
An inordinate or excessive eagerness to worship idols;
Shameless participation in pagan god-worship and orgies.

Chapter 14 discusses great and natural environmental issues design to drive Judah to the bended knee. In the meantime, read the attached that follows. It helps us to understand the issues of this world today and almost universally bad attitudes toward Israel/Judah. All is part of the End Time scenario.

Rev. Dr. Jstark

January 2017

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

PERMANENT MANDATES COMMISSION?

MINUTES OF THE FIFTEENTH SESSION

Held at Geneva from October 24th to November 11th, 1927.

Does Israel occupy Palestinian’s land on the West Bank? This is what those who did not take the time to study history want us to believe and precisely what Arabs want us to understand. Israel knows better.

He who does not know history is destined to DELETE IT. The desire of so many Middle Eastern (and other) States to “wipe Israel off the map” has little to nothing to do with borders. Prior to the end of WWI most of the Arab nations we know today did not exist. Arabs were wandering bands of Bedouins and city-states under the thumb of the Ottoman Turks prior to and up to the end of WWI. (Turks are not Arabs).

What about the assignment or appointment of Middle Eastern governments, kings, and rulers? This was not by popular vote by the League of Nations after WWI, but totally influenced by geo-political faithfulness to the victors of WWI. These areas were a mix of people, tribes, religions, and ethnicities. However, only one group was appointed ruler of each British and French mandated “new” countries at the expense of the other peoples’ living within these mandated country or national lines in the sand.. Israel was defined at the same time but it took time to develop as a country.

Let’s not leave out French-Indonesia/China? In the 16^th Century through 1954 when it comes to occupation of other lands the French are a modern day example of this charge against Israel.

What about the Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and German occupations and dividing of the Americas amongst themselves?

After WWI and the defeat of the Turks who aligned themselves with the Germans, the British- French mandates “CREATED” the States of Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Iraq/Iran (Mesopotamia) and seven other nations in Africa. This was done under what was called the League of Nations Mandate. USA was NOT a member. The French and British literally drew lines in the sand, mostly to their benefit, identifying the territory within these lines “as countries.” All of the territories subject to League of Nations mandates were previously controlled by states defeated in World War I, principally Imperial Germany and the Ottoman Empire

History word. Magnifier and puzzles.

Historical knowledge deleted: One of these post-WWI lines in the sand ran north and south along the Jordan River on the east and the Mediterranean Sea on the west. This land since bible times is called Palestine and designated by the same mandate as “Palestine,” the National Jewish homeland. This Jewish homeland is 1/630^th the size of Arab territories established under these very same mandates defined as legal by the League of Nations and the Belfour Agreement. Just like each territorial mandate, people of mixed races, tribes, and religions lived within them. In each case and at the expense of the mix of people, ONE was selected the governing body. All but one, that being Palestine, were Arab-Muslims.

USA is a territory; Americans are a mix of people. Palestine is a territory. Palestinians are ANYONE living within Palestine todays Israel, just as anyone living in the USA is considered to be American. Jews of Israel are original Palestinians. See The Covenant of the League of Nations; Article 22. This has been true since 1456 B.C.; 3456 years ago.

Jeremiah – Chapter 12

Posted on February 17, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

jeremiah

There are three divisions in this chapter: (Jeremiah 12:1-6) which register’s Jeremiah’s complaint, (Jeremiah 12:7-13) which recounts God’s judgment upon Judah and her enemies, and (Jeremiah 12:14-17) that promises the return of Israel from captivity and the conversion of Gentiles, both of which are conditional.

“Wherefore… doth the wicked prosper …” (Jeremiah 12:1)? Jeremiah got to the point at once; and the problem here presented before the Lord in faith and humility was indeed an old one. Habakkuk had struggled with it; the patriarch Job (Job 21:7) was perplexed by it; and the Book of Psalms devotes at least two chapters to a discussion of it (Psalms 37 and Psalms 73).

