UP ON YOUR FEET
Recently I can't get enough of Jeremiah. I'm not too big on replacement theology, but it is a little uncanny how much the description of Israel in Jeremiah parallels the current state of America/Western civilization. Jeremiah's prophetic voice is like a 2,600 year-old avant-garde arrow, ignoring time, traveling through scribes' fingers, hovering in some dimensional atmosphere with the apocalyptic power of kingdom truth, still relevant with narrative potency, striking me square in the chest with conviction. The Lord's personal words to Jeremiah have also been affecting me greatly, in such a way that it is hard for me to untangle the musings and actually form solid sentences. I guess those reveries are just for me. This is beautiful poetry:
"Before I shaped you in the womb,
I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day,
I had holy plans for you:
A prophet to the nations -
that's what I had in mind for you."
But I said, "Hold it, Master GOD! Look at me.
I don't know anything. I'm only a boy!"
God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.'
I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there.
I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it.
Don't be afraid of a soul.
I'll be right there, looking after you."
GOD's Decree.
---
"But you - up on your feet and get dressed for work!
Stand up and say your piece. Say exactly what I tell you to say.
Don't pull your punches
or I'll pull you out of the line-up.
Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work.
I'm making you as impregnable as a castle,
Immovable as a steel post,
solid as a concrete block wall.
You're a one-man defense system
against this culture,
Against Judah's kings and princes,
against the priests and local leaders.
They'll fight you, but they won't
even scratch you.
I'll back you up every inch of the way."
GOD's Decree.
(from Jeremiah 1)
About this entry
You’re currently reading “
- Published:
- 9:18 AM
- by PAT RICK
0 Comments (Post a Comment)