Sundays After Pentecost, Year A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage: Jeremiah is feeling the burn

“O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult.” (Jeremiah 15:15)

I sought out some information about this passage, trying to understand what it conveyed about the life of the prophet – for it seemed to be a personal statement rather than a prophecy or warning about the past, present, or future. One would think that a prophet was sending his message outward to his listeners. But in this instance the words were sent upwards to Jeremiah’s Lord.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” (Verse 16)

Like many prophets, Jeremiah delighted to serve the Lord God and utter prophecies & complete tasks that illustrated the Lord’s message to the chosen people. But for Jeremiah, it was not the idyllic prophet’s life.

“I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.” (Verses 17 – 18)

It was a surprise to me that Jeremiah voiced his complaint to the Divine. Most of the time you think of prophets railing on the Lord God’s behalf to the sinning and unfaithful people. But here it is Jeremiah railing against the Lord God. What is interesting about it, and why it probably took me so long to realize it is Jeremiah shaking his fist at the Divine, is that the writer of Jeremiah has the Lord answering back – in the next verse.

“Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD.” (Verses 19 – 20)

My assumption was that Jeremiah’s God was talking about the people of God at the time. Closer inspection showed it was Jeremiah’s God talking to him. The verse “It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them” captured my eye & thoughts. It is the people who Jeremiah is to prophecy to – according to the Divine’s promise – who will turn to Jeremiah for direction and wisdom; not Jeremiah that will kowtow to the people’s wants, needs, and expectations. Nor be bowed under by their opinion. Very good words for a prophet to keep close in heart and spirit. I heard the same words sometime back from the Divine, that I should worry only about writing what the Divine has laid on my heart; and not be concerned about how it is received, how it is sent out, and who it is sent out to.

“I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.” (Verse 21)

We would all do well to set the Divine as our guiding inspiration, and allow all other things to settle as they may. Shalom & Selah!

Sundays After Pentecost, Year A, 2023 – Old Testament Passage – Seduced by the Divine; Jeremiah & Me

“O LORD, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.” (Jeremiah 20:7)

It is not hard to feel sorry for Jeremiah. I remember when I first felt the impulse to write about the intersection of faith/spirituality and every day living. I often thought, “Who am I to speak to this issue? What have I got to say that anyone would listen to?” Turns out, I did have things to say and people listened. Each stage of my faith journey, I found encouragement. But I also found enough critique that it kept me carefully watching and reviewing what I said/wrote. And that balance encouraged me to seek more formal learning, which eventually led to seminary. I must admit though, the critique hurt at times; and in most cases eventually resulted in my moving on to different settings.

“For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” (Verses 8 – 9)

Jeremiah and I differ slightly because my words and exhortations are not “violence and destruction”. They are not, and never have been, warnings and portents of doom. Gentle correction, and realigning one’s life to the Divine – yes. But never spoken on behalf of an angry God.

“For I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.” (Verse 10)

Yes, I do feel sorry for Jeremiah. He lived in a time when an angry and correcting God was the norm. The faithful had fallen away, and Jeremiah was charged with bringing them back, kicking and protesting. He spoke of a God who used true fear and recompense in order to discipline the children of the Lord – the ancient called and chosen people.

For the most part, the angry and correcting God motif has passed. We still have faithful who have fallen away; and quite honestly we have those who would like to have an angry and correcting God deal with those who they feel have fallen away. Because, you see, I feel at least, the more you scream about how God is going to punish one, the more you have to make sure that YOU are not also in line for punishment.

“But the LORD is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.” (Verse 11 – 12)

You hear this, beloved reader, Jeremiah expressing a desire to triumph over his persecutors and detractors? That is a faith stance I just cannot agree with.

“Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.”

We need to be careful, beloved readers. We need to take care what we say about others, and how we represent the Divine. Let it not be said of us that we were seduced by power and authority thinking that it came from the Divine. Let us measure our words and actions, and make sure what we say and do comes from pure love and compassion. The Divine seduces us with sacrificial love that was modeled by the gentlest and humblest Exemplar. Shalom & Selah!

Season After Pentecost / Ordinary Time, Yr C, 2022: Old Testament Passage – “Dueling Prophets”

“O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.” (Joel 2:23 – 25)

I could not decide between the two Old Testament passages, and as I looked and pondered both of them, it occurred to me that the two prophets are coming from their own perspectives and foretelling.

“Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name’s sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you. O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night? Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us!” (Jeremiah 14:7 – 9)

In the passage from Joel the Lord God is speaking words of comfort and restitution. That the hard times are over and that Yahweh is with his people again. In this passage from Jeremiah the people have seen that Yahweh is not with them and they understand the reasons why. It hurts them that the Lord God is so distant from them, and they are giving voice to their hurt through Jeremiah. And Jeremiah is answering as he feels the Divine would.

“Thus says the LORD concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.” (Jeremiah 14:10)

Joel, however, is sunny and bright. Full of hope and the abundance of the Divine.

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” (Joel 2:26 – 27)

Jeremiah, speaking for the people of Judah, is full of gloom and doom. Remember that it was his contention that the Lord God is punishing the people of Judah and had encouraged them to make the best of it where they are.

“Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.” (Jeremiah 14:19)

The question that comes to mind is, which writer came when? I do not mean in chronological order but in theological & religious presentation. Is Joel the good news after Jeremiah? Or is Jeremiah foretelling a time that is yet to come, when the favor of the Lord seems be taken away again? Or even more importantly, is Joel talking about a time far in the future that Judah or Israel (or both) did not see?

“Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.” (Joel 2:28 – 32)

As I think and ponder on this even more, I am reminded of the expression, “There is good news and there is bad news – which do you want first?” The story of the Israelites, Judahites, Hebrews, and Jews was a continuing good news/bad news unveiling. Christianity has that sort of motif in play also. I could explain my reasoning, but I think I will wait to see what comes in the other Lectionary passages this week.

Meanwhile, Jeremiah says,

“We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you. Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.” (Verses 20 – 22)

Often when we look to the prophets, we are trying to get a sense of who the Divine is and what the Divine wants from us. We hope that the prophets have the answers. Many times though, we are left with more questions. Questions lead to pondering though, and pondering leads to thinking; and thinking leads us to want to know more. You know where the answers are, beloved reader.

May you take in all that the scriptures hold – the inconsistencies, the debates, the controversies, and the conflicting stories. And may the Holy Presence lead you to greater understanding! Shalom & Selah!

Season After Pentecost / Ordinary Time, Yr C, 2022: Old Testament Passage – Living well and wisely

“These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.” (Jeremiah 29:1)

Jeremiah had said that Babylon would come into Jerusalem and virtually empty it out. And that no alliance with any other nation would prevent it. He counseled acceptance of the political eventuality, and was put under house arrest for it. And when what he prophesied came to pass, this was his further advice.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Verses 4 – 7)

I am reminded most vividly of the words of Preacher & Seeker a few days ago – well, that is the words of the psalmist that they highlighted in their conversation. And you know, Paul gave the same sort of advice to the faith communities that he wrote to. Not so much the giving and taking of spouses and offspring, but the living where you are and praying for those around you, and keeping the peace. Living well and wisely.

Why do Christians have so many problems doing that? We segregate ourselves from others, and do not involve ourselves in the “secular” community. Or we “get into their business” telling them they are wrong and “we” are right. Or we mingle their beliefs with our own, and make a muddy mess that does not reflect the path that Jesus called us to walk; and then we spread that mud so far that others outside of our faith traditions mistakenly assume that is “Christianity”. My spiritual and faith forebearers did a terrible job of it. And I will be the first to admit it. In fact it took me many years to see the errors in the faith I was raised in. At this point in my life, I hope better for the faith tradition I came from. It is hard to stomach when you see your faith tradition start out being oppressed for their faith beliefs, and then move into oppressing others with their faith beliefs. Okay, putting away the soap box now.

Your know, the people of Jerusalem were brought back to Jerusalem, cleaned it up, re-built the city wall, and then (sadly) went back to business as usual until the next political event – Rome. Then came Jesus. Thank God!

We talk about the family of God as if the Divine specifically picked out the brothers & sisters, mothers & fathers, aunts, uncles & cousins. The truth is, if the person is human, that person is within the family of God. We just need to remind them that the Divine considers them kin and loves them. Is that really so hard?

Shalom & Selah!

