Same Data, Wrong Conclusions

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 18 Read: Jeremiah 44 Listen: (6:10) Read: 2 Corinthians 4 Listen: (3:02)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Sep 19 Read: Jeremiah 45-46 Listen: (5:51) Read: 2 Corinthians 5 Listen: (3:14)
Sep 20 Read: Jeremiah 47 Listen: (1:21) Read: 2 Corinthians 6 Listen: (2:31)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 44.15-18

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, along with all the women who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt, said to Jeremiah, 16 “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord! 17 We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm. 18 But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.”

Reflection: Same Data, Wrong Conclusions

By John Tillman

From our perspective, Israel’s Old Testament idolatry seems inexplicable. How could they make a golden calf when the fire cloud was still on the mountain? (Ex 32.1) How could they resume worshiping Baal after the Mount Carmel showdown? (1 Ki 18.38-40) How could they continue ignoring prophets’ warnings after watching their previous warnings come true? How could they exchange the truth of God for a lie? (Rom 1.20-25) How could they be so foolish?

In today’s passage, Jeremiah confronts families engaged in idol worship while living in Egypt following Jerusalem’s collapse. Think about what these men and women had lived through.

They saw (or heard about) God’s blessings and favor on the nation during Josiah’s revival and elimination of idolatry. They saw the kings following Josiah return to idols and foreign gods. They heard the warnings of defeat and exile from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other prophets. They heard the promises of prophets like Hananiah (Jer 28.1-11), who predicted quick and easy victory over Babylon. They watched the false prophets’ promises fail and many of them, including Hananiah, be killed. They heard Jeremiah’s promises about restoration and peace if they stayed faithful to God.

With all this data, we conclude that Jeremiah had been telling the truth and the best course of action would be to follow the commands of God he related. However, these men and women observed the exact same data and came to the shocking (to us) conclusion that they should ignore Jeremiah and resume idol worship.

The people interpreted the data differently and wrongly. They defended idolatry as a reasonable solution to their problems. They concluded that idolatry had worked and faithfulness to God had failed them. Just like Eve and Adam, they saw something pleasing, desirable, and practical to improve their situation, and they took it.

When people in scripture make foolish decisions, instead of shaking our heads in judgment, we should examine our hearts in humility. Put yourself in their place and wonder what might entice you to make similar errors. We aren’t pressured to worship “the queen of Heaven,” but we are pressured to do “whatever works” for us regardless of what God’s word says.

Have the humility to admit that we have the same tendencies as ancient idolaters. When we think something will work for us, or is good for us, we find ways to justify it.

Remember that what “works” for you is not always what is good for you.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

O God, you know my foolishness, and my faults are not hidden from you. — Psalm 69.6

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

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