Saturday 24 July 2010
- Bible Book:
- Jeremiah
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place." (v.3)
Background
God sends Jeremiah to the gate of the Temple in Jerusalem todeliver a controversial message: the people's confidence in theTemple is misplaced. It is not religious observance that Godrequires, but a living faith that expresses itself in heartfeltworship and social justice. God will not allow the Temple to becomethe refuge of robbers (compare Jesus' words in
Jeremiah's words about the Temple shocked the people. They thoughtit was inviolable. The Covenant, the kings, and the city ofJerusalem were all seen as guarantees of God's favour andprotection. They responded angrily to his message and threatenedhis life (see chapter 26).
Nevertheless, Jeremiah's words came true. In 587 BC the unthinkablehappened. Judah was invaded by the Babylonian empire. Jerusalemfell, the Temple was left in ruins, and the people were exiled.Everything they believed about God and about themselves as God'speople was called into question by these events. They could chooseto respond in one of several ways...
They could see it as an opportunity to reform their understandingof who God actually is and not who they had imagined or wished Godto be. They could decide against God and abandon their faith. Orthey could cling on to their old beliefs, even though they hadbecome untenable. Jeremiah wrestled with these questions as much asanyone and he chose to trust in God.
To Ponder
If Jeremiah were to come to your street orchurch, what might he have to say about your beliefs andbehaviour?
How have your life experiences challenged andchanged your understanding of who God is?