Shade Tree Wisdom 6/28/13

Shade Tree Wisdom 6/28/13


       When Jeremiah was a youth the Lord said, “Before you were born, I ordained thee a prophet”, and added, “say not I am a child. . .be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee”. 1,5.8. He was born in the last decade of Manasseh’s rule. Manasseh was the worst king Israel ever had. He had encouraged pagan worship, installed temple prostitutes, imported wizards and sorcerers. He even offered his own son as a sacrifice.

       The sacred historian gives this blunt judgment, “Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nation had done.” 2 Kings 21,9. And in this atmosphere Jeremiah learned to walk. It was a slum society. “On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the sons of men”. Ps. 12,8.

       But finally came the grandson, Josiah, who planned on renewal. Where to start? With worship. For people’s lives are only as good as their worship. Meaning is established there, values are created there. Worship defines life. If worship is corrupt, life will be corrupt. For 55 years under Manasseh worship had been corrupt.

       So Jeremiah started there, and while cleaning the temple, they found a long-neglected Book. It was the Book of Deuteronomy. When Josiah read that, he got direction. A clear map of the right and wrong. A road back to God. He saw hope. “Stand by the words, and look, and ask for the ancient paths where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” 6,16.

       So there is hope in our world as well. We have “the ancient paths”, the Book in which our gracious God tells us the story of life and of eternity won for us by His Only Son. We often forget, and like to go our own way, and the “end thereof is death”. But we have HOPE, that lies before us, clearly described in the Book God provides. Sure, certain, and true.

So we can but thank Him, ask for the Holy Spirit to guide our daily life, and live with “the peace of God, which passes all understanding”.

GPD 6/28/13