Background thoughts & Reflection questions:
-Yikes! There are some very troubling images in this chapter. God's people are described as whores. This troubles me for a few reasons. It's sure a negative depiction of women. And yet - I remind myself that this was an image that would have made a lot of sense to Jeremiah's listeners. The prophet speaks with boldly, and perhaps even offensively. He wants to get the people's attention. Faithfulness to God is extremely serious, and Jeremiah wants the people to know that.
1. Verse 12 sounds like grace and hope! "I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful," says The Lord. "I will not be angry forever." Do you think God gets angry today? If so, why?
2. Verse 22 sounds graceful, too. "I will heal your faithlessness." In what ways do you think the Christian church (as a whole) needs healing?
Testing
ReplyDeleteI feel God is more saddened by the ways of the people today. Obviously, people have not learned from other's mistakes and teaching as we continue to stray from God's path. I question whether people are truly sorry wanting to change if they commit the same sin time and time again only to ask for God's forgiveness each time. Bringing me much shame, I find myself placing my faith in God in the backseat easier to do at times which causes me to veer from His path. But, it is also my faith in God that allows me to believe He will forgive me and for that I am truly thankful and so wanting to do right by Him. While asking for forgiveness and taking God's path can be done anywhere and anytime, it is through the Church where so may others share the need for healing (or hope) are gathered that God's love can be felt in bountiful proportions. As I know I do, a person can feel reborn to begin and to try again to keep on or to try and lead others on God's path.
ReplyDeleteGreat response, Amy. It is so beautiful when church can be a place of hope and healing. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThe people of Judah remind me of me sometimes. They sin and then ask God for help. Verse 3 makes God sound vengeful. We sin so he witholds the rain. I don't believe that God makes bad things happen, but I wonder if he doens't use then to bring us home to him. That is his ultimate goal, to have us home with him. Verse 16 was confusing when they talk about the ark being gone. My notes say that it is because the ark is irrelivant when Christ comes. Am I reading this right that Israel is in exile at this time? Verses 23-25 give me hope that God wants to be our Father and have that close relationship with us.
ReplyDeleteI don't think God gets angry as much as a little disappointed when we go our own way instead of what He wants for us. I think he's frustrated because he's offering such a wonderful life to us, but we often do our own thing, and that keeps us from his plan.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if some of the healing the Christian church needs comes from the tendency to be viewed as an organization (like just another business or non-profit) rather than what it really is—a community of faith. We are all at fault to some extent, so we can all work to try to fix that with God's help.