First Presbyterian Church
Prophets and Mercy
Sermon for September 16, 2007
by Pastor Susan Barnes

Our reading from Jeremiah speaks of the day of the Lord, the day of judgment, rather than a day of military victory. During Jeremiah's life, Assyria was losing power and Babylon and Egypt were gaining power. They fought for domination over Israel. Israel tried to ally herself with the most likely victor, but guessed wrong. Eventually, the Israelite leaders ended up being exiled in Babylon.

Jeremiah compares judgment to the hot east wind which sears everything in its path. Listen for the word of God as it is found in Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28.

11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse-- 12 a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them.

22 "For my people are foolish, they do not know me; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good."

23 I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.

24 I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.

25 I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled.

26 I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger.

27 For thus says the LORD: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end. 28 Because of this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above grow black; for I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not relented nor will I turn back.

This ends our reading from Jeremiah. Jeremiah despairs, for no one appears to paying him any attention.

The stupid children of Israel do not know God and so they don't know how to do the good. The good is “where justice is maintained and the welfare of the community is sought even for the weakest and lowest members.” 1

So why prophecy at all? Why bother to speak to these stupid people? Part of it is because Jeremiah has to tell his truth. He is obligated to warn them. Their behavior will bring about events that will ultimately do them in. Their conduct has natural consequences.

He loves his people, but he accuses them.

If we were in a crowd, hearing Jeremiah, wouldn't our first response be to say, “I'm not doing those things. I love God, I worship God, I don't worship anyone else. Jeremiah is not talking about me.”

But what if Jeremiah is giving voice to your concerns? You see your rulers doing what you know is wrong. The priests are putting more importance of temple worship than following God's commandments. As a prophet, it is Jeremiah's job to say it is wrong.

That sort of truth-telling can be empowering.

In the early twentieth century, when pastors of black churches preached about the evils of segregation and the Jim Crow laws, they weren't trying to convince their congregations that it was wrong; the members had experienced racism and prejudice and knew it was wrong. The sermons encouraged the congregations to hold fast to the truth they knew; they were human beings and deserved to be treated as human beings, full citizens of the USA. The black churches became sanctuaries for the truth of civil rights.

Most white churches were not. Some were. When white pastors preached about the evils of segregation, they had to be more careful. They had to lead their congregations carefully, and not alienate their members, but present the gospel so the white people could hear it, and let their hearts be changed. But sometimes we don't want to change; if we change, it means that what we did before was wrong, so changing means admitting we were wrong, and we don't want to do that.

Ann Weems tells a story about her father, who pastored a church in Nashville in the 30's and 40s.

“One Sunday afternoon she walked into the kitchen to see her mother ‘polishing the sin out of the silver.' Her father had an unexpected meeting after church and would be late to lunch, explained her mother…

‘My brother told me daddy was in big trouble,' Weems said. ‘I wondered how can a daddy be in trouble, especially our daddy, who never caused any trouble to anybody at any time.'

It turned out a prominent church member had decided to try to get rid of the pastor for preaching sermons about racial equality, peace and higher pay for poor workers.

‘He had to preach what he thought was the gospel of Jesus Christ,' she said. ‘He told me, “I wish I could preach something that would make everybody happy, but I have to preach what I think God wants me to preach. I have to know in my heart that it's about Jesus, not about me. Do you understand?'

‘Not really,' she replied. ‘Just that it's about Jesus.'
‘That's enough,' her father replied.

The young Weems, who that week had been memorizing the 23rd Psalm, told her father that if he asked, God would restore his soul. The pastor told his daughter he was grateful for that.

Her father would face a heresy trial at synod and be exonerated, but resigned his position at the Nashville church anyway. ‘I won't preach at a pulpit that's not free,' he told his daughter.” 2

Sometimes prophets face difficulty. But their words of truth continue to matter.

