After Sunday Inspiration

Jeremiah 11–20 and clay reshaped by the word of God

Thus says YHWH, “Go, buy a potter’s earthenware flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests, and go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the entry of the Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you. You shall say, ‘Hear the word of YHWH, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind— therefore, behold, days are coming, declares YHWH, when this place shall no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe [https://jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Jeremiah 7–10 and the God who Harms and Helps

Thus says YHWH: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am YHWH who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares YHWH.” “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.” Hear the word that YHWH speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says YHWH: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe [https://jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Jeremiah 3–6 and the angry God of love

YHWH spoke to me. He said: “Go and declare in the hearing of the people of Jerusalem: ‘This is what YHWH says: “I have fond memories of you, how devoted you were to me in your early years. I remember how you loved me like a new bride; you followed me through the wilderness, through a land that had never been planted. Israel was set apart to YHWH; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him. All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,” says YHWH.’ ” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe [https://jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Jeremiah 2:1–3:5 and who's your daddy?

YHWH spoke to me. He said: “Go and declare in the hearing of the people of Jerusalem: ‘This is what YHWH says: “I have fond memories of you, how devoted you were to me in your early years. I remember how you loved me like a new bride; you followed me through the wilderness, through a land that had never been planted. Israel was set apart to YHWH; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him. All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,” says YHWH.’ ” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe [https://jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Jeremiah 1:1–19 and the Call to Tear Down and Raise Up

The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied. He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. The Lord began to speak to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. The Lord also spoke to him when Jehoiakim son of Josiah ruled over Judah, and he continued to speak to him until the fifth month of the eleventh year that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile. The Lord said to me, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.”The Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,” says the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me.Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.” Later the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.” The Lord again asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a pot of boiling water; it is tipped toward us from the north.”Then the Lord said, “This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. For I will soon summon all the peoples of the kingdoms of the north,” says the Lord. “They will come and their kings will set up their thrones near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all the walls surrounding it, and all the towns in Judah.In this way I will pass sentence on the people of Jerusalem and Judah because of all their wickedness. For they rejected me and offered sacrifices to other gods, worshiping what they made with their own hands.” “ But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them.I, the Lord, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe [https://jrmiller777.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]