SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 40
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon [Jeremiah 40:7]
No doubt there were many times when it was lousy to be poor, but here is a day when the poor are spared and the rich are exiled.
After years of suffering, neglect, injustice and abuse, the poorest in the land are suddenly the ones that are envied, while the rich are no longer laughing, well fed, comfortable.
The repeated message of the prophets has been this warning, that one day the exalted will be humbled and the lowly will be exalted.
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. [Luke 6:2-23]
Jesus seems to echo this passage, and the prophet’s message.
At the moment it seems foolish, because the poor are still poor, the hungry are still hungry, those weeping are still weeping, etc.
At this point they’ve got the short end of the straw, but Jesus promises that they will be blessed, that they can rejoice – because a better day is coming!
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. [Luke 6:20-26]
Why is Jesus so hard on the rich, the well-fed, those laughing?
In the context, it is those who are happy and blessed in a worldly sense, who ignore the plight of the poor and weak, in fact they contribute to their difficulty – through indifference , injustice, abuse.
While they feast and party, people are dying on their doorstep.
While they have more food than they need, their neighbours have little or no food.
Ask the people of Egypt and Tunisia how they feel about the wealth and happiness of their (former) dictators and their families.
Listen to the stories of extravagance, waste, theft, abuse, and you will get the issue that both Jeremiah and Jesus were angry about.
What about me, where do I fit in this?
PRAYER:
Lord, I am extremely blessed, rich by the standards of many. Show me where I am ignoring the need of my neighbour, and remind me to be generous and kind.