Saturday of Lent 4, March 17, 2018 Jeremiah 11:18-20
The people break God’s covenant incurring the curses pronounced when their ancestors entered the Promised Land. Persistent apostasy can have only once outcome; God’s judgment. Yet the lord also stands ready to forgive His people and rescue them from impending disaster. If only they repent and return to Him in faith.1
Jeremiah’s laments are not unlike the typical blues song. They follow an artistic pattern that involves repeated expressions of hardship leading to a poetic transition in which the prophet expresses trust that God will vindicate him in some way. The prophet’s speech is followed by God’s response in Vv. 21-23. By the end of the passage, there is a sense of emotional resolution for Jeremiah, even if only temporary. Although Jeremiah’s poetic expression is not exactly the same as singing the blues as we know it, this pattern is well-established in biblical literature. Jeremiah’s confessions are very similar to the laments found in the Psalms (see Psalms 3-7)
Hymn: We Sing the Praise of Him Who Died (Lutheran Service Book 429:5)
The balm of life, the cure of woe,
The measure and the pledge of love,
The sinner’s refuge here below,
The angels’ theme in heav’n above.
Dear Father, grant us Your holy Spirit to work daily repentance in us and to keep us faithful to You.
Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and spare all those who confess their sins to You; that those whose consciences are accuse by sin may by Your merciful pardon be absolved; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen 2
1. Lutheran Study Bible, © 2009 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
2. Collect for Saturday of Lent 4, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment