Scripture: Jeremiah 1:18-19
Today I have made you an armed city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall against the entire land—the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and all its people. They will attack you, but they won’t defeat you, because I am with you and will rescue you, declares the LORD.
Thought for the Day: It might sound as if Jeremiah needs to prepare for a true war, but in vs. 17, we read how Jeremiah must be ready to utter every word that God commands. The Word of God is often described as a sword, yet it is like so much of the Bible, a metaphor. The old notion of sticks and stones might break our bones, but names will never hurt us assumes that words carry with them no power. It was the character, Albus Dumbledore, from Harry Potter who said, “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.” Though the prophet’s language can be harsh and there might be violence all around, there is never a suggestion the violence will be the remedy. The prophets believed in the power of words and imagery, poetry and metaphor to help move people and culture to realign themselves with God. One of my greatest concerns about our current culture is how little stock we put in language – we use it to insult people, and then language is left behind as we reach for the literal sword.
Prayer: Give us words – give us your words, Loving Lord, and allow them to shape us and to be a central tool by which we help to shape the world around us. Amen.
Sunday’s Sermon
Continuing With Jeremiah
