28 July 2020

The Lord said to Jeremiah,
“Say these words to my people:
Tears flood my eyes
night and day, unceasingly,
since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people,
a most grevious injury.”
From Jeremiah 14: 17-22

Jeremiah is sometimes seen as a prophet of doom – and how this reading unfolds could be seen as evidence of why. He will go on to speak of people killed – people starving – people at their wit’s end and seeing all this as a sign that they have been rejected by God.

But we have chosen the first part of the Reading – which is not about the people so much as God. God is not rubbing his hands with glee at what is happening to the people – “it serves them right…” Nor is God sitting hard-faced, in harsh judgement upon them. Jeremiah describes God weeping – in deep distress because of what is happening to his people – his “daughter”.

It shows us that God does not take any pleasure in the suffering of humanity – God weeps with us – God laments with us…

• • When have you seen someone’s suffering as a sign of God’s anger or displeasure?
  • How does it feel to think of God lamenting over people’s suffering?

Spend a few minutes thinking about people who are suffering around the world today – and there are many of them. Try to focus on just one or two situations – and imagine God saying the same words: ‘Tears flood my eyes, night and day, unceasingly… since my people are…’ (starving – desperately ill – exhausted – in exile – being bombed… as appropriate). Lament with God.