HEALTHY INDEPENDENCE-I—Jeremiah 17:1-14
Attention:
Play Ball!
A father introduced his 5-year-old son to the game of baseball by taking him to several games.
The Star-Spangled Banner was sung before the start of each game, & the little fellow got to where he had memorized the patriotic song.
Then the father & son attended church on a Sunday shortly before Independence Day. Lo & behold, the congregation sang The Star-Spangled Banner. The little guy was so excited that he could hardly contain himself & sang along with great glee.
As the preacher got up to preach, the little boy did what he’d always done after the Star-Spangled Banner. He suddenly jumped to his feet & yelled out, at the top of his lungs, "PLAY BALL!!!”
The little guy’s ‘independence’ brought a very different—unwanted/unneeded—focus to the church service!
In contrast, God’s people must exhibit a ‘Healthy’ independence.
?Are you living INDEPENDENTLY of what will destroy you?
The prophet Jeremiah contrasted two major aspects of Independence—Independence from God versus independence from the world.
*Dependence upon YHWH brings independence from worldly influence.
What can be gleaned by contrasting healthy & unhealthy independence?
*How can I be independent of worldly influence?
1—A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
A RESIDENT REBELLION(:1)
Explanation:(:1)
:1—“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron;
With the point of a diamond it is engraved
On the tablet of their heart,
And on the horns of your altars,”
Both the heart & the outflow of the heart are addressed.
That is, “the horns of your altars” represent rather the religious manifestation of the heart.
Rom. 3:23—“for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God,”
Rom. 6:23—“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1Jn. 1:8—“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, & the truth is not in us.”
Heb. 13:8-10—“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, & forever. Do not be carried about with various & strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.”
“Only when God wrote his law on his people’s heart could obedience replace rebellion.”(Thompson)
“Pen/Tool”—je at—Noun Masc.—1) Stylus—1a) Iron stylus with diamond tip used to write on stone or metal, 1b) Reed pen used on a roll. Strong—a stylus or marking stick. Used 4X--Job 19:24; Ps. 45:1; Jer. 8:8; Jer. 17:1.?From—jye ‘eeyt—(contracted) in the sense of swooping, i.e. Side-long stroke. To swoop down upon (literally or figuratively); a primitive root.
“Iron”—lzrb bar-zel’—Noun Masc.—1) Iron—1a) Iron—1a1) Iron ore, 1a2) As material of furniture, utensils, implements; 2) Tool of iron; 3) Harshness, strength, oppression(fig.). Strong—Iron(as cutting); by extension--An iron implement.?‘Barzillai’=‘Iron-hearted’
“Point”—Nrpu tsip-po’-ren—Noun Masc.—1) Fingernail, stylus point—1a) Finger-nail, 1b) Point(of a diamond). Strong—properly--A claw, i.e. (human)Nail; also--The point of a style(or pen, tipped with adamant). Used 2X--Deut. 21:12; Jer. 17:1.?From—rpu tsaw-far’—To skip about, i.e. Return(in the denominative sense [from rwpu tsip-por' -OR- rpu tsip-por’—a little bird(as hopping)] of scratching); a primitive root.
“Diamond/Flint”—rymv shaw-meeyr’—Noun Masc.—1) Thorn(s), adamant, flint—1a) Thorns, thorn-bushes, 1b) Adamant(as sharp), 1c) A sharp stone, flint—1c1) Perhaps a diamond. Strong—A thorn; also(from its keenness for scratching)--A gem, probably the diamond. Used 11X.?From—rmv shaw-mar'—in the original sense of pricking—properly--To hedge about(as with thorns), i.e. Guard; generally--To protect, attend to, etc.; a primitive root.
“Engraved”—vrx khaw-rash’—Qal Participle Passive—1) To cut in, plough, engrave, devise—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To cut in, engrave, 1a2) To plough, 1a3) To devise; 1b) (Niphal)--To be ploughed; 1c) (Hiphil)--To plot evil; 2) To be silent, be dumb, be speechless, be deaf; 2a) (Qal)--2a1) To be silent, 2a2) To be deaf; 2b) (Hiphil)--2b1) To be silent, keep quiet, 2b2) To make silent, 2b3) To be deaf, show deafness; 2c) (Hithpael)--To remain silent. Strong—To scratch, i.e. by implication--To engrave, plough; hence(from the use of tools)--To fabricate(of any material); figuratively--To devise(in a bad sense); hence(from the idea of secrecy)--To be silent, to let alone; hence by implication--To be deaf(as an accompaniment of dumbness); a primitive root.
