It's Jeremiah this Sunday. Jeremiah in a good mood. Jeremiah bringing a word of hope and grace to the people of Israel, who he threatened and denounced all the way into exile (which they deserved, according to Jeremiah).
This is a word about the 'days that are coming'; days filled with new plantings, with building up. In 'those days' a new relationship will sprout between God and Israel, or as it is translated, 'a new covenant.'
Now God's word will be written on each person's heart. Each person will be responsible for him/herself. Each person will answer to God. (This replaces an understanding that the action of the parents would bless/condemn the children. Now each person is responsible for her own sins.)
This may not sound like good news to you, but to Israel, who had spent long years in exile, who were certain that God had abandoned/forgotten them, it was amazing news. They were going back to Jerusalem (a symbol of the entire land) and God had not cut them off forever.
Even more importantly, "I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more." That is the promise. All is wiped clean. Come home, God calls to his people. Come home where you belong. I want you here and not there.
This is our God, the one who continually calls us home. Let's not turn a deaf ear.
No comments:
Post a Comment