“Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”
I have three little grandchildren…two boys and one little girl. Early in their young lives they began speaking… They all enjoy speaking…in fact they are constantly chattering whenever they around. The other night the youngest, Charlie, called to talk to us. He wished us a happy day. He told us about his trip to the doctor. Then while talking he got out the bat and ball ready to place ball with his mom… Moments later we heard him clearly yell; “Touch down” when he threw the ball into the imaginary end zone. His mom also told us that in church when the congregation was congratulating someone by clapping, Charlie stood tall on the pew and threw his hands in the air shouting; “Go Riders go!” Many of you have seen and more importantly heard our other two grandchildren who are also far from timid. They too like to speak to any one who will listen… In fact none of our grandchildren are afraid of speaking their minds.
In general all of us also like speaking… and we are very good at giving our opinion… especially when we are not asked for one. We like giving our own opinions on politics…on the economy… on wasteful spending… on how people’s values are no longer the same… or on any number of topics… We have no worries or reservation about speaking or maybe even gossiping about other people… especially if they have encountered some difficulty… or done something wrong. And we like talking about ourselves…about what interests us… about our achievements… or anything else that may raise our importance. No, we certainly are not afraid of speaking.
But today young Jeremiah is appointed to speak out for God. He is appointed to be a prophet to the nations… He is appointed to bring an unpopular message to the leaders of Israel…to speak the words God puts into his mouth. Suddenly Jeremiah is not so interested in speaking… He does not want to be the one who puts voice to God’s disappointment. He is afraid that the words God wants him to speak might not be so popular with God’s intended audience. (We ask: “Who is the intended audience of the words God put in his mouth?” We find the answer in very soon in the book of Jeremiah. Each time Jeremiah begins with the words: “The word of the LORD came to me.” And here are just a few verses; “I will utter my judgments against the cities of Judah, for all their wickedness in forsaking me; they have made offerings to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you… against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you.” The audience in named… in order of God’s concern… beginning with the king, the princes, and the priests… who are all leading the people away from God.)
It is no wonder that Jeremiah doesn’t like the idea of having to speak God’s words to these leaders of powerful nations and kingdoms. He is afraid that God’s words of disappointment, criticism, and even anger… and may just cause them to take their anger out on the messenger.
There is good reason for Jeremiah’s concern. God’s prophets are rarely appreciated by the intended receivers… especially those who have power to cause them harm. Even Jesus the all time ultimate prophet is not accepted by the leaders and priests of his home town. They are not happy to hear how God’s prophesy is coming true in Jesus… They don’t want God to be more generous then they would prefer. They are angered when Jesus tells them about how God cares about widows from enemy lands…and worse yet when Jesus reminds them of how God even cures… cleaning the leprous skin of a powerful enemy leader…rather than cleansing lepers from Israel. On hearing Jesus’ words of how wide God’s love is…the priests and people are so offended and filled with rage… that they are ready to throw him off a hill.
So when God calls us… asking us to speak God’s words… we are afraid… Like Jeremiah… we are suddenly reluctant to speak… We are afraid that they may be words of judgment… We are afraid that they may be words which offend people who have power to harm the messenger… So filled with fear…we beg to remain silent… And we are suddenly full of excuses… We are too young…and don’t know enough. We can’t speak clearly… we don’t know how to express ourselves properly. We are afraid that God’s words will only land us in trouble.
Never-the-less God appoints all people to speak God’s love to the world. As Jesus is anointed to bring good news to the poor and proclaim the Lord’s favor to all people… God appoints us to be prophetic…proclaiming God’s favor and good news for all people … We are appointed to speak to powerful leaders and nations… calling for justice for the poor, and the oppressed. We are appointed to stand up for any people that are loved by God… especially for those who are least able to claim it for themselves. Sometimes this is unpopular…and sometimes God’s prophets are persecuted for the words which God puts into their mouths.
God does not just appoint Jeremiah and give him the words to speak… but God also assures Jeremiah that he will not be alone to speak the words… Jeremiah is assure that God will stand with him saying; “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Similarly, when God appoints us to speak… God does not abandon us to helplessly defend ourselves…against powerful kingdoms and nations… But God promises to be with us and deliver us. God is not a hard difficult task master with just high expectation… Instead God gives us resources and support to speak God’s words. As Paul asserts in his letter to 1 Corinthians we all have gift but without love these gifts are worth nothing. It is the same with God… God lovingly gives us gifts. God appoints us to use the gifts… And God lovingly supports us to use the gifts
So let us use what God gives us… let speak the words God put into our mouths… let us call for justice… and let us build and plant… And most importantly let everything we do be done with God’s generous love in mind. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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