Scripture: Jeremiah 1:9-10
Then the LORD stretched out his hand, touched my mouth, and said to me, “I’m putting my words in your mouth. This very day I appoint you over nations and empires, to dig up and pull down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.”
Thought for the Day: If you heard the sermon yesterday, you know that Jeremiah was not initially enthusiastic about God’s call. In fact, Jeremiah had some excellent excuses for why it was a bad idea. Yet God remained persistent, and here in these two verses, we find imagery of God’s empowerment of Jeremiah – instilling within him the needed words for the work of a prophet. Again, a prophet was not a fortune teller, soothsayer or psychic. A prophet was one who read the current situation and was able to speak the painful truth when the direction of the people was at odds with the direction of God. And as we will hear, Jeremiah will speak harshly about what lies ahead for those who continue in an unhealthy and hurtful direction. But even here in vs. 10, we hear how the task of the prophet is to dig up, pull down, destroy and demolish. It doesn’t take special powers to see how self-destructive behavior will lead to self-destruction. At the same time, the prophet offers two more verbs – build and plant. A number of scholars suggest the prefix ‘re’ should be added to these verbs – rebuild and replant. Despite all that will be torn down and turned over, it is really for the purpose of rebuilding and replanting. The prophet does not want to paint a pretty picture – like a person working through addiction – because it is not going to be easy or pretty. At the same time, the destruction of what was will not be the final outcome. Out of the dust and carnage, something new and wonderful will emerge…
Prayer: O Creative God, when my life is built around those things that are unhealthy and hurtful, help me to see that the painful work of tearing down is necessary for health and restoration to occur. Let me trust in that promise even when I cannot imagine it as a possibility. Amen.
Remember – Pray For Your Church
