Jeremiah and the Judeans - October 9
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 137:1-6(7-9), 144; Jer. 35:1-19; 1 Cor. 12:27-13:3; Matt. 9:35-10:4
While walking to school with the kids yesterday, my kindergartener was stepping on leaves in our path. He noted that he was hoping the leaves would crunch when he put his foot on them. When I asked the reason why they were not making a noise, he said, “Maybe they don’t have enough sunshine on them.”
“Hm. That is an interesting hypothesis!” I answered. He pondered and said, “What is a hypothesis?” We talked about the guesses we make when we have a question that we seek to answer. Robinson moved on to the next topic, naming the teachers in his school whose names he could remember. As I was looking at the assigned Holy Scripture readings for today, the topic of hypotheses - of finding a quizzical situation and searching for the explanations - came up for me again.
On Friday, we read of the exile of Judeans to Babylon – the fall of Judah – in 2 Kings. It is a sad tale of the reign of the last two Judean kings, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin. Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah. Jehoiachin was the son of Jehoiakim. The verses distill the details into concise descriptors stating the age when one’s reign began and the length of reign, the name of his mother and her father, and a version of this phrase: “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, just as all his ancestors had done.” Then, loss follows in each case, instigated by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Jerusalem is attacked. Treasures are taken from the temple. And then we read in 2 Kings 24:14, “He carried away all Jerusalem, all the officials, all the warriors, ten thousand captives, all the artisans and the smiths; no one remained, except the poorest people of the land.” Jerusalem, the city of promise, is sacked.
The Old Testament reading appointed for today was Jeremiah. I felt curious. Why did we jump from 2 Kings all the way to Jeremiah? I began formulating hypotheses. I wondered, did those assembling the readings for the Daily Office know what they were doing? 1 Chronicles follows 2 Kings. Why not continue there? Jeremiah – one of the major prophets – is five hundred pages later. I flipped this way and that in my Bible. Then, I stopped thumbing through notes and started reading the text appointed for today. This is what I found: “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah…”
It made sense. The story of Judah’s last kings was not over. Such a pivotal time is covered in multiple places, through various viewpoints in the Bible. The lens of Jeremiah in chapter 35 contrasts the disobedience of the Judeans against the upright faith of the Rechabites. This prophet escorts us in a deeper dive into the dynamics of the people of God. Jeremiah slows us down and takes us back in time a little, introducing us to the Rechabites who hold fast to their values instilled by their ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab. When Jehoiakim is king of Judah – before the attacks by Babylon – Jeremiah is told by God to invite this group to the house of the Lord and offer them wine in hospitality. The Rechabites refuse to drink the wine, quoting Jonadab, “You shall never drink wine, neither you nor your children…” (Jer. 35:6). They follow their progenitor’s commands implicitly.
Jeremiah relays the word of Yahweh to the people of Judah, “I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying ‘Turn now every one of you from your evil way and amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall live in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors.’ But you did not incline your ear or obey me.” (v. 15) The Judeans do not answer or heed. God promises that disaster will come to them.
It is another disheartening story of God’s people being headstrong and stiff-necked. These lessons continue to be told as a two-fold reminder: to be attentive to the presence of God; and, to go gently on one another when failures happen. While God seeks our faithfulness, our wandering minds and hearts are not a surprise to God. God knows us. God keeps calling us. I love that this reading from Jeremiah is paired with an excerpt from 1 Corinthians. The apostle Paul calls us to cling to love in the midst of all that we do. Without love we are nothing. Our words are empty noisemakers without love. Our powers of prophesy and understanding are empty without love. Even our physical selves and our possessions are meaningless without love.
Stay tethered to God’s abiding love, my friends.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
Have you tried to read the entire Bible front to back? How did that go? What helped you stay on track? What held you back?
Who is someone you admire for their staunch values? Who looks up to you in this way?
Daily Challenge
Today is a day of Sabbath. Follow God's guidance and rest. Enjoy the treasures around you.