Season After Pentecost / Ordinary Time, Yr C, 2022: Old Testament Passage – Hope finds a way

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him.” (Jeremiah 32:1 – 3a)

Jeremiah so firmly believed that the fate of the Judahites lay in being captured by the Babylonians that he counseled peace and submission. King Zedekiah was actually kin to Jeremiah, and was the appointed leader of Judah by Babylonia. The king’s way was not peace and submission, and taking affront to Jeremiah’s complacency, he confined Jeremiah.

“Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, “Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.” (Verses 6 to 7)

In the midst of the enemy being at the gate, and King Zedekiah trying to hang on to his kingdom by conspiring with Egypt – Jeremiah is offered the option to buy some land that will, he says, soon come under position of the Babylonians.

“Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, “Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.” Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.” (Verses 8 – 9)

Jeremiah was now a money of property that would soon be overrun by invaders. What good would land do him then? His cousin Hanamel was now seventeen shekels of silver richer in a time when money might well buy some relief and leverage in a chaotic situation. Who do you suppose is actually showing greater faith in this situation for a positive outcome?

“I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time.” (verses 10 – 14)

It is a tendency of human nature to preserve things that one might want and need in the future. Now, if you set this beside Jesus’ admonition to store up riches in heaven, you have an interesting conundrum. Maybe. If one stores up good deeds, attitudes, and actions based on the belief that in Heaven such things will have value – then it also makes sense to provide one’s self with a place to live out one’s days to earn and store up treasures in Heaven. We have Jeremiah’s declaration of why he did this.

“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” (Verse 15)

It is a wonderful living metaphor for trusting in the Lord. But Jeremiah was not just completing a symbolic act. He was buying land for himself and envisioning a future where he would use the land. I’ve been hearing lately on the radio a song that professes that the Divine is still at work in the world. I truly believe that. That is the sort of post-New Testament testimony we expect. But here, back here in Jeremiah’s time (the prophet who was called to prophesy all sorts of doom) we declarations of hope. If Jeremiah can put concrete plans into place when the conqueror is at the door, surely I can summon up hope when I have a rough day! Shalom & Selah!

Season After Pentecost / Ordinary Time, Yr C, 2022: Old Testament Passage – Lamenting of the times

“My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.” (Jeremiah 8:18)

At first when I read this passage, I thought it was another tirade from the Divine via Jeremiah. And I was going to go with the Amos passage. (That one was also sorrowful.) But I re-read this passage and realized while somber, it was not condemning. And I am trying to cultivate a more positive outlook and stance.

“Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: “Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King not in her?” (“Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?”) “ (Verse 19)

This is a lament. While Jeremiah is taking position that his audience may not know why Yahweh is not with them, Jeremiah knows. The aside from Yahweh tells us one reason why. And you and I, beloved reader, know why.

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.” (Verses 20 – 21)

I spent much of late fall of 2016 to late fall of 2020 mourning and being in dismay. Each successive year I mourned more. And then, when I thought the end was in sight, dismay fell over much of the nation. And we have been struggling ever since.

“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?” (Verse 22)

Jeremiah asks a good question. The best answer is that the “balm in Gilead” is not one that all of humanity uses. Physicians are there, but the Great Physician is not called on often enough. And the health of the nation? The health of the global community? We, who should be the hands and feet of the Divine on earth, are not sufficient in number to heal in all of the places that need healing. We can lament; but that is not enough. We need to speak up, spreading the grace and compassion of the Divine.

“O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!” (Chapter 9, verse 1)

Jeremiah spoke up, and spoke to what he knew. I think I like his laments better than his tirades. I speak up. Sometimes I do not know if that is enough. I do not think my influence and words spread very far. Maybe Jeremiah felt the same way. But Jeremiah probably had no idea that his words would come down to us. And I really don’t know how far my words will go. It does not stop us, though, from continuing to speak.

May the Lord God hear your laments, beloved reader. May the Lord God hear the laments of this nation and the global community. May a balm be found. May physicians of every kind and every faith tradition be called upon. And may the Great Physician dry our tears and heal us! Shalom & Selah!

