Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 45-47
Lest there be any confusion, Jeremiah 45 is woefully misplaced. This short chapter belongs in the context of Jeremiah 36 (cf vv 2-4) and the account of the scroll burning (v 23, 32). Chapter 46 begins a series of Divine pronouncements against Egypt and the heathen nations of Canaan. The specificity of these prophecies is incredible and testify to the inspiration of the record. Egypt had moved northward into Canaan following the battle at Megiddo (609 BC), and had remained there for some time after their victory. Though allied with the then failing Assyrian forces, Egypt was driven out of Canaan by the Babylonians in the battle of Carchemish (605 BC). Egypt then retreated to her previous borders, inhabiting her former land “as in the days of old” (46:26). Egypt would never again to be a world power, and an additional prophecy against her will be seen in Ezekiel. Jeremiah also pronounces judgment against Philistia “before Pharaoh attacked Gaza” (47:1). This attack by Egypt was not the one that destroyed Philistia, for Jeremiah prophesied that the destroyer would come from the north as “an overflowing flood” (47:2). This flood from the north was surely a reference to the advancing and overwhelming Babylonian army, which was being used as the instrument of God’s wrath against them.
New Testament reading: Luke 17-19
Today we see another example of a Samaritan being held in high regard by our Lord. While the Samaritan of Luke 10 may have only been a parable character (see Day 295), the Samaritan of Luke 17 was not. As the first Samaritan teaches us the necessity to be good neighbors to those in need, so also does this real Samaritan teach us the necessity to be thankful. As Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee, He was met by ten lepers. As societal outcasts, they dare not approach Jesus, but rather cried out to him from afar off. Told to go show themselves to the priest (cf Lev 14:1-32), they went. In so doing, they received the desired cleansing. Seeing himself healed, one of the ten turned back “and with a loud voice glorified God.” Now cleansed, this one approached the Lord and fell at His feet to give thanks. Of him, Luke says, “he was a Samaritan.” May we never be so busy with our blessings so as to forget to be thankful for them every one.
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