NL-Day203 Jeremiah 3-4; Psalm 139; John 18:19-40

JEREMIAH 3-4:
In yesterday’s reading there was a play on words in Jer. 1:11-12, where the Hebrew word for ‘almond tree’ sounds like the word for ‘watching’:

11 Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”
And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”
12 And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching,* and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
*footnote: The Hebrew word for “watching” (shoqed) sounds like the word for “almond tree” (shaqed).

Yesterday we also read Jeremiah 2:13, which is one of the most frequently quoted verses from this book. Look at it in context starting at verse 11:

Jer. 2:11 NLT Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones,
even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols!
12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing
and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
says the Lord.
13 “For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me—
the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
that can hold no water at all!

PSALM 139:
What a contrast with what we just read! Our God searches us out and knows all about us. This psalm has been a great comfort to many.

JOHN 18b:
Jesus knew he was walking inexorably to the cross. To me it is interesting that in Jesus’ short time with the governor of the land, he brought the focus to the concept of ‘truth’.

NLT Translation notes:
Jer. 4:2 Then when you swear by my name, saying,
‘As surely as the LORD lives,’
you could do so
with truth, justice, and righteousness.
Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,
and all people would come and praise [Me//my name].”
====
John 18:22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. [He snapped,] “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” [/he demanded.]
24 Then (retired high priest) Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the (current) high priest.
28 Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor.f His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and [they would not be able//they wouldn’t be allowed to] celebrate the Passover.
30 [The Jewish leaders replied,] “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” [/they retorted].
35 [Pilato snapped back,] “Am I a Jew?” [/Pilate retorted.] “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.