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Links for today’s readings:

Sep 17  Read: Jeremiah 43 Listen: (2:34) Read: 2 Corinthians 3 Listen: (2:25)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 43.1-7

1 When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the Lord their God—everything the Lord had sent him to tell them—2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’ 3 But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon.” 
4 So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed the Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah. 5 Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered. 6 They also led away all those whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan—the men, the women, the children and the king’s daughters. And they took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah along with them. 7 So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes. 

Reflection: We’re Going to Egypt!

By John Tillman

Jeremiah and his scribe, Baruch, were taken against their will into the exact situation they advised against and knew was going to be a disaster.

Many leaders had come to Jeremiah (or other prophets) asking for a word from the Lord about their situation. Many disobeyed God’s instructions for those situations and many persecuted or killed the prophets who spoke for God.

In some ways, Johanan is similar to those previous leaders, but in one way, Johanan is unique. Few other leaders swore so boldly that they would follow what the prophet said (Jer 42.1), and then so quickly did exactly the opposite (Jer 43.1-2). Jeremiah said, “Don’t go to Egypt.” (Jer 42.19) Johanan immediately said, “We’re going to Egypt and we’re taking you with us!” (Jer 43.2-7)

Johanan didn’t get the answer he wanted to hear and concluded that Jeremiah was compromised by political motives. The truth was that Johanan wanted God to bless his decisions instead of submitting his decisions to God.

Have you answered someone’s question about a topic you are an expert on and then watched them do the exact opposite? And then, you had to suffer along with them the consequences of their foolish decision? I have. We all probably have. You might have experienced this as a parent, a teacher, a friend, an employee, an advisor, a therapist, or even as a voter.

Johanan is not the only one to ever swear to do something and fail to do it because of fear. Peter is a New Testament example. Despite his oath to never fall away (Matt 26.33-35), Peter folded under the pressure of his fears and fled the servant girl’s questions, weeping (Matt 26.69-75).

Jeremiah and Baruch are faithful and follow their principles, no matter the consequences. We’d all do well to follow their example. However, we must also consider when we might be in Johanan’s or Peter’s positions rather than Jeremiah’s.

Like Johanan, we are likely to be tempted to reject facts, teachings, or advice that we are inclined to disagree with. Like Peter, we are very likely to find our commitments difficult to keep.

Perhaps great oaths are not a sign of great faith but of great fear. A greater sign of faith might not be pledging that we are brave, but confessing that we are afraid. Great faith doesn’t require great oaths. Jesus tells us to simply let our “Yes” be “Yes.” (Matt 5.37)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

My eyes are upon the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me… — Psalm 101.6

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Read more: Only Through Christ :: Worldwide Prayer

If we have confidence in our own competence, we are destined to accomplish only what is possible by human effort.

Only Through Christ :: Worldwide Prayer

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 16  Read: Jeremiah 42 Listen: (3:44) Read: 2 Corinthians 2 Listen: (2:13)

Reflection: Let Go and Let God?

By Erin Newton

One thing that has worked well in my marriage (and I would assume that nearly all relationships would benefit positively) is that when one spouse complains, the other pauses before giving any advice and asks, “Do you need to vent or do you need advice?” Usually for me, I only want to vent. I know what to do, but I need to get all my feelings out there.

There are times when I genuinely have no idea what to do. Do I take this teaching position when I already feel too busy? Do I write a letter to a former church explaining the pain they caused? Do I stay? Do I go?

Our lives are filled with a multitude of decisions, and decision fatigue is a real thing. Sometimes we are simply out of our depth or out of energy. We need advice. I’m grateful for the pastors, mentors, friends, and family that have often been a solid source of guidance.

In chapter 42, Johanan comes to Jeremiah asking for advice. He even vows to take the advice no matter what. That is a strong commitment.

Ten days pass before Jeremiah returns with the words of God for Johanan. I really like this slow approach. It’s not Jeremiah’s opinion given at a drop of a hat. It’s advice that’s been sought after and slowly gathered. Jeremiah is the “God-expert” so to speak. His role as a prophet meant he was the right person to ask advice from. Johanan made a good choice there.

Asking for advice is a humbling experience. One has to let go of control and pride, admit a deficiency in experience or ability, and then hold oneself to the guidance of another. Sometimes our pursuit of wisdom stops there. But what does Johanan promise next? He commits to taking the advice.

Johanan realizes in his vulnerable request that he has relinquished control of the situation and he cannot guarantee the outcome of God’s advice. That can be a scary place.

Sometimes we ask for advice and hope for a particular outcome. We feign commitment by promising to listen and take heed of whatever response is given.

But we will see in the next chapter that asking for advice is one step. Committing to follow is another step. But following through will be the ultimate litmus test of one’s faith.

Are you willing to seek advice? Now are you willing to take it?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Let us make a vow to the Lord and keep it; let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared. — Psalm 76.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Read more: The “Ideal” of the New Testament Church

Rather than one “ideal,” when we look at what the different churches actually did, we see many variations. 

