The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 14  Read: Jeremiah 8 Listen: (3:52) Read: James 4 Listen: (2:25)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Aug 15  Read: Jeremiah 9 Listen: (4:38) Read: James 5 Listen: (3:01)
Aug 16  Read: Jeremiah 10 Listen: (3:51) Read: Galatians 1 Listen: (3:05)

Reflection: Can’t Get There From Here

By John Tillman

Today, instead of giving directions, we plug an address into a GPS-enabled device and trust the technology. We used to give landmarks, count intersections, and describe signage. 

“Watch for the sign. You can’t miss it.”
“When you think you’ve gone too far, you are almost there.”
“Take the third right turn past the Big Chicken.”

If the legendary “Big Chicken” landmark in Marietta, Georgia, near Atlanta ever disappeared, half of Atlanta would be hopelessly lost. The Georgia rock band R.E.M. (who would definitely know the Big Chicken) used another trope of getting directions in their 1985 song, “Can’t Get There From Here.” The phrase humorously implies that you first have to get somewhere else before you can get to where you want to be.

GPS devices are imperfect technology, based on imperfect maps and human observations and measurements. But even the best directions won’t get you where you are going if you fail to follow them.

In the wisdom of God’s law, people of Jeremiah’s day had the best directions from the best source and still ended up hopelessly lost. They made wrong turn after wrong turn. Like a GPS that keeps saying, “Make a u-turn” when you have missed your intersection, prophets like Jeremiah continually tried to correct Jerusalem’s course. 

Jerusalem wanted to return to God’s blessings but wouldn’t return to God. They charged ahead in the wrong direction. Despite ending up in places they didn’t want to be, they weren’t willing to turn around. Are you?

The way of Jesus is a Christian’s “GPS” and Christ’s cross and resurrection is our landmark. Have you lost sight of the landmark? Are you ignoring the call to turn around? Have you ended up somewhere you don’t want to be?

No one comes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14.6). You can’t get there from here, but you can get there through him. Whether it is the first time you turn to Jesus, or whether you’ve lost your way and need to return, at his feet you’ll find the place we need to get to before we can get where we want to be. 

Don’t be too stubborn to admit you need directions, take your foot off the gas, and ask for help. Turn around. When you seek first the kingdom of God, every direction God wants to send you is an open road (Matt 6.33).

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Love the Lord, all you who worship him; the Lord protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily. — Psalm 31.23

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: To Whom We Draw Near

We must choose whom to resist and whom to draw close to. May we draw close to God and be safely kept in his hand.

To Whom We Draw Near

Read more: Having vs. Knowing God’s Word

What does it mean to be wise? How can we know if truth and wisdom have been handled falsely?

Having vs. Knowing God’s Word

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 13  Read: Jeremiah 7 Listen: (5:18) Read: James 3 Listen: (2:38)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 7.2-11

2 “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message: “ ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. 9 “ ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,  burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.

Reflection: A Different Kind of Greeter

By John Tillman

Jeremiah wouldn’t make a great church door greeter.

Even as a mostly introverted person, I love churches with smiling, happy, engaging greeters. Having greeters actively welcoming people is an important part of the modern church environment.

God sent Jeremiah to “greet” people at the Temple’s entrance but God didn’t tell him to have a warm smile and a pleasant demeanor. Jeremiah stood at the door and warned people sternly. Imagine a scowling prophet, growling something like the following to you as you arrive to church:

“I don’t care how happy you act when you enter these doors or how much you say you love this place and love God! You must change your ways! You are deceived if you think you can oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed innocent blood, and bow down to other forces and idols, and I won’t notice! Instead of a place of worship, you have made this a den of robbers!”

Jeremiah is hot-tempered and prickly Instead of warm and fuzzy. Jesus remixed Jeremiah when he cleansed the Temple. (Matthew 21.12-14; Mark 11.15-17; Luke 19.45-46)

Unlike modern churches, the Temple was designed only for Jews and believers. There were restrictions on who could enter and how far. Because Jesus did away with those distinctions modern churches welcome anyone, believer or unbeliever, into holy space without exception. The devout believer, the absolute skeptic, and the sin-addicted outsider are all welcome. We are all sick and Jesus is the doctor.

But what if we think we aren’t sick?

Jeremiah’s warning told the seemingly devout they were deceived. They thought they were righteous sheep but were ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7.15; Acts 20.29) They thought they were rich but were poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3.17) Jeremiah, and God, judged them not by their demeanor but their deeds.

