Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Monday, 25 August 2014 - Jeremiah 15:15-18 You know where I am, God! Remember what I’m doing here!Take my side against my detractors.
Don’t stand back while they ruin me.
Just look at the abuse I’m taking!
When your words showed up, I ate them—
swallowed them whole. What a feast!
What delight I took in being yours,
O God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
I never joined the party crowd
in their laughter and their fun.
Led by you, I went off by myself.
You’d filled me with indignation. Their sin had me seething.
But why, why this chronic pain,
this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight?
You’re nothing, God, but a mirage,
a lovely oasis in the distance—and then nothing!
19-21 This is how God answered me:
“Take back those words, and I’ll take you back.
Then you’ll stand tall before me.
Use words truly and well. Don’t stoop to cheap whining.
Then, but only then, you’ll speak for me.
Let your words change them.
Don’t change your words to suit them.
I’ll turn you into a steel wall,
a thick steel wall, impregnable.
They’ll attack you but won’t put a dent in you
because I’m at your side, defending and delivering.”
God’s Decree.
“I’ll deliver you from the grip of the wicked.
I’ll get you out of the clutch of the ruthless.”(The Message)
Truly we are a society of interconnectivity. We live surrounded by cell phones, texting, emails, video conferencing, and more types of social media interaction than we can shake a stick at. As these different technologies have developed, some have changed and some have faded. I find myself wondering when the last time was that I had a coiled phone cord trailing along behind me. Yet I recall an individual in college that wore a coiled phone cord on his belt as a reminder that he always had a direct line to God. In our hustle and bustle, so do we. It is simply prayer.
Today Jeremiah interacts directly with God. In the midst of his troubles he is angry and complains to God. At the same time he is reminded of the grace of God that has surrounded and sustained his life. When we, like the prodigal son, are reminded and turn back to our Father in trust, then we, like Jeremiah, can be renewed to serve as the mouth of God to proclaim his grace.
Father God, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, help us to quiet our minds and turn to you. Receive our joy and our pain as we pray. We praise you that through your Son Jesus Christ you have experienced the same joy and pain. Be present in our troubles and remind us always that we are not alone. Amen.
Scott Dalen
Pastor, Underwood Lutheran Church, Underwood, Iowa
Master of Divinity , 2013
Jeremiah 15:15 O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.
19 Therefore thus says the Lord: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.
20 And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord.
21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.(New Revised Standard Version)
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