Author: Erin Newton

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 23  Read: Jeremiah 50 Listen: (8:42) Read: 2 Corinthians 9 Listen: (2:26)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 50:6

My people have been lost sheep;
    their shepherds have led them astray
    and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill
    and forgot their own resting place.

Reflection: Stray Shepherding

By Erin Newton

In my first year of Hebrew classes, my professor explained verb tenses and used Psalm 23 as an example. He stressed, “The Lord is shepherding me”—not simply, “is my shepherd.” His point was that the guidance of our God is continual and ongoing, not just a point-in-time fact or a past action. I have taken more classes since that day two decades ago, but this statement comes to mind often.

A note here: We must remind people that the old theory that shepherds needed to be harsh and even “break the legs of a sheep when it was unruly” is false and debunked. That’s a terrible shepherding method and a horrendous advocation for abuse. (The Park Forum has written specifically on this point in Urban Legends and Good Shepherds.)

Over the last year, I’ve experienced the “sheep without a shepherd” situation. Matthew 9:26 speaks of this: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Oddly, I was a member of a functioning church. It was a church in transition and, despite reaching out to the pastors, my concerns fell through cracks. And then again two months later. And then again two months after that.

I follow an account where a photographer’s husband is a shepherd in Switzerland. It has been fascinating to see a modern-day shepherd’s life and then reflect on modern pastoral care for the church. This Swiss shepherd spends half of the year with his flocks in the mountains. He is separated from his human community for months, being integrated and connected to his sheep and goats. He knows their personalities, their struggles, their life cycles. They move up and down the mountain depending on the season.

Change is inevitable and not necessarily bad. Jeremiah’s shepherd is moving the congregation over the hills and mountains. But it’s astray. These shepherds, who were revered among their community and blindly followed by the flock, are not as wise as they proclaim to be.

The result is a lack of rest. No peace in the community. No peace with God. No peace internally.

With all the verses about human shepherding, I’m so thankful for Psalm 23. The Lord is shepherding me. I’ve moved into a new flock with a new set of shepherds who dwell among us, knowing our lives and our hurts. But it’s still the Lord who ultimately shepherds. And he does not lead astray. He guards me; I don’t have to be his defense.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Show us the light of your countenance, O God, and come to us. — Psalm 67.1

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

Readers’ Choice is Coming!

Readers’ Choice is when we ask you to share your favorite Park Forum posts from this year. 
What posts helped you understand the Bible?

https://forms.gle/Kj12Ziy4C9gQg8Xm7

Read more: Urban Legends and Good Shepherds

Abusive leaders have used this metaphor to justify “wounding” parishioners with “tough love” because they are “good shepherds.”

Urban Legends and Good Shepherds — Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 16  Read: Jeremiah 42 Listen: (3:44) Read: 2 Corinthians 2 Listen: (2:13)

Reflection: Let Go and Let God?

By Erin Newton

One thing that has worked well in my marriage (and I would assume that nearly all relationships would benefit positively) is that when one spouse complains, the other pauses before giving any advice and asks, “Do you need to vent or do you need advice?” Usually for me, I only want to vent. I know what to do, but I need to get all my feelings out there.

There are times when I genuinely have no idea what to do. Do I take this teaching position when I already feel too busy? Do I write a letter to a former church explaining the pain they caused? Do I stay? Do I go?

Our lives are filled with a multitude of decisions, and decision fatigue is a real thing. Sometimes we are simply out of our depth or out of energy. We need advice. I’m grateful for the pastors, mentors, friends, and family that have often been a solid source of guidance.

In chapter 42, Johanan comes to Jeremiah asking for advice. He even vows to take the advice no matter what. That is a strong commitment.

Ten days pass before Jeremiah returns with the words of God for Johanan. I really like this slow approach. It’s not Jeremiah’s opinion given at a drop of a hat. It’s advice that’s been sought after and slowly gathered. Jeremiah is the “God-expert” so to speak. His role as a prophet meant he was the right person to ask advice from. Johanan made a good choice there.

Asking for advice is a humbling experience. One has to let go of control and pride, admit a deficiency in experience or ability, and then hold oneself to the guidance of another. Sometimes our pursuit of wisdom stops there. But what does Johanan promise next? He commits to taking the advice.

Johanan realizes in his vulnerable request that he has relinquished control of the situation and he cannot guarantee the outcome of God’s advice. That can be a scary place.

Sometimes we ask for advice and hope for a particular outcome. We feign commitment by promising to listen and take heed of whatever response is given.

But we will see in the next chapter that asking for advice is one step. Committing to follow is another step. But following through will be the ultimate litmus test of one’s faith.

Are you willing to seek advice? Now are you willing to take it?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Let us make a vow to the Lord and keep it; let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared. — Psalm 76.1

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

Readers’ Choice is Coming!

Readers’ Choice is when we ask you to share your favorite Park Forum posts from this year. What posts did you share with a friend?

https://forms.gle/Kj12Ziy4C9gQg8Xm7

Read more: The “Ideal” of the New Testament Church

Rather than one “ideal,” when we look at what the different churches actually did, we see many variations. 

