October 20, 2019
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Last Thursday I had the chance to get together with a Pastor friend. It’s been a while since we last got together. I told him about our worship service last Sunday where those that were here took time to consider someone, or a group of people for whom they never pray and write that name on an index card. If you were not here last Sunday, you can still take part in this exercise by picking up a card in the Vestibule and I would encourage you to do so.
I found that exercise very rewarding. So, rewarding, in fact, that we are going to make sure others have the chance to read what was said on those cards about who you typically do not pray for. Don’t fear though, only you will know what you wrote because when others are able to read your words, your name will not be attached. In fact, when the displays are completed and hung, your words will not be in your handwriting, but they remain your words. I want you to know I feel strongly about this project because I want us to continue to hear what was said on those note cards. I want us to continue to experience what we said, but I also want us to experience what others within our church family said on their cards. Each and every time I’ve read what you wrote, I have learned something, and I want all of you, and anyone else who walks through our doors to have the opportunity to learn too.
My point in recounting what we did here last Sunday was because when I told my friend about it, I also told him the idea came to me because I was preaching out of the Book of Jeremiah, to which he responded, “Wow. I’m not sure I know many who preach from Jeremiah. Even in my own preaching, it is safe to say most of my time is spent in the Gospels.”
I freely admit that I find turning to the Gospels each week very alluring. I also admit to doing just that a time or two myself. One time fairly recently. Over the past two years, though, I’ve tried to use the same bible text in my preaching that is being studied and discussed in at least one of our Sunday school classes here. I chose to do this because I’ve always believed there are great benefits when the sermon text is the same as the small group text and from discussions I’ve had with those in the Sunday School class that meets in our Fellowship Hall I’ve concluded they find it beneficial too. There are times, though, when the text for that week is difficult. Come to think of it, there have even been times when immediately following the conclusion of the scripture reading in our worship service, Amy turns to me with a look of, “what in the world are you going to do with that?” And truth be told, I’m not always sure myself. Yet even as I say that, I am reminded of what my experience has taught me so far – there is tremendous value in facing the “difficult texts” head on. You see, each time I’ve done that, the experience stays with me because something happened that went above and beyond the normal habitual like experience and left its mark in a more significant way.
Admittedly, Jeremiah is a tough Book, so I can easily understand choosing a different route. At first glance, Jeremiah’s words are hard to hear, and when words are hard to hear the first response is usually turning away. Some might even say Jeremiah didn’t like having to say them, which might be the reason he was given the nickname of the Weeping Prophet. A nickname that actually served to draw me closer to Jeremiah, instead of pushing me away. I do not envy Jeremiah for he was tasked with a very difficult job - doing God’s work, being God’s mouthpiece for a time, and receiving in return condemnation and hatred from those to whom he has been sent to announce the demands of that God. Surely most of us can understand why he might shed a tear or two.
There are other reasons for his tears, though. Reasons like empathy and compassion and love. All of which, for me, make Jeremiah someone I want to spend more time with. So, my drawing near to Jeremiah isn’t out of envy – my drawing near is because I feel connected to him and in reading his words, as harsh as they may sound at times, I feel his yearning and compassion for those same people who chastised him and condemned his words. Those same people who are simply unable to hear, or maybe understand, how deeply Jeremiah empathizes with them and how profoundly he loves them. You see, there are moments in his book where Hope abounds, and I never want to risk missing out on that hope. There are moments in his book where Grace, God’s Grace, takes center stage and I never want to risk missing out on that Grace.
**********************************
“Within the huge collection of prophetic oracles that make up the fifty-two chapters of Jeremiah’s witness, one finds more than tears, more than frank admissions of pain, and more than convictions about the evils of Judah. One also finds startling promises of hope, hope found not merely in the possibility of human repentance, but grounded squarely in the amazing grace of God. Such a passage is 31:27-34.”[1]
This passage is all about relationship, as stories of Grace and Hope always are. After so much talk of destruction and plucking up, it is here in this passage where Jeremiah begins talking about God’s plans to restore. God’s restoration desire is in and of itself a great story, but Jeremiah is telling about a restoration plan that includes everyone. This restoration plan is one that includes both Israel and Judah, both kingdoms. This restoration plan, rooted in the building up of new relationships, is not an either/or plan, it is a both/and plan. “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel AND the house of Judah.”[2] In other words, no one is to be excluded from this restoration plan and this new covenant.
