Today’s Old Testament passage (Jeremiah 14:17-22) was written during a period of death and famine in Jerusalem preceding the Babylonian captivity starting in 587 BC. It is a rebuttal to the false prophets who were, at that time, raising expectations among the people that they are not going to experience “sword and famine” because of their behavior. Jeremiah refuses to raise such expectations, however unpopular his prophesies might make him.
That having been said, today’s passage is full of compassion and tenderness. There is no anger in God’s words against his people. Rather he is presented as being deeply upset over their sufferings. Through the prophet, God says, “Let my eyes run down with tears night and day…for the virgin daughter of my people is struck down with a crushing blow…” The ‘daughter’ is Jerusalem. Everywhere God sees people in the countryside killed by the sword, and in the city, they are sick with hunger. Even the prophets and priests, who would normally be supported by the people, are reduced to foraging for food “throughout the land [about which they] have no knowledge”. All are at their wits’ end.
Jeremiah then expresses his own distress at what is happening and wonders what the Lord is doing about it. He asks, “Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us?” It is the cry of a people deep in despair at their never-ending sufferings and who lament, “We look for peace but find no good, for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.”
At the same time, the prophet acknowledges that his people are in no way innocent. They have brought their own tribulations, “We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord… for we have sinned against you.”
But the prophet reminds the Lord that they are his own people, and, for his own Name’s sake, he prays that they not be rejected. “…remember and do not break your covenant with us.” Jeremiah argues that the people’s suffering and shame reduce the glory of their God, especially in the eyes of Gentiles. Who could honor a God who allows his people to suffer in this way?
But it takes two to make a covenant, and its observance depends on both sides keeping their promise. He is their God, but they are his people and must show it by their behavior. This they have miserably failed to do.
The prophet concludes by appealing to the unique power of their God, “Can any idols of the nations bring rain, or can the heavens give showers?” This calls to mind the challenge that Elijah made to the priests of Baal about breaking a drought (see Exodus 18:25-29). Only Yahweh can bring the longed-for rain, “Is it not you, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.”
We see here, on the one side, the picture of the tender God who cares deeply for his people. This was all so graphically illustrated by the life of Jesus, our God incarnate. We must never forget it.
On the other side, during times of tragedy, pain, loss or distress it is easy for us to wonder if our God really does care, when he allows such terrible things to happen to us or to our loved ones. But it is precisely at such times we need to be aware of the closeness of God’s love to us. His love for us was most clearly shown as Jesus hanging dying in terribly agony and shame on the Cross. Even though, at one point, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34), it was at the very moment of his death that he sees supreme love, the moment of new life and glory.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!