Jeremiah: Prophet for All Ages

Michelangelo's depiction of Jeremiah reminds us
that Jeremiah was a prophet who grieved over
the brokenness of his generation.

Next to the Book of Psalms, Jeremiah is the longest book of the Bible.  It’s 52 chapters are an anthology of sayings and events from the life of the prophet Jeremiah, whose prophetic career spanned forty years from 627-587 BC.  Our 2013 summer worship series at Faith UMC will center on key passages from this book.  In addition to weekly sermons, I’ll also be writing weekly reflections on this blog that will invite us to dive deeper into the message of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah’s influence has left at least one indelible mark on the English language.  According to Websters, a “jeremiad” is a “lamentation or doleful complaint.”  Indeed, as we will see, there is a lot of lamenting in the Book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was born into a difficult and challenging world.  In his lifetime, the mighty Assyrian empire crumbled, and Egypt and Babylon battled back and forth for the title of world power. 

In the midst of it all, Jeremiah and the Southern Kingdom of Israel (called Judah) lived in a time of anxiety and fear, unsure of what the future would hold for their small nation.  What is more, Jeremiah saw how far his people had strayed from the ways of God.  Idolatry was rampant in Israel, and the poor and needy were often neglected and forgotten.  Such difficult and dark days created plenty of reasons for Jeremiah to offer a “jeremiad.”

But that is not to say that the overall tone of the Book of Jeremiah is mournful and dour.  As a matter of fact, some of the purest expressions of hope are found in Jeremiah’s prophecy.  In the midst of a turbulent world, Jeremiah was a man of God-inspired vision.  Where most people saw only chaos and turmoil, Jeremiah was able to see and articulate God’s purpose at work in the world.  In the midst of the brokenness of his age, Jeremiah envisioned a new covenant, when God would break into history and restore the hope of God’s people. 

While our contemporary world is very different than Jeremiah’s, his message still speaks truth into our lives.  How many of us have lamented the current state of our world?  How many times have we broken down and cried at the harsh realities of life?  How many times have we wondered, “where is God?”  For us who know that something is wrong with the world, the voice of Jeremiah helps us to articulate our grief over the world’s ills, while also helping us to speak energizing words of hope in the midst of it all. 

My hope and prayer is that this summer journey into the Book of Jeremiah will inspire all of us with the hope of God, which comes to fullest expression in our savior Jesus Christ.  The journey starts this Sunday.  See you there!