And this restoration plan is built on God’s promises to the people. This restoration comes about because of who God is, not because of who the people are. Just listen again “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” v. 31… “this is the covenant I will make. I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.” v. 33 “I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” v. 34. These are all promises being made by God to God’s people. They are all God-initiated and speak to the profound nature of God’s love for them. They also speak to the profound nature of God’s love for us.
This promised restoration is spoken of in covenant language as is often the case within the Old Testament stories. This time though, the covenant being talked about is a new covenant. One built from within instead of being an external standard to which the people must adhere. This new covenant is to be written on everyone’s heart. Others should no longer feel empowered to shame people, or make them feel bad, for falling short of that external standard of the old covenant. This new covenant is to be given to everyone directly from the source – directly from God – and because of that, the new covenant is intrinsic to the very relationship between God and each and every one of God’s people. This new covenant can never be taken away, especially not by other people, and that makes it scary for some. It should also be a source of hope to know that no matter what, one’s relationship with God is a relationship we get to live into instead of a standard we live up to. Jeremiah is telling us that God is introducing a new way of relating. Once based on God’s forgiveness and one rooted in God’s Grace and Love for everyone.
*******************************
I find so much about Jeremiah and his stories compelling and I although there are times when his words sound harsh and feel hard to deal with. I’m grateful for those times. They help me to confirm and reconfirm God’s love for all people. And it’s Jeremiah’s telling about the new covenant, initiated by God for all people that helps me know that none of us will ever look into the eyes of someone God does not love. And that is GREAT NEWS!
[PRAYER]
Amen!
[1] Holbert, John, https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2010/10/weeping-prophet-reflections-on-jeremiah
[2] v. 31
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Last Thursday I had the chance to get together with a Pastor friend. It’s been a while since we last got together. I told him about our worship service last Sunday where those that were here took time to consider someone, or a group of people for whom they never pray and write that name on an index card. If you were not here last Sunday, you can still take part in this exercise by picking up a card in the Vestibule and I would encourage you to do so.
I found that exercise very rewarding. So, rewarding, in fact, that we are going to make sure others have the chance to read what was said on those cards about who you typically do not pray for. Don’t fear though, only you will know what you wrote because when others are able to read your words, your name will not be attached. In fact, when the displays are completed and hung, your words will not be in your handwriting, but they remain your words. I want you to know I feel strongly about this project because I want us to continue to hear what was said on those note cards. I want us to continue to experience what we said, but I also want us to experience what others within our church family said on their cards. Each and every time I’ve read what you wrote, I have learned something, and I want all of you, and anyone else who walks through our doors to have the opportunity to learn too.
My point in recounting what we did here last Sunday was because when I told my friend about it, I also told him the idea came to me because I was preaching out of the Book of Jeremiah, to which he responded, “Wow. I’m not sure I know many who preach from Jeremiah. Even in my own preaching, it is safe to say most of my time is spent in the Gospels.”
I freely admit that I find turning to the Gospels each week very alluring. I also admit to doing just that a time or two myself. One time fairly recently. Over the past two years, though, I’ve tried to use the same bible text in my preaching that is being studied and discussed in at least one of our Sunday school classes here. I chose to do this because I’ve always believed there are great benefits when the sermon text is the same as the small group text and from discussions I’ve had with those in the Sunday School class that meets in our Fellowship Hall I’ve concluded they find it beneficial too. There are times, though, when the text for that week is difficult. Come to think of it, there have even been times when immediately following the conclusion of the scripture reading in our worship service, Amy turns to me with a look of, “what in the world are you going to do with that?” And truth be told, I’m not always sure myself. Yet even as I say that, I am reminded of what my experience has taught me so far – there is tremendous value in facing the “difficult texts” head on. You see, each time I’ve done that, the experience stays with me because something happened that went above and beyond the normal habitual like experience and left its mark in a more significant way.