Season After Pentecost / Ordinary Time, Yr C, 2022: Old Testament Passage – Being a non-prophet but speaking the Divine’s Word

“Am I a God near by, says the LORD, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:23 – 24)

The God in the book of Jeremiah is angry. The Lord’s people have gone astray and the prophets who are supposed to have helped have, in some instances, caused the people to stray even further from the Divine. This accusation (or at the knowledge of it) is one of the reasons I have not said much about the visions and dreams I have had.

“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed!” How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back–those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal.” (Verses 25 – 27)

Paul, in his letters to the believers scattered about, took great care to instruct on how to handle dreams etc. Or at least that was my impression as a child growing up. And I carried it through adulthood, up to and past the point where I had the vision. As I look back on that time, it would not have made much difference if I had spoken of it. I doubt I would have been believed; and even so, the change was not just in my local church. It was a change that eventually encompassed society. And I did not want to be one of those who was remembered for a prophecy or prediction that simply became a footnote in history. If the Divine had told to share it, I would have. But if it was simply idle thoughts (no, beloved reader I do not really believe it was) what would have been the good in sharing?

“Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? “ (Verses 28 – 29)

Beloved reader, the consistency and unfailing nature of the Divine is quite enough to speak about. The love of the Lord that is to be spread throughout all of humanity is enough to testify to. The patience, grace, mercy, forgiveness and salvation of the Divine is enough to fill all of time. So why did I speak of this now? What reason is there to declare about what happened some 30 years ago? I do not know. But I know I have a peace about this now that had been a deep unrest. What will come of it? Again, beyond my knowledge. I just felt it was time to establish that the state of our society and world was already foreknown by the Divine. And that Lord God is still with us, supporting us, and caring for us. Shalom & Selah!

Sixth Sunday After Epiphany, Yr. C 2022: Old Testament Passage – Under the Wing of the Divine

“Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5)

I took the opportunity to sit with this verse for a while. It is not, as I first supposed, an admonition against military might and strength. While a collective of men may form a fighting unit, this passage does single out the unity, but instead directs the caution against trusting in human strength to win the day. Substituting the Ability of the Lord for the ability of man (or woman).

“They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.” (Verse 6)

It is not just human strength that is targeted, but putting trust and faith in anything that humanity does on its own, In the times of Jeremiah, it seems, any enterprise that is started with only human wit, will, and knowledge is doomed to fail if the Lord God is not involved.

“Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Verses 7 – 8)

No, not against military might at all. This is an individual admonition, aimed at individual believers. It goes against the idea of Israel/Judah as a nation turning away from the Lord, and instead focuses on each heart, soul, and spirit.

“The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse– who can understand it? I the LORD test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.” (Verses 9 – 10)

Look within yourself, beloved reader. Where is your trust put, and put into, on a daily basis. Believers in the Divine do not “just” the Lord God on the big things, but for the small things too. Day to day and interactions. The small details of our lives. Living under the Grace & Blessing of the Divine, we need to realize that nothing is too large or too small for the Lord God to care about. Our ability, strength, and reserves need not (and according to Jeremiah should not) rest only in our abilities. Shalom & Selah!

Sundays After Pentecost, Yr B, 2021: Old Testament Passage – What starts in sadness and hopelessness, ends in joy & rejoicing

“For thus says the LORD: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O LORD, your people, the remnant of Israel.” (Jeremiah 31:7)

I started off the day, when I wrote on this passage, quite glum. I thought I had lost (foreshadowing, beloved reader) something important to me – a watch that I wear for work. I had not realized, until I could not find it, how important it was to me, and how it helped me get through the day. I had thought I had been “careless” and had not kept track of it from the time I took it off Friday evening until I went looking for it Monday morning. I was bereft! However, at the end of the work day when I came home, I searched for it again. And this time I found it! “Sing aloud with gladness, and raise shouts; give praise and say O Lord you have saved this person!”

“See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.” (Verse 8)

I had thought I was going to need to replace it; and indeed had made plans during the day to replace it. But I also gave over to the Lord my sadness and concern. It was not misplaced, beloved reader! The watch I thought was lost was returned to me. And joy ripples through me!

“With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.” (Verse 9)

Jeremiah was speaking words of consolation and comfort to his listeners/readers. It was not a small or minor thing that they had lost, like a watch; nor something that could be easily restored to them, like ordering another watch. It was their livelihood and their home. Friends and family that were separated, and perhaps lost to this world. It was their hopes and dreams, and their security and peace of mind. Ripped away from them, and them ripped from their homes. Lost in an unfamiliar place, without a way to navigate through life. Everything they had ever depended on, gone!

