Blessed Boasting – Part 3

Thus says Yehovah, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am Yehovah who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares Yehovah (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Jeremiah tells us not to boast in our wisdom, works or wealth because God is the source of these (wisdom – Proverbs 9:10; works – Ephesians 3:10; wealth – Deuteronomy 8:18). God also opens our minds and hearts to know and understand Him (Luke 24:17). So, while we are permitted to “boast” in our knowledge of Him, we are actually boasting about Him!

Jeremiah next describes three aspects of God’s character – lovingkindness (checed), justice and righteousness. Checed is the unmerited, enduring love that God has for those who are in relationship with Him. We can be in relationship with Him because of God’s greatest demonstration of checed – Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The apostle Paul reminds us that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Peter proclaimed, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God,” (1 Peter 3:18).

Therefore, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

God’s justice and righteousness are always implemented in a manner consistent with His checed. Jeremiah lived during the lowest point in Jewish history – the destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple and the exile of the people from the Promised Land. God administered justice in response to people’s rejection of His righteousness. Yet Jeremiah states, God “does not afflict willingly or grieve the sons of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the land, to deprive a man of justice” (Lamentations 3:33-35).

Instead “if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness.” (Lamentations 3:32). Indeed “God is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:32). “Therefore, I have hope. God’s Yehovah’s lovingkindnesses (checeds) indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

God described these three aspects of His character to Moses (Exodus 34:6-7). His checed is demonstrated by His being: “compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness (checed) and truth; who keeps faithfulness for thousands [of generations], who forgives wrongdoing, violation of His Law, and sin;” while upholding justice and righteousness “yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.”

“All the paths of God are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant” (Psalm 25:10). Let us walk in those paths throughout our lives.