Admittedly, Jeremiah is a tough Book, so I can easily understand choosing a different route. At first glance, Jeremiah’s words are hard to hear, and when words are hard to hear the first response is usually turning away. Some might even say Jeremiah didn’t like having to say them, which might be the reason he was given the nickname of the Weeping Prophet. A nickname that actually served to draw me closer to Jeremiah, instead of pushing me away. I do not envy Jeremiah for he was tasked with a very difficult job - doing God’s work, being God’s mouthpiece for a time, and receiving in return condemnation and hatred from those to whom he has been sent to announce the demands of that God. Surely most of us can understand why he might shed a tear or two.
There are other reasons for his tears, though. Reasons like empathy and compassion and love. All of which, for me, make Jeremiah someone I want to spend more time with. So, my drawing near to Jeremiah isn’t out of envy – my drawing near is because I feel connected to him and in reading his words, as harsh as they may sound at times, I feel his yearning and compassion for those same people who chastised him and condemned his words. Those same people who are simply unable to hear, or maybe understand, how deeply Jeremiah empathizes with them and how profoundly he loves them. You see, there are moments in his book where Hope abounds, and I never want to risk missing out on that hope. There are moments in his book where Grace, God’s Grace, takes center stage and I never want to risk missing out on that Grace.
**********************************
“Within the huge collection of prophetic oracles that make up the fifty-two chapters of Jeremiah’s witness, one finds more than tears, more than frank admissions of pain, and more than convictions about the evils of Judah. One also finds startling promises of hope, hope found not merely in the possibility of human repentance, but grounded squarely in the amazing grace of God. Such a passage is 31:27-34.”[1]
This passage is all about relationship, as stories of Grace and Hope always are. After so much talk of destruction and plucking up, it is here in this passage where Jeremiah begins talking about God’s plans to restore. God’s restoration desire is in and of itself a great story, but Jeremiah is telling about a restoration plan that includes everyone. This restoration plan is one that includes both Israel and Judah, both kingdoms. This restoration plan, rooted in the building up of new relationships, is not an either/or plan, it is a both/and plan. “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel AND the house of Judah.”[2] In other words, no one is to be excluded from this restoration plan and this new covenant.
And this restoration plan is built on God’s promises to the people. This restoration comes about because of who God is, not because of who the people are. Just listen again “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” v. 31… “this is the covenant I will make. I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.” v. 33 “I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” v. 34. These are all promises being made by God to God’s people. They are all God-initiated and speak to the profound nature of God’s love for them. They also speak to the profound nature of God’s love for us.
This promised restoration is spoken of in covenant language as is often the case within the Old Testament stories. This time though, the covenant being talked about is a new covenant. One built from within instead of being an external standard to which the people must adhere. This new covenant is to be written on everyone’s heart. Others should no longer feel empowered to shame people, or make them feel bad, for falling short of that external standard of the old covenant. This new covenant is to be given to everyone directly from the source – directly from God – and because of that, the new covenant is intrinsic to the very relationship between God and each and every one of God’s people. This new covenant can never be taken away, especially not by other people, and that makes it scary for some. It should also be a source of hope to know that no matter what, one’s relationship with God is a relationship we get to live into instead of a standard we live up to. Jeremiah is telling us that God is introducing a new way of relating. Once based on God’s forgiveness and one rooted in God’s Grace and Love for everyone.
*******************************
I find so much about Jeremiah and his stories compelling and I although there are times when his words sound harsh and feel hard to deal with. I’m grateful for those times. They help me to confirm and reconfirm God’s love for all people. And it’s Jeremiah’s telling about the new covenant, initiated by God for all people that helps me know that none of us will ever look into the eyes of someone God does not love. And that is GREAT NEWS!
[PRAYER]
Amen!
[1] Holbert, John, https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2010/10/weeping-prophet-reflections-on-jeremiah
[2] v. 31