The “Ideal” of the New Testament Church

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 15  Read: Jeremiah 41 Listen: (3:36) Read: 2 Corinthians 1 Listen: (3:52)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 41.4-15

4 The day after Gedaliah’s assassination, before anyone knew about it, 5 eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the Lord. 6 Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he met them, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” 7 When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern. 8 But ten of them said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us! We have wheat and barley, olive oil and honey, hidden in a field.” So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others. 9 Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead. 
10 Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah—the king’s daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites. 
11 When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed, 12 they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon. 13 When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers who were with him, they were glad. 14 All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites.

Reflection: Sin Disguised as Virtue

By John Tillman

Johanan warned Gedaliah about Ishmael’s plot, but he didn’t listen (Jer 40.13-14). Jeremiah warned Johanan not to go to Egypt, but he didn’t listen (Jer 42.19).

Whether out of principle or naivete, Gedaliah spared Ishmael’s life when Johanan accused him of an assassination plot. But Johanan was right. Ishmael and his men assassinated Gedaliah in a scene much like Absalom’s assassination of Amnon (2 Sam 13.28-29).

Could Ishmael (and Absalom) have had good motives but misguided tactics? Some might think Absalom sought justice and Ishmael was a patriot. Ishmael was a descendant of David and may have viewed Gedaliah as a Babylonian puppet, a tool of “the oppressors.” Ishmael could have claimed that he was called to restore the throne and kingdom and preserve God’s promises to his ancestor, David. However, Ishmael proved to be just as wicked a traitor as Absalom.

Before anyone knew what Ishmael had done, worshipers approached Jerusalem, repentant, weeping, and calling out to God. Ishmael deceived them by weeping as they did, then had his men slaughter them, filling a cistern with their bodies. He stole their gifts for worship and only stopped killing them when some survivors promised him more goods. 

Ishmael thought only of enriching himself. Instead of freeing anyone, he took them as captives to a different foreign power, the Ammonites. Johanan set out to free the captives and succeeded, but Ishmael escaped. Then Johanan ignored God’s direction and led the people into another disaster.

These messy, confusing, and complex stories from scripture prepare us for the world we live in. So-called “patriots” will commit atrocities. So-called “justice advocates” will reject God’s commands. Self-appointed “heroes” will commit acts of villainy. Sin looks for the best things to corrupt.

Since the garden, sin has crouched at our doors, seeking to devour us (Gen 4.7). Sin seeks to twist good things into evil things. Sex, food, and money are easy examples of good gifts that cause great damage outside of God’s purposes. But there is nothing good that sin cannot and will not twist. Sin’s claws, such as greed, violence, and jealousy, are often disguised as noble things, such as patriotism, justice, or loyalty.

Remember, the worst of villains are those who think they are the hero. We must be ready and willing to confront them, as Jeremiah did, but we must also guard ourselves from becoming them. Watch out for sin disguised as virtue.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous; I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. — Psalm 7.18

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Read more: The House God Desires

Christ, the true son of David, is building the house that God desires—with rooms for all his children…

The House God Desires

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 14  Read: Jeremiah 40 Listen: (3:50) Read: 1 Corinthians 16 Listen: (2:54)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 40.7-12

7 When all the army officers and their men who were still in the open country heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon, 8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. 9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians, ” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. 10 I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over.” 
11 When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as governor over them, 12 they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the countries where they had been scattered. And they harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit.

Reflection: What’s The Point of Faithfulness?

By John Tillman

When Jerusalem fell, Jeremiah was offered a choice. He could stay or go.

A Babylonian commander pulled Jeremiah from a line of captives and struck off his chains. Jeremiah could choose to live with him in Babylon or stay with the Babylonian-appointed governor.

Which would you choose? Exile from the land or oppression within it?

Scripture is not clear about which choice was wrong or right. Jeremiah chose the harder, and perhaps wiser, thing. One contributing factor was probably that Jeremiah had little reason to trust the commander, but he knew the governor.

Gedaliah was the grandson of a faithful official, Shaphan, who helped with Josiah’s revival. One of Shaphan’s sons carried Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles (Jer 29.3) and another, Gedaliah’s father, protected Jeremiah from execution for his prophetic warnings (Jer 26.24).

Gedaliah took his job seriously and faithfully. He cared for the people and helped them prosper. For a short time, they had good harvests of wine, fruit, and oil but danger bloomed in the wilderness.

Gedaliah was warned about an anti-Babylonian assassination plot against him. He didn’t believe the warning and refused to preemptively kill the accused rebels. The men whose lives Gedaliah spared killed him. This brought a brief post-exile bright spot to an end and plunged the region into more death and destruction.

When nations crumble, collapse, or are conquered, there’s a lot of collateral damage and not very many good choices for those caught in the consequences. Even though Gedaliah and Jeremiah chose (I think) wisely and bravely, things ended badly.

What is the point of being faithful in times such as these? When caught between a violent government and violent rebels, where can we turn? When the foundations are shaken, what can the righteous do? (Ps 11.3)

To compare our lives to Jeremiah and Gedaliah would be a drastic exaggeration. However, there are always pressures and threats that force difficult decisions and choices. Being faithful will always come at a cost and the return on that investment is often not obvious.