Were the words of Jeremiah a solace? Did they believe it? Did they believe it (meaning restoration) would happen in their lifetime or that of their children? I suspect, beloved reader, their story did not have as happy an ending as my day. I know I am fortunate; and it really is a small thing – really. But if it allows me the opportunity to present a metaphor and analogy that we might for just a moment have a brief look into what they might have been feeling, then let my small loss be magnified to cover generations. And my joy be magnified so that we might understand how much solace comes to us from the Divine! Shalom & Selah!

Sundays After Pentecost, Yr B, 2021: Old Testament Passage – Holding out for the better way

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:1)

In the other Old Testament passage, King David is resting on his laurels at the moment & thinking about building a house for Yahweh. But eventually Yahweh tells him to just get on with the business of being a king and leave the temple/tabernacle building to the next generation. So, I am leaving King David to that pursuit, and instead am looking at the other Old Testament passage.

The prophet Jeremiah lived several generations down from King David, when kingship was no longer about wisely governing but was indulgences and turning the nation’s face from proper worship. Prophets, both major & minor, had been calling the kings and the nation back to the Lord God. It reminds me somewhat of our nation today; those in control may or may not be guiding the country to be under God and follow authentic (read/understand that to means following Christ’s example of love, compassion, and unconditional acceptance) Christianity. But throughout the nation (any nation, beloved reader) there are scores of people not in control of the nation but living their individual lives as Christ would have them live. So, you have to wonder, who are the shepherds, who are the sheep, and what does the destroying and scattering mean – then and now?

“Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.” (Verse 2)

Do you feel “scattered” beloved reader? Back in the Old Testament, the leaders of and in the nation had the responsibility of leading the people in worship, and setting the parameters and lifestyle that would promote faithful worship. However in the New Testament such responsibilities were taken from leaders and given to each individual. Faith and religion became personal, and access to the Divine was given to everyone through Jesus Christ. The policies of faith and worship had been like that back early in the New Testament; but institutions and structures had taken that out of the hands of the common people and placed it in corporate hands. Jesus wrested it back, but under our generations of ministers, preachers, reverends, etc it has drifted back to them. We still have access to the Divine. So while leaders might be guilty of the above crime, if we have left the fold of Jesus the Messiah and the Lord God then we are just as guilty.

“Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.” (Verses 3 – 4)

Now this is where it gets confusing – the Lord God has both driven out the flock and will bring them back? But think, beloved reader, if the leaders are responsible for both leading the nation in faithful worship, and leading them astray – it makes sense that Yahweh would be given the same control. We can see and understand that Israel’s and Judah’s relationship might have had a large part in these nations being invaded. However, if we said that the leadership of the United States, England, Ireland, Scotland,China, Japan, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia, Philippines, etc (you get the picture – that I am listing all the nations of the world, & excuse if I missed some) has lead their people away from the Divine and so the culpability lies there – we would be completely negating free choice and free will to sin as humanity wants. But we are also ignoring those who have chosen for themselves to live not under political/national mandates but under the Lord’s Kingship. Jesus the Christ was such major break away from the past that we need to acknowledge both the freedom and obligation to chose and live out our faith life.

“The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” (Verses 5 – 6)

Now, briefly back to the other Old Testament passage – the writer of II Samuel says,

“And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.” (Verses 10 – 14a)

You may say, that means Solomon. And maybe it does. But as I said, the prophet Jeremiah came after King David and his direct offspring. If this was just about King Solomon, fine. It was earthly kingship that fell apart as all earthly kingship does. But suppose, just suppose, we take the words of Samuel as prophesy for Jesus the Messiah. And why not? Others have appropriated scripture for prophecy concerning Jesus. We are not obligated to follow the ways of those who are human and who will fail. We can and must chose our own way, and to chose people as examples who have also chosen to follow the Divine. It is the better way.

Do not allow yourself to be destroyed and scattered. And so not destroy and scatter others. Seek to be gathered under the Lord God. And lead others there as well. Shalom & Selah!