JEREMIAH 7-8:In this and several other prophetic books, it is important to observe where quotes begin and end, and who is speaking. The section headings are also very helpful to our understanding. Modern translators and editors use the heading to help modern readers understand such things as ancient poetic imagery.

Yesterday's reading had this ironic statement spoken by the Lord:

5:19 When they ask why I did all these things, tell them, Jeremiah, that just as they turned away from me and served foreign gods in their own land, so they will serve strangers in a land that is not theirs."

PSALM 141:David received the answer to his prayer in verse 5, if this was written before his affair with Bathsheba. Nathan did what David prayed for here. This psalm contains gems that are well worth digging for and meditating on.

JOHN 19b:I believe that John saw, and wanted us to feel, the extreme irony in many events that we have read. The ironic events and statements also didn't happen by accident. It was not an accident that the mob who came to arrest Jesus stumbled back and fell when he said, "I am He." That was— and still is, a sign from God. All of the statements of Pilate and the chief priests drip with irony which they could not see, but which we can. "I find no fault with this man!" "Behold your king!" "We have no king but Caesar!" "What is truth?" "Don't release him, we want Barabbas!"

NLT Translation notes:Jer. 7:8 "'Don't be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. [That's/It's] a lie! 11 Don't you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on [here/there]. I, the LORD, have spoken!====John 19:3"Hail[ to you,!] King of the Jews!" they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, "If you release this man, you are no 'friend of [the high king] Caesar.'b Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar."24 So they said, "Rather than tearing it apart, let's throw dicee for it." This fulfilled the Scripture that says, "They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing."f So that is what they did [(without knowing they were fulfilling Scripture)].26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Dear woman, [there/here] is your son."[Here and in verse 27, the literal Greek is "See-imperative." It is a matter of interpretation whether in the first instance Jesus could be saying, "See what I have become," or, "Look at that guy next to you. He is your son." The difference would be a nod of the head or a motion of Jesus' eyes. I think that Jesus' intention was correctly interpreted by John in 27b.]27 And he said to this disciple, "[That/Here] is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home.31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten [the deaths of the crucified men//their deaths] by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.35 ([John writes a parenthetical comment:] This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. [I speak/He speaks] the truth so that you also can believe.)

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.