Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 38:1-28; St. Matthew 27:57-66
So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. (Jeremiah 38:6)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. Was Jeremiah a stick-in-the-mud? King Zedekiah gave the authority to men within the court to do as they wished with Jeremiah. They had had enough of his ramblings, so they threw him into a well, into the mud. Jeremiah faithfully delivered the Word of God, but people didn’t like it. So, they booted him.
This was a horrible time in the history of God’s people. Jerusalem was about to be sacked by the Babylonians. Through Jeremiah, God gave His instructions: abandon the city and give yourself to the heathen invaders and you will live. Okay, it doesn’t sound pleasant, but it’s God’s plan. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough for Zedekiah and his officials.
Sometimes even in this day and age pastors are given the boot for no good reason. Often it’s because some have a different plan of action, one that will surely be more successful than preaching the Word of God. Jeremiah 38 cautions us. God’s way doesn’t always look like the successful path to glory. In fact, it looks more like the road to defeat.
Surrender looked like certain death for Israel, but God promised life. Zedekiah ended up following his own path to life. He and his officials stayed in the city. Then, when it was breached, they fled. Zedekiah was captured and brought to Nebuchadnezzar. The last thing he saw before his eyes were gouged out was the slaughter of his sons.
God would have you examine your pastor according to the Word of God. Sometimes you simply may not like what he says or the way he does something, but he’s not being a stick-in-the-mud. He’s being God’s mouthpiece. Remember Jeremiah! He points you to Jesus. So does your pastor. God promises you life in Jesus through certain death—His death for you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Send, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit On Your servant now, we pray; Let him prove a faithful shepherd That no lamb be led astray. Your pure teaching to proclaim, To extol Your holy name, And to feed Your lambs, dear Savior, make his aim and sole endeavor. (LSB 681:1)