Sat 100102 am Jer 24-29

Jeremiah 24
24.2  The good figs were the ones that submitted and followed God's discipline.  The end was to be good for them.  The bad figs were those who, in the often repeated words of Jeremiah, stubbornly followed their own hearts, and ran from God's path for them.
24.7  I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord...  This is a great prayer for us too.  Lord give me a heart to know that you are the LORD.
24.7   with their whole heart...  That is what God desires, our whole heart.
 Jeremiah 25
25.3  23 years us a long time to preach and people not listen.
25.9  king of Babylon, My servant...  It is a big thought that a heathen king is God's servant.  So, I am thinking of how modern world political figures play into that mode or function.
25.14  I will recompense them according to their deeds...   The mystery of God's sovereignty and man's free will or responsibility.  God's purpose and promises are served my man's choices and then man receives the just deserts of his choices.
25.20 This is the ancient land where Job lived, sometime after the Flood. 
It is mentioned in the Bible in these three verses: 1:1; Jer. 25:20; Lam. 4:21.
It may have been named after Uz, the son of Aram, who settled this region. Genesis 36:20-21 seems to indicate that this area was conquered by Horites and eventually Edomites, and became known as Edom (Lamentations 4:21).   ----WebBible Encyclopedia… a free service of Eden Communications (provider of ChristianAnswers.Net) / Copyright © 2000-2010, Eden Communications.
25.23  Dedan...  An Arabian people named in Genesis 10:7 as descended from Cush; in Genesis 25:3 as descended from Keturah. Evidently, they were, like the related Sheba (Sabaeans), of mixed race (compare Genesis 10:7,28). In Isaiah 21:13 allusion is made to the "caravans of Dedanites" in the wilds of Arabia, and Eze mentions them as supplying Tyre with precious things (Ezekiel 27:20; in verse 15, "Dedan" should probably be read as in Septuagint, "Rodan," i.e. Rhodians). The name seems still to linger in the island of Dadan, on the border of the Persian Gulf. It is found also in Min. and Sab. inscriptions (Glazer, II, 392).   -- D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'DEDAN; DEDANITES'". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 1915
Tema...  te'-ma (tema', "south country"; Thaiman):  The name of a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; 1 Chronicles 1:30), of the tribe descended from him (Jeremiah 25:23), and of the place where they dwelt (Job 6:19; Isaiah 21:14). This last was a locality in Arabia which probably corresponds to the modern Teima' (or Tayma' (see Doughty, Arabia Deserta, I, 285)), an oasis which lies about 200 miles North of el-Medina, and some 40 miles South of Dumat el-Jandal (Dumah), now known as el-Jauf. It is on the ancient caravan road connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Aqaba; and doubtless the people took a share in the carrying trade (Job 6:19). The wells of the oasis still attract the wanderers from the parched wastes (Isaiah 21:14). Doughty (loc. cit.) describes the ruins of the old city wall, some 3 miles in circuit. An Aramaic stele recently discovered, belonging to the 6th century BC, shows the influence of Assyrian article The place is mentioned in the cuneiform inscriptions (Schrader, KAT2, 149).  W. Ewing  Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'TEMA'". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 1915