“Why do the wicked prosper? Why is crookedness a prime prerequisite for success in this world? Lord, you plant these scoundrels, and they grow. Why? They are pious frauds who mouth words of religion but have no real love for you in their hearts.”

God’s answer to Jeremiah is somewhat shocking. The Lord rebuked him. We might paraphrase in this manner:

Look, Jeremiah, why should you be bothered about the prosperity of wicked men? If, in your race for me, you have been worn out by men, what are you going to do when you have to run against horses? If you have trouble feeling secure on level ground, what is going to happen to you when you have to pass through the “pride of the Jordan?” You have hardly seen anything at all yet. Buckle your seat belt, the worst is yet to come! NOTE: In essence God is telling Jeremiah why be distracted by the successes of the wicked or this world. I called you to prophecy the destiny of Judah and Israel, not the earth-bound prosperity of the evil. Jeremiah is asking the wrong question of God.

The values focused upon in Christianity are not temporal and physical at all, but eternal.
The favor and prosperity enjoyed by wicked men are not marks of God’s approval
God’s world is an orderly world; and there are certain rewards and penalties that derive from that order. It happens that in many instances wicked men are more skilled or aggressive in his or her goals, ambitions, and (earthly) achievement(s).
The success of people of this world is that they make no other choice but this world in which to live and prosper. They think the grave ends it all.
This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.

Jeremiah 12:7 refers to a house. This is not the House of the Temple but Israel as a people. The two teachings in Jeremiah 12:7 are (1) the Lord removed his presence, or Spirit, from the Jewish temple, and (2) he forsook the apostate nation, the “righteous remnant” alone being exempt.

It is apparent that Israel along with other heathen nations prefers a god one can see, touch and move to other places. The invisibility of God-Jehovah is their issue. Truth in their eyes comes only by seeing. Very forgetful memories have the people of Judah.

Reading a glowing book

Verse 10 of Jeremiah 12 is also something of interest to the bible student. The word Shepherds in this verse is sometimes translated “pastors” from the Hebrew. Some translations suggest the best translation should be “rulers.” However, this is not the point in this verse. It is what they have done to God’s flock that is primary. “They have trodden my (God’s) portion under foot; striped my vines of its fruit; laid waste a once bountiful land.”

This is another one of those dual or double-meaning verses. Sheep graze the land and often pull up the grass by the roots. They leave the land desolate by their eating habits. What isn’t eaten to the root is “trodden under foot.” The second thought is the sheep being Israelis. They have grazed God’s grace and left no remnant of belief and faithfulness (seeds) behind through the upbringing and training of their children.

The next verse points out the desolation of the land. Recall that when the twelve Tribes of Israel first moved into this land, it was a land of “milk and honey.” It was a land area we call today the Levant; rich soils and great crops with plenty of rain. This has all changed and gets worse as we move to chapter 14 a b it later.

Verse 14 [a new paragraph within chapter 12 changes the subject] is both a double promise to both Judah during this time in history and to Judah’s neighbors in a future as discussed in Daniel 11. His warning is against “all mine evil neighbors that touch the inheritance which I caused my people Israel to inherit” [ESV]. Note very carefully that this verse does not identify the land as Israel’s but God identifies it as “HIS LAND by calling other nations “MY NEIGHBORS.” There are two things in this verse. God will pluck or remove the evil peoples next door from their land and remove the Israelis from their Promised Land. The neighbors who take advantage of this temporarily vacated land will themselves be *“plucked out of their own home and land in the future.”

*To understand this better, one might wish to go back to the Book of Daniel articles to re-read his prophecies. In particular, read chapter 11 of Daniel. This is events of a future 300 years after Jeremiah was writing his book.

But the very next verse also states that God will eventually “…bring them again [this could mean after the 70 year captivity in Babylon] every man to his heritage and every man to his land” [End Time prophecy and the Millennial Reign of Christ.

