Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom"
Text: Jeremiah 9:23
THE THINGS PEOPLE GLORY IN
The things people glory in today are not very different from the people in the days of the prophet Jeremiah. May we learn to glory in the right things!
“Thus says the LORD:
‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,’ says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
1. Three things people should not glory in:
a) “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom”
i) There are some who are wiser than others.
ii) Through knowledge and experience, wisdom is gained.
iii) But human wisdom is really given more credit than it deserves.
iv) Man’s wisdom is fallible and is not limitless.
v) Thus, the wise should not glory in his supposed wisdom.
b) “Let not the mighty man glory in his might”
i) There are those who glory (“boast”) in their might.
ii) This may be physical brute strength.
iii) It may be military might.
iv) But there are limits!
v) Someone mightier will eventually arise.
c) “Nor let the rich man glory in his riches”
i) There are those who glory in their wealth.
ii) There are those who boast in their billions.
iii) But all the wealth obtained lasts only for one short lifetime on earth.
iv) Death comes, and the wealthiest go the way of the earth.
v) What is there to boast in, even if one is the wealthiest person on earth?
2. The Thing to glory in!
a) “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me”
i) If there is to be any glorying at all, let it be in the knowledge of God.
ii) This knowledge of God is not theoretical but deep and personal.
b) “‘That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment,
and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the LORD”
i) Knowing and appreciating God does.
ii) Exercising lovingkindness.
iii) Exercising judgment.
iv) Exercising righteousness on earth.
v) These are the things God delights in doing.
Our challenge is to have the same delight!