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Links for today’s readings:

Sep 10  Read: Jeremiah 36 Listen: (5:54) Read: 1 Corinthians 12 Listen: (4:25)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 36.16-26

16 When they heard all these words, they looked at each other in fear and said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king.” 17 Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us, how did you come to write all this? Did Jeremiah dictate it?” 
18 “Yes,” Baruch replied, “he dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.” 
19 Then the officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah, go and hide. Don’t let anyone know where you are.” 
20 After they put the scroll in the room of Elishama the secretary, they went to the king in the courtyard and reported everything to him. 21 The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of Elishama the secretary and read it to the king and all the officials standing beside him. 22 It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. 23 Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. 24 The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. 25 Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26 Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the Lord had hidden them. 

Reflection: Unsung Biblical Heroes

By John Tillman

Baruch’s scroll with Jeremiah’s message was immediately recognized as a word from God and read to Jehoiakim, the king.

Jehoiakim burned the scroll as it was read. Three scribes and officials warned Jehoiakim not to disrespect God by burning the scroll, but the disrespect didn’t end there. The king ordered Baruch and Jeremiah to be arrested.

Scripture is a divine-human partnership to produce and present God’s word to the world. It is one-hundred percent inspired by the Holy Spirit and one-hundred percent written by humans. Disrespecting or misusing scripture is a serious offense against God.

Jeremiah 36 provides valuable insight into how parts of scripture were written. We see the role of scribes, the respect that was expected for prophetic writing from the Lord, the dangers those who produced and preserved these writings faced, and how writings like this were gathered, copied, and arranged in order to continue and preserve the message.

The scroll we know as the book of Jeremiah is complex and compiled from many different writings like the ones we read about in Jeremiah 36. Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch, or other scribes like him, collected and arranged these writings into their final form.

Reading about Baruch and some of the other scribes, priests, and officials in this chapter helps us put a face and name to the many nameless, behind-the-scenes heroes who made the Bible. These courageous scribes, scholars, historians, and literary experts collected, protected, and preserved stories, sermons, letters, records, and prophetic words. That duty often put them at odds with the political powers of the day and caused their lives to be under threat of arrest, persecution, and death.

The officials who first heard Baruch read the scroll immediately recognized its source as from God and its value as important. Do you recognize the Bible for what it is? Are you treating it as something of immense value? Are you reading it and listening to it read?

Many who heard the scroll immediately sought to share it with others. Are you sharing God’s word with others? Telling them what you learn? Inviting them to read with you?

From the time it was written right up to today, many people have suffered danger, torment, and death for you to be able to read the Bible. It is easier than ever for us to do so. Recommit yourself to reading, studying, and sharing the Bible with others.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

His mother and his brothers came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.” But he said in answer, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” — Luke 8.19-21

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

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Read The Bible With Us

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Links for today’s readings:

Sep 9  Read: Jeremiah 35 Listen: (3:43) Read: 1 Corinthians 11 Listen: (4:20)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 35:16

16 The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.

Reflection: Loopholes or Loyalty?

By Erin Newton

I wouldn’t say that I did everything my parents told me to do. But my mom, when she was on hospice, asked for a few things—cremation vs. burial, no headstone, and not to post sad tributes each year online. I’ve kept my promise. But, honestly, she wasn’t around to make sure we obeyed. We did it because of our respect and love for her.

In Jeremiah 35 we see another case of descendants honoring the wishes and commands of one of their elders. I imagine these descendants are generations removed from the original command. But their desire to be loyal and faithful was so steadfast that they kept the promise even when things might have been easier if they hadn’t.

The prophet uses them as an example of faithfulness. The analogy is that if these descendants chose to obey a human ancestor year after year, then why would God‘s people not do the same in obeying him? The command given to these ancestors caused them to be vulnerable—without permanent housing or food sources. The easy road would have been to find a loophole or justify giving up the commandment. 

I wish my mom had a grave marker that I could visit when I was feeling sad. I sometimes wish I could post on the anniversary of her death so that my friends would give me a little extra attention when I reminded them. But I don’t, because my desire to honor her is greater than my own desire for comfort. 

I am amazed at the faithfulness of the Rekabites. 

How do we integrate this example into our lives in the twenty-first century?

We daily face decisions where the easier option is high-handed disobedience or feigned ignorance to what God has commanded. He told us to take care of those who are less fortunate or voiceless or abused or forgotten. But we often look at the world and assume it is somebody else’s problem or that the mediocre care given by a few is sufficient to fulfill the command by God for the rest of us.

Jesus asked us to avoid excessive wealth and hoarding of goods and the storing up of treasures on this earth. But we call it being smart and prudent to leave an inheritance for our children at the cost of helping others in need today. 

One day all that is hidden will be revealed—even our faithfulness.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling;

That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. — Psalm 43.3-4

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

Readers’ Choice is Coming!

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Read more: Chastened Towards Freedom 

We are not taught perfectionism in Paul, but rather confession and submission to the Holy Spirit…

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 8  Read: Jeremiah 34 Listen: (4:15) Read: 1 Corinthians 10 Listen: (4:04)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 34.12-17

12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I said, 14 ‘Every seventh year each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you six years, you must let them go free.’  Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay attention to me. 15 Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people. You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name. 16 But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again. 17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Reflection: Ctrl-Z and Ctrl-Y

By John Tillman

“Ctrl-Z” (Command-Z on Mac) is a near-universal keystroke shortcut. It is the “undo” command in most editing programs for text, images, music, podcasts, videos, websites, or other digital documents or creations. In a digital program, any mistake can be quickly undone by Ctrl-Z.