“Tablet”—xwl loo’-akh, OR--xl loo’-akh—Noun Masc.—1) Board, slab, tablet, plank—1a) Tablets(of stone), 1b) Boards(of wood), 1c) Plate(of metal). Strong—A tablet(as polished), of stone, wood or metal; from a primitive root; probably meaning to glisten. Used 43X.
“Heart”—bl lab—Noun Masc.—1) Inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding—1a) Inner part, midst—1a1) Midst(of things), 1a2) Heart(of man), 1a3) Soul, heart(of man), 1a4) Mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, 1a5) Inclination, resolution, determination(of will), 1a6) Conscience, 1a7) Heart(of moral character), 1a8) As seat of appetites, 1a9) As seat of emotions & passions 1a10) as seat of courage. Strong—The heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for--The feelings, the will & even the intellect; likewise for--The centre of anything.
“Horns”—Nrq keh’-ren—Noun Fem.—1) Horn—1a) Horn, 1b) Of strength (fig), 1c) Flask(container for oil), 1d) Horn(as musical instrument), 1e) Horn(of horn-like projections on the altar), 1f) Of rays of light, 1g) Hill. Noun Proper Locative—2) (BDB)--A place conquered by Israel probably in Bashan. Strong—A horn(as projecting); by implication--A flask, cornet; by resemblance--An elephant's tooth(i.e. ivory), a corner(of the altar), a peak(of a mountain), a ray(of light); figuratively--Power.?Nrq kaw-ran'; a primitive root; To push or gore; To shoot out horns; figuratively--Rays.
“Altars”(See :2)—xbzm miz-bay’-akh—Noun Masc.—1) Altar. Strong—An altar.?From—xbz—To slaughter an animal(usually in sacrifice).
Application:
?Are you properly engaging(dealing with/handling/managing) A RESIDENT REBELLION?
?Are you exhibiting A Healthy Independence?
2—A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
An ABERRANT EDUCATION(:2)
Explanation:(:2)
:2—“While their children remember
Their altars & their wooden images
By the green trees on the high hills.”
The children of those steeped in sin can only recall what they have experienced...all that their fathers & mothers had taught them!
“Wooden images” or Asherah were inherent to worship of Baal, which was locally assimilated & common thruout the Near East among pagans.
•The “wooden images” were symbolic of “the sacred tree” & of the Canaanite goddess ‘Athtart. She was the consort of Baal & “was the goddess of war & love.
•She represented the female principle of fertility” & was specifically associated with sex &/or fertility in human & animal creation.—Charles L. Feinberg in EBC[CLFEBC]
A statement pertinent for our times—'Anytime there is racial prejudice, there is independence from God.' There is trust in & teaching of values limited to humanism rather than reliance upon God's truth.
“Children”—Nb ben—Noun Masc.—1) Son, grandson, child, member of a group—1a) Son, male child, 1b) Grandson, 1c) Children(plural - male & female), 1d) Youth, young men(pl.), 1e) Young(of animals), 1f) Sons(as characterization, i.e. sons of injustice [for un- righteous men or sons of God[for angels]), 1g) People(of a nation) (pl.), 1h) Of lifeless things, i.e. Sparks, stars, arrows (fig.), 1i) A member of a guild, order, class. Strong—A son(as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal & figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., [like ba[father], xa[brother], etc.]).
“Remember”—rkz zaw-kar’—Qal Infinitive—1) To remember, recall, call to mind—1a) (Qal)--To remember, recall, 1b) (Niphal)--To be brought to remembrance, be remembered, be thought of, be brought to mind, 1c) (Hiphil)—1c1) To cause to remember, remind, 1c2) To cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance, 1c3) To mention, 1c4) To record, 1c5) To make a memorial, make remembrance. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To mark(so as to be recognized), i.e. To remember; by implication--To mention; also(as denominative from rkz[Noun Masc./Adj.])--To be male.
“Wooden Images/Groves/Asherim/Asherah Poles”—hrva ash-ay-raw' OR--hryva ash-ay-raw’—Ashera(h) = “groves(for idol worship)”—Noun Proper Fem.—1) A Babylonian(Astarte)-Canaanite goddess(of fortune & happiness), the supposed consort of Baal, her images—1a) The goddess, goddesses, 1b) Her images, 1c) Sacred trees or poles set up near an altar. Strong—Happy; Asherah(or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same. Used 40X.?From—rva aw-shar’, OR--rva aw-share’—To be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy); figuratively--To go forward, be honest, proper; a primitive root.
