Friday, September 10, 2021
Our Lives as Booty
Jerusalem is invaded and destroyed, the enemy chases down and captures the king, the princes are murdered before the father’s eyes, and the poor are left behind to tend the farms and vineyards. Jeremiah is released from the guard house where he had been detained for his words. He conveys the words of the Lord’ assurance to his Egyptian rescuer, Ebed-melech: Behold, I am now fulfilling the words I spoke against this city, for evil and not for good; and this before your very eyes. But on that day I will rescue you, says the Lord, you shall not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid. I will make certain that you escape and do not fall by the sword. Your life shall be spared as booty, because you trusted in me, says the Lord.
From commentary: “Jeremiah’s behavior illustrates how to survive. By submitting to Babylon, he has escaped with his life as the prize of war and returned home. The Eded-melech sequel lends strength to this interpretation. Although the fate of the city is sealed, Ebed-melech will escape with his life as a prize of war because he trusted in YHWH. It is that confidence that most exiles emulate, and they too will gain a future. The many themes of these narratives unite in this rhetorical effort to persuade the exiles to submit to Babylon as the only avenue forward”. (Barton, and Muddiman 520)
All of this sets us to thinking about God’s justice.
From the mini-reflection in today’s MAGNIFICAT Evening Prayer: The concept of God’s justice can seem frightening. We are aware of our own sin and fear retribution. However, God’s justice is not about him getting back at those who offended him. God’s justice sets things aright . . . [so] we should not dread God’s justice. Rather we should rejoice in right order returned to his creation.
And so we pray . . .
Just, yet merciful God who sees and knows all, we return our lives to you. We, who are created by your hand, turn back to you all that we have managed to enact in our lives in your name. We, who have known the protection of your power, fly home to live in you. We, who have been saved by your love, gather all that we are as booty to be taken in by you. In your mercy, guide us. In your kindness, guard us. And in your great love, give us the hope, the grace and the endurance we will need to live in joyful hope for you. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Barton, John, and John Muddiman. THE OXFORD BIBLE COMMENTARY. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2001. 520. Print.
Image from: http://christianmotivations.weebly.com/christian-motivations-blog/archives/08-2014/3
A Favorite from February 5, 2011.
The Noontimes 
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