Laying the Groundwork

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

There are a number of important issues that are addressed in this verse.  One is the issue of abortion.  When does life begin?  When are you killing a human child as opposed to what some like to call a lump of tissue?  I think some of that is pretty obvious here and it’s not what I want to address today anyway.

What strikes me here is the call of God on a life.  I am a big proponent of free will.  I believe that being created in the image of God makes us different than the animals and gives us the ability to make moral decisions.  The most important decision, of course, is whether we are going to trust in Jesus, or not.  It goes beyond that.  Here it is the question of what kind of precision God uses in molding some people in their personalities and attitudes.

Noticed that God says He is forming Jeremiah and that even before that He knew him.  He also says that He has ordained him as a prophet.  Does this mean Jeremiah had no choice in responding to God’s call?  Some would say so, but I don’t think so.  The issue is that God created in his heart not only the ability to be a prophet, but a desire to do God’s will.

I don’t think that God gets this detailed in everybody’s lives, but I do believe that there are some cases where He muddies the water to His advantage.

So?  Are you going to feel sorry for yourself that God has chosen you for a special role in life and has given you the abilities and gift to perform that?  Or are you just going to rejoice in the fact that God took the time to mold you into being something that He could clarify himself with. Your choice. 

World Changers

(Pro 5:20 KJV)  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

One of the attractions of the Jewish religion had to be their view of marriage, sex and women.  In the previous verse and this one you have a good summary.  Enjoy within boundaries that involve righteousness and concern for the other person.  If you know much about the pagan world of the past you know that women did not have a lot of security beyond what was provided by the men they came in contact with.  There were noble ideas expressed.  There were heart warming examples of love and fidelity.  They were not reinforced by popular culture.

We are returning to those days.  The days of the sexual revolution and abortion on demand have made women a commodity to be used and cast aside.  Although the Christian church seems to be following our culture in the area of divorce and abortion the cultural leaders are much more casual about their serial marriages and killing of babies.  It is considered newsworthy when it is noted that a celebrity has been married for 40 years without cheating.  It always amazed me as a middle school teacher when I would tell kids I had been married 40 years their eyes got big and all they could say was, “Wow.”

So?  We have an example to set.  We have a standard to keep.  We have a Savior who gives us the power.  Be a world changer. 

Violence to the Blood

(Pro 28:17 KJV)  A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

As I read this the word “abortion” came to mind.  I remember the video called “Silent Scream” showing a child in the womb trying to avoid the probing of the abortionist.  The KJV is not clear to modern minds in this verse.  “Doeth violence to the blood” basically means violent murder.  It is not a pretty sight nor one we like to dwell on.  We are getting desensitized to the shedding of blood.  The special effects of Hollywood and the graphics of animation tend to get a “cool” from young people instead of the horror it should engender.  

We are treading all over the values of our culture that says it is acceptable to kill an innocent child but convicted murders should be set loose in society.  As in most of these issues, when we side with our culture we are going against God.

So?  We each have a voice.  Each of us needs to use that voice to speak the truth not to reinforce the lie. 

Over the Fence

(Pro 11:11 KJV) By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

I don’t think there has ever been a time when our culture has needed this verse applied more.  Okay, that was hyperbole.  If you compare our day with Rome at it’s worse we still have a little way to go, very little.  If you look at the way the poor were treated in the days of David Copperfield you can see that things are still above average.  But the evil in our day is on the attack and few are rising to meet it.

We are hearing more about it.  Say what you want about Donald Trump, he has been making frequent reference to human trafficking.  There are advocates calling for an end to abortion.  The problem is that we don’t have enough of the rank and file that are speaking up on a daily basis.  We need to take a stronger stand in our checkout lines conversations and back fence dialog. 

So?  We need to be an active blessing rather than a full bottle on the shelf. 

Innocent by Definition

(Proverbs 6:17 KJV)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

What are the requirements for “blood” (1818) to be “innocent” (5355a)?  We often hear about innocent bystanders.  We think of the people that were murdered in the Twin Towers on 9/11.  There are a lot of people who have not earned what comes their way.

Innocence has at least two levels.  In one sense none of us are really innocent. 

(Romans 3:23 KJV)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I have heard people talking about convicted criminals who claim they did not do it.  They will sometimes comment that maybe they didn’t do this but there are a lot of other things they have done. 

Biblically speaking there are a few groups that would be considered innocent by classification.  Among those would be widows and orphans.  God has special concern for widows and orphans.  In the ancient culture they had a very dark future.  God is also concerned about the poor.  All that being said I think the most innocent group of people that are being killed without mercy are the unborn children being aborted for convenience.  Millions of children every year, many of whom would live if removed whole from the womb, are butchered in the name of convenience.

So?  Few modern issues are so cut and dried.  Abortion is one of them.  If an unborn child does not fit the definition of innocent, I don’t know what does.  God hates it. 

The Draw of the Eyes

(Proverbs 20:8 KJV)  A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

This is another reminder that political leaders should have a concern with “judgment” (justice NASB) (1779).  This justice is of the Biblical sort, not the modern PC type.  This is the kind of justice that considers abortion immoral and an SUV a personal decision.  This king sends liars to hell and political spinmasters are there to welcome them but greets with joy a struggling alcoholic to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.  This is a quality we should be looking for in our political leaders.

I also think this is a reflection of judgement day.  God will not need to speak.  The unwashed will flee His presence.  Just His holiness “scattereth” (disperses NASB) (2219) “evil” (7451b).  We have this picture of people being driven into the fire of hell.  I struggle with that and the idea of mercy.  One solution I have put together is that the fire of hell is nothing compared to the holy fire that pulses out of the “eyes” (5869) of our King.  I picture the unrepentant, the evil, gladly fleeing from His presence which only leaves one direction to flee.

So?  If you know Jesus, rejoice.  If you don’t, change.  Kind of simple, isn’t it?

Innocent Blood

(Proverbs 6:17 KJV)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Let me meddle a little bit.  The final phrase in this verse stood out to me today as I read through the chapter.  Most people, especially those with the gifts of mercy and helps, would read this as a call to passivism and non-violence.  They think they see that God hates people who “shed” (8210) “blood” (1818).

Actually, that is not what it says.  The problem is killing the “innocent” (5355a).  Keep in mind that the Bible allows for the death penalty.  Read through the law.  There is a difference between the killer who “lies in wait” and the one who kills someone accidentally or in self defense.  For manslaughter or self defense there were cities of refuge a man could flee to for protection from revenge.  If it was premeditated murder the city would turn him out.  We may not be under the law but it does give us a standard for right and wrong.

It does not allow for abortion or infanticide.  There is nothing more innocent than the unborn or the new born.  Israel was surrounded by cultures that thought nothing of killing or leaving their children to die.  God’s people were to be different.  We are surrounded by a culture that approves abortion and is on the verge of killing the deformed and unwanted. 

Most of us will never have to worry about this.  We will never be in the position where we have a need to kill.  But keep in mind that we live in a republic where the citizens have a hand in forming the kind of laws and judges we have.  We should support people and laws that support what the Bible actually teaches, not just what our emotions want to see.

So?  Be salt and light.  Read, think, pray, meditate and vote.  Speak up in meetings.  Don’t be embarrassed by being different.