Sunday, March 23, 2014 Todays Reading: Jeremiah 29:1-14 These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah, and the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It said: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord. For thus says the Lord: Only when Babylons seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (NRSV) Reflection Jeremiah gives the exiles from Jerusalem a message from God with hope and instructions. God tells the people living in Babylon to put down roots, promote and pray for the welfare of the city where God has sent them after destroying Jerusalem. Although the people are exiled, through Jeremiah God gives them specific instructions on how to survive, thrive, and live in a time of uncertainty and transition. They are reassured that if they call God and pray to him, he will listen. I get the message that I must listen to, obey, and trust God with my whole life. If I trust in Gods message to me, I will be saved from the distress of lifes toils and snares. Just like the people in this story, I will be provided with hope if I seek it. When I search for God with my whole heart, God promises to be present and to bring me home. I really like clarity and simplicity. This story gives me a clear recipe for a new life according to Gods plan and a feeling of home no matter what my circumstances are. It creates a bridge between destruction and exile and the God of love and forgiveness we find in Jesus Christ. I can connect in prayer and searching to the God who sent his Son, Jesus, to become human and to be broken. The hopeful message is that the recipe doesnt end there--Jesus came to redeem us and save us from our sin by dying and being raised from the dead on Easter. Prayer God, I am grateful for your saving grace shown through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus. As I take this Lenten journey, help me to search for you eagerly with my whole heart. Amen. Written by Robin Moncrieff, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:19:10 +0000
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