On Jeremiah 36

God's Ongoing Call for a Personal Relationship with Each Person

 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even into this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. -Jeremiah 36:1-3

 These passages remind me of 2 Peter 3:9 -- that though, even the very first sin deserved instant judgement and utter destruction in the eyes of Holy God, He patiently held off -- holds off even now -- utter and complete judgement in His desire for every man to turn back to Him. Indeed, it never ceases to amaze me how long suffering God is in the face of Judah's continuously blatant idolatry and rebellion against Him. Not just once, nor twice, nor thrice did He issue out a call to repentance that His certain judgement might yet again be eclipsed by His immeasurable grace and mercy, but for countless of times since the days of Josiah. In truth, God's warnings regarding the consequences of idolatry and disobedience echo as far back as Leviticus 26:13-39. And yet again, He sends Jeremiah to warn the people of impending judgement so that they might repent and He might forgive them. And the call is for everyone to repent, speaking of a personal relationship that God desires from each of us.

 The Word of the LORD: Two Responses 

 Response 1:
 Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words. -Jeremiah 36:16

Response 2: 
 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. -Jeremiah 36:23-24

 Hebrews 4:12 speaks of the Word of God as "quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The Word of God is never received with indifference: it is either received with reverential fear that brings repentance (Jonah 3) or is rejected in violent anger just like in the case of Stephen's accusers, who, despite being "cut to the heart" by the Word of God, mercilessly stoned him to death (Acts 7:54-58). It is no wonder that when the WORD of GOD became flesh (John 1:1-3, 14), we shamelessly beat Him, lashed at Him, spat on Him and finally, crucified Him to die an agonizing death.

 The question then is what does one do with the Word of God? What does one do with JESUS, The Word of God made flesh? The Word speaks clearly: it is either we believe in Him or not. The choice is clear -- and so is the consequence. As The Word Himself says, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)

 As believers, it is a continuous choice that we make in responding to God's Word. Do we willfully disregard it or do we respond to it with the same gladness that spurs obedience (Psalm 119:105-106)? The battle lines are clearly drawn. As the Lord Jesus said, there are no grey areas: friendship of the world is enmity with God (James 4:4).

It's All Grace

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9

I grew up in the Philippines, in a Christian home, where my parents taught my brothers and me about loving and trusting the LORD early on. My earliest recollections include my mother reciting Psalm 23 before praying over us, while we were about to sleep. From our nursery years, they faithfully brought us to Sunday Bible School at the First Baptist Church of Manila. I remember toddling about in a wooden crib in a soundproof room in the church’s mezzanine, while my parents sat listening to the pastor from an overhead speaker. However, it was only in Vacation Bible School (VBS), exactly 13 days short of my seventh birthday, when I came to a personal saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. I remember my teacher recounting the story of Korah’s rebellion against God and against His anointed ones – Moses and Aaron – and how God opened up the earth to swallow up Korah and his followers in order to show the people of Israel that the LORD God was with Moses and Aaron. I remember her telling us that when the earth opened up, Korah and his followers went straight to hell, which the Lord Jesus described as a place where neither the worm nor the fire dies. She explained that we were all sinners and that God is holy – and that His Holiness cannot tolerate the merest speck of sin. As a sinner, I cannot do anything to save myself and go to heaven to be with God because His standard demands utter perfection. However, God loves me so much that He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to die a gruesome death for my sins in my stead – that it is a free gift that I can neither earn nor ever deserve. But like any gift being offered, it would only be mine if I accept it. At this point, the horrible picture of hell was so vivid in my mind that during craft time, which I normally enjoyed, I remember being so disquieted that I approached my teacher to teach me how to pray to ask for God’s forgiveness and accept the Lord Jesus as my Savior. That VBS morning, she led me in the sinner’s prayer. Afterwards, I remember feeling like a big burden was lifted from me and that I had that assurance that I was saved. It would be a couple of years more before I followed the Lord in water baptism – not as part of what I had to do to be saved, but as a public declaration of God’s redeeming work in my life that started years before.

Through the years succeeding my conversion, I would be assailed by doubts regarding my eternal security, especially during times when I knew that I was willfully sinning against my God. In this, the LORD used passages such as Romans 8 and John 17 to continually assure me of my heavenly inheritance -- and that His grace is wholly unmerited favor: in Christ, nothing that I do (or not do) can ever make me lose God’s favor, because my salvation does not depend on me, but on the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus. It is this very same lavish grace – His goodness – that either prevents me from sinning or brings me to repentance when I do.

At present, He is continuing to grow me in His Word, in prayer and in fellowship with Him and fellow believers. My heart’s desire is to grow more deeply in love with Him each day and to serve Him faithfully as He purposed me to do. I know that I am His work in progress and that whatever fruit I might manifest is all due to Him.

