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The proverb writer reminds us not to try forcing everything to our maximum advantage. On the one hand, honors are greater when others bestow them upon us in recognition of our good deeds than when they are given because we point out that we deserve them. On the other hand, things we think put others at a disadvantage to us may turn out to be less than we thought.
I will make a joyful noise to the Lord (and if you have ever heard me sing, that is truly what it is), because He has lightened my burden. I will listen to God when He speaks and I will not worship any other gods.
We are called to live in a way which pleases God. It is not possible to do so if we allow ourselves to get involved in sexual sin. It is very hard to avoid sexual sin because our society today teaches that sexuality defines who we are as people. Those who reject Biblical instruction on sexual sin are not rejecting man-made rules, they are rejecting God. In a large part this is why sexual sin has such devastating consequences for society. If we truly love others we will avoid sexual sins, because all sexual sin involves treating others, and ourselves, as objects. Of course this also shows us how we can free ourselves from sexual sin, the more time we spend acting out our love for others the less time we will have to treat them like objects.
Jeremiah’s prophesies are directed at the people of Judah, but there are themes which apply to every people living in every land. At the beginning of this passage Jeremiah tells us that God said that the people of Israel had defiled His land. In this context, it is referring to the land of Israel. Yet, in truth every land is God’s land and the prophecy applies to the people in those lands who have done as God accused the people of Israel. God will punish those peoples as He punished the people of Israel. However, in the same way, if those people turn from their idols and worship God, He will bless them as He has blessed the people of Israel.
Those who put their trust in humans rather than in God will be like shrubs in the desert, stunted and bitter. However, those who put their trust in God are like trees planted by a river. They will not be bothered by the heat, nor suffer when the rains do not come. I believe that in this metaphor water, in its various forms, refers to love. If we do not look to God for His love, we will be constantly seeking love from those who do not love us. However, if we learn to trust in God’s love, we will know that we are loved and be able to love, even when everyone around us is seeking only to use us for their own advantage.