Page 1110 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_10_MacArthur_Bible_Oct.qxd 8/8/03 16:59 Page 1091

OCTOBER 30
26
a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be that they may know the truth, and that they
25
gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humili- may come to their senses and escape the snare
ty correcting those who are in opposition, if of the devil, having been taken captive by him
God perhaps will grant them repentance, so to do his will.
DAY 29: How is the Christian life compared to being a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer?
“Endure hardship as a good soldier”(2 Tim. 2:3).The metaphor of the Christian life as warfare
(against the evil world system,the believer’s sinful human nature,and Satan) is a familiar one in the
New Testament (2 Cor. 10:3–5; Eph. 6:10–20; 1 Thess. 4:8; 1 Tim. 1:18; 4:7; 6:12). Here Paul is dealing
with the conflict against the hostile world and the persecution.“No one engaged in warfare entan-
gles himself” (v. 4). Just as a soldier called to duty is completely severed from the normal affairs of
civilian life, so also must the good soldier of Jesus Christ refuse to allow the things of the world to
distract him (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15–17).
“If anyone competes in athletics”(v.5).The Greek verb expresses the effort and determination
needed to compete successfully in an athletic event (1 Cor. 9:24).This is a useful picture of spiritual
effort and untiring pursuit of the victory to those familiar with events such as the Olympic Games
and the Isthmian Games (held in Corinth).“Crowned…rules.” All an athlete’s hard work and disci-
pline will be wasted if he or she fails to compete according to the rules. This is a call to obey the
Word of God in the pursuit of spiritual victory.
“The hardworking farmer” (v. 6).“Hardworking” is from a Greek verb meaning “to labor to the
point of exhaustion.” Ancient farmers worked long hours of backbreaking labor under all kinds of
conditions with the hope that their physical effort would be rewarded by a good harvest.Paul is urg-
ing Timothy not to be lazy or indolent but to labor intensely (Col.1:28,29) with a view to the harvest.

I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.” ’
OCTOBER 30 LORD: “Behold, what I have built I will break
“Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the
4
down, and what I have planted I will pluck up,
5
that is, this whole land. And do you seek great
Jeremiah 45:1–46:28
things for yourself? Do not seek them; for
The word that Jeremiah the prophet behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says
45 spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a
when he had written these words in a book at prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”
the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year The word of the LORD which came to
of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, 46 Jeremiah the prophet against the
2
saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, nations. Against Egypt.
2
3
to you, O Baruch: ‘You said, “Woe is me now! Concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho,
For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. king of Egypt, which was by the River
Euphrates in Carchemish, and which
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in
the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah,
45:3 Woe is me now! Baruch felt anxiety as his king of Judah:
own cherished plans of a bright future were
3 “Order the buckler and shield,
apparently dashed; even death became a
darkening peril (v. 5). Also, he was possibly And draw near to battle!
pressed by human questionings about God 4 Harness the horses,
carrying through with such calamity (v. 4). And mount up, you horsemen!
Jeremiah spoke to encourage him (v. 2). Stand forth with your helmets,
Polish the spears,
45:5 you seek great things. Baruch had his Put on the armor!
expectations far too high and that made the 5 Why have I seen them dismayed and
disasters harder to bear. It is enough that he turned back?
be content just to live. Jeremiah, who once Their mighty ones are beaten down;
also complained, learned by his own suffering
to encourage complainers. They have speedily fled,
And did not look back,
For fear was all around,” says the LORD.

1091