Matthew 2:17-18…Ready

Matthew 2:17-18…Ready

17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, (O.T. village 5 miles N. of Jerusalem. It was the staging point for Judah’s march into exile to Babylon.) weeping and great mourning, Rachel (Jacob’s favorite wife who’s tomb lay near Bethlehem.-Gen. 35:19) weeping for her children (Not her literal children, but symbolically the nation of Israel.) and refusing to be comforted, (consoled, encouraged, reassured) because they are no more.” (Historically the Israelites who were either killed or taken into captivity to Babylon. But in a wider context fulfilled of the babies killed by King Herod.) {Jer. 31:15}

Continued From Book

“Even today, believers are not to allow the loss of a child, death of a loved one, a broken marriage, a failed business, etc. to become bitter roots of anger towards God.” ⇒ That somehow it’s God’s fault, that He let us down, not realizing that God is with us in it and working all things for His glory and our good!

“Though Matthew does not mention it, the passage he quotes from Jeremiah continues with a beautiful word of hope and promise for Israel: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, declares the Lord. They will return from the  land of the enemy. So there is hope for the future.” (Jer. 31:16-17) ⇒ And just like the grief of the mothers of Bethlehem, Newton, Texas, Columbine, Montgomery, Peshawar can take comfort and joy, knowing Jesus bore their grief on the Cross. The passage also gives hope that if we stray from the Divine direction, acknowledge our sin, and plead for forgiveness, God will have mercy on us, restore us, and set us back again on the path of righteousness.

   Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches rather than hold onto our own selfish possessions and selfish desires we need to hold onto  Christ instead.

Teaches when tragedy strikes we can either succumb and give into defeat and despair or we can resist and hold onto hope.

Teaches the need to point people to Jesus who are suffering that they may find peace, hope, and joy. Ones persons hurts is another persons opportunity to serve. Even when there is nothing we can do and nothing we can say, we need to stand with those who are suffering. Will you grieve with those who grieve, will you sit and pray with those who are hurting,  always speaking words of love, hope, and comfort.) (cf. Rom. 12:15)

Teaches how its impossible to avoid the evil and conflict around us.  People will suffer and die, its just a fact of life.

Calls for a heart that is mournful over the cost of sin, not only in our own lives but in the world around us. in all the pain, ruin, and misery it brings, and how it has ravaged our world. (Only when we see the brokenness of the world and our own lives will we appreciate the healing and redemption God offers in Christ Jesus.) (cf. Matt. 5:4, Rom. 7:14-25)

Calls for not allowing a world of evil, violence, and injustice cause us to become harden towards God. Though there be no satisfactory answers or acceptable explanations to the grief and suffering we experience, but we must not allow it to define us, harden us, or keep us from moving forward. [Note: Never say; “What good is it to follow a God who says He loves me, and then He allows my child/loved one to suffer and die”.]

Calls for a heart that is willing to join with others in their time of suffering and loss. Even when there is nothing we can do and nothing we can say, we need to stay connected to people who suffer. (Will you grieve with those who grieve, will you sit and pray with those who are hurting, acknowledging their loss, always speaking words of love, hope, comfort, and grace?) (cf. Rom. 12:15)

Warns if not careful hanging onto anger can cause scars of resentment and bitterness. That if we don’t find healing and closure now it can eventually effect our relationship with God, with our family, children, spouse, and our church. (Is there someone you need to forgive today so that the healing process can begin? Maybe its that drunk driver who killed your son, or that gang member whose stray bullet killed your sleeping daughter, or that relative who molested your child, or that extramarital affair your spouse kept hidden from you, or that ex-husband who abused you for years?)

Display how tragedy has a way of striping away the veneer of the inconsequential, that tragedy tends to bring you down to the basics. Tragedies have a way of clarifying our values and what’s important in life, what really matters and what doesn’t. Tragedy has a way of awaking us, making us more appreciative and humble. Less complaining about our inconveniences and more grateful for everything we have–big & small. It also makes us more sympathetic, caring, and helpful to others. (Have you’ve been taking your loved ones for granted, not realizing when you say goodbye to a loved one it could be the last words you say to them?)

