Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 8:7-8
7 Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know
the requirements of the Lord.
8 How can you say, “We are wise,
for we have the law of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
has handled it falsely?
Reflection: Having vs. Knowing God’s Word
By Erin Newton
How many times a day do we read a post or article claiming to be really telling you the truth? But wait! They have the real answer!
We are a culture that is bent on convincing others that everything has been a lie, and the only solution is to trust this person who has this special knowledge. Even now, why should you believe what I’m typing?
What does it mean to be wise? How can we know if truth and wisdom have been handled falsely?
During Jeremiah’s time, the people spouted their confidence: “We are wise. We have the law. Isn’t that enough?” What they didn’t say is that they were sorry or had done wrong. They said, “Peace,” as if everything was fine. But in that time, things were anything but fine. They were anything but innocent. They had anything but wisdom.
God heralded his judgment: “They clung to deceitfulness; they trusted their own ways…like a charging horse going into battle.” They might have had the word of God, but they did not know its requirements (v. 7). We know from other texts that the people deprived the poor, acted unjustly, worshiped other gods, and felt no shame in the midst of it all.
When the community was hurting, the religious leaders would “dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious” (v. 11). Yes, they had the word of God but their handling of it was a lie.
How can we, today, avoid this egregious error? How do we know if those who say they have the right answer are actually wise people?
The proud statement that they had the law is important. They possessed the law. They probably read it from time to time. They might even have it out for people to see. But did they even know what it required?
Having and knowing are different things. You can possess a Bible, but it makes no difference if you don’t know what’s in it. You can display the Ten Commandments in a public building, but does anyone know what they require?
What they really needed, and we need, is one step further: doing. And I think that is how we know if someone is handling truth wisely—they have truth, know truth, and do truth. It must be all three.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; instruct me in your statutes. — Psalm 119.64
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.
Today’s Readings
Jeremiah 8 (Listen 3:52)
James 4 (Listen 2:25)
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