March 11, 2013

Jeremiah 16:10-21; Romans 7:1-12; John 6:1-15; Psalm 89:1-18

Walter Rauschenbusch, the articulate Martin L. King mentor, said: “A just society should reflect moral values and promote justice for all, service to others, and a love that liberates.” The more I reflect on the prophet Jeremiah’s message, the more I believe he would shout “Yes!” to Rauschenbusch’s statement.

Jeremiah came onto the stage of human history at a crucial time. God’s incredible love and power had liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and established them in the Promised Land. The covenant between God and them was one of mutual fidelity and love. But the Israelites, over time, “thumbed their noses” at God, ignored the promises made, and began following other lesser “man-made” gods. Jeremiah answered the call from God to reverse the downward spiral. In an earlier chapter, we hear God speaking to him: “They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors of old….they have gone after other gods to serve them….have broken the covenant that I made with their ancestors.”

Jeremiah is incensed with his people for their behavior. And he exclaims: “Can mortals make for themselves Gods? SUCH ARE NO GODS!” He knew full well that they had lost their compass for the living of a life of moral integrity, faithfulness, and happiness that God’s covenant promised. The “gods” they chose to bow down to had left them empty.

I am reminded of a marvelous book I read several times in my formative years entitled YOUR GOD IS TOO SMALL, which challenged us Christians to grow beyond the simplistic ideas of the reality of God so common in society around us. In many minds, God’s image was reduced to a peripheral level of importance, while we gave allegiance to “other gods” to satisfy our real needs. Our God was “too small” to save us. Does that message still ring true today?

Jeremiah and Walter Rauschenbusch are clamoring for our attention this Lent to look around at our floundering society today, at our uncompromising elected leadership, and our individual part in it, to deepen and renew our covenant with God, who longs for us to create a society that reflects moral values, promotes justice for all, service to others, and a love that liberates.

— Richard Hennigar