All glory and praises go to Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Saviour, the Bishop of my Soul and the Rock of my Refuge. He is my sole fixed point in this fleeting world. He is my Help and my Defense. Whenever circumstances tend to overwhelm me, He never fails to remind me that He is faithful to the uttermost. It is His grace that will see me through this life and beyond.

It just awes me to think that Almighty God – the Creator of Heaven and Earth – is my portion forever: that He is mine as much as I am His.

Teach Me to Number My Days

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom... O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:10,12,14

Abba, Father! Thank You so much for saving me -- for your mercy and grace that You have so lavishly bestowed on me -- even from the time I was in my mother's womb. Please teach me to number my days that I might always do that which is pleasing in Your sight. Forgive me for the times when I grumble with the lot that You have given me and for allowing pride and discontentment to fester in my heart. Please enable me to continuously fix my eyes on my beautiful Saviour that "the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." You are Sovereign. Your will is perfect. You are good. You know me more than I know myself. You love me best and only want what is best for me. Only You can work out all things together for my good. You are faithful and true. You have never left me nor forsaken me. Please keep me in perfect peace and my mind and heart stayed on You. In the mighty, matchless Name of Jesus, this is my prayer. Amen.

Breaking Down the High Places

"And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin." 2 Kings 10:30-31

Jehu started well. He set out to do the LORD's work and sought to exterminate Baal worship that pervaded Israel during Ahab's time. He was on such a spiritual roll that one might have thought, "At long last: a righteous king in the northern kingdom!" But it was not to be, for he sinned after the sins of Jeroboam. Jehu might have turned away from worshiping Baal but he did not turn to worshiping the One True God. Instead, he bowed his knee to worship the very golden calves that Jeroboam set on the high places of Bethel and Dan... What was he thinking? How could he have gone astray so quickly?... But then, what am I thinking? I should not be one to cast stones. I have my own high places that I turn to in moments that I now recognize, are born out of my own discontentment with God -- housing little idols that turn away my heart from seeking satisfaction in the God, Who alone can satisfy my every need. And every time I willfully turn away from Him, I offer a sacrifice on the altar of my own sinful desires. If it were not for the goodness of the Lord Jesus that leads me to repentance (Romans 2:4) and His unending love that covers a multitude of my sins (1 Peter 4:8), I neither know who nor where I would be.

LORD, as the song says, "Help me break down the high place once reserved for you. Help me rebuild my altar and worship You anew. Help me cast down all thoughts that exalt above Your own. Help me listen for Your sweet voice so Your Will is always known."

The Battle Is the LORD's

"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands." I Samuel 17:45-47

What a comfort it is to know that when we face our own spiritual Goliaths, we have the reassurance of having the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57-58). As it is written, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31b). As David declared before all of Israel, "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all." (I Chronicles 29:11). HE is Sovereign: He is in complete control -- the God of the Universe, the Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Yet in all HIS matchless awesomeness, power and majesty, HE is not like an earthly sovereign who is detached from his people. HE calls us by name (John 10:3). HE knows when we sit and when we rise (Psalm 139:2). HE has the very hairs on each of our heads numbered (Matthew 10:30). Most of all, HE loved -- loves -- us to the uttermost that HE spared not HIS own beloved Son -- the Apple of HIS Eye -- from the most gruesome death. So that believing in CHRIST, we can have everlasting life (John 3:16). How can HE not then with Christ freely give us all things (Romans 8:32)? Indeed, how will HE not when in Christ, HE bids us by the Spirit to call HIM, "Abba! Father!"

Whatever our struggle, it is HIS battle to win, HIS strength made perfect in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:9) that will see us through. For HE is the One who is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11). HE is our HELP and our SHIELD (Psalm 33:20). The One who will never leave us nor forsake us (Genesis 28:15). What blessed peace it is to be able to utter with complete confidence like David's, "The battle is the LORD's!"

God Never Forgets

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

Going through my old journal, I happened upon an entry which I forgot I'd ever written. It just shows how I'm prone to forget and wander. But God never forgets. And He brought it to my remembrance just at a time when I needed to remember.

Journal Entry: 17 January 2007

"It awes me to think, Father in Heaven, that if it be Thy will that I marry, the man whom Thou hast chosen for me before the foundation of the world is somewhere beneath the same mantel of protection that Thou art covering me with. Is he praying for me too? O, I pray so, LORD God. I pray that he is a man who seeks after Thine own Heart. A man who loves and trusts Thee beyond compare. Only then will he, can he, does he love me, as Thou hast willed I be loved. Only then can he be the husband who loves his wife as CHRIST loves the Church."

Fixed Point

Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Malachi 3:6a
"For I am the LORD, I change not..."


Time flows, bringing change
To this bounded space;
But God is infinite, beyond
Geometry and chronology:
He's the sole fixed point
Of this fleeting universe.