Jeremiah 8:4-9:22
Therefore I will give their wives to others
Jeremiah 8:10-12 (cf., Jeremiah 6:13-15)
and their fields to conquerors,
because from the least to the greatest
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among the fallen;
when I punish them, they shall be overthrown,
says the LORD.
You may notice that the above verses from today’s reading are very nearly identical to Jeremiah 6:13-15, which we read just two days ago. Repetition in Scripture is a pretty good indicator that it is important, so maybe we should pay attention, especially when we, too, are so used to sin that we are are not at all ashamed and do not know how to blush.
So how do you picture Jeremiah himself as he proclaims his message of coming disaster to the unrepentant people of Judah? Do you think of him as looking down his nose at them, smugly sneering at all those who are greedy for unjust gain, all those adulterers and idolaters? Do you imagine him saying, “Boy, it sure will be great to see them get theirs!”? Does he take pleasure in pointing the finger, gloating over how much better he is than everyone around him? If that is your idea of Jeremiah, think again:
My joy is gone; grief is upon me;
Jeremiah 8:18
my heart is sick within me.
Oh that my head were waters,
Jeremiah 9:1
and my eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night
for the slain of the daughter of my people!
No, Jeremiah doesn’t gloat. He grieves. Do we?