Justice in the Land
Jeremiah 23:1-6
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Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV):
1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall no longer fear or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Jeremiah 23:1-2 (CJB):
1 “‘Oh no! The shepherds are destroying and scattering the sheep in my pasture!” 2 Therefore this is what Adonai, the God of Isra’el, says against the shepherds who shepherd my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away and not taken care of them. So I will ‘take care of’ you because of your evil deeds,” says Adonai.
Queries:
How does “love of neighbor” inform how I approach this year’s election?
What might Jeremiah–or Jesus–say to USAmericