How shall we respond to those who hate us? Shall we counterattack? Curse them? Walk away? Love? Jesus, in Your matchless way, You did all of these.
Here, we’ll consider the Jeremiah Option. Jeremiah suffered – a lot. This “weeping prophet” preached to people who refused to turn from evil.
Failing to realize what evil is, we might relegate Jeremiah’s book to something that could have been written by Winnie the Pooh’s depressed but loyal friend – the grumpy, gloomy, pessimistic donkey, Eeyore.
But, look deeper. Jeremiah’s very name/very core means: “Exalted by the LORD.” He must have wondered: “Is my name a joke?!”
As Jeremiah wrestled God, remember Jeremiah’s neighbors. Recently, godless Babylonians eviscerated Israel, carrying survivors into exile.
Enemies who hate are real.
Certainly, Jeremiah recollected God’s word: “Do not hate your brother in your heart…You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:17,18)
Of course, wicked Babylonians were not “brothers/sons of your own people.” Does this give Jeremiah a valid excuse to hate?
No and no.
First “no.” Jeremiah’s own people also had abandoned God. They asked: “Will he” (the LORD) “be ‘angry’” (‘bear a grudge’) “forever?” Presuming a perpetually begrudging God, they excused their own hardened hearts.
The LORD replies: “Behold, you” (Jeremiah’s people) “have spoken” (attempting to gaslight Me about My anger), but you have done all the evil you could.” (Jeremiah 3:5) Busted.
Friend, our old nature’s innate default is doing all the evil we “secretly” can get away with. Cheer up, we are worse than we know.
Still, the LORD answers: “I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry (bear a grudge) forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God.” (Jeremiah 3:12,13)
God, You’re looking for leaders in repentance.
Now, the second “no.” Jesus, Your second great commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”(Matthew 22:39) comes from Leviticus 19. And You press on: “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5 :44) Dear God!
Jeremiah, help.
God, You interpreted what loving enemies meant for Jeremiah’s audience: “This is what the LORD Almighty says to all those I carried into exile to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there. Also, seek the ‘peace and prosperity’ (shalom) of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers (shalom), you too will prosper (shalom).’” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)
LORD, Your exiled followers and their children sought Babylon’s shalom by building, settling, planting, eating, marrying – having big families. And more, they were to build neighborly bridges, seeking their neighbors’ peace and prosperity, praying for them.
Shalom is not the result of sprinkling magical pixie dust superficially promoting a “good-old-boy” culture.
Shalom recognizes real sin and also the reality of the Holy Spirit applying the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross. Thomas Kelly’s (1769 -1855) hymn, “Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted,” declares: “You who think of sin but lightly/Nor suppose the evil great/Here (at Jesus’ cross) may view its nature rightly/Here its guilt may estimate.”
Recently, at a Bible study at the Capitol, a friend told how, the previous weekend, an ex-con, tatted up even on his face, had been encouraged to seek God’s love in Christ. This seeker came to church. Later, with my friend at a coffee house, this seeker prayed to receive Jesus.
Jesus, You plus nothing equals everything!
Lasting “shalom” begins with: “The LORD turn His face toward you and give you shalom.” (Number 6:26)
Shalom grows. Reconciliation with God can lead to reconciliation with neighbors.
Nearly 20 years ago, Pastor Alfred Poirier preached at his church in Billings: “As God called these exiles to show shalom to godless, brutal Babylon, we can seek the peace and prosperity of our neighbors in Billings.”
Now, part of my story. When we moved to Helena in 2006, I eagerly asked people – whenever possible, when hiking up Mt. Helena or at Alive at 5, anywhere:
- What do you love about Helena – what strengths does Helena have?
- What challenges face Helena?
- How can a church help with those challenges?
What, a church? Yes, churches in previous generations built church buildings AND food pantries, hospitals, orphanages, libraries and universities.
Why? In part, Paul answers: “As we have opportunity, let us do good” (a kind of shalom) “to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
When I pastored in SC, our church chose this goal – doing good to people in the church and to people outside the church.
In time, we had the opportunity to provide abortion alternatives by serving all kinds of children/mothers/families. Our church sent me to establish that work. God, You eventually launched four SC offices! By our twentieth anniversary – hundreds of children had been adopted into Christian homes!
God, when we seek shalom, You prosper many. Even national health is measured by those who “set their hearts to ‘seek’ God.” (2 Chronicles 11:16,17; 15:12-15) Seeking God’s shalom we seek to develop shepherd to shepherd relationships between pastors and elected officials.
Eventually, whole nations will urge one another, “Let us go at once to ‘seek’ the LORD of Hosts.” (Zechariah 8:21) “On that day even the harness bells of the horses will be inscribed with these words: ‘Holy to the Lord’. And cooking pots in the Temple of the LORD will be as sacred as the basins used beside the altar.” (Zechariah 14:20)
John tells us the leaves of the tree of life in New Jerusalem “were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:2) Nations!
Shalom, shalom, shalom.
Photo depicts notes on the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel. Shalom is written on one of the notes.
