Turn....
Jeremiah 2:26-30 "As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,
so the house of Israel is disgraced—
they, their kings and their officials,
their priests and their prophets.
[27] They say to wood, 'You are my father,'
and to stone, 'You gave me birth.'
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
'Come and save us!'
[28] Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them come if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you have as many gods
as you have towns, O Judah.
[29] "Why do you bring charges against me?
You have all rebelled against me,"
declares the Lord.
[30] "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.
There is something incredible about looking into someone’s face, especially someone that you love: your mother, your child, your husband…. There is something about that intimate connection which is just wonderful, that fuels the soul and speaks about the depth and intimacy in that relationship.
So it can be hurtful when that face is turned around and all you see is the back of their head. It is as if a connection has been broken and all the communication, the said and unsaid has been reduced.
God found himself facing this sense of loss with the Jews. They had turned their backs on him, and tried to find succour from worthless idols. At times they did turn back to him, but always when they needed saving or when God himself had corrected them. It’s sad when we only go to the people we ‘love’ when we need help. Because a relationship which is built through all seasons and grows in love is one which is far stronger.
Turn round and face the Lord. Let him see your face, let him see the wrinkles, the hurts, the joys and pains as you reveal them to him – he knows them anyway, but he is pleased when you share them with him. And perhaps when you do, you’ll learn to see his, and see and feel how he thinks about all the problems, difficulties and challenges that face people. Perhaps by looking on what is eternal you will see hope.
so the house of Israel is disgraced—
they, their kings and their officials,
their priests and their prophets.
[27] They say to wood, 'You are my father,'
and to stone, 'You gave me birth.'
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
'Come and save us!'
[28] Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them come if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you have as many gods
as you have towns, O Judah.
[29] "Why do you bring charges against me?
You have all rebelled against me,"
declares the Lord.
[30] "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.
There is something incredible about looking into someone’s face, especially someone that you love: your mother, your child, your husband…. There is something about that intimate connection which is just wonderful, that fuels the soul and speaks about the depth and intimacy in that relationship.
So it can be hurtful when that face is turned around and all you see is the back of their head. It is as if a connection has been broken and all the communication, the said and unsaid has been reduced.
God found himself facing this sense of loss with the Jews. They had turned their backs on him, and tried to find succour from worthless idols. At times they did turn back to him, but always when they needed saving or when God himself had corrected them. It’s sad when we only go to the people we ‘love’ when we need help. Because a relationship which is built through all seasons and grows in love is one which is far stronger.
Turn round and face the Lord. Let him see your face, let him see the wrinkles, the hurts, the joys and pains as you reveal them to him – he knows them anyway, but he is pleased when you share them with him. And perhaps when you do, you’ll learn to see his, and see and feel how he thinks about all the problems, difficulties and challenges that face people. Perhaps by looking on what is eternal you will see hope.
posted by Gordon at
8:42 am
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