Verse 16 is a promise that also is an indication of End Time prophecy; i.e. yet to be fulfilled. It is a verse with promise: “…if they [non-Jewish peoples or Gentiles] will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, as Jehovah liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people”. All this will be fulfilled during the reign of the Messiah during the Millennial Reign of Jesus. God is here talking about the Gentile races, not Israel itself. He is talking New Testament times, belief in Jesus and God, but written in the Old Testament some 600 years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

The end of this chapter as written in the Contemporary English Version is self-explanatory…

Jer 12:15 But later, I will have pity on these [foreign] nations [people] and bring them back to their own lands.

Jer 12:16 They [foreign people] once taught my people to worship Baal. But if they admit I am the only true God, and if they let my people teach them how to worship me, these nations will also become my people.

Jer 12:17 However, if they [foreign nations outside of God] don’t listen to me, I will uproot them from their lands and completely destroy them. I, the LORD, have spoken.

The Christians today are also God’s people; i.e. the one-body church with Jesus at the head; not intended to refer to or infer any particular congregation within any denomination or church building. V17 is totally End Time New Testament prophecy… if they [foreign nations outside of God] don’t listen to me, I will uproot them from their lands and *completely destroy them. I, the LORD, have spoken.

*The Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15 (Matthew 7:23; Mark 9:43-48; Romans 2:16; Hebrews 9:27.

Amen,

Rev. DrJstark

January 2017

The Hebrew Letter SHIN

Posted on February 11, 2017 by ahabiblemoments.com

lettershin There are 22 letters in the Hebrew Alphabet. Each one has a specific meaning and a numerical number attached to it. I want to discuss the incredible 21^st letter: שׁ SHIN. It is in the same form in Hebrew and in Aramaic/Syriac, a text used in both the Old and the New Testaments. Daniel 1 – 6 is an example of this and some of what Jesus says is in Aramaic. Daniel does not shift to Hebrew until chapter 7. We posted this in our Daniel studies and aha. Daniel 1-6 he is addressing the Greeks and in 7- 12 he is addressing the Hebrew Israelites.

שׁ‎ literally means “teeth”, “press”, “sharp”, “change.” In gematria, Shin represents the number 300 [Wikipedia]. SHIN or שׁ also stands for the Hebrew name of God: Shaddai. Recall the song El-Shaddai? Because of this, a kohen (priest) forms the letter Shin with his hands as he recites the Priestly Blessing. In the mid-1960s, actor Leonard Nimoy used a single-handed version of this gesture to create the Vulcan hand salute for his character, Mr. Spock, on Star Trek. What did they know that we are just discovering? Nemoy’s parents were both Ukrainian Jews.

Now the question; is it purely coincidence or bible code through the Hebrew alphabet??? When we look at our reflection in a mirror we see a reverse image of ourselves. Right? Let’s draw this all together.

The three valleys that run around Jerusalem with one running through Jerusalem are: (1) Valley of Jehosephat also called the Kidron Valley runs east of Jerusalem, (2) Valley of Hinnon runs around the other side of Jerusalem; some identify it with the *Valley of Shaveh, and (3) the Valley of Tyropoeon which runs through the eastern side of Jerusalem. Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives which is also to the east of Jerusalem. When he does the Mount will divide north and south through a natural fault line Zechariah had no knowledge of when he wrote this passage in Zechariah 14:3-5.

*THE VALLEY OF SHAVEH is the first landmark mentioned from a map of ancient Jerusalem. However, this valley’s exact location remains a mystery, as does the identity of Melchizedek, the king of Salem at this time. This is where he met Abraham and Abraham gave 1/10 of his belongings to Mechizadek as a tithe-offering.

The Valley of Tyropoeon runs through Jerusalem at an angle mostly to one side of this city. Perhaps this picture [for visuals] will understand what I am saying. shin1

#6 is the Valley of *Hinnon/GeHannon

#5 is the Valley of Tyropoeon

#4 is the Valley of Kidron/Jehosephat

*This is also known as the Valley of death of Gehenna or GeHinnom in Hebrew. Child sacrifice was practice here by Judah.

