Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 13.6-9
6 Many days later the Lord said to me, “Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.” 7 So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless. 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
Reflection: A Neglected Garment
By John Tillman
God loves an object lesson. Some of God’s most disturbing and stomach-churning object lessons are in Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Jeremiah, at God’s direction, bought a new linen belt. It was unstained by use or mishap. Pristine. Flawless. Fine clothing was a mark of wealth and privileged status but this item of clothing would not have attracted attention and compliments. Most commentators believe it was worn as an undergarment.
The garment was common, but God’s instructions were uncommon. God instructed Jeremiah to wear, but not wash, his new underwear. Then he instructed Jeremiah to take a long journey and bury this dirty underwear in a rocky, muddy crevice near a river. Later, when instructed to retrieve it, Jeremiah found the garment ruined and useless.
The garment was ruined by misuse, neglect, and abandonment. God says that his relationship with Judah is ruined in the same way. Judah’s issue was pride. It might seem odd to neglect or mistreat something we are proud of, but it happens often. The gifted athlete takes their talent for granted and ruins their body with drugs or alcohol. The gifted speaker fails to prepare and loses their reputation. The hare lays down to nap and is overtaken by the dutiful tortoise. The expensive car is not maintained and becomes a junker. The pricey designer clothes are improperly laundered and shrink.
Judah was privileged to have a close and intimate relationship with God. They were proud of this status, but they disregarded it. They didn’t maintain it. And they ultimately discarded and abandoned it.
What should be a source of pride became a mark of shame.
What should be functional became useless.
What should be beautiful became ruined.
Can this happen to us?
If Judah’s relationship with God was close, ours in Jesus is closer. If theirs was holy, ours in Jesus is spotless. If they had reason for pride, we have greater reasons.
Let us consider ourselves with sober judgment. Do we treat our status under Jesus with disdain? Neglect? Pride? Don’t let the gospel be a neglected garment.
Unlike Jeremiah’s ruined garment, we can be washed clean and made new again.
Jesus renews what we wreck.
What was rotted is restored to health.
What was ugly is made beautiful.
What was broken is repaired.
What was damaged is reinforced.
Let Christ dress us in the garment of the gospel and never neglect or abandon it.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold; for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me. — Psalm 31.3
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Today’s Readings
Jeremiah 13 (Listen 4:11)
Galatians 4 (Listen 4:13)
Read more about Garments of Peace
Make us a holy priesthood, in garments of peace, not holding ourselves above others, but lifting them up and carrying them to you.
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