This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

In this beautiful piece of prose Jeremiah uses two sets of triplets. One sets out worldly or commercial values, and the other sets out godly or Kingdom values. The two triplets are in sharp contrast, representing two very different ways of life.

No-one knows when this statement was written as there are no clues in it showing the circumstances that prompted it. The difficulty in dating it is compounded by where it is placed in the Book of Jeremiah, because the words immediately preceding are “death has climbed in through our windows and has entered our fortresses…” This implies that the Babylonians had already conquered Jerusalem, indicating a late date, but two chapters later (chapter 11) returns to the discovery of the scroll of the law in Josiah’s time, which was right at the beginning of Jeremiah’s ministry.

Call to Re-evaluate

The statement itself is timeless and the importance of its message goes far beyond any time limitations. The Prophet is looking at the human attributes in which people boast – their wisdom, their physical strength and their material possessions. He then contrasts these with the supreme achievement of having an understanding and knowledge of God himself. That knowledge reveals that the nature of God is steadfast love, justice and righteousness. These three attributes are in direct contrast to those of humanity.

The purpose of this contrast is no less than to call for a re-evaluation of our lives. What is most important for us? What are the supreme qualities for which every human being should strive? Are they the acquisition of wisdom, physical strength or riches? Is this the whole purpose of life on earth?

Or is there more to life than these physical trinkets that give the appearance of success in human eyes? Jesus told a parable about a man who was proud of his riches: his barns were full, but that night he died, so what had he really achieved? Jeremiah argues that the only thing we should really seek in life is to have a knowledge of the nature and purposes of God.

The Prophet contrasts the human attributes in which people boast - their wisdom, physical strength and material possessions - with the supreme achievement of knowing God himself.

Personal Knowledge of God

In his letter to the exiles in Babylon, Jeremiah had stated boldly a promise from God: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord” (Jere 29:13). In the previous sentence he had quoted God making an epic promise to the exiles: “You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

This was a milestone in the spiritual development of the people of Israel, separated as they were from the Temple and its priesthood who were the official intercessors on behalf of the nation. God was saying to the exiles that they did not need the Temple or the priests; each of them could pray to him and he would listen and respond to them. This is where the faith of Judaism was born – in the homes of the people and in the meeting places (later known as synagogues) in their settlements scattered around Babylon. Judaism, as we know it today, was born not in Jerusalem but in Babylon, in times of hardship and distress. That is where the people of Israel found God to be with them.

Jeremiah knew this. He himself grew in understanding of the nature of God – his steadfast love, his justice and his righteousness – through his times of hardship, persecution and testing. He knew God was faithful and full of lovingkindness as well as being a God of righteousness, upholding the teaching he had given to his servant Moses. Jeremiah discovered that knowing God was the only thing worth having in the whole of his life on earth.

It was the only thing worth boasting about: it was the supreme achievement of life – to know God; to know his very nature and to understand his purposes in creation, especially in creating human beings in his own image to have intimate communication with him.

Jesus made a similar promise to his disciples. At the Last Supper, while taking his last meal on earth with those whom he loved, Jesus said: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” Then he made the most incredible statement: “Everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:9 and 15).

Jeremiah discovered that knowing God was the only thing worth having in life - the only thing worth boasting about.

Same Choice Today

Jeremiah’s objective in making this statement was to contrast the social values that lead to death with the social relationship that leads to life. His ministry was devoted to calling the nation away from paths that lead to death and steering people into the paths that lead to life. These were embodied in the new commandment that God revealed to him (Jer 31:31-34) that would be fulfilled in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Messiah Jesus.

Paul echoes this teaching when rebuking the Christians in Corinth who were boasting of their wisdom. He declared, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor 1:20).

The issues that Jeremiah faced among the people of Israel are basically the same as we face today. We are offered a choice between the roads that lead to death and that which leads to life. The values of the world – wisdom, strength and riches - lead to death. But the eternal values that are in the very nature of God – steadfast love, justice and righteousness - bring with them a knowledge of God that leads to life eternal. This is true both for individuals and for the whole community of human beings.

This article is part of a series on the life and ministry of the Prophet Jeremiah. Click here to read previous instalments.