Contemplative Bible Reading

Jeremiah 10:1-2 (New International Version 2011)

¹ Hear what the LORD says to you, people of Israel. ² This is what the LORD says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the heavens,
though the nations are terrified by them.

Now and then, the LORD sent a message to His people through a prophet. To me, these messages often sound like a parent scolding a child, “If Johnny Jones jumped off a cliff, would you jump off a cliff?”

Seriously, look at the verses above. The people around God’s people worshiped the skies and the stars in the skies. If they saw the stars aligned in a peculiar way, they were terrified.

The LORD created the heavens and the earth. He put the stars in the sky. He aligns them as he intended. Don’t worry about all that. Besides, the LORD has provided everything the people need. The LORD even gave them pointers on how to live that would be good for them (somewhere else we note that the nations around the LORD’s people recognized the excellence of these pointers or laws).

The situation is much the same today – if we let it be. Congress and the White House can’t make a budget deal (again this year). Or maybe the deal they make is worse than doing nothing at all. I can be terrified by these modern-day, American signs in the heavens. I can let these rule my life and determine my outlook.

Or maybe I can listen to the pointers God has given me on how to live and dwell in grace He has provided.