Jeremiah 9

“This is what the Lord says: The wise must not boast in his wisdom; the mighty must not boast in his might; the rich must not boast in his riches.  But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me – that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things.  This is the Lord’s declaration.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 (HCSB)

Today’s passage reminds me of Caleb in the book of Joshua.  Caleb was about 80 years old, yet he boasted, “I’m as strong as I ever was.”  I have heard preachers proclaim that living a clean, Godly life kept Caleb physically fit.  The way I see it, Caleb’s strength was in his acknowledgment that God was his strength!  When he was young, Caleb didn’t trust in his youthfulness, and when he was old, he didn’t cower in his frailty.  His strength was always and only in the Lord.  

This is precisely what the Lord is communicating to Judah.  Furthermore, it is what God was communicating to the Corinthian church through His messenger, the apostle Paul.

“Brothers, consider your calling: not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.  Instead, God has chosen the World’s foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the World’s weak things to shame the strong.  God has chosen the World’s insignificant and despised things – the things viewed as nothing – so He might bring to nothing the things that are viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence.  But from Him you are in Messiah Jesus, who for us became wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (HCSB)

“Our boast is in the Lord.” Consider that statement through the lens of God’s grace.

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is God’s gift – not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Today’s passage tells us that God delights in showing His faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth.  But what does God NOT delight in?

“Tell them: As I live – the declaration of the Lord God – I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live.  Repent, repent of your evil ways!  Why will you die, oh house of Israel?” Now, son of man, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won’t be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.” Ezekiel 33:11-12 (HCSB)

God is just, and He will, by no means, clear the guilty.  But if men will turn from their sin, recognize and follow Jesus as Lord, they will be saved!  No man is so bad that he cannot have God’s grace, and none is so good that he doesn’t need it.