buz...  buz, bu'-zi, buz'-it ( buz): (1) Second son of Nahor (Genesis 22:21). The word occurs again in Jeremiah 25:23, by the side of Dedan (Genesis 10:7) and Tema (Genesis 25:15), and is probably, therefore, the name of a people living in the neighborhood of Edom. Buz and Hazo (Genesis 22:22) are probably the countries of Bazu and Chazu (the former described as full of snakes and scorpions), which Esarhaddon invaded (KB, II, 131).   Horace J. Wolf Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BUZ; BUZI; BUZITE'".International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. . 1915. . 1915
cut the corners of their hair...  NET Bible translation notes for Jeremiah 9.26: Heb “all those who are cut off on the side of the head who live in the desert.” KJV and some other English versions (e.g., NIV “who live in the desert in distant places”; NLT “who live in distant places”) have followed the interpretation that this is a biform of an expression meaning “end or remote parts of the [far] corners [of the earth].” This interpretation is generally abandoned by the more recent commentaries and lexicons. It occurs also in 25:33; 49:32.
I don't really know whether if refers the style of hair or location.  I don't really have a good way of finding out how all these people cut their hair.  The expressions seems to be a general summary statement to include a larger group on nations of which these are examples.
25.33  that day...  This confirms a "end times" kind of future fulfillment.  It would seem that "that day" could be The Day of the Lord.
Jeremiah 26
26.2  all the words...  This highlights the tendency of preachers to "pull their punches."  
26.2  This verse speaks to our responsibility to and the possibility we will respond and God's willingness to "relent."
26.18  Micah the Moresheth...   was a contemporary of Isaiah (compare Mic 1:1 with Isa 1:1) from the country town of Moresheth in the hill country southwest of Jerusalem. The prophecy referred to is found in Mic 3:12. This is the only time in the OT where an OT prophet is quoted verbatim and identified.  --NET Bible translation notes for Jer. 26.17
26.24  Ahikam...  Meaning: brother of support = helper.  This was the name of one of the five men that Josiah sent to consult the prophetess Huldah in connection with the discovery of the book of the law (2 Kings 22:12-14; 2 Chr. 34:20). He was the son of Shaphan, the royal secretary, and the father of Gedaliah, governor of Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:22; Jer. 40:5-16; 43:6). On one occasion he protected Jeremiah against the fury of Jehoiakim (Jer. 26:24). It was in the chamber of another son (Germariah) of Shaphan that Baruch read in the ears of all the people Jeremiah's roll.  ----WebBible Encyclopedia… a free service of Eden Communications (provider of ChristianAnswers.Net) / Copyright © 2000-2010, Eden Communications.
What a great ministry! to be a Ahikam, and provide cover and protection for God's servants.  May God have a host of Ahikams.
Dr. Thomas Constable has a neat chart about Shaphan's grandsons at the end of chapter 26 http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/jeremiah.pdf
Jeremiah 27
Interesting, everybody, not just Judah was supposed to "serve" the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 28
I am still remembering 26.17-13 and wondering what promted Hananiah to say that stuff.
Jeremiah 29
29.9  I didn't send them...  It makes you wonder why He let them prophecy, and I am still thinking about why they would be saying that the captivity would end so soon.  Was it pandering, did they see something in world events, or were they just wacked?
29.32  spoken rebellion against the Lord...  I continue to be struck by what the Lord was asking them to do (not because they didn't deserve it), and by the opposition.

