Who Will Hear and Heed?
Recently I have been reading the book of Jeremiah from The Message - Conversations which has comments by Eugene Peterson on some of the scripture passages. As I read chapters 7-9 I wondered; Who will hear and heed this message? Are we like the faithless Israelites? Is this a message for our time or only for the ancient Israelites? If it applied only for that age why has it stood the test of time and available for our reading today?
Would God preserve this word only for historical reasons, or does it ring true for us today? If so, how are we called to respond? Read the following passages (in The Message, if possible); Jer. 7:3-12, 28; 8:4-7, 8-9, 10-12 ; 9:7-9,13-15.
What do you hear God saying to us in these verses?
Jeremiah's message in chapters 11 and 12 also made me think of our present day. For instance, chapter 11 verses 4-5 "Obey what I tell you. Do exactly what I command you. Your obedience will close the deal. You'll be mine and I'll be yours." And then verses 6-8 say "Preach all this in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Say, 'Listen to the terms of this covenant and carry them out!'"
Peterson goes on with his translation to talk about Promises and Pious Programs in verses 15-16.
Does this ring true for us today?
Eugene Peterson suggests that we look at Jer.12:5-6 and insert your name in place of Jeremiah's.
"So (Your Name), if you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm, what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in the flood?"
We live in hectic and stressful times. Where is our anchor in this storm of life? How do we keep our covenant with God when all about us is chaos? If we are not prepared spiritually we will be overcome by the flood of bad news, outbreaks of war and revolution, economic crisis, ever increasing gasoline prices, decreasing membership in the UMC, etc. By focusing on maintaining our relationship with Jesus through prayer, worship and scripture, and striving to keep the commandments to love God, neighbor and self we can remain firmly rooted in our faith and celebrate God's presence with us in spite of world events.
In his note on Jeremiah 12:5-6 Peterson writes: "What God told the prophet is essentially this "Life is difficult _(Sandy)_. Are you going to quit at the first wave of opposition? Are you going to live cautiously or courageously?"
Good questions! The choice is mine - and yours. Will we quit, or remain where we are - not moving, not growing, or will we continue to run the race to which God has called us? Will we live cautiously or courageously?
Who will hear and heed?
Recently I have been reading the book of Jeremiah from The Message - Conversations which has comments by Eugene Peterson on some of the scripture passages. As I read chapters 7-9 I wondered; Who will hear and heed this message? Are we like the faithless Israelites? Is this a message for our time or only for the ancient Israelites? If it applied only for that age why has it stood the test of time and available for our reading today?
Would God preserve this word only for historical reasons, or does it ring true for us today? If so, how are we called to respond? Read the following passages (in The Message, if possible); Jer. 7:3-12, 28; 8:4-7, 8-9, 10-12 ; 9:7-9,13-15.
What do you hear God saying to us in these verses?
Jeremiah's message in chapters 11 and 12 also made me think of our present day. For instance, chapter 11 verses 4-5 "Obey what I tell you. Do exactly what I command you. Your obedience will close the deal. You'll be mine and I'll be yours." And then verses 6-8 say "Preach all this in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Say, 'Listen to the terms of this covenant and carry them out!'"
Peterson goes on with his translation to talk about Promises and Pious Programs in verses 15-16.
Does this ring true for us today?
Eugene Peterson suggests that we look at Jer.12:5-6 and insert your name in place of Jeremiah's.
"So (Your Name), if you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm, what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in the flood?"
We live in hectic and stressful times. Where is our anchor in this storm of life? How do we keep our covenant with God when all about us is chaos? If we are not prepared spiritually we will be overcome by the flood of bad news, outbreaks of war and revolution, economic crisis, ever increasing gasoline prices, decreasing membership in the UMC, etc. By focusing on maintaining our relationship with Jesus through prayer, worship and scripture, and striving to keep the commandments to love God, neighbor and self we can remain firmly rooted in our faith and celebrate God's presence with us in spite of world events.
In his note on Jeremiah 12:5-6 Peterson writes: "What God told the prophet is essentially this "Life is difficult _(Sandy)_. Are you going to quit at the first wave of opposition? Are you going to live cautiously or courageously?"
Good questions! The choice is mine - and yours. Will we quit, or remain where we are - not moving, not growing, or will we continue to run the race to which God has called us? Will we live cautiously or courageously?
Who will hear and heed?
