Monday, March 13, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
Jeremiah 7:1–15

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah, you that enter these gates to worship the Lord. 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. Do not trust in these deceptive words: “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.” For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt, then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever. Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, “We are safe!”—only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? You know, I too am watching, says the Lord. Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because you have done all these things, says the Lord, and when I spoke to you persistently, you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your ancestors, just what I did to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, just as I cast out all your kinsfolk, all the offspring of Ephraim. (NRSV)

Reflection

Oh my, when I opened this passage and read through it, I thought about the crazy world we live in today. How relevant to our current world could this be? I can imagine Jeremiah standing in front of certain groups of people, world events taking place, and giving this same talk.

The people came before the Lord and said, we here, we’re OK, as though he didn’t know the bad behavior and things that they had done. What did Jeremiah do? He calls them out. He says you better repent for your sins, reform your ways, and get over yourself. His words were rough; change your ways, or you are out of here! He offers them forgiveness. The Lord says if you amend your ways. If you change the way you treat one another. If you stop being mean to each other and believing every falsehood that comes your way, I will let you into my kingdom. If you don’t change your way, you are through. The choice is yours; that’s the message.

Prayer

Teach me, Lord, to act as your disciple, always. Amen.

Written by Chris Horsman, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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