7 (8) Look! I am bringing them from the land in the north,
gathering them from the far ends of the earth;
among them are the blind and lame,
women with children, women in labor,
all together, a vast throng
returning here.
8 (9) They will come weeping and praying
as I bring them back.
I will lead them by streams of water
on smooth paths, so that they won’t stumble.
For I am a father to Isra’el,
and Efrayim is my firstborn son.”
9 (10) Nations, hear the word of Adonai!
Proclaim it in the coastlands far away. Say:
“He who scattered Isra’el is gathering him,
guarding him like a shepherd his flock.”
10 (11) For Adonai has ransomed Ya‘akov,
redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
11 (12) They will come and sing on the heights of Tziyon,
streaming to the goodness of Adonai,
to the grain, the wine, the olive oil,
and the young of the flock and the herd.
They themselves will be like a well-watered garden,
never to languish again.
12 (13) “Then the virgin will dance for joy,
young men and old men together;
for I will turn their mourning into joy,
comfort and gladden them after their sorrow.
13 (14) I will give the cohanim their fill of rich food,
and my people will be satisfied with my bounty,” says Adonai.
14 (15) This is what Adonai says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamenting and bitter weeping.
It is Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted for her children,
because they are no longer alive.”
[Complete Jewish Bible]---------------------
Two years ago I taught Jeremiah as our congregation's Bible Study. We took a slow pace, reading the entire book, about a chapter each session. About half way through the study, one of the members commented on the opening chapters of Jeremiah, "Enough of the sword, famine and pestilence already! How much judgement are we supposed to take?" As I am now reflecting on these verses in mid-November, I want to say it's been a Jeremiah-like month. A Russian plane was downed, Beirut was bombed, Paris was assaulted and Mali was attacked. Perhaps there needs to be as many warnings of judgement as there are acts that desecrate God's intentions for humanity.
Today the church remembers the Holy Innocents, the children of Bethlehem and its region, slaughtered by a monarch afraid of rivals. Those murdered children are representative of all who suffer violence, oppression and death at the hand of governments and terrorists alike. A cry goes up, "O Lord, how long?"
To that cry God answers, "I have loved you with an everlasting love!" That promise is part of what we call Jeremiah's "Little Book of Consolation," a small part of the overall book, but a portion containing a great deal of hope. In this world with all of it's violence such hope is needed more than ever. This hope finds a place in the heart of God's people, in God's promise to restore the fortunes of Israel, in the promise of peace and great joy to all people because of a Savior born in Bethlehem, and in the promise personalized for you in baptism when God declares "I have loved you with an everlasting love!"
Lord of the nations, we pray this day not just for ourselves but for refugees the world over; let them find a safe and hospitable harbor. We pray for those oppressed by the policies of the powerful; let them find justice. We pray for those overwhelmed with sorrow and grief during this season of celebration; let them find comfort. Where you make it possible, let me be your answer to the prayer of one with such a need. Amen.
Sherman Bishop
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Westlake, Ohio
Master of Divinity , 1980
Jeremiah 31:7 For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, "Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel."
8 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.
9 With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock."
11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again.
13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
14 I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord.[New Revised Standard Version]
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