Todays readings.. 2 Samuel 3, Jeremiah 9, Matthew 20

            Our ch. 9 in Jeremiah today contains that remarkable declaration that those who are wise “boast” only in one thing!   All around us in the world there is a mixed lot of fleshly boasting – the President of the United States is setting the example – and what a fleshly example!

            In contrast, if we feel inclined to boast, the words the LORD spoke to Jeremiah declare the only way in which we can – and should – boast.  We read from v. 23, “Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

            In the Psalms we have the declaration, “In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.” [44 v.8]  Can we make this declaration?  

            Again in the Psalms – we read in Psalm 34, from v. 2, “My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

            Looking ahead in Jeremiah we see reference in ch. 31 to a ‘spiritual’ covenant God promised to make in the future – and surely that future is now very near!  If we feel ourselves to be members of the ‘spiritual’ house of Israel we can embrace the following words and take them into our hearts.

            “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people … they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.”[v.33,34]   Let us make sure we are boasting (talking about from our hearts) of the wonder of our relationship with our Lord. This is the ‘good’ kind of boasting – we should engage in it every day.