Sunday 20th September
Read Jeremiah 9:23-26
“This is what the Lord says:
‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,’
declares the Lord.
25 ‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh – 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.’” (NIVUK)
We forget the context of these words at our peril. They come at the end of a long recitation of the truth that sin results in death. There is no avoiding death (v17-22). Wisdom, strength and wealth (v23) will not assuage it. Nor will national pride or religious practice (v25-26). Death will come because of sin.
Paul wrote to a church that had unrealistic expectations around death too (cf 1 Corinthians 15). Filled with the spirit of life they scorned death and boasted in the amazing gifts and prosperity that should follow. Paul wrote to them, dismayed, and delivered a pointed sermon from Jeremiah 9. Wisdom, strength, wealth and privilege were esteemed amongst them, and gave them a false bravado that horrified Paul and contradicted the gospel he preached.
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) (NIVUK)
The message of Jeremiah 9 was relevant when Jeremiah preached, just as relevant when Paul spoke 600 years later and remains as important today. All we have is a gift from God – therefore He is the only One in whom we should boast.
