In these verses, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah, instructing the people not to boast in their worldly achievements, such as wisdom, might, or riches. Instead, God reveals what truly deserves glory and boasting: understanding and knowing Him.
God emphasizes that wisdom, strength, and wealth should not be the sources of human pride and boasting. These things are transient and can easily fade away. They do not bring true satisfaction or lasting significance. Instead, God invites His people to boast in knowing and understanding Him.
The passage highlights three aspects of God's character that should captivate our attention and lead us to boast in Him: loving kindness, justice, and righteousness.
Firstly, God exercises loving kindness. This term encompasses God's steadfast love, mercy, and compassion toward His people. It reflects His tender care and faithfulness, showing that He is a God who loves and extends grace to those who seek Him.
Secondly, God exercises justice. He is the ultimate judge who upholds righteousness and fairness. God's justice ensures that every action has consequences and that those who do wrong will be held accountable. It demonstrates His commitment to righteousness and His concern for the oppressed and marginalized.
Lastly, God exercises righteousness. He is inherently righteous and delights in righteousness. Righteousness refers to conformity to God's moral and ethical standards. God's righteousness is a beacon of truth and purity, and He desires His people to walk in righteousness and align their lives with His ways.
Therefore, true boasting and glory come from understanding and knowing the character of God, who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness. It is through a deep and intimate relationship with Him that we find genuine wisdom, purpose, and fulfillment.
This passage challenges the human tendency to boast in worldly achievements and encourages a shift in perspective. It calls for humility, recognizing that true wisdom and understanding come from knowing God personally and experiencing His attributes firsthand.
In a world that often exalts human accomplishments, this passage reminds us to focus on what truly matters—the knowledge and understanding of God's character. It invites us to seek a relationship with Him, where we can experience His loving kindness, justice, and righteousness.
As we come to know God and understand His ways, we can find genuine satisfaction and fulfillment. We realize that true wisdom is not found in human accomplishments, but in the knowledge of the Almighty. This knowledge leads to a transformed perspective, values, and priorities.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 9:23-24 challenges human pride and invites us to boast in knowing and understanding God. It reminds us that true wisdom, meaning, and fulfillment are found in the intimate knowledge of His character. Rather than boasting in worldly achievements, we are called to boast in God's loving kindness, justice, and righteousness. By seeking a deeper relationship with Him, we can experience the true source of wisdom and understanding that surpasses all earthly achievements.
Jeremiah 9:23-24. Yahweh says, Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, don’t let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says Yahweh.