A less widely known keyboard shortcut is “Ctrl-Y.” It is the “redo” command. If you have “undone” something with Ctrl-Z, you can “redo” it with Ctrl-Y.

In real life, fixing mistakes takes more than a keystroke. Restoration is harder than “undoing” what was done. If you trim too much off a video, Ctrl-Z puts it back. But there’s no Ctrl-Z for trimming too much off a 2 X 4 or too much fabric off a pair of pants. And the bigger the decisions, the less fixable the damage is.

Zedekiah and Jerusalem’s leaders had a “Ctrl-Z moment” when they undid something awful by freeing unjustly enslaved people. But their repentance didn’t last and they callously hit “Ctrl-Y,” re-enslaving those they had previously freed.

A CEO, business leader, or politician can fire thousands, abandon principles, betray allies, or start a war with a keystroke or two in a speech, a policy proposal, or even (apparently) a social media post. But there’s no Ctrl-Z to take back what is done if it goes badly. There’s no Ctrl-Z for the casualties, the damaged relationships, or the economic and emotional losses.

The people Zedekiah and the leaders enslaved, released, and then re-enslaved would have experienced emotional whiplash. Imagine the elation and joy of being freed, and then the shock, dismay, and anger of that freedom being taken away.

We’ve certainly all, as individuals and groups, gone back on our word, failed to follow through on a promise, or returned to sinful and harmful actions. These betrayals require more than a keystroke shortcut. What is cut off cannot easily be restored. What is damaged cannot easily be repaired.

Once we undo injustices, we must not allow them to be reintroduced, going back in time to when injustice was the norm. People often push back against efforts for justice because it is hard. Instead, we must continue in repentance, being shaped personally and as a community into the likeness of Christ.

Christian repentance goes beyond inner change, moving outward, transforming actions and fueling efforts to repair damage, restore losses, and heal harms. Once you repent, don’t look or turn back.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Open my eyes, that I may see the wonders of your law. — Psalm 119.18

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

Readers’ Choice is Coming!

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Read more: Slavery to Maturity

Long years of cultural ease have left us as ignorant of God as the Israelites’ long years of slavery in Egypt.

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 3  Read: Jeremiah 28 Listen: (3:05) Read: 1 Corinthians 5 Listen: (1:58)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 28.10-17

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, 11 and he said before all the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.’ ” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way. 
12 After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. 14 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.’ ” 
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. 16 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’ ” 

17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

Reflection: False Prophecies and Real Consequences

By John Tillman

Jeremiah wore his yoke in the king’s court and in the temple. (Imagine someone doing this in your church or the Oval Office!) I’m sure many felt Jeremiah’s stunt was disruptive, divisive, disturbing, and disrespectful.

Visual stunts are part of biblical prophetic tradition. Jeremiah’s yoke is just one in a long line. Hosea married a prostitute. Isaiah went naked. Ezekiel ate food cooked over dung and built a model of besieged Jerusalem.

Many modern protesters look to prophetic stunts for inspiration. They use elaborate props, costumes, artwork, and engage in strange behavior. If Jeremiah had access to an inflatable costume of an ox wearing a yoke, he probably would have worn it.

It is unclear how long Jeremiah’s stunt lasted. Days? Weeks? But eventually, tolerance ran out. Hananiah attacked Jeremiah, ripped off the yoke, and as a counter-protest, broke it into pieces to illustrate his prophetic message.

If saying so made it so, anyone could be a prophet.

Hananiah predicted one thing and Jeremiah another. Jeremiah said Babylon would conquer. Hananiah said Babylon would fall. Jeremiah said Israel would wear Babylon’s yoke. Hananiah said God would break it off. Jeremiah promised exile and suffering. Hananiah promised miraculous rescue and glory.

Which attention-grabbing prophetic stunt communicated the truth? How could Jerusalem know? Can we blame folks for wanting to believe Hananiah’s promises? Even Jeremiah hoped Hananiah was right instead of himself.

Have you felt that way? I have. I’ve heard foolish claims and obviously false promises from religious or political leaders and thought, “I hope you’re right” or “I wish you weren’t lying.” 

Making and following false prophecies has serious consequences. Hananiah broke a wooden yoke, but the real yoke God sent was unbreakable. Hananiah, and many others, died because they refused to listen to Jeremiah.

Those who keep promising things they can’t or don’t deliver bring harm on themselves and those who believe them. This harm will not go unpunished by God. We rarely have input into the consequences for leaders who do this. (Other than not trusting them in the future.) But we can trust God that consequences will come.

Also, we don’t have to choose between false hope and hopelessness. Jeremiah also promised the yoke would be broken. Just not as soon as Hananiah claimed. The proud would be destroyed and the humble saved.

There is always hope for those who humble themselves before God.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men.” — Matthew 5:13

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

Readers’ Choice is Coming!

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Read more: Solo Sins and Systemic Sins

Prophets address moral problems that are both spiritual and political…especially in Jeremiah’s day, when state power and religious power were synonymous.