May 12th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Steps Along Hope Street

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Dear God, Your life is my peace, Your love is my hope. I wait on a word from You today.

Read JEREMIAH 15:1-21

[1] Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! [2] And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “‘Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.’ [3] “I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” declares the LORD, “the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. [4] I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem. [5] “Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will stop to ask how you are? [6] You have rejected me,” declares the LORD. “You keep on backsliding. So I will lay hands on you and destroy you; I can no longer show compassion. [7] I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land. I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people, for they have not changed their ways. [8] I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. At midday I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of their young men; suddenly I will bring down on them anguish and terror. [9] The mother of seven will grow faint and breathe her last. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. I will put the survivors to the sword before their enemies,” declares the LORD. [10] Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends! I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me. [11] The LORD said, “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress. [12] “Can a man break iron- iron from the north-or bronze? [13] Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder, without charge, because of all your sins throughout your country. [14] I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for my anger will kindle a fire that will burn against you.” [15] You understand, O LORD; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering-do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. [16] When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. [17] I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. [18] Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails? [19] Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. [20] I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD. [21] “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it; always hidden, always leaving room to recognize or not to recognize him” (Frederick Buechner).

Think Further

In 14:11 the Lord told Jeremiah not to pray for Judah because he is not listening. Now Jeremiah is told that the greatest intercessors in history cannot save Judah. Manasseh, Josiah’s grandfather, was one of Judah’s worst kings. He repented, but the results of his sins followed him in his society. Look at all the verbs of God’s actions beginning with the words, “I will…” Usually God’s strong hand and outstretched arm are mighty to save, but not here (6). Consider how, to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, Jeremiah’s preaching about God’s judgment might actually have been good news—reminding them that it was the Lord who was at work in these catastrophes, not a stronger Marduk, god of Babylon. It seems from v. 9 that there will be no survivors, but later (e.g. 31:7) we see that a remnant will be saved. I reflect on my own society—how things happening now, legislation now being passed, may have shocking effects far downstream of today. I pray, and take what action I can.

The worst aspect of Jeremiah’s struggles with his vocation is that, although the Lord knows about this (15), he seems to do nothing. Lord! You are like a dry wadi, an unreliable spring! What use are they to a thirsty desert traveler! The Lord’s reply is bracing as well as comforting: four times in v. 19 the same verb is used: repent, restore, turn. I hold these verses up as a mirror for myself. I turn to the Lord with all my struggles, my issues and my questions. It is Jeremiah’s prophetic honesty which has brought his words down to us. He was the wall of bronze (20), not Babylon, the overwhelming iron from the north (12).

Apply

“Kindle a flame of sacred love / on the mean altar of my heart. / There let it for thy glory burn / with inextinguishable blaze.” Ponder the lyrics of this Charles Wesley (1707-88) hymn and apply them to yourself.

Closing prayer

Lord God Almighty, I marvel that You have chosen to use me. May my words and life give testimony to the difference You have made in my life.

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