As we enter worship, let us imagine a different kind of greeter. As you pass smiling people, ask the Holy Spirit, “What parts of Jeremiah’s warning apply to us today?” Would Jeremiah (or Jesus) say to us, “You have made this a den of robbers”?

Are we shedding blood? (Or profiting from suffering?)
Are we oppressing foreigners or other vulnerable people? (Or supporting those who are?)
Are we devoted to the idols of culture, such as politics, pleasure, wealth, or notoriety?

Don’t despair. When Jesus cleared the temple of “robbers,” he called the wounded to himself. Go to Jesus. Repent. Fall on his mercy and grace.

Divine Hours Prayer:

Jesus taught us, saying: “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved. Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:17-19

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Where is the Love?

Who does Jesus love? Who or what is he fighting for? …allow Jesus to clean out your Temple courts…Are you willing to let him do it?

Where is the Love?

Read more: Much Demanded

God judges those with little lightly and those with much heavily. This should be sobering to us who are greatly privileged.

Much Demanded—Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 12  Read: Jeremiah 6 Listen (5:10) Read: James 2 Listen: (3:32)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 6:16-17

16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen over you and said,
    ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
    But you said, ‘We will not listen.’

Reflection: Highway of Legends

By Erin Newton

Once every few years, my family drives from Texas to Colorado. There are a few routes you can go, but we generally prefer to go through New Mexico rather than through Kansas. Why? Mountains. We live in such flat terrain that any sort of large hill is worth celebrating. If we can ever make the trip with extra time to spare, we talk about taking the scenic byway in southern Colorado called the “Highway of Legends.” The route takes you past key places from various Colorado lore—what sounds like a contemporary parallel to Jeremiah’s “ancient paths.”

I assume, despite the pleasures of just seeing mountains in the distance, driving through the byways would be pleasant and restful for my soul.

The language of paths and roads reflects the universal and timeless imagery of life as a journey. Each time we are met with various choices or life experiences, we stand at the crossroads. Jeremiah reminds us to look, think, and ask.

The ancient roads are the good paths. This is not some call to live like it was “in the olden days” or to bring back some bygone “great” era again. The good paths are well-worn by saints who have gone before. They are the tracks through the Red Sea, the routes through the Wilderness, and the footsteps across the Jordan.

Jeremiah is calling the people to remember the One who had led them all this way. God is the ancient path. God is the good way. And if they would simply take his hand and walk alongside, they would find rest for their soul.

I am exhausted lately. Is it my own schedule? Is it the frenzy of summer activities? Is it the state of our economy and the strains on our wallets? Is it the constant need to examine information coming our way: is this real, true, unbiased, fair, good, and worth my time?

I long for rest. I read this verse and scoff at the response of the people, “We will not walk in it.” But I’m sure we are tempted to respond in the same way.

God tells us the ancient path is to trust in him. The ancient path is to see that creation is good. The ancient path is to call out for help. The ancient path is to help one another. The good path is listening to the call of God.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; instruct me in your statutes. — Psalm 119.64

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Maintain Love and Justice

It is not just modern people who notice one justice system for the poor and another for the rich. Hosea saw and condemned it. Ephraim saw and abused it.

Maintain Love and Justice

Read more: Cut and Run from False Prophets

Part of the crisis of abuse within the church is that powerful leaders, in God’s name, shamed their victims into silence.

Cut and Run from False Prophets

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 11  Read: Jeremiah 5 Listen: (5:04) Read: James 1 Listen: (3:26)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 5.1, 9

1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, 
look around and consider, 
search through her squares. 
If you can find but one person 
who deals honestly and seeks the truth, 
I will forgive this city. 
9 Should I not punish them for this?” 
declares the Lord. 
“Should I not avenge myself 
on such a nation as this? 

Reflection: One Righteous

By John Tillman

Popular stories often have moments where the plot forces a horrible choice.

A secret agent struggles to stop a missile launch with time running out. Will his best friend bomb the compound, stopping the launch but killing his friend? Will he risk evil continuing in order to spare a loved one?

The tension of these stories holds us rapt. What will the heroes do? Will they still be heroes if they do it? 

Jerusalem is facing a disastrous reckoning for its evil. God points out Jerusalem’s evil to Jeremiah, saying, “Shouldn’t I punish them for this?” (Jeremiah 5.9) Should God allow evil to continue?

