Thursday 28 February 2008

Background

This passage refers to the southern kingdom of Judah before itsfall in the 580s BC when the people were carried away into exile.The northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen in the 720s BC.(The original kingdom of Israel had been divided in two many yearsbefore.)

The passage is about choices made previously by the people of Godor by their leaders and representatives.

The prophet Jeremiah reminds the people of God's goodness and careto them in bringing them out of slavery in Egypt, leading themthrough the inhospitable terrain of the wilderness and bringingthem into a 'plentiful land'.

He then complains of the ingratitude and unfaithfulness with whichthey have responded to this kindness - they have turned their backon their god and looked towards other gods and to alliances withother nations.

Jeremiah uses a striking image to express this situation. Allpeople need water. There are springs of healthy, clean, flowingwater. There are also tanks, perhaps cut out of the rock, intendedto catch and hold scarce rain-water. The water in such a tank mightbecome stagnant and, if the tank is not well made, the water willleak away.

The prophet says that the people have, incomprehensibly, chosen theleaky tank instead of the healthy spring.

To Ponder

What choices are there for you between thingsthat make for your well-being and things which will do you nogood?

Are the places that you look to for innerresources things that used to be helpful and have now dried up?Would it now be better to look in new places? What new places mightbe available to you?