Today's Bible Study ...

Our current Text is longer than usual. It may be more Scripture than I can ever cover in one Sermon, as far as the Revival Meetings are concerned.  That is, Jeremiah 7:1-19.

Verse 2 says this, the Lord speaking to the Prophet. “Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.”

The noun “gate” is “shaar,” basically meaning “to split open,” which a gate does to any wall of its city. Or any side of a house, an entrance and exit point!

But “shaar” also has this connotation, at least as it’s translated in the King James Version. “To reason, to calculate, to reckon, to estimate.” Here is the sole example of “shaar” as “think,” Proverbs 23:7. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” All that to link these two thoughts. The gate of the Lord’s House is not just an opening in the structure! It is also a thinking place! As we approach God’s House, the Church, we should be thinking and pondering and reflecting on the great Truths of Scripture!

Wow!

The verb “stand” is also significant. This is not “sitting” and preaching as was often the case in Scripture. “Amad” the first word in the verse, both in Hebrew and English, is thus to be heavily emphasized. It also means “to remain,” don’t let anybody run you away! “To endure,” even if circumstances are not pleasant, “in season and out of season!” Also “to take one’s stand!”

Bold preaching!

Plus, it’s a command from God, a requirement, “amad.”

Now to another “preaching” verb, “proclaim!” This is spelled “qara” in Hebrew, “to call our loud!” Even “to summon, to invite,” nearly “to accost” a person!

Confrontational, nearly!

Notice the interplay again between “word” and “say,” a noun and a verb. “Dabar” and “amar” emphasize both sides of the preaching act, how one delivers his message and what he has to say!

Goodness, very thorough!

Now the first line of the Sermon, “Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah.”

This is Jehovah God, obviously, all caps in the Name.

The verb “hear” is another imperative, “shamar.” And it means more than just to listen, but also “to obey!” To hear with understanding, with perception. In a sense this is expository preaching, giving “the sense” of God’s intent! Back to Nehemiah 8:8 and Ezra, the expositor. “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

The clause “caused them to understand” is a single Hebrew word, “biyn,” a verb. It means “to discern various levels of meaning” in a body of information. “To distinguish.” Even “to consider diligently,” with success!

The Preacher has a part in this process, but the Holy Spirit of God even more so!

The Sermon is for “Judah,” the Southern Kingdom of God’s People, because “Israel,” the Northern Kingdom, is no more! They have been destroyed because of their sins, really scattered throughout the Assyrian Empire!

The name “Judah,” ironically, means “praise.”

Yet they are not living up to the meaning of their name, far from it. They are seriously backslidden, as we shall soon see.

Then the last few words of the verse explain why the people are supposedly coming to the Temple in the first placed. “That enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.”

The verb “worship” is picturesque, meaning “to bow down.” Reverence, humility, submission! Visibly so! What an impact it must have for a child to see his or her Mom or Dad on their knees before Almighty God! What an object Lesson!

The Hebrew reads “to bow down toward Jehovah!” In His Presence!

That’s why this Preacher does believe in altar calls! Though they are rapidly becoming a thing of the past!

Can you believe it?

This much in one verse, no wonder this sermon has been studied for centuries! Analyzed, used as a model!

Until recently.

                                                                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

If …

If you think you can handle another verse or two, visit us again tomorrow. We’ll again see what Jeremiah has to say, both to Judah and maybe backsliding America too.

Our most recently completed Series of Bible Lessons, verse by verse studies of Colossians 1:13-17, have all been saved right HERE. Help yourself anytime you please.

And to study any of our other Bible Expositions, visit the SITE MAP Page. There you will find seven years of Verse-by-Verse work. Generally speaking, the older lessons are nearer the top of the Page and the newer lessons closer to the bottom.