In Genesis (Genesis 18.25), Abraham asked God to spare Sodom on behalf of the righteous. Eventually, God agreed that for ten righteous people he would spare the city. This story is reversed. God challenged Jeremiah to find even one righteous person. Jeremiah looked among the poor and uneducated and among the wealthy and wise. He found only rebellion, greed, and abuse. 

Suppose Jeremiah found a righteous person and God relented…the city would remain evil. The wicked would continue to abuse the vulnerable. Would that be righteous?

There were, and are, none righteous. (Romans 3.10) So God sent the righteous one. Jesus is the one righteous person for whom many will be spared. But this is not that simple. Jesus isn’t a holy hostage, or a heavenly human shield preventing God from punishing evil. God goes beyond that. We are not simply “spared” on account of the one righteous one. The gospel is greater than that. It’s not just a rescue. It’s a rebellion. 

In Jeremiah, we see the evil city of Jerusalem punished by a greater evil city of Babylon. However, through Jesus, we can redeem and transform the evil cities we live in by the light of the heavenly city we carry within us. Rather than allow the city to be overcome by evil, God, through Jesus, through us, desires to overcome evil with good.

The question is not whether you or I should give an evil city a pass because there is some “good” in it. The question is whether you and I will become the righteousness of God that transforms cities.

May we become righteous ones through Jesus. Let his righteousness fill us from within and clothe us without. By his Spirit, pray with your mouth, love with your heart, and work with your hands to establish righteousness.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

The Lord has sworn an oath to David; in truth, he will not break it: “A son, fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne.” — Psalm 132.11-12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Jesus, Our Blessed One

We are…partaking of his righteousness.
It is he who makes us prosper, and spreads the seed of his gospel over the earth.

Jesus, Our Blessed One — A Guided Prayer

Read more: Law of Freedom

The Law was more than a civil code. “The Law” implied the totality of the wisdom of God expressed through scripture in many ways.

Law of Freedom

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 10  Read: Jeremiah 4 Listen: (5:23) Read: Psalms 149-150 Listen: (1:36)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 4.1-4, 10

Reflection: Prescription for Peace

By John Tillman

Jeremiah complained the people were “deceived” with messages of peace. Other prophets promised peace was around the corner. Jeremiah warned a dangerous lion was around the corner, ready to pounce (Jer 4.7). Throughout Jeremiah and elsewhere in scripture there is a theme of false prophets promising false peace (Micah 3.5; Eze 13.10, 16).

If you have a deadly disease, you don’t want a feel-good doctor who tells you to relax and take a peaceful vacation. You want a responsible doctor who will accurately diagnose the threat and prescribe a life-saving treatment, even if it is difficult and extensive.

Jeremiah was a responsible doctor, but Jerusalem preferred Doctor Feelgood who told them what they wanted to hear.

Twice Jeremiah wrote, “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.” (Jer 6.14; 8.11) Twice Jeremiah said, “We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror.” (Jer 8.15; 14.19)

Jeremiah lamented, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place’” (Jer 14.13) and “No harm will come to you” (Jer 23.17). 

Even when you know the truth, when enough people start shouting the opposite, there’s a feeling of moral vertigo. When everyone seems crazy, sane people wonder if they are the crazy ones. Jeremiah must have felt this way. We can too.

There are many saying the wounds of sin are not serious and “No harm will come to you.” Promising false peace isn’t “hoping for the best,” “staying positive,” or “looking on the bright side.” It’s deceptive and dangerous. Promises of false peace harden hearts against the truth that a spiritual war is in progress. False peace is meditating in the park when you should run for the bomb shelter.

Jeremiah does not say there will never be peace. There is peace to be had for those who shelter under the right set of wings (Ps 91.4; Ruth 2.12; Matt 23.37; Luke 13.34). There is peace to be found from Jesus, the only prince who can grant it (Jn 14.27; 16.33; Acts 10.36; Eph 2.14). We must seek this peace and point people to it.

Jeremiah has our diagnosis and treatment plan (Jer 4.3-4). The prescription for peace is to plow up hardened ground and uproot weeds and thorns so the gospel of peace can flourish (Jer 4.3; Luke 8.7, 14). We must continually cultivate our hearts and help our neighbors to do so.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. — Psalm 96.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: All That Has Breath

Let everything that has breath praise the one who surrendered his breath on the cross, yet lives and breathes again.

All That Has Breath

Read more: Songs of Ascent Playlist — From War to Peace

Psalm 120 is from a low place, captured among those hungry for war…far from the peace of God’s temple.

Songs of Ascent Playlist — From War to Peace