2019, August 25 ~ Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Hebrews 12:18-29

Jeremiah 1:4-10

After the righteous and reforming King Josiah was killed in battle at Megiddo (from which we get the Greek word Armageddon) in 609 BCE, the fortunes of Judea took a sharp downward turn. Babylon threatened Judea’s existence, and Judea had a series of hapless kings from 609 until Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The Babylonians deported a number of Judean leaders to Babylon in 597 and a larger number in 586 (the beginning of the Babylonian Exile). Jeremiah’s prophesy (i.e. speaking for YHWH) began around 609 and continued until 586 BCE when he died in Egypt.

Most Bible scholars agree that the Book of Jeremiah underwent substantial revisions between the time of Jeremiah (627 to 586 BCE) and the First Century. Sections in the book that are in “poetry style” are generally attributed to the prophet, and parts in “prose style” were added later by writers whose theological outlook was closely aligned with the Deuteronomists. (In fact, Chapter 52 in Jeremiah is virtually word for word with 2 Kings 24:18 to 25:30 written by the Deuteronomists after the Exile.)

Today’s reading is in “poetry style” and describes Jeremiah’s call in terms that are reminiscent of the calls of Moses in Exodus 3, Gideon in Judges 6 and Isaiah in Isaiah 6. In this sense, Jeremiah is presented as a “prophet like Moses” who would be raised up as anticipated in Deut. 18:15. Just as with Moses, Gideon and Isaiah, Jeremiah claims (v.6) he is not fit to speak for YHWH (translated as “LORD” in all capital letters), but YHWH touches Jeremiah’s mouth (v.9) and puts words in it so that he can speak for YHWH.

The phrase “to destroy and overthrow and to build up and plant” (v.10) expresses a key theme expressed in Jeremiah – Jerusalem will be destroyed by the Babylonians but will be rebuilt after the Exile ends.

Hebrews 12:18-29

The Letter to the Hebrews was an anonymous sermon to both Jewish and Gentile Jesus Followers, urging them to maintain their Faith and Hope in the face of hardship. The letter developed a number of important images such as Jesus the Christ as the High Priest. The author emphasized the continuing importance of the Bible and Jewish tradition.

Today’s reading is the conclusion of the author’s discussion of “faith” (better understood as “faithfulness”) that began in Chapter 10. In recognizing the intangibility of “faith,” the author contrasted Mount Zion and the city of the Living God (to which the Jesus Followers have come through faithfulness) with Mount Sinai (“something that can be touched” – v.18).

The author of Hebrews knew the Hebrew Bible well, and used the Greek translation, the Septuagint, as his source. In urging his hearers to listen to the letter with care, he paraphrased Haggai 2.6 in stating the God will remove created things (v.27) to give Jesus Followers a “kingdom that cannot be shaken” (v.28). In describing God as “a consuming fire” (v.29), the author relied on phrases in Deut. 4 and 9.