Links for today’s readings:
Sep 11 Read: Jeremiah 37 Listen: (3:25) Read: 1 Corinthians 13 Listen: (2:33)
Links for this weekend’s readings:
Sep 12 Read: Jeremiah 38 Listen: (5:18) Read: 1 Corinthians 14 Listen: (5:40)
Sep 13 Read: Jeremiah 39 Listen: (3:11) Read: 1 Corinthians 15 Listen: (8:06)
Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 37.15-21
15 They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison. 16 Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time. 17 Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there any word from the Lord?” “Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.” 18 Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What crime have I committed against you or your attendants or this people, that you have put me in prison? 19 Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, ‘The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land’? 20 But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there.” 21 King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
Reflection: True Faith Shows True Colors
By John Tillman
Jeremiah’s relationship with King Zedekiah is complex.
In private conversations, Zedekiah seemed to believe that Jeremiah spoke for God (Jer 38.14-16, 19, 24-26; 37.3, 17). In public, however, Zedekiah’s actions were contradictory. He disobeyed God’s instructions and followed political pressures instead. Zedekiah was also inconsistent (at best) in protecting Jeremiah from political persecution, violence, and imprisonment.
After being beaten and detained, Jeremiah asked Zedekiah where were the prophets who prophesied that Babylon would not attack Jerusalem. Babylon had attacked and taken many captives. Why was Jeremiah punished for telling the truth while prophets who lied to the king walked free, continuing to make politically comfortable “prophecies?”
In the very next chapter, the king’s son, Malkijah, threatened Jeremiah’s life. Instead of intervening, Zedekiah said, “The king can do nothing to oppose you.” (Jer 38.5) Malkijah’s allies put Jeremiah into an empty cistern, expecting him to sink into the mud and drown or starve. Only later, when Ebed-Melek, a palace official from Cush, appealed to the king, did Zedekiah send this African man to save Jeremiah’s life from the cistern.
Will the real Zedekiah please stand up? Will he stand up for the truth? For freedom for Jeremiah? For obeying God? For anything?
In the end, Zedekiah’s actions of foolish rebellion and cowardice showed the true colors of his faith (Jer 39.4-7). In Chronicles, scripture tells us that Zedekiah “did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet.” (2 Chron 36.12) In private, Zedekiah listened. But in public, he would not humble himself to obey.
It is not just kings who act one way in private but their actions contradict their promises. We may never have a private audience with a king, but we may experience this with a boss, religious leader, co-worker, or friend. But the primary place we must watch for this is in ourselves.
And what if we are leaders or “kings” in our circle of influence? Take care to avoid Zedekiah’s errors. Not every critique is from the Lord, but we mustn’t listen and nod to critics and then ignore everything. We must wisely evaluate critiques to discern and correct our errors (Matt 7.3-5).
Whether in leaders, friends, or ourselves, private piety that does not affect public practice is questionable at best. “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (Jam 2.14-26) True faith will show its true colors. Let trees be judged by their fruit (Luke 6.43-45).
Prayers for the 25th annual remembrance of September 11th:
The Park Forum has never explicitly addressed September 11th in our writing. That might seem strange for a ministry founded in 2006 in New York City. On this 25th year of remembrance, my first instinct is to keep our heads down in the scriptures rather than look back to the past. However, if I cannot keep my mind from turning there, how can any of us? Especially those of our readers who were deeply affected.
So much has been said about September 11th that I won’t try to say anything new. Instead, I will share prayers that I think of often in relation to September 11th. These prayers do not come from the scripture or from a prayer book. They come from rock and roll elder statesman and New York neighbor, Bruce Springsteen.
Springsteen is no theologian, and his beliefs are murky and confusing to me. It is hard to tell if his frequent scriptural references indicate faith or are merely poetic language bubbling up from the Catholic imagination gifted by his upbringing. But poets see deeply and often see truly, even if they don’t see fully. So, just as Paul quoted Epimenides at the Areopagus (Acts 17.28), today, we will pray Springsteen’s prayers. (Divine Hours prayers will return Monday)
One prayer takes inspiration from, and honors the sacrifice of, those who rushed toward danger, up the stairs, and into fire to save those who could be saved, laying down their lives for others (John 15.13). The second voices the prayers of those who, left in the wreckage of tragedy, prayed for the strength, faith, and love to rise from the ruins. May these prayers aid us in this time of remembering.
May your strength give us strength.
May your faith give us faith.
May your hope give us hope.
May your love give us love.
Bruce Springsteen, “Into the Fire”
My city’s in ruins
Now, with these hands, with these hands
With these hands, with these hands
I pray, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
I pray for the strength, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
Yeah, I pray for the faith, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
Pray for your love, Lord (with these hands, with these hands)
Bruce Springsteen, “My City of Ruins”
Readers’ Choice is Coming!
Readers’ Choice is when we ask you to share your favorite Park Forum posts from this year.
What posts gladdened your heart?
https://forms.gle/Kj12Ziy4C9gQg8Xm7
Read more: Love Great or Terrible
The difference in love being great or terrible is usually the character of the lover. Let us love in a way that shows the character of Jesus.
