Contemplative Bible Reading

Jeremiah 9:24 (New Living Translation)

But those who wish to boast
    should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
    who demonstrates unfailing love
    and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

Jeremiah 9:24 (New Living Translation)

God is talking to us through the prophet Jeremiah. God tells us what God brings. Here it is…wealth, health, power, got to be something like that, huh?

Justice and righteousness. God brings doing what is right for one another according to God’s standards.

Hmmm. A failure in translation? There’s got to be more than that, huh? I mean, you know? Tell us how to cure cancer or at least give us a vaccine for this year’s virus, right?

No, those other things—as significant as they are in our lives—pale in comparison to treating one another justly as God teaches. If we could practice justice and righteousness, perhaps we would have the energy to answer some of the other questions that plague us (like plagues).

Please God, help me to put first things first.