Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 14 and 1 Corinthians 16

Jeremiah 14 – Judah suffers a terrible drought: “The wild asses stand on the bare heights, gasping for breath like jackals; Their eyes grow dim, because there is no vegetation to be seen” (14:6).  Jeremiah tries the same kind of intercession Moses successfully used with the Lord, trying to get His help by pointing out that Judah’s difficulties involve YHWH’s honor and reputation in some way. 

There is a poignant sense here of God’s very real absence and silence at a time of great need: “O Hope of Israel, O Lord, our savior in time of need!  Why should you be a stranger in this land, like a traveler who has stopped but for a night?  Why are you like a man dumb-founded, a champion who cannot save? You are in our midst, O Lord, your name we bear: do not forsake us!” (14:8-9). For a minute here, the people are depicted almost like a forsaken spouse, bearing the name of one who has deserted her mysteriously.  There is an acknowledgment of sin (14:7), there is a sense that that doesn’t fully explain God’s absence.

           

The Lord tells Jeremiah not to try to intercede for the people, but he reminds God that it is the prophets who have told the people continually that the Lord would always be with them, favor them, preserve them from their foes—now, having believed that even to the point of becoming careless in their own behavior and faithfulness, the people do not know what to make of God’s promises.  The Lord insists these prophets never spoke for him, because there is reciprocity in the covenant.  It was never meant to be a one-sided thing.

The prophet suffers great pain.  He wonders is God has “cast Judah off completely” (14:19). He begs the Lord to remember His covenant, for only the Lord is the source of life for them.

1 Corinthians 16 – Paul says to the Corinthians that the collections for the church in Jerusalem should go on weekly. He tells them he plans to come after he passes through Macedonia and is thinking of staying the winter with them to sort out some of the problems he has addressed He plans to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost because his work there has been very productive.  Timothy is traveling and might come as well.  Apollos was asked to go to them, but cannot.  He urges them to do everything they do in love.