Is that You, God?
Is that You, God?
Jeremiah 2:4-13 (NRSV) 4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord:
What wrong did your ancestors find in me
that they went far from me,
and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves?
that they went far from me,
and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves?
6
They did not say, “Where is the Lord
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us in the wilderness,
in a land of deserts and pits,
in a land of drought and deep darkness,
in a land that no one passes through,
where no one lives?”
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us in the wilderness,
in a land of deserts and pits,
in a land of drought and deep darkness,
in a land that no one passes through,
where no one lives?”
7
I brought you into a plentiful land
to eat its fruits and its good things.
But when you entered you defiled my land,
and made my heritage an abomination.
to eat its fruits and its good things.
But when you entered you defiled my land,
and made my heritage an abomination.
8
The priests did not say, “Where is the Lord?”
Those who handle the law did not know me;
the rulers transgressed against me;
the prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after things that do not profit.
Those who handle the law did not know me;
the rulers transgressed against me;
the prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after things that do not profit.
9
Therefore once more I accuse you,
says the Lord,
and I accuse your children’s children.
says the Lord,
and I accuse your children’s children.
10
Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look,
send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has ever been such a thing.
send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has ever been such a thing.
11
Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for something that does not profit.
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for something that does not profit.
12
Be appalled, O heavens, at this,
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
says the Lord,
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
says the Lord,
13
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living water,
and dug out cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns
that can hold no water.
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living water,
and dug out cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns
that can hold no water.
Oh my goodness. Our first reading for Sunday is a disaster, was for Jerusalem, may be realized so for us. Many Christians believe the Bible means what it says, that it is not just quaint poetry, lyricism from the ancients, but the word of God for us today. A typical Episcopalian, my tendency is to take a historical critical view in reading the Bible and in my Bible seminars. From that view I may miss the very voice of God, especially in that history is cyclical. And not simply God's voice, but God's warning, because this passage seethes with divine anger. It may be a word for me individually, but in Jeremiah’s oracle God is speaking to the nation. How coincidental can it be, this oracle surfacing in a nation that seems to be donning its badge of world ruler, taking off its gloves and eagerly rolling up its sleeves for permanent war, while whining that it cannot afford and has no moral, ethical call to look after its own children.
Worthless, in a wilderness of deserts and pits, of droughts and deep darkness?
Is that you, God? Speak up, can't hear you.
TW+