The “Ideal” of the New Testament Church

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 9  Read: Jeremiah 35 Listen: (3:43) Read: 1 Corinthians 11 Listen: (4:20)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 35:16

16 The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.

Reflection: Loopholes or Loyalty?

By Erin Newton

I wouldn’t say that I did everything my parents told me to do. But my mom, when she was on hospice, asked for a few things—cremation vs. burial, no headstone, and not to post sad tributes each year online. I’ve kept my promise. But, honestly, she wasn’t around to make sure we obeyed. We did it because of our respect and love for her.

In Jeremiah 35 we see another case of descendants honoring the wishes and commands of one of their elders. I imagine these descendants are generations removed from the original command. But their desire to be loyal and faithful was so steadfast that they kept the promise even when things might have been easier if they hadn’t.

The prophet uses them as an example of faithfulness. The analogy is that if these descendants chose to obey a human ancestor year after year, then why would God‘s people not do the same in obeying him? The command given to these ancestors caused them to be vulnerable—without permanent housing or food sources. The easy road would have been to find a loophole or justify giving up the commandment. 

I wish my mom had a grave marker that I could visit when I was feeling sad. I sometimes wish I could post on the anniversary of her death so that my friends would give me a little extra attention when I reminded them. But I don’t, because my desire to honor her is greater than my own desire for comfort. 

I am amazed at the faithfulness of the Rekabites. 

How do we integrate this example into our lives in the twenty-first century?

We daily face decisions where the easier option is high-handed disobedience or feigned ignorance to what God has commanded. He told us to take care of those who are less fortunate or voiceless or abused or forgotten. But we often look at the world and assume it is somebody else’s problem or that the mediocre care given by a few is sufficient to fulfill the command by God for the rest of us.

Jesus asked us to avoid excessive wealth and hoarding of goods and the storing up of treasures on this earth. But we call it being smart and prudent to leave an inheritance for our children at the cost of helping others in need today. 

One day all that is hidden will be revealed—even our faithfulness.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling;

That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. — Psalm 43.3-4

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

Readers’ Choice is Coming!

Readers’ Choice is when we ask you to share your favorite Park Forum posts from this year. What posts nourished your faith?

https://forms.gle/Kj12Ziy4C9gQg8Xm7

Read more: Chastened Towards Freedom 

We are not taught perfectionism in Paul, but rather confession and submission to the Holy Spirit…

Chastened Towards Freedom

Links for today’s readings:

Sep 2  Read: Jeremiah 27 Listen: (3:52) Read: 1 Corinthians 4 Listen: (3:15)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 27:16-17

16 Then I said to the priests and all these people, “This is what the Lord says: Do not listen to the prophets who say, ‘Very soon now the articles from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this city become a ruin?

Reflection: It’s a Trap!

By Erin Newton

In the Star Wars movies, one character is known for the line “It’s a trap!” The phrase is actually repeated by multiple characters. Clearly the plot relies on the element of ruses and tricks. Situations the characters first think are good, often erupt into action-packed scenes of near disaster.

False prophets also deal in tricks and traps. 

Jeremiah warns the people about their judgment by the hand of God through the Babylonians. While their experience was painful, it was tempting to trust those who promised ease and a reversal. I don’t think I blame them. 

In fact, the prophets often began their messages with warnings of judgment and destruction and then followed those statements with promises of restoration. We rely on the conclusion of hope when we read the Bible. Why is Jeremiah warning against those prophecies now? 

If these false prophets had been able to sway the people, they would likely have attempted to act on the promises by rebelling against Babylon. Jeremiah warns that this would be futile.

Disclaimer: A glimmer of hope appears when Jeremiah indicates that restoration will happen when God decides. But the key factor is that God is the determiner of when that happens. Reacting to a false promise of restoration would likely have ruined it all. 

Pain has a way of leading us into temptation. We are tempted to listen to false prophets. We are tempted to listen to people who claim the name of God but speak a different message. 

You often see movies with these types of characters. They are the characters that cannot possibly grasp the danger that lies before them and so they convince themselves that everything is going to be just fine and that restoration is coming “very soon.” The character jumps up and flees the small net of safety and then the monster pounces. 

It is certainly tempting to believe a message that we can control. Blessing is coming very soon? Well let’s just hurry things along! That sounds rather nice. But in the end, it is foolish for us to force things to happen—force blessings, force ease and comfort. 

It’s sometimes hard to distinguish between promises of hardship or promises of coming restoration. I think we are called to be patient in God’s timing, even in pain. We must hold this life of ours loosely, never trying to turn things to our own commands.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the clouds. — Psalm 36.5

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

Readers’ Choice is Coming!

Readers’ Choice is when we ask you to share your favorite Park Forum posts from this year. 

What posts helped you heal?

https://forms.gle/Kj12Ziy4C9gQg8Xm7

Read more: Comfortable Prophecies

It is difficult to judge Jerusalem for falling for these false prophets. Don’t we also feel the pull to grasp onto any far-fetched hope of a return to normalcy?

Comfortable Prophecies