What a week! Jeremiah is protesting power in Jerusalem, looking the king in the eye and warning him and the people — the end is near — choose life over death — surrender your nationalist aspirations and save every life even if you are exiled!
But even as Babylon nears - the people don’t listen. The protests grow louder and so does the rage of the crowd. Who wants to hear the tragic truth?
Once again the Bible meets today’s headlines. This first week of the new year was in the streets — I’ve been protesting with many others all over New York City - to save the earth and democracy — as the UN General Assembly brings world leaders to town and it’s our chance to let them hear our prophetic fears and warning, rage and rebuke. One of the leaders is town is the Israeli Prime Minister, greeted round the clock by protesters and a lot of noise.
But will he/they listen? Do they ever?
We don’t have a great record of leaders or people listening to prophets who demand we change our ways and choose what’s good.
Here are the words that Jeremiah blasted at the king and the people in the chapter we read yesterday:
“YHWH constantly sent all his servants the prophets to you, but you would not listen or incline your ears to hear: when they said, “Turn back, every one, from your evil ways and your wicked acts, that you may remain throughout the ages on the soil that YHWH gave to you and your ancestors.”
Will the land of the Jewish people remain a homeland as corruption and greed overcome the justice and the right to sanctuary and relief? Time will tell.
This is the week that leads into the Day of Atonement and it’s on each of us to figure out where we’ve walked off the path and what can each of us do to be less of the problem and more of the solution — whatever the prophetic call calls out for you..
Thank you for joining me below the bible belt. Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova
Prophetic Protest Then and Now