July 15, 2024 - Jeremiah 7-11

The Lord placed Jeremiah at the gate of the temple and had him proclaim, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord.  Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:  Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place” (7:2-3).  Ah, here is mercy.  Here is grace.  What an offer.  With such mercy offered, the Lord asks Jeremiah and answers:  Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?  The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven.  And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger” (7:17-18).  Grace offered, and the response?  “But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people.  And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’  But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward” (7:23-24).

Forgive us that our souls are numb

to scenes of terror, screams of pain;

       that while we pray 'Your kingdom come'

       our world is still a battle plain.

Forgive the minds no longer shocked

by homeless poor, by lives abused,

       forgive us that the earth is stacked

       with weapons waiting to be used.

Forgive us that our household gods

are self and safety, private need,

       forgive us all our fitful prayers,

       the token gift, the token deed.   -- Shirley Erena Murray (1996)