Fri 100101 pm Jer 22-23

Jeremiah 22
22.20
Lebanon...  Lebanon proper, Jebel es-Sharki, commences at its southern extremity in the gorge of the Leontes, the ancient Litany, and extends northeast, parallel to the Mediterranean coast, as far as the river Eleutherus, at the plain of Emesa, "the entering of Hamath" (Num. 34:8; 1 Kings 8:65), in all about 90 geographical miles in extent. The average height of this range is from 6,000 to 8,000 feet; the peak of Jebel Mukhmel is about 10,200 feet, and the Sannin about 9,000. The highest peaks are covered with perpetual snow and ice. In the recesses of the range wild beasts as of old still abound (2 Kings 14:9; Song of Songs 4:8). The scenes of the Lebanon are remarkable for their grandeur and beauty, and supplied the sacred writers with many expressive similes (Ps. 29:5, 6; 72:16; 104:16-18; Song of Songs 4:15; Isa. 2:13; 35:2; 60:13; Hos. 14:5). It is famous for its cedars (Song of Songs 5:15), its wines (Hos. 14:7), and its cool waters (Jer. 18:14). The ancient inhabitants were Giblites and Hivites (Josh. 13:5; Judg. 3:3). It was part of the Phoenician kingdom (1 Kings 5:2-6).
The eastern range, or Anti-Lebanon, or “Lebanon towards the sunrising,” runs nearly parallel with the western from the plain of Emesa till it connects with the hills of Galilee in the south. The height of this range is about 5,000 feet. Its highest peak is Hermon (q.v.), from which a number of lesser ranges radiate.
Lebanon is first mentioned in the description of the boundary of Palestine (Deut. 1:7; 11:24). It was assigned to Israel, but was never conquered (Josh. 13:2-6; Judg. 3:1-3).
Bashan...  This country extended from Gilead in the south to Hermon in the north, and from the Jordan on the west to Salcah on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 13:29-31). Golan, one of its cities, became a “city of refuge” (Josh. 21:27).
Argob, in Bashan, was one of Solomon's commissariat districts (1 Kings 4:13). The cities of Bashan were taken by Hazael (2 Kings 10:33), but were soon after reconquered by Jehoash (2 Kings 13:25), who overcame the Syrians in three battles, according to the word of Elisha (19). From this time Bashan almost disappears from history, although we read of the wild cattle of its rich pastures (Ezek. 39:18; Ps. 22:12), the oaks of its forests (Isa. 2:13; Ezek. 27:6; Zech. 11:2), and the beauty of its extensive plains (Amos 4:1; Jer. 50:19). Soon after the conquest, the name “Gilead” was given to the whole country beyond Jordan. After the Exile, Bashan was divided into four districts:  http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/bashan.html?zoom_highlight=bashan
Abarim...  Meaning: regions beyond; i.e., on the east of Jordan, a mountain, or rather a mountain-chain, near Jericho, to the east and southeast of the Dead Sea, in the land of Moab.
From “the top of Pisgah” i.e., Mount Nebo (q.v.), one of its summits, Moses surveyed the Promised Land (Deut. 3:27; 32:49), and there he died (34:1,5). The Israelites had one of their encampments in the mountains of Abarim (Num. 33:47-48) after crossing the Arnon.  --http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/abarim.html?zoom_highlight=abarim 

22.22 the wind shall shepherd your shepherds...
22.28 Coniah...  A form of the name Jehoiachin, found in Jeremiah 22:24,28;37:1. A king of Judah; son and successor of Jehoiakim; reigned three months and surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar; was carried to Babylon, where, after being there 37 years a prisoner, he died.  --ISBE  Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'JEHOIACHIN'". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.  . 1915.
  
Jeremiah 23

23.5 a righteous branch... Messianic
23.13  an unsavory thing...  prophecying by Baal
23.14  a horrible thing...  God's prophets misbehaving is even worse.
23.16  speak visions of their own minds...  
23.17  to everyone who stubbornly follows his own hearts...  God's shepherds should not give comfort where He does not give comfort.
23.21  I did not speak to them yet they prophesied...  This reinforces the importance of not speaking when God has not spoken.  Too often we feel the need to just say something.
23.22  stood in my counsel...  Like Psalm 1.
23.29  My Word is like a fire ... a hammer...  a strong metaphor.

Wed 091230 am Jer 16-18

Jeremiah 16
16.5  I have taken away my peace from this people, my steadfast love and mercy...  This verse really makes the ESV's tranlation of the Hebrew word חֶסֶד Strong's H2617 - checed seem odd.  How do you remove steadfast love? At any rate steadfast would not imply unending, at least not in this context.  TWOT  presents an interesting question, "The question is, do the texts ascribe his ḥesed to his covenants or to his everlasting love’? Is not ḥesed as Dom Sorg observed (see Bibliography) really the ot reflex of 'God is love'?"  ----Harris, R. Laird ; Harris, Robert Laird ; Archer, Gleason Leonard ; Waltke, Bruce K.: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. electronic ed. Chicago : Moody Press, 1999, c1980, S. 306
16.13  for I will show you no favor...  This is a thought provoking reason for people to server other gods.
16.18 His inheritance...  The land according to Unger.
  
