Jeremiah was called to minister in dark days, having been given the task of announcing the destruction of Judah. The nation was slipping to disaster, with God’s judgment administered by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah’s message was often one of judgment, but the Lord also gave words of consolation and strength in his precious, though rare, promises. We consider Jeremiah 9:23-24 How should we boast?
1. Foolish boasting
In v23 we have the divine diagnosis of the human condition: at heart the sinner’s attitude is one of boasting, expressing self-reliance and self-sufficiency. This is life without taking God into account, the life of ‘the fool’ (Psalm 14:1). The root of sin is putting self in the place of God (Genesis 3). The Lord exposes the things sinners rely on – wisdom, strength, riches. ‘Wisdom’ indicates trust in education and intellectual ability severed from God’s revelation in Scripture, the attitude that looks to science for solutions to human problems. ‘Strength’ covers all forms of power – political, military, economic, social, seeking security in an insecure world. ‘Riches’ seem to offer security and a comfortable lifestyle, feeding our desire to have more than others. They offer no hope or security. Hence the divine warning: ‘Let not the wise man boast…’ Sinners constantly feel the attraction of this ‘trinity’. Satan even tried to use them to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:8; Luke 4:6). To trust in any of these deceptive things is a fatal mistake.
2. Godly boasting
The divine prescription is ‘let him who boasts boast in this…’ (v24). What is required is a God-centred life. 2 elements are set before us.
(i) The knowledge of God: this is what we are to ‘boast’ (or ‘glory’) in – ‘that he understands and knows me’. This is what we were created for and apart from this, life is without ultimate purpose. Here is where our delight is to be found. ‘Understand’ indicates knowledge of the great truths God has revealed about himself. It requires the application of the mind to God’s written Word. But more is required. ‘Knows me’ – the language of relationship. Along with intellectual knowledge there must be a commitment of life to the Lord. These elements – acceptance of the truth and commitment of life are the constituents of true saving faith. Note the Saviour’s words in John 17:3: ‘this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ’. This is a living, loving knowledge of a gracious God.
(ii) The perfections of God: the Lord gives a concise description of himself. ‘I am the Lord’ – the special covenant name that speaks of a sovereign God of grace who condescends to enter into relationship with his people (Leviticus 26:12). He has revealed himself perfectly in Christ (John 20:28), whose blood redeems us and seals the covenant. He next details his saving activity. He ‘exercise kindness’ (or ‘steadfast love’ ESV). This is the love that makes the covenant as the Lord gives himself to us in grace. The word speaks of his commitment to us, choosing us in Christ before creation (Ephesians 1:4). He will be faithful to all his promises. He does ‘justice’ – punishing his enemies and delivering his people. He also does ‘righteousness’ – enabling his people to live in harmony with his will expressed in his law. Here is a ‘trinity’ of perfections in which God delights as he sees them reproduced in his people.