For They All Shall Know Me

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
No more shall every man teach his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name):
“If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the LORD, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease from being a nation before Me forever.”

Thus says the LORD: “If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the LORD.
[Jeremiah 31:33-37 NKJV]

Luing from near Craobh, Argyll

What a wonderful run of verses from Jeremiah that Stan has shown us last week. An amazing promise, and a compassionate comfort.

I was struck by this line “no more shall every man teach his neighbour”, and what caught my attention was that in this day there is still the need for Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers [Ephesians 4:11 NKJV]. So why would there be no need to ‘teach (your) neighbour’? The straightforward answer is because The Lord says so, but I do not believe that it is as simple as that.

I checked a number of different translations, but all use the word ‘teach’. I certainly understand that a time will come when each one will be so in tune with the Holy Spirit so that all will hear and comprehend perfectly what His purpose is. But ...

The word translated as ‘teach’ primarily means ‘to goad’, with the sense of instruction. To me, this now makes the matter clear. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, each man will hear what the Spirit is saying to each man. It will be God’s teaching to an individual for his or her particular circumstances. It does not eliminate the need for teaching, but instead that no man can impose his idea of doctrine or dogma on his neighbour. What God is eliminating in the equation is religiosity.

As always, God’s way triumphs. Only His truthful teaching will reach home. Hallelujah!

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“Knowing You, Jesus” - Robin Mark

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OSWALD CHAMBERS - RUN TODAY’S RACE
Tuesday 2nd June 2020
The more complete our sense of need, the more satisfactory is our dependence on God.

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