impending disaster

December 7, 2016

Yahweh speaks to Jeremiah (Jer 26:2-26:3)

“Thus says Yahweh.

‘Stand in the court

Of Yahweh’s house!

Speak

To all the cities

Of Judah!

To all those

Who come to worship

In the house of Yahweh!

Speak to them

All the words

That I command you!

Do not hold back a word!

It may be

That they will listen.

Maybe they will turn

From their evil ways.

Then I may change

My mind

About the disaster

That I intend to bring

On them,

Because of their evil doings.’”

Yahweh told Jeremiah to stand in the Temple court. He was to speak to all the people from the cities of Judah who came to worship Yahweh in the Temple. Jeremiah was, as usual, to say only the words that Yahweh was going to tell him to say. However, he was not to hold back any words. Maybe the people of Judah would listen to him and turn from their evil ways. Then Yahweh would change his mind about the impending disaster that he intended to bring to the people of Judah because of their evil actions.

November 19, 2016

The power of Yahweh is like a potter (Jer 18:7-18:10)

“At any moment,

I may declare

Concerning a nation

Or a kingdom,

That I will pluck it up.

I will break it down.

I will destroy it.

But if that nation,

Concerning which I have spoken,

Turns from its evil,

I will change my mind

About the disaster

That I intended to bring on it.

At another moment,

I may declare

Concerning a nation

Or a kingdom

That I will build it up.

I will plant it.

But if it does evil in my sight,

Not listening to my voice,

Then I will change my mind

About the good

That I had intended to do to it.”

Yahweh proclaimed, via Jeremiah, that at any time he could pluck up, break down, and destroy any nation or kingdom that he wanted to, since he was like the clay potter. All the countries in the world were like clay in his hands. If a country changed from its evil ways, he could change his mind about their impending disaster. Yahweh could also do the same for any nation or kingdom that he was trying to build up or plant. If they did evil in his sight by not listening to him, then Yahweh could change his mind about the good that he had intended to do for them. Thus Yahweh was like a potter who could destroy or mold as he saw fit the various countries and their people.

August 4, 2016

The call of Yahweh (Isa 22:12-22:14)

“In that day,

Yahweh,

God of hosts,

Called for weeping.

He called for mourning.

He called for baldness.

He called for putting on sackcloth.

But instead

There was joy.

There was festivity.

They killed oxen.

They slaughtered sheep.

They were eating meat.

They were drinking wine.

‘Let us eat!

Let us drink!

For tomorrow we die!’

Yahweh of hosts

Has revealed himself

In my ears.

‘Surely

This iniquity

Will not be forgiven you

Until you die.’

Says Yahweh,

God of hosts.”

On that day, Yahweh called on his people to weep and mourn. He wanted them to shave their heads and put on sackcloth because of the impending disaster. Instead, the people of Jerusalem decided to have a joyous festival. They killed oxen and sheep for their celebration, as they drank wine and ate meat. Then we have the famous saying that has endured through time. They cried out, “Let us eat and drink because tomorrow we die.” Yahweh of hosts was not pleased at this response. In fact, he told Isaiah explicitly that their iniquity would not be forgiven as long as they lived.