The point of faithfulness is not winning battles or blessings. Faithfulness is an end, not a means to an end. Christian faithfulness means conforming to the image of Jesus, including his sufferings, death, and resurrection (Rom 8.17; Phil 3.10; 1 Pet 4.13). Faithfulness is transformational, not transactional.

Remember—hard choices are easier when your goal is faithfulness, not victory or blessings. Because even if we lose now, ultimately all Christ’s blessings and victories are already ours (Rom 8.35-37; 1 Cor 15.57-58; 1 John 5.4-5; Isa 54.17).

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Sing to the Lord and bless his Name; proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations and his wonders among all peoples.
— Psalm 96.2-3

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Links for today’s readings:

Sep 11  Read: Jeremiah 37 Listen: (3:25) Read: 1 Corinthians 13 Listen: (2:33)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Sep 12  Read: Jeremiah 38 Listen: (5:18) Read: 1 Corinthians 14 Listen: (5:40)
Sep 13  Read: Jeremiah 39 Listen: (3:11) Read: 1 Corinthians 15 Listen: (8:06)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 37.15-21

15 They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison. 16 Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time. 17 Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there any word from the Lord?” “Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.” 18 Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What crime have I committed against you or your attendants or this people, that you have put me in prison? 19 Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, ‘The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land’? 20 But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there.” 21 King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Reflection: True Faith Shows True Colors

By John Tillman

Jeremiah’s relationship with King Zedekiah is complex.

In private conversations, Zedekiah seemed to believe that Jeremiah spoke for God (Jer 38.14-16, 19, 24-26; 37.3, 17). In public, however, Zedekiah’s actions were contradictory. He disobeyed God’s instructions and followed political pressures instead. Zedekiah was also inconsistent (at best) in protecting Jeremiah from political persecution, violence, and imprisonment.

After being beaten and detained, Jeremiah asked Zedekiah where were the prophets who prophesied that Babylon would not attack Jerusalem. Babylon had attacked and taken many captives. Why was Jeremiah punished for telling the truth while prophets who lied to the king walked free, continuing to make politically comfortable “prophecies?”

In the very next chapter, the king’s son, Malkijah, threatened Jeremiah’s life. Instead of intervening, Zedekiah said, “The king can do nothing to oppose you.” (Jer 38.5) Malkijah’s allies put Jeremiah into an empty cistern, expecting him to sink into the mud and drown or starve. Only later, when Ebed-Melek, a palace official from Cush, appealed to the king, did Zedekiah send this African man to save Jeremiah’s life from the cistern.

Will the real Zedekiah please stand up? Will he stand up for the truth? For freedom for Jeremiah? For obeying God? For anything?

In the end, Zedekiah’s actions of foolish rebellion and cowardice showed the true colors of his faith (Jer 39.4-7). In Chronicles, scripture tells us that Zedekiah “did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet.” (2 Chron 36.12) In private, Zedekiah listened. But in public, he would not humble himself to obey.

It is not just kings who act one way in private but their actions contradict their promises. We may never have a private audience with a king, but we may experience this with a boss, religious leader, co-worker, or friend. But the primary place we must watch for this is in ourselves.

And what if we are leaders or “kings” in our circle of influence? Take care to avoid Zedekiah’s errors. Not every critique is from the Lord, but we mustn’t listen and nod to critics and then ignore everything. We must wisely evaluate critiques to discern and correct our errors (Matt 7.3-5).

Whether in leaders, friends, or ourselves, private piety that does not affect public practice is questionable at best. “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (Jam 2.14-26) True faith will show its true colors. Let trees be judged by their fruit (Luke 6.43-45).

Prayers for the 25th annual remembrance of September 11th: 

The Park Forum has never explicitly addressed September 11th in our writing. That might seem strange for a ministry founded in 2006 in New York City. On this 25th year of remembrance, my first instinct is to keep our heads down in the scriptures rather than look back to the past. However, if I cannot keep my mind from turning there, how can any of us? Especially those of our readers who were deeply affected.

So much has been said about September 11th that I won’t try to say anything new. Instead, I will share prayers that I think of often in relation to September 11th. These prayers do not come from the scripture or from a prayer book. They come from rock and roll elder statesman and New York neighbor, Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen is no theologian, and his beliefs are murky and confusing to me. It is hard to tell if his frequent scriptural references indicate faith or are merely poetic language bubbling up from the Catholic imagination gifted by his upbringing. But poets see deeply and often see truly, even if they don’t see fully. So, just as Paul quoted Epimenides at the Areopagus (Acts 17.28), today, we will pray Springsteen’s prayers. (Divine Hours prayers will return Monday)

One prayer takes inspiration from, and honors the sacrifice of, those who rushed toward danger, up the stairs, and into fire to save those who could be saved, laying down their lives for others (John 15.13). The second voices the prayers of those who, left in the wreckage of tragedy, prayed for the strength, faith, and love to rise from the ruins. May these prayers aid us in this time of remembering.

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Read more: Love Great or Terrible

The difference in love being great or terrible is usually the character of the lover. Let us love in a way that shows the character of Jesus.

Love Great or Terrible