Jeremiah 9:23-24 - How To Boast.
Jer.9:23-24; How To Boast.
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Jer 9:23, 24 (TEV) The LORD says, "Wise men should not boast of
their wisdom, nor strong men of their strength, nor rich men of their
wealth. If anyone wants to boast, he should boast that he knows and
understands me, because my love is constant, and I do what is just and
right. These are the things that please me. I, the LORD, have
spoken."
Jer 9:23, 24 (NCV) This is what the LORD says: "The wise must
not brag about their wisdom. The strong must not brag about their
strength. The rich must not brag about their money. But if someone wants
to brag, let him brag that he understands and knows me. Let him
brag that I am the LORD, and that I am kind and fair, and that I do
things that are right on earth. This kind of bragging pleases me," says
the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23, 24 (AMP) Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise
and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not
the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and
power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and
earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and
earthly] riches; But let him who glories glory in this: that he
understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning
and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices
loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for
in these things I
delight, says the Lord. [1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17.]
Jer 9:23, 24 (CWB) Then the Lord said to me, "Let not the wise
man glory in his wisdom nor the strong man in his strength nor the
rich man in his riches, but let those who glory, glory in this, that
they know me and understand that I am the One who is steadfast in
love, who is kind and exercises righteousness and justice toward all.
Glory. That is, "boast," The prophet now points out delusive
objects of self-confident boasting. The human devices upon which the
people prided themselves would be futile in the day of desolation.
Might. Military prowess, armaments, strength of soldiers,
material force, etc.
Riches. Wealth and material possessions
Glory in this. The truly wise ascribe praise to God alone, never
to self. The knowledge of God is the only true ground for glorying.
That man alone is truly wise in whose heart such knowledge is
treasured, for it is life eternal (John 17:3). This knowledge has an
intellectual aspect involving the understanding. Man's relationship to God
has a reasonable and intelligent basis. It is no blind discipleship.
Man is to serve God with all the mind. But knowing God goes beyond a
merely theoretical understanding. It is an experimental knowledge. It
is practical. It manifests itself in walking in God's ways.
I delight. God takes pleasure in manifesting these moral
attributes as well as in seeing them reflected in His children . [SDA
Commentary]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jeremiah's stunning "temple sermon" condemned Judah's
superficial religion (7:1-19) and warned of coming slaughter (v. 20-8:4).
Judgment must strike the tainted land; divine punishment was fixed and
certain (v. 5-9:26). Yet after scorning Judah's idolatry (10:1-22),
Jeremiah prayed that the suffering which was ahead would correct, not
destroy (vv. 23-25). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
SECTION HEADINGS
Jeremiah Grieves for His People (8:18-9:26)
The People Mourn in Judgment
True wisdom (9:23-24)
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Eccles. 9:11 (KJV) I returned, and saw under the sun, that the
race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet
bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet
favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Mark 10:24 (KJV) And the disciples were astonished at his
words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how
hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of
God!
Romans 1:22 (KJV) Professing themselves to be wise, they became
fools,
1 Cor. 1:19-21 (KJV) For it is written, I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the
prudent. [20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the
disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this
world? [21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom
knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save
them that believe.
1 Cor. 1:27-29 (KJV) But God hath chosen the foolish things of
the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things which are mighty; [28] And base
things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen,
yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
[29] That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Cor. 3:18-20 (KJV) Let no man deceive himself. If any man
among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool,
that he may be wise. [19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness
with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness. [20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that
they are vain.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
1 Tim. 6:10 (KJV) For the love of money is the root of all
evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Psalm 44:8 (KJV) In God we boast all the day long, and praise
thy name for ever. Selah.
1 Cor. 1:31 (KJV) That, according as it is written, He that
glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2 Cor. 10:17 (KJV) But he that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord.
Galatians 6:14 (KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Romans 15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus
Christ in those things which pertain to God.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
The self-righteous feel no need of Christ. And when those who
profess His name extol their own wisdom and goodness, they give evidence
that they are not acquainted with Him. SD233-7
Men are not to rejoice in their wisdom, their strength, or their
riches, but in the fact that they have a knowledge of Christ. This
knowledge is the most excellent, the most precious, that we can possess.
SD233-7
This verse presents a concise description of God's character. He
seeks to know the people He creates in personal relationship, a
relationship based on God's covenant love, justice, and righteousness.
[Disciple SB]
Man glories in wisdom, power, and riches. The wise Solomon, one
of the most wealthy and powerful men who ever lived, testifies that
all these are vanities (cf. Eccl. 1:2-4). The only way of escape is
to seek to know and understand God (Eccl. 12:13). Knowledge of God
points to His three most prominent attributes: (1) "lovingkindness",
(2) "judgment"; and (3) "righteousness." [Believer's SB]
People tend to admire three qualities in others: human wisdom,
power (strength), and riches. But God puts a higher priority on
knowing him personally and living a life that reflects his love, justice
and righteousness. What do you want people to admire most about you?
[Life Application SB mod]
True knowledge of God resulting from an intimate relationship
with Him will be demonstrated in a person's character. Three
attributes of God that He demands of people called by His Name are
lovingkindness, meaning "loyal love"; judgment, meaning "justice"; and
righteousness, meaning "uprightness." [Nelson SB]
Those who have the deepest experience in the things of God, are
the farthest removed from pride or self-exaltation. They have the
humblest thought of self, and the most exalted conceptions of the glory
and excellence of Christ. . . . When we have our eyes fixed upon
heaven, and have clear views of the character of Christ, we shall exalt
the Lord God in our hearts. As one becomes acquainted with the
history of the Redeemer, he discovers in himself serious defects; his
unlikeness to Christ is so great that he sees the necessity for radical
changes in his life. Still he studies with a desire to become like his
great Exemplar. He catches the looks, the spirit, of his beloved
Master. By beholding . . . he becomes changed into the same image. It
is not by looking away from Him that we imitate the life of Jesus,
but by talking of Him, by dwelling upon His perfections, by seeking
to refine the taste and elevate the character, by trying, through
faith and love, and by earnest, persevering effort, to approach the
perfect Pattern. By having a knowledge of Christ, -- His words, His
habits, and His lessons of instruction,--we borrow the virtues of the
character we have so closely studied, and become imbued with the spirit we
have so much admired. Jesus becomes to us "the chiefest among ten
thousand," the One "altogether lovely." SD233-7
Many people spend most of their time increasing their wisdom
about the things in their area of business. The physically strong
work to keep themselves that way, eating right and training long
hours. There are those dedicated to building wealth, the inheritance
for their children, or to attaining to a certain social or business
level. God doesn't say there is anything wrong, per se, with any of
those. But if you really want to be proud of something, why waste time
on sterile intellectual pursuits, academic credentials, building
your body or investment portfolio? All of that will pass away.
Instead, let's purpose to know our God intimately, giving that top
priority. We're talking about God Almighty! He created everything. He is
so interesting a being that nothing can be compared to knowing Him.
And He loves us! Decide today to pursue God passionately, with
all our energy, and not give up until we see Him face to face. [In
His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
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