Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.
Now Zedekiah king of Judah has imprisoned him there saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do?
Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’
“Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’
“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighted out for him seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighted out the silver on the scales. I took the deed of purchase–the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the sealed copy–and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and all of the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.
“In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’
A Thought
Jeremiah was God’s prophet to Israel and Judah warning them to repent for their worship of strange gods. Refusing to repent, the Lord God Almighty would punish them and also their children for their evil deeds. Now, Jerusalem is under siege by the army of the king of Babylon and the word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah while he is held in prison. Jeremiah obeyed the word of the Lord and bought a field outside of Jerusalem even while the soldiers had already taken the land captive. Jeremiah acted in faith that God would keep his promise that even though the land is in destruction at present, God would restore the houses, fields and vineyards in the land Jeremiah has now bought. God is faithful to his word even if we are not faithful to him.
Our Prayer
Father help us to act on the warning that we must repent in faith from our sins and trust you. Help us to hear from your word by the power of the Holy Spirit and come to the saving love, grace of your son, Jesus the Christ. We desire to trust and to grow in you more and more. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
