At our church, we are going through The Story, which provides a overview of the biblical narrative by using actual scripture portions from the NIV. This past week we came to chapter 17, which told of the failures of the wicked Kings and the eventual fall and destruction of Jerusalem. Israel had fallen because it had failed to live up to its God given task of being a light unto the world. God had chosen the offspring of Abraham to be a blessing to the surrounding nations. Instead, Israel became like its neighbors, returned to idolatry, and eventually was destroyed. Israel had misrepresented God, and God had enough. The city of Jerusalem was crushed, the temple burnt, the people sent into exile.
Jeremiah laments the situation: “How lonely sits the city that was full of people…Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude…All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and away their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem; Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” The light had been snuff out with nothing remaining except a smoldering wick.
Though Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, he found reason for hope: “The steadfast lover of the Lord never cease; his mercies never come to an end: they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Jeremiah was confident that God would once again prove his faithfulness. And God did. Centuries later God sent the true faithful Israelite to be a blessing to all the earth, to be a light unto the world. Jesus said that now, he himself, was the light of the world, and that whoever followed him would not walk in darkness. The light of Israel had been restored in a brighter way than ever imagined. Now, through the Messiah, God has ensured that light would no longer be trapped under that basket of self preservation that leads only to smoldering wicks. Instead, God has determined Jesus followers would be the light on display for all the world to see, so that he may receive glory from all the nations. As we continue in the Epiphany season, lets remember that our task is to carry forth the light of Christ to the world around us.
Beyond the Fog 