Links for today’s readings:
Sep 15 Read: Jeremiah 41 Listen: (3:36) Read: 2 Corinthians 1 Listen: (3:52)
Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 41.4-15
4 The day after Gedaliah’s assassination, before anyone knew about it, 5 eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the Lord. 6 Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he met them, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” 7 When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern. 8 But ten of them said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us! We have wheat and barley, olive oil and honey, hidden in a field.” So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others. 9 Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead.
10 Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah—the king’s daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.
11 When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed, 12 they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon. 13 When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers who were with him, they were glad. 14 All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites.
Reflection: Sin Disguised as Virtue
By John Tillman
Johanan warned Gedaliah about Ishmael’s plot, but he didn’t listen (Jer 40.13-14). Jeremiah warned Johanan not to go to Egypt, but he didn’t listen (Jer 42.19).
Whether out of principle or naivete, Gedaliah spared Ishmael’s life when Johanan accused him of an assassination plot. But Johanan was right. Ishmael and his men assassinated Gedaliah in a scene much like Absalom’s assassination of Amnon (2 Sam 13.28-29).
Could Ishmael (and Absalom) have had good motives but misguided tactics? Some might think Absalom sought justice and Ishmael was a patriot. Ishmael was a descendant of David and may have viewed Gedaliah as a Babylonian puppet, a tool of “the oppressors.” Ishmael could have claimed that he was called to restore the throne and kingdom and preserve God’s promises to his ancestor, David. However, Ishmael proved to be just as wicked a traitor as Absalom.
Before anyone knew what Ishmael had done, worshipers approached Jerusalem, repentant, weeping, and calling out to God. Ishmael deceived them by weeping as they did, then had his men slaughter them, filling a cistern with their bodies. He stole their gifts for worship and only stopped killing them when some survivors promised him more goods.
Ishmael thought only of enriching himself. Instead of freeing anyone, he took them as captives to a different foreign power, the Ammonites. Johanan set out to free the captives and succeeded, but Ishmael escaped. Then Johanan ignored God’s direction and led the people into another disaster.
These messy, confusing, and complex stories from scripture prepare us for the world we live in. So-called “patriots” will commit atrocities. So-called “justice advocates” will reject God’s commands. Self-appointed “heroes” will commit acts of villainy. Sin looks for the best things to corrupt.
Since the garden, sin has crouched at our doors, seeking to devour us (Gen 4.7). Sin seeks to twist good things into evil things. Sex, food, and money are easy examples of good gifts that cause great damage outside of God’s purposes. But there is nothing good that sin cannot and will not twist. Sin’s claws, such as greed, violence, and jealousy, are often disguised as noble things, such as patriotism, justice, or loyalty.
Remember, the worst of villains are those who think they are the hero. We must be ready and willing to confront them, as Jeremiah did, but we must also guard ourselves from becoming them. Watch out for sin disguised as virtue.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous; I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. — Psalm 7.18
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
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