Daily Scripture Threshing for Thursday, August 20, 2020
Today’s Text: Jeremiah 31: 1-9
Key Verses: Jeremiah 31:6 (KJV) — “For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.”
Whereas it has been customary for the Jews to go in companies (tribes with tribes and clans with clans) to Jerusalem at every religious ceremony and festival. The unison of the caravan and the religious songs of their procession was always a delight. But a time came when as result of spiritual decadence, Jeroboam caused an indelible schism that broke the ranks and separated the commonwealth. Thus, the unified nation of Israel was divided into two separate kingdoms, and each land endured civil unrests, lack or loss of peace, moral burdens, and social or judicial inequality. This was the state of Israel when the message of this text came.
A critical look at this text, in the light of today’s church, one will not but see a clear radical semblance in terms of ongoing spiritual disintegration, denominational biases that contend with God’s Kingdom agenda and interest, and/or the segregational spirits that overrides our essence. Yes, because anything that tears us apart also weakens the overall goal of the Great Commission in our day. As such, the present state of the church today is an unfortunate replay of Israel’s prolonged division. Obviously, our northern tents practically have nothing to do with the southern. Like in the world, our whites are against the blacks and vice versa. Things are fallen apart, and the rival worship in Bethel and Dan now typifies the ongoing tension within Christ’s body, which is called to be one. In the place of cooperation, we have competition; even when we gather, we do so amid suspicion and presence, and our center can not seem to hold. How can there be national unity and peace when the church is at war. But with eager hope and prophetic call, Jeremiah looks forward: that there should be a day when the light of the Gospel will break out most gloriously, and dispel the darkness of separation and war, and the watchmen, i.e. the ministers of the gospel shall be God’s true agents of reconciliation. For they, upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.” There’s no better upward call, folks. Let’s arise at once and go up!
Quote for the Day: "Anything that tears us apart also weakens the overall goal of the Great Commission.” (Simon Olatunji)
Prayer: O Lord, revive Your work amongst us and cause us to agree. Make Your people one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May we all work together in perfect harmony till Your works on earth is done, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
With all my love and prayer,
Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD
The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),
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