Jeremiah 17
17.3  all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin....  Crime may not pay, but there sin caused them to pay dearly.
17.9  desperatly sick...  Since I memorized this in the KJV, the choice of "sick" by the ESV sparked my curiosity.  Merrill F. Under says, "Man's fallen heart is desperately wicked (corrupt; anush, "dangerously ill," afflicted with the deadly virus of sin, "incurably sick" except for medicining by God's grace; Eccles. 9:3; Isa. 1:6; 6:10; Matt. 13:15; Rom. 1:21). --http://www.amazon.com/Ungers-Commentary-Testament-Merrill-Unger/dp/0899574157 It is translated,

•  ylt 9 Crooked is the heart above all things, And it is incurable—who doth know it?
• kjv 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 
• nasb 9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 
• nkjv 9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 
• esv 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 
• niv 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 
• nlt 9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

The literal Young's and dynamic NIV both pick up on the uncurable part.  The KJV and very dynamic New Living both hone in on the sin part.  And the literal NASB and middle of the road ESV both emphasize the sick part.  I think I am leaning toward the YLT and NIV myself.
17.10  search the heart...
17.13  fountain of living water...  as in 2.13.
17.16  the day of sickness...  an interesting expression, especially in light of verse 17.
17.17a  my thought too.
17.19-27  I like the imagery of the gates and the way Jeremiah stood at the gate and how the exhortation was woven around the image of the kinds of things that happened there would reflect God's blessing or curse.
  
Jeremiah 18
18.1-4  neat object lesson
18.15  forgotten Me...  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Alternate Accountability List

Another interesting list to use is the one from Revelation 21 describing those who are going to the Lake of Fire.

Job's Accountability Questions

Job 31 Accountability List

1. Lust/looking (1-4)
2. Integrity/honesty (4-8)
3. Seduction/adultery (9-12)
4. Respect/fairness (13-15)
5. Charity/generosity (16-23)
6. Coveting/idolatry (24-28)
7. Malice/"ill will" (29-32)
8. Secret sins/hypocrisy (33-34)
9. Injustice/oppression (38-40)

It is only fair to observe that there are almost as many lists as there are commentators on Job 31 and my list was influenced my homiletical concerns.

Mon 091228 am Rev 18-22

Revelation 18
18.9  sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her...  This seems to be in a figurative sense.  I find the use of sexual relations to describe our relationship with other gods, or in this case Babylon intriguing.
18.13  slave, that is, human souls...  It seems that slavery (and the poor) will always be with us. 
  
Revelation 19
19.8  for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints...  I am reminded of the Chronicles of Mansoul, the Ethel Barret (sp) version of Bunyan's Holy War and the imagery of the white garments they wore.  I wonder what we would look like if our righteousness were visible cloths.  I suspect we would spend a lot more time at the dry cleaners and tailor shop keeping it clean and repaired than we do now.
19.10   I am a fellow servant with you...  Thinking of myself as a "fellow" anything with angels is kinda cool.
   
Revelation 20
20.2, 3, 4, 6, & 7  thousand years...  I remember Dr. Barbieri's comment on this.  I may be the only place the length of the millennium is said to be 1,000 years, but it repeats it several times.
20.12-14  According to what they had done ... the book of life...   They were judged according to what they did and all who were not in the Book of Life were thrown into the lake of fire.  


Revelation 21
21.8 cowardly, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, all liars... Now of all the sins that could be mentioned these find a special place here.  Of special interest to me is "cowardly."  Would never have guessed that one.  It would be interesting to do some follow up study on that one and on "detestable", which seems pretty vague.
  
Revelation 22
22.7, 20  coming soon...  An interesting and surprising choice of words, since I have been told that suddenly might be a better translation than soon. But soon is good too.  :o)
22.21  The race of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.   I don't ever recall a sermon with this verse as the text.  It seems that the last verse in the Bible would deserve more attention.