The Aberystwyth Conference is over for us as we are attending a wedding today. As ever it has been nice to see so many people and enjoy good ministry. Sadly, there were loads of people we just didn't get to chat to. There are meetings this morning and this evening. I apologised to Stuart Olyott that I would miss tonight. He thought that I was about the hundredth person to so apologise and only his wife Doll is a definite at present. I'm sure the Great Hall will be packed, however, as it has been through the week and some will have to sit in the plush cinema downstairs and watch it there in the overflow. As for the morning meetings, the inimitable Dale Ralph Davis has been walking us through Jeremiah. The opening session on Jeremiah 1 was stellar and a brilliant start with its powerful mix of thorough exegesis, cautious theology, semi-street talk, great application and fine illustrations. None of those present will read the opening remarks of Jeremiah about when he prophesied again without remembering that far from being pedestrian remarks about chronology, this is a testimony to the relentlessness of God's Word whatever the circumstances. None of the subsequent talks lived quite up to that first one for some reason but we have had excellent stuff. Those who attended Wednesday's seminar got an extra talk from Jeremiah 40 dealing with failure in ministry. That had a mixed reception maybe but was again for me a powerful bit of applied exegesis. It was also a treat Wednesday night to be in the manse where my father-in-law Geoff Thomas had invited Dr Davis and one or two others. I wasn't the only one to grab opportunity for a book signing. I got the impression that Ralph is a self-effacing man, cheerful but only by grace, something of a scholar but chiefly a pastor who enjoys writing. I could identify. He is about to retire from the pastorate and is set on writing up another Old Testament book and not doing too much conference work. It is good to know that God has such a variety of servants working away in the vineyard.
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Showing posts with label Jeremiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeremiah. Show all posts
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Our main morning message was by Welshman Professor Derek Thomas, on Calvin's sermons on Jeremiah.He began by explaining how Calvin preached a large number of sermons week by week. From September 1549 the sermons were recorded in some 44 volumes that in the 19th Century were distributed across Europe for the cost of the paper. Some 2,300 appear to have been written down and about 1500 are extant. The opera contain 872 and a supplement of 618 also exists. Calvin only published some 4 sermons himself but was willing at times to see his sermons published. Not all versions were official. Calvin was not entirely happy with this process, fearing he could be quoted, the sermons being given without the usual care bestowed on other works. He felt it was all done too hastily, he felt. Examples of sermon sets appearing include those on Job.
Only 27 sermons on Jeremiah exist today (2 are on Lamentations). The sermons were preached from October 1548-September 1550 and so there must have been around 300 altogether. These few are in the supplement to the opera and are in French. Calvin deals with about 5 or 6 verses each time in the lectio continua style.
There was also a five volume commentary on Jeremiah (published posthumously just after 1564). This grew out of his lectures. Students would make notes and compare them. Calvin was much less reluctant about these as although they were still very much unprepared they were given in an academic context.
Two main points were made from the sermons.
1. They give us an insight into what preaching is
Derek pointed for example to the way Calvin speaks against the lack of attention to preaching that was a problem in Geneva. He also speaks against false teaching and stresses the need of preachers to warn people.
2. They give us an insight into what preaching does
Here we chiefly just give the headings
1. For Calvin preaching is always in the context of tribulation
The sermons show a great deal of sensitivity to a suffering congregation and often speak of the troubles of life. We should not be surprised at such things.
2. For Calvin one of the main themes in the prophets is idolatry
Calvin often speaks against idolatry in its various manifestations. He is preaching to hearts idolatrous by nature. People often misconstrue - that is why Calvin strove for simplicity.
3. Calvin employs a redemptive-historical approach
Calvin saw prophecy as having relevance to the contemporary situation, predictive of Christ's coming and referring to the whole history of mankind until the end. His hermeneutic is amazing. He saw a line of continuity in the days of the prophets and of the apostles. He was very much aware of the pattern of dark days followed by restoration. His emphasis is on reformation rather than revival, reformation of worship in particular - this relates back to his opposition to idolatry.
4. Calvin employs a gospel hermeneutic
His ability to find Christ in a passage is not wooden (indeed shortly after his death he was taken to task by a Lutheran writer who did not think he found Christ enough).
5. Calvin uses a homilectically experiential approach
He anticipates the Westminster Directory in his awareness of different kinds of hearer.
This was a fine message on unknown material well suited to its audience.
Only 27 sermons on Jeremiah exist today (2 are on Lamentations). The sermons were preached from October 1548-September 1550 and so there must have been around 300 altogether. These few are in the supplement to the opera and are in French. Calvin deals with about 5 or 6 verses each time in the lectio continua style.
There was also a five volume commentary on Jeremiah (published posthumously just after 1564). This grew out of his lectures. Students would make notes and compare them. Calvin was much less reluctant about these as although they were still very much unprepared they were given in an academic context.
Two main points were made from the sermons.
1. They give us an insight into what preaching is
Derek pointed for example to the way Calvin speaks against the lack of attention to preaching that was a problem in Geneva. He also speaks against false teaching and stresses the need of preachers to warn people.
2. They give us an insight into what preaching does
Here we chiefly just give the headings
1. For Calvin preaching is always in the context of tribulation
The sermons show a great deal of sensitivity to a suffering congregation and often speak of the troubles of life. We should not be surprised at such things.
2. For Calvin one of the main themes in the prophets is idolatry
Calvin often speaks against idolatry in its various manifestations. He is preaching to hearts idolatrous by nature. People often misconstrue - that is why Calvin strove for simplicity.
3. Calvin employs a redemptive-historical approach
Calvin saw prophecy as having relevance to the contemporary situation, predictive of Christ's coming and referring to the whole history of mankind until the end. His hermeneutic is amazing. He saw a line of continuity in the days of the prophets and of the apostles. He was very much aware of the pattern of dark days followed by restoration. His emphasis is on reformation rather than revival, reformation of worship in particular - this relates back to his opposition to idolatry.
4. Calvin employs a gospel hermeneutic
His ability to find Christ in a passage is not wooden (indeed shortly after his death he was taken to task by a Lutheran writer who did not think he found Christ enough).
5. Calvin uses a homilectically experiential approach
He anticipates the Westminster Directory in his awareness of different kinds of hearer.
This was a fine message on unknown material well suited to its audience.
Uriah Ben Shemaiah
(Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. When King Jehoiakim and all his officers and officials heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt. King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan son of Acbor to Egypt, along with some other men. They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)
In my reading this morning in Jeremiah I came across a reference to Uriah son of Shamaiah [26:20-23]. The NIV puts it in brackets as it is an editorial addition, probably by Jeremiah. I'd not really given any thought to Uriah before. Matthew Henry criticises his flight into Egypt. The 'in fear' perhaps suggests it but elsewhere in Scripture we are encouraged to flee persecution. Certainly no-one can deny his bold speaking out in the first place, despite the likely consequences. Disregarding this, the servants of wicked King Jehoiakim showed him no mercy in life or in death. Most of us have never heard of Uriah, even though God saw fit to have his story recorded in this way. There must be countless thousands who are just as faithful today and just as unknown. It is an encouragement to know that God will not forget them.
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