Here is what the originator of this map did not notice. Take the letter SHIN שׁ hold it to a mirror, and what do you see? ANS: The shape of the above map in a mirror image, the judgement of God; Shaddai/shin.

shin2 These valleys converge in a direct line with the springs of living waters from under the Throne as discussed in Ezekiel flowing to the Dead Sea. In the Millennial Reign, the Dead Sea will become a fresh water sea and fish will abound in it.The three valleys that comprise the city of Jerusalem’s geography: the Valley of Ben Hinnom, Tyropoeon Valley, and Kidron or Jehosephat Valley.

[Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2]

shin3 This is a scale model of Jerusalem today. I have drawn three blue lines indicating the three valleys discussed above. This is a mirror image of the letter SHIN:

To the right and a little bit south of the above scale model of Jerusalem, but not in this picture, is the Mount of Olives. This is where Christ returns (2^nd Advent). When he sets foot on it, it will divide North and South [Zechariah 14:4] creating a huge valley in which the Battle of Armageddon will be fought. Fought gives a wrong impression. It will be one-sided. Shin/Shaddai will destroy the 2000,000,000 man army with his tongue and spoken word.

Re-read the 2^nd paragraph in this article: שׁ literally means “teeth”, “press”, “sharp”, “change.” The very letter defines Jerusalem!

Rev. Dr. Jstark (2017)

hebrew-letter-shin

Link above is a Power Point Presentation of SHIN

AHA Bible Moments

Category Archives: Dr. J. Stark

Jeremiah – Chapter 18

Over 30 times in Jeremiah a chapter begins with something similar to “The Lord spoke to me about such and such or said…” Jeremiah was in constant contact with the Lord [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18].

Jeremiah – Chapter 17

End – Time Prophecy

It is obvious after reading v22 that there was another tree in the Garden; i.e. one of eternal life. Two or three conclusions for end time come from this verse in Genesis 3.

1. The other tree in the same Garden is one of eternal live eternal life. Jesus paid the wages of sin on the tree or cross on Golgotha and now we can take of it and live up to, through and beyond the end time.

2. There were never for bidden to eat from the Tree of Eternal life. Just as in end time we will not be forbidden to eat of the tree of life through Jesus or to eat of the deliberate deception of Satan.

3. This (#2) being true, then Angels and Satan’s motley crew are already eternal. This however does not make him, them or us without consequence for our sins.

We cannot write in a single blog the connectivity, but it is there for the student of the bible to seek and to find. What started in the Garden of Eden will end with the people of God (Israel) and the people of the Church (Jesus) having total victory of Satan.

Jeremiah – Chapter 16

Father Forgive Them – Easter 2017 Article

Jeremiah – Chapter 15

Jeremiah – Chapter 14

Now, what does chapter 12 hold for us:

The Drought…

Jeremiah – Chapter 13

Jeremiah – Chapter 12

The Hebrew Letter SHIN

Over 30 times in Jeremiah a chapter begins with something similar to “The Lord spoke to me about such and such or said…” Jeremiah was in constant contact with the Lord [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18].

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It is obvious after reading v22 that there was another tree in the Garden; i.e. one of eternal life. Two or three conclusions for end time come from this verse in Genesis 3.

1. The other tree in the same Garden is one of eternal live eternal life. Jesus paid the wages of sin on the tree or cross on Golgotha and now we can take of it and live up to, through and beyond the end time.

2. There were never for bidden to eat from the Tree of Eternal life. Just as in end time we will not be forbidden to eat of the tree of life through Jesus or to eat of the deliberate deception of Satan.

3. This (#2) being true, then Angels and Satan’s motley crew are already eternal. This however does not make him, them or us without consequence for our sins.

We cannot write in a single blog the connectivity, but it is there for the student of the bible to seek and to find. What started in the Garden of Eden will end with the people of God (Israel) and the people of the Church (Jesus) having total victory of Satan.

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Now, what does chapter 12 hold for us:

The Drought…

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