Years ago, I visited an elderly white woman named Mitzi 3 who had grown up in the south. When Mitzi was very young, her mother taught her what to do when they went into a store and there was a Black mother with a baby. When the baby's mother wasn't looking, Mitzi pinched the baby until it cried. She did it because that's what white people did in those days.

Mitzi moved away, and learned a different way to behave. She was sorry and tried to make amends by being active in civil rights as an adult.

Let's listen to the choir sing of the chance we have.

Paul speaks briefly of repentance in our epistle reading, in the beginning of his letter to Timothy. Before Paul gives Timothy advice, he rejoices in the forgiveness and grace he himself has experienced.

Listen for the word of God as it is found in 1 Timothy 1:12-17.

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service,13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.

17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

This ends our epistle reading.

Last week we heard Jesus lecture the crowds about giving up their possessions, being prepared to follow him, and letting go of family loyalties. Those were hard sayings. Our gospel reading today follows immediately. Listen for the word of God as it is found in Luke 15:1-10.

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

3 So he told them this parable:

4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

In other words, don't be afraid to repent. God rejoices at the repentant sinner.

Two weeks ago, I went to the bank, went home for lunch, and then did an errand. When I got back to the car, my money was gone. I had left it in the bank envelope on the front seat, foolishly, and didn't lock the car door. I was so angry at myself for being so careless. I was ready to go back into the business again, and tell them what happened. I wasn't quite ready to accuse someone there of taking the money, but I was going to ask if they had seen anything. I was really worried.

But I decided to go home first and make sure I hadn't left it someplace there at lunch. I went home, and there was the envelope on the dining room table. I had taken better care of it than I thought. I should have trusted myself, and the people around me. I was so relieved. No one had stolen it. I rejoiced.

I don't rejoice when I have my money in my wallet- I expect it to be there. It is where it's supposed to be.

I think we are supposed to be with God. God expects us to behave, to tell the truth, and to live as if we love ourselves and our neighbor. Our lives are better and more joyous if we do that.

But it doesn't always happen. And so repentance is necessary.

When we hear Jeremiah's words, we might ask ourselves “what evil are we skilled at doing? What consequences will we reap for our behavior? What do we need to turn from? What did we learn from our parents that we need to unlearn?”

I think of my relative who is in a recovery treatment program now. I've learned that addicts rely on addictive behavior; they lie even when it is easier to tell the truth; they blame others instead of themselves, deep down knowing that they are to blame. They dislike themselves.

I hope my relative can hear the good news that he is loved, and worth taking care of. Even in Jeremiah's scary words, the Lord does say, “yet I will not make a full end.” 4 There is still hope if repentance happens.

Sometimes repentance isn't followed by a turning toward truth. Sometimes repentant words aren't sincere, they're just a way to buy time.

Then we need to be like Jeremiah, and speak our truth. Sometimes we have to encourage those around us not to give in, to hold fast to the truth we know.

Paul says, “ I am grateful I received mercy, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.” Paul does not try to cover up what he did. He speaks truthfully about his sins.

The Hebrew word for repentance can also be translated as ‘turn.' When we repent, we turn toward God, away from sin. Repentance is important to our spiritual lives and so Presbyterian theology calls for a prayer of confession of sin each Sunday. In our great prayer of thanksgiving at communion, we mention our own weakness, and rejoice in Christ's forgiveness. When people are baptized, or received into membership, or are ordained or installed, we ask people to renounce evil, and to turn toward Jesus Christ.

As those of us who are married know, when we can recognize our mistakes, and apologize for them, we are much easier to live with.

When someone apologizes to us, we might be tempted to say, “Well, it's about time!” or “I told you I was right” or “Learned your lesson the hard way, didn't you?”

But God is more than gracious. God rejoices.

May we rejoice too.

1New Interpreter's Bible,VI, p.614.

2 Ferguson, Mike, “Dangerous Truth,” PCUSA News Service , August 31, 2007.

3 not her real name

4New Interpreter's Bible,VI, p.613