Teaches when trials and tragedies strike its natural to become distraught and to focus inwardly on our own personal pain and loss, to look for something or someone else to blame, even being angry with God or with our self’s to the point of giving up. Yet we must resist these tendencies, and instead keep our focus on a compassionate God who loves us and is working all things for our good. (cf. Rom. 8:28)

Note: Since the inspired writer refers to this event as the fulfillment of prophecy. We need to remind ourselves that no matter how much evil and suffering we see in the world everything is going according to the plans and purposes of God. Even in grief, heartache, and tragedy God has a plan even though we may not understand.

Note: The Jeremiah passage should not be understood as a prophecy fulfilled or a prediction come true in the time of king Herod. But rather it is what is known as a “Typico-Prophetic”. That what occurred in the days of Jeremiah, where Rachel is depicted as rolling over in her grave, rising up and weeping for all the mothers who’s sons were slain or taken into captivity to Babylon. It is now used here as a type or shadow of what had occurred in the time of Christ of the mothers who would again weep for their children who were killed by Herod.

Note: “Ramah” was a city 5 miles north of Jerusalem and 5 miles south of Bethlehem located in the tribal area allotted to Benjamin. It was also the city that Jacob’s wife Rachel was buried, having died giving birth to Benjamin while on the road to Bethlehem. (cf. Gen. 35:16-20, 1-Sam. 10:2) The city would later become the deportation point for Israel and Jerusalem who were exiled and taken captive to Babylon 600 years earlier in 586 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar. (cf. Jeremiah 52:1-30)

Note: In context, the passage is in reference to Jeremiah recalling how, because of Israel’s idolatry and unfaithfulness to God, God allowed His people to be exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar-(586 B.C.) Though Matthew does not mention it here, because he is emphasizing the tragedy of the massacre, the passage he quotes from Jeremiah continues with a beautiful word of hope and promise for Israel in being freed from captivity and returning to their own land: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, declares the Lord. They will return from the  land of the enemy. So there is hope for the future.” “Your children will return to their own land”. (cf. Jer. 31:16-17)  And just like the grief of the mothers of Bethlehem, Newton, Columbine, Montgomery, Peshawar can take comfort and joy, knowing Jesus bore their grief on the Cross. The passage also gives hope that if we stray from the Divine direction, acknowledge our sin, and plead for forgiveness, God will have mercy on us, restore us, and set us back again on the path of righteousness.

HOW TO RESPOND TO TRAGEDY…….. 

• See it as the ugly result of living in a sinful and broken world

• Know that God in His grace has given man free will to choose good or evil

• Trust that God is in control, everything is going according to God’s perfect plan

• Know that God the Father will get the glory and bring good out of it

• Chose to stay positive, not bitter (focus on what’s left, not what’s lost)

• Look to others for comfort, support, and encouragement

• See it as building greater faith, strength, and character

• Remember what’s important in life and what’s not (Life is not measured by what you own)

• Remember your position in Christ Jesus, we have a better home waiting for us in heaven

• Overcome evil with good, love and forgive

• God will not ask of you more than you can endure

• Try not to think about it

• Know there is a lesson to be learned

• Don’t let it get you down, stay positive

• God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle

• Getting upset and grieving about it doesn’t do any good

• WRONG RESPONSES IN TRAGEDY……

• If you just had enough faith this wouldn’t have happened

• Getting upset and grieving about it doesn’t do any good

• If you just had enough faith this wouldn’t have happened

• Everything that happens, happens for a reason

• God needed another angel in heaven, they’re in a better place

• I understand, I’ve been there, I know how you feel

  HOW TO HELP IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY……..

• Offer a listening ear, just listen

• Stay in touch, be there for them

• Pray with them, ask how you can help

• Do something by getting involved, hold a vigil, fund raise

• Offer spiritual & emotional support, or financial relief

• Provide encouraging bible passages/verses

• Go to God for wisdom in knowing the right words to say

• Find out what happened, and how to prevent it from happening again

  (For more Applications get the whole Book) 

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