Jeremiah and the Wolf--Oct. 15, 2013

[from Oct. 11, 2011 archive]

God, Jeremiah was met with insolence;
a band of ruffians sought his life.
The king was a wolf and wanted
Jeremiah to be his sheep.

But Jeremiah valued spiritual gifts:

you made him wise as a serpent

(though innocent as a dove),

and Jeremiah persisted.

If we have received any spiritual gifts,

make us innocent as we use them

(but wise when wolves appear)

for building up your church.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 123; 146; 30; 86

Jer. 36:27-37:2

1 Cor. 14:1-12

Matt. 10:16-23

Selected Verses

Ps. 86:14

O God, the insolent rise up against me;
          a band of ruffians seeks my life,
          and they do not set you before them.

Jer. 36:32

Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the secretary Baruch son of Neriah, who wrote on it at Jeremiah’s dictation all the words of the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.

1 Cor. 14:12

So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.

Matt. 10:16

"…See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.  …"  [Jesus to his twelve disciples, as he was sending them out]