April 7 ▪ Day 97

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 15:1
Jeremiah 23–24
Galatians 3–4
Psalms 97

Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:1)

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
     but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Meditation

Proverbs 15:1 has long been a favorite of mine. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” The words of this proverb live in my memory, helping me to diffuse tense situations by reminding me to choose softer words.

The various translations are quite similar on this proverb. Gentle words are also called soft, mild, or kind words. The word that stirs up anger is usually called harsh, but a few say grievous, unkind, or mean. Regardless of the specific words used, we understand the meaning of this proverb.

When confronted with harsh or angry words, our immediate impulse is to respond in kind. Angry words can trigger more angry words. Those who can stay serene in the face of irritation or rage, those who can speak graciously — they are the true peacemakers. For me, it is only by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit that I am able to do this. When I worked as a bookseller, I would sometimes have to interact with angry customers. Remaining calm and pleasant (despite the provocation!), accepting another’s blame, and apologizing — these would always help to de-escalate the situation.

Father God, help us all to remember and implement the wisdom of this proverb! May we talk softly; may our words be gracious and kind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Jeremiah 23, as so often happens after prophecies of destruction, we have a prophecy of restoration. The LORD promises that He himself with re-gather those from Israel and Judah and bring them back to their land. He will raise up good shepherds for them. Starting in verse 5, there is a prophecy that God will raise up a “righteous branch” from the house of David to rule over the people. This is, of course, an important Messianic prophecy.

The rest of chapter 23 denounces false prophets “who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness (v. 32).” In Israel, the prophets led the people astray by turning to Baal for their prophecies; however, the false prophets of Judah were much worse. God says in verse 14, “I have seen a more shocking thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from wickedness.”

God asks several questions in this chapter that continue to resonate in my mind and heart. In verse 23, God asks, “Am I only a God nearby, and not a God far away?” I’m not sure whether this was to encourage the people of Judah to remember that the LORD would still be with them even when they lived in Babylon, or if it indeed is meant to remind the false prophets that God can see them even when they suppose He is elsewhere — perhaps thinking that God is only in the temple. Apparently some manuscripts record this verse as a statement, rather than a question: I am a God nearby and not a God far away. This makes a bit more sense to me in context with the question about hiding in secret places.

However, as a modern reader, verse 23 reminds me that God is everywhere. And the verse echoes in my heart. We sometimes put God in a box — only in church, only on Sundays, only when I read the Bible — and forget that He is as much present in every area of our lives, even when we are not aware of Him. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” He asks in verse 24.

I am also struck by the question in verse 29. It is a verse that I tend to highlight every time I read this chapter in a new translation: “Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”

Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Indeed, God’s word is extremely powerful. It is perhaps the strongest tool in our arsenal — both for our own lives and for those we desperately wish might come to know the LORD. We must learn Scripture and be able to quote Scripture so that those who will not read it themselves might as least hear it from our mouths. “Let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully,” says Jeremiah 23:28.

Jeremiah 24 records a vision that Jeremiah had from the LORD. He saw a basket of very good figs and basket of rotten figs — “so bad they cannot be eaten.” The LORD interprets the vision for Jeremiah. The good figs represent the exiles — God will watch over them and build them up. He will give them “a heart to know that I am the LORD (v. 7)” and He will bring them back to the land of Judah. However, the bad figs represent King Zedekiah and the current remnant in Jerusalem. God will continue to punish them for their wickedness by sending “sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they are utterly destroyed (v. 10).”

Galatians 3 and 4 continue Paul’s argument that Christ’s disciples are not required to follow Hebrew law. The law, which was put into effect after the covenant with Abraham, was meant to be a guardian for the people until Christ came (v. 17, v. 23). Paul argues that Christ is the true subject of the promise of Abraham, which was given to Abraham and his “offspring” (or “seed”). Paul argues that the word was singular, meaning that only one specific offspring was intended to receive the covenant promise, namely the Messiah. Further, he makes an allegory concerning the children of Abraham. Hagar, the slave woman, bore Ishmael and he was born via “the flesh.” Sarah, on the other hand, was past the age of childbearing, but she bore Isaac as a consequence of “the promise.” Paul interprets that these two women represent different covenants — one is of the flesh, but the other is of the promise. As he concludes chapter 4 in verse 29, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring.”

These chapters are short but crucial in our understanding of the role of God’s law — all the commandments given to the Israelites in the Pentateuch. In Galatians 3:10, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27:26, saying, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.” The point is that we are incapable of observing and obeying everything written in the law and thus the law becomes a curse to us, revealing our sin.

But, as Paul also writes in Galatians 3:12, “The law does not rest on faith.” The law is essentially a means of works. Yes, it teaches us what a righteous person would do, but it does not give us the power to be able to do those things. For that we must have faith in God, as Abraham believed God and had that credited to him as righteousness.

Psalm 97 celebrates God’s glorious reign over the heavens and the earth. I love the imagery of the first few verses — clouds, fire, lightning, the mountains melting like wax. Mysterious, dangerous, powerful. Verse 6 tells us that all people everywhere recognize God from looking at the heavens: “The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.”

Today as I read this psalm, it was verse 11 that stood out to me: “Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” Yes, this is what I want! Light and joy. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Father God, I pray for your light and joy to infuse my spirit. I’m so grateful that you sent Jesus to fulfill your covenant promise to Abraham. I’m grateful that, through Christ, I also am the recipient of the covenant promise. Thank you for freeing me from sin and the curse of the law.

Please help me to speak your word faithfully — your word is powerful and can break the stoniest heart, setting fire to the most reluctant soul. We pray for your word to accomplish what you desire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.