“Green”—Nner rah-an-awn’—Verb—1) (Palel)--To be or grow luxuriant or fresh or green. Adj.—2) luxuriant, fresh. Strong—from an unused root meaning to be green; Verdant; by analogy--New; figuratively--Prosperous. Used 20X.
“Trees”(See:8)—Ue `ets—Noun Masc.—1) Tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows—1a) Tree, trees, 1b) Wood, pieces of wood, gallows, firewood, cedar-wood, woody flax. Strong—A tree(from its firmness); hence--Wood(plural--Sticks).
“High”—hbg gaw-bo'-ah or (fully), OR--hwbg gaw-bo’-ah—Adj.—1) high, exalted—1a) High, tall, 1b) High(in position), 1c) Proud, haughty. Noun Masc.—2) Loftiness. Strong—Elevated(or elated), powerful, arrogant. Used 37X.?From—hbg gaw-bah'—To soar, i.e. Be lofty; figuratively--To be haughty; a primitive root.
“Hills”—hebg ghib-aw’—Noun Fem.—1) Hill—1a) Hill(lower than a mountain), 1b) As a place of illicit worship, 1c) Poetic for mountain, 1d) Used in place names. Strong—feminine from the same as ebg[Gheh’-bah--a hillock; Geba, a place in Palestine]; A hillock.
Application:
?Are you properly engaging(dealing with/handling/managing) An ABERRANT EDUCATION?
?Are you exhibiting A Healthy Independence?
3—A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
BLINDLY SIGHTED BENEFITS(:3-4)
Explanation:(3-4d)
:3—“O My mountain in the field,
I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures,
And your high places of sin within all your borders.”
Due to of God’s choice of Mt. Zion(“My mountain”) to bear His name(Isa. 2:2-3; Mic. 4:1-2; Neh. 1:9; Jer. 26:18; 2Chr. 6:6), it was a physically permanent & prominent testimony to spiritual truth & God’s presence. It shattered God to see His "mountain" of no consequence to His own people!
Isa. 2:2-3—“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come & say, “Come, & let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
“Wealth”, “treasures”, & “high places” are the trappings of mere or ‘seeming’ benefits. And God will dispose of them all!
“Mountain”—rrh haw-rawr’—Noun Masc.—1) Mountain, hill, hill country, mount. Strong—A mountain; from an unused root meaning, ‘to loom up.’ Used 13X.
“Field”—hds saw-deh' OR yds saw-dah’-ee—Noun Masc.—1) Field, land—1a) Cultivated field, 1b) of home of wild beasts, 1c) Plain(opposed to mountain), 1d) Land(opposed to sea). Strong—from an unused root meaning to spread out; A field(as flat).
“Plunder”—zb baz—Noun Masc.—1) Spoil, booty, robbery, spoiling. Strong—Plunder.
“Wealth/Substance”—lyx khah’-yil—Noun Masc.—1) Strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army—1a) Strength, 1b) Ability, efficiency, 1c) Wealth, 1d) Force, army. Strong—probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; An army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength.?From—lwx khoowl; OR--lyx kheeyl—a primitive root; properly--To twist or whirl(in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. specifically--To dance, to writhe in pain(especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively--To wait, to pervert.
“Treasures”—ruwa ow-tsawr’—Noun Masc.—1) Treasure, storehouse—1a) Treasure(gold, silver, etc.), 1b) Store, supplies of food or drink, 1c) Treasure-house, treasury—1c1) Treasure-house, 1c2) Storehouse, magazine, 1c3) Treasury, 1c4) Magazine of weapons(fig. of God's armory), 1c5) Storehouses(of God for rain, snow, hail, wind, sea). Strong—A depository.?From—rua aw-tsar'; a primitive root; To store up.
“High Places”—hmb bam-maw’—Noun Fem.—1) High place, ridge, height, bamah(technical name for cultic platform)—1a) High place, mountain, 1b) High places, battlefields, 1c) High places(as places of worship), 1d) Funeral mound?. Strong—from an unused root(meaning to be high); An elevation.
“Borders”—lwbg gheb-oowl' OR(shortened)--lbg gheb-ool’—Noun Masc.—1) Border, territory—1a) Border, 1b) Territory(enclosed within boundary), 1c) Region, territory(of darkness)(figuratively). Strong—properly--A cord(as twisted), i.e. by implication--A boundary; by extension--The territory inclosed.?From—lbg gaw-bal'; a primitive root; properly--To twist as a rope; only(as a denominative from lwbg / lbg)--To bound(as by a line).
