Proper 21 / Pentecost 19 / Ordinary Time 26
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
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.
-- Jeremiah 32:14b
Prophets in the Bible were always contextual in the content of their proclamations. Early in Jeremiah's career, he pointed out with devastating accuracy the failure of Israel to fulfill their covenant with God. As with most of the prophets, the signs of their failure that he noted were frequently in the areas of justice and compassion for the most needy in the society.
Because Jeremiah believed that God was a God of justice, he believed that the nation would experience the judgment of God for their failure to care for the most vulnerable within their society. Because he also believed that God was sovereign over all nations, he, along with other prophets, often saw the movement of international politics as reflecting God's judgments. In this case, he saw the siege of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon as the judgment of God and prophesied that Jerusalem would fall. Then the nature of Jeremiah's prophecies changed from judgment to hope. Because he believed that the judgment of God was always for the sake of salvation; he did not believe that God would allow God's people to be utterly destroyed. As a sign of hope, he publicly purchased a plot of land and buried the deed in an earthenware jar.
God's judgment would be executed by the king of Babylon, but there would be a time in the future when God would restore his people to their home. It is the challenge of the church to discern when they need to proclaim the justice of God to the people and when they need to provide the word of hope that will lift them out of despair. God is both a God of justice and a God of mercy.
-- Jeremiah 32:14b
Prophets in the Bible were always contextual in the content of their proclamations. Early in Jeremiah's career, he pointed out with devastating accuracy the failure of Israel to fulfill their covenant with God. As with most of the prophets, the signs of their failure that he noted were frequently in the areas of justice and compassion for the most needy in the society.
Because Jeremiah believed that God was a God of justice, he believed that the nation would experience the judgment of God for their failure to care for the most vulnerable within their society. Because he also believed that God was sovereign over all nations, he, along with other prophets, often saw the movement of international politics as reflecting God's judgments. In this case, he saw the siege of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon as the judgment of God and prophesied that Jerusalem would fall. Then the nature of Jeremiah's prophecies changed from judgment to hope. Because he believed that the judgment of God was always for the sake of salvation; he did not believe that God would allow God's people to be utterly destroyed. As a sign of hope, he publicly purchased a plot of land and buried the deed in an earthenware jar.
God's judgment would be executed by the king of Babylon, but there would be a time in the future when God would restore his people to their home. It is the challenge of the church to discern when they need to proclaim the justice of God to the people and when they need to provide the word of hope that will lift them out of despair. God is both a God of justice and a God of mercy.
