Instruction on the Sabbath was first given to the Israelites at the time of the exodus, constituting the fourth commandment, originated in God resting from his work on the seventh day of creation and is therefore foundational to the Jewish faith.  In Hebrews 4 and elsewhere in the New Testament the idea of the Sabbath rest is explored. For the Christian, a relationship with Jesus fulfils the Sabbath rest. Paul refers to Jesus as ‘our Sabbath rest’.

For the Jews the ultimate Sabbath was to come into the Promised Land.  For Christians, the Sabbath symbolises his or her destiny in heaven, of which a relationship with Jesus on the earth is a guarantee and a foretaste.

In the time of Jeremiah the promise was conditional on keeping the Sabbath.  Consequently, the sacrificial system would be sustained v.26.  For the Jew this was essential for the forgiveness of sins and relationship of the people with God.  Under the new covenant the idea of Sabbath rest and sacrifice leading to forgiveness of sins is in Jesus united in the one person.  This means that every day is a Sabbath rest for the Christian.  He is not obliged to observe it externally, except for the value to be gained by commemorating a spiritual principle with a physical act.

There is a commentary on the potter and clay story in Corinthians that God has the right to do whatever he wishes with what he has made. Non-exhaustive, the New Testament also wrestles with the idea of not just the sovereignty of God but also how to harmonize this with man’s free will. One adage to sum up a possible conclusion is: pray like it all depended on God, act as if it all depends on you!

The ‘stiffened necks’ of 17:23 foreshadow the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus. It is important to touch on this issue here because how can man be free if God hardens his heart. Gudrun explains this with the idea via correct understanding of the Hebrew that God hardens the resolve of a person bent on evil, since he knows they will never turn from their wickedness. Yet His sovereignty retains the upper hand in the repercussions of that evil action. He turns everything, good and evil, to the ultimate good of his plan.

The plot against Jeremiah is to silence him (18:18-26).  True servants of God are always in danger of persecution. As Jesus warned, they hated him first. The freedom we have or had to worship in the West must be regarded as a short blip in Christian history.

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Pray that God gives us soft hearts towards him and his will for our lives.