:4—“And you, even yourself,
Shall let go of your heritage which I gave you;
And I will cause you to serve your enemies
In the land which you do not know; ...
Because God Himself will plunder the sinful gains of His people, they will be forced to “let go” of the “heritage” which He had given them.
The “enemies” they had gained as God’s people will no longer be held back by God’s ideals among His people nor particularly by His power. And they will not simply be on their own, but will have their Almighty Eternal God’s invincible hand against their desire, forcing them toward a particular end.
2Cor. 5:7—“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
“Let Go Of/Lose/Discontinue”—jmv shaw-mat'—Verb—1) To release, let drop or loose or rest or fall—1a) (Qal)--To let drop or fall; 1b) (Niphal)--To be made to fall down, be thrown down; 1c) (Hiphil)--1c1) To cause to let drop, 1c2) To release, let drop. Strong—To fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively--To let alone, desist, remit; a primitive root. Used 9X.
“Heritage”—hlxn nakh-al-aw’—Noun Fem.—1) Possession, property, inheritance, heritage—1a) Property, 1b) Portion, share, 1c) Inheritance, portion. Strong—from lxn naw-khal'(in its usual sense)[To inherit, occupy, bequeath, or distribute, instate]; properly--Something inherited, i.e. abstractly--Occupancy, or concretely--An heirloom; generally--An estate, patrimony or portion.
“Serve”—dbe aw-bad’—Hiphil(causative) Perfect—1) To work, serve—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To labour, work, do work, 1a2) To work for another, serve another by labour, 1a3) To serve as subjects, 1a4) To serve(God), 1a5) To serve(with Levitical service); 1b) (Niphal)--1b1) To be worked, be tilled(of land), 1b2) To make oneself a servant; 1c) (Pual)--To be worked; 1d) (Hiphil)--1d1) To compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve, 1d2) To cause to serve as subjects; 1e) (Hophal)--To be led or enticed to serve. Strong—a primitive root; To work(in any sense); by implication--To serve, till, causatively--Enslave, etc..
“Enemies”—bya ‘o-yeb' OR (fully)--bywa ‘ow-yeb—Qal Participle Active—Substantive—1) (Qal) Enemy—1a) Personal, 1b) National. Strong—Hating; An adversary; active participle of bya aw-yab'[to hate or be hostile].
“Not”—al lo’, awl low’, hl loh(De 3:11) OR--wl—Adverb—1) Not, no—1a) Not(with verb - absolute prohibition), 1b) Not(with modifier - negation), 1c) Nothing(substantive), 1d) without(with particle), 1e) Before(of time). Strong—a primitive particle; Not(the simple or absolute negation); by implication--No; often used with other particles.
“Know”—edy yaw-dah’—Qal Perfect—1) To know—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To know, 1a1a) To know, learn to know, 1a1b) To perceive, 1a1c) To perceive & see, find out & discern, 1a1d) To discriminate, distinguish, 1a1e) To know by experience, 1a1f) To recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess, 1a1g) To consider, 1a2) To know, be acquainted with, 1a3) To know (a person carnally), 1a4) To know how, be skillful in, 1a5) To have knowledge, be wise; 1b) (Niphal)--1b1) To be made known, be or become known, be revealed, 1b2) To make oneself known, 1b3) To be perceived, 1b4) To be instructed; 1c) (Piel)--To cause to know; 1d) (Poal)--To cause to know; 1e) (Pual)--1e1) To be known, 1e2) Known, one known, acquaintance (participle); 1f) (Hiphil)--To make known, declare; 1g) (Hophal)--To be made known; 1h) (Hithpael)--To make oneself known, reveal oneself. Strong—a primitive root; To know(properly--To ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically & inferentially(including observation, care, recognition; & causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.).
Application:
?Are you properly engaging(dealing with/handling/managing) BLINDLY SIGHTED BENEFITS?
?Are you exhibiting A Healthy Independence?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
During worship, the little boy did what he’d ‘always’ done after the Star-Spangled Banner—yelled, “PLAY BALL!!!”—.
Action:
A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
1. A RESIDENT REBELLION(:1)
2. An ABERRANT EDUCATION(:2)
3. BLINDLY SIGHTED BENEFITS(:3-4)
Pt#s 1-3 Presented 07/05/2020am(July 4th/Independence Day) to:
1BCCbelle
206 SE Ave. A(Storrs Ave.)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
