GLORY IN KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD

There are just some sections of Jeremiah that I have to address despite the fact that they aren’t prophetic. The Lord gives us so many precious nuggets of truth through this prophet that are so important for us to embrace today. Chapter 9 is the source of one of these nuggets.

Jeremiah 9:23 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

These are verses of very important truth that was totally disregarded by the people of Israel at that time as well as by the majority of people today. The most treasured possession available to man today is a relationship with and knowledge of the LORD that is evidenced in his life!

What are the things that occupy the desires of most men and women in the world? Wisdom, power and wealth. It is thought that if you possess enough wisdom, it will enable you to attain power and/or wealth. Or if you have enough power, you can make use of the wisdom of others in achieving more power and wealth. Or if you have wealth, it provides the power needed to influence the wise towards your own purposes. It’s all about self. What they don’t focus on is the fact that worldly wisdom, power and wealth are just temporary possessions associated with this life.

True wisdom, power and wealth are the possession of every person that places faith in the LORD and strives to get to know Him through His word and honor Him with their lives. The wisdom, power and wealth associated with that choice are eternal.

The LORD is very clear in declaring that He exercises and delights in lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness. Implied is that He expects the same from His people. Lovingkindness speaks to showing mercy to others and doing good deeds in honor of God. Judgment speaks to governing according to God’s law. Righteousness makes reference to possessing morals and virtues as defined by God’s revelation to man in scripture.

This truth is summarized well by the prophet Micah.

Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

The next verse we will address is found in chapter ten; it is both a special nugget of truth and a prophetic word regarding our future.

Jeremiah 10:10 “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.”

YHWH is unique from all the “gods” of this world. He is genuine and trustworthy. There is not one iota of pretense about Him. Unlike the idols worshipped by the world at large, YHWH is “the living God.” In fact, He is the source of all life.

Isaiah 42:5 “Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein….”

Acts 17:24–25 “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things….”

Not only is God the Creator and the source of all life, He is the everlasting King. He is not bound by time or space; He is outside time and space. His authority and power will last for time without end.

Though God is longsuffering and full of love for His creation, He is also righteous and holy. The time is coming when His wrath will be expressed in righteous anger against all that is wicked and evil. This is often referred to in scripture as the day of the Lord or the time of His vengeance.

Nahum 1:2 “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.”

Isaiah 13:9–13 “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”

The day is coming when the Lord will once again take His rightful place as King of kings on planet earth.

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”