Proper 21
Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

The sermons for Sundays Proper 21 and 22 are provided by Rev. Michael Scarlett. Michael serves as the co-pastor of the Sojourn Church of the Nazarene in Keller, Texas.

Jeremiah received a bizarre word from the Lord: buy your uncle’s property in your hometown. Now, in any normal circumstance this wouldn’t be bizarre but a great opportunity. It’d be getting in while the getting’s good. Jeremiah, however, found himself as a prisoner in King Zedekiah’s courtyard and Nebuchadnezzar’s army has them surrounded. Old Neb is about to level the city because Judah turned to Egypt to fight off Babylon. Old Neb’s army was probably camped out on Jeremiah’s uncle’s land there in Anathoth. Buying land now is ludicrous.

The word of the Lord comes to pass as Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, comes to present this offer. Those in the courtyard who heard the offer laughed hysterically because what can an imprisoned prophet do with land that is now occupied by the invading enemy?

But this is the word of the Lord. This isn’t something that Jeremiah had thought up or even wanted to do. Realizing that this is the Lord’s doing, he agreed to buy the property. Making a formal (and almost royal decree-like) offer, Jeremiah weighs the seventeen silver shekels out in front of the people there in the courtyard. He has bystanders sign the deed marking their witness of this purchase. Handing the deeds to Baruch, he gives two declarations from the Lord: Place these deeds in an earthenware jar that they may be preserved for a long time. For thus says the Lord: Houses and fields and vineyards will be bought in this land.

Even in the middle of Judah facing the consequences of her sin in turning away from YHWH, God is at work redeeming their future! God does not leave them in their place of exile. He is faithful to His people. He is preparing, tilling, working, creating their future.

We sometimes find ourselves in situations that are akin to Jeremiah’s. The options that we have facing us are like buying land that we won’t be able to use. But the good news for us in this test is God is at work in our lives redeeming our future. With eyes of faith given us by the Holy Spirit we see that God is Emmanuel (God with us). Christ is with us, leading us into God’s future.

Manuscript