Jeremiah 7:1-11 click here for the reading
In Psalm 48, the presence of God in God's temple is seen as a protective shield over Jerusalem that comes across as a feeling of invincibility. This leads to the leaders claiming safety even as chaos and violent threats surround them. Much like this.
God's presence is not a security blanket or a magic wand to ward off danger. Jeremiah speaks loudly to the people about the destruction that is about to occur. Babylon, the new super power, will soon come and take the people out of the land, raid Jerusalem the holy city, and Judah will fall.
Again, the prophet announces a call to justice which is a kingdom goal. That is because the world is filled with injustice. injustice effects all of us. The prophet then addresses our worship practices....that we have made God's house a den of thieves. This theme Jesus picks up on during the passover festival celebration and ultimately gets him killed. He too turned over tables and called out to God's people for their hearts to turn to God instead of the mechanistic approaches of our faith practices. And in that, both Jeremiah and Jesus remind us, our God is too safe. If we think that God is stuck up in the four walls of the temple or the church then we miss the opportunity to experience God's presence that does provide....not as a safety blanket but one that calls us to justice.
Lord, we know you see what is going on, turn our hearts to your presence and worship you truly, so that justice may roll down like waters.
God's presence is not a security blanket or a magic wand to ward off danger. Jeremiah speaks loudly to the people about the destruction that is about to occur. Babylon, the new super power, will soon come and take the people out of the land, raid Jerusalem the holy city, and Judah will fall.
Again, the prophet announces a call to justice which is a kingdom goal. That is because the world is filled with injustice. injustice effects all of us. The prophet then addresses our worship practices....that we have made God's house a den of thieves. This theme Jesus picks up on during the passover festival celebration and ultimately gets him killed. He too turned over tables and called out to God's people for their hearts to turn to God instead of the mechanistic approaches of our faith practices. And in that, both Jeremiah and Jesus remind us, our God is too safe. If we think that God is stuck up in the four walls of the temple or the church then we miss the opportunity to experience God's presence that does provide....not as a safety blanket but one that calls us to justice.
Lord, we know you see what is going on, turn our hearts to your presence and worship you truly, so that justice may roll down like waters.
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