Thursday 11 March 2021

Psalm 104:1-23

Background

Three accounts in the gospels of the cleansing of the Temple, record Jesus telling the people that “my house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers” (Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46, Matthew 21:13). The phrase ‘den of robbers’ is also used by Jeremiah in relation to the temple (v. 11) so Jesus may have had this passage in mind when he spoke.

Jesus was angry because of the immoral practices which were happening inside the Temple. Jeremiah is expressing concern that people behave badly outside the Temple and then come into the Temple to worship and assume that they are ‘safe’ (v. 10).

I have a coaster on my desk that shows a woman sitting in the front pew of a church with a grin on her face, saying to God “I’ve sinned again.” I like this coaster because it illustrates the mercy of God, which we were reflecting on yesterday. Each time we return to church, we offer our confession and receive forgiveness. However, that does not mean that we can do what we like during the week!

Jeremiah is standing at the gate of the Temple, watching people as they come in. This reminds me of the monk who used to stand at the gate of a monastery I used to visit regularly in Russia. He was checking that everyone was dressed appropriately and would refuse entry to any woman who was wearing trousers or had not covered her head. The sins we have committed during the week are not so visible, but Jeremiah’s message is that God can still see them.

To Ponder:

• What message do people receive at the entrance of your church?
• Where do you feel safe?

Prayer

Holy God, may our worship not be a means of escape, but a time to face the truth of who we are, and to open our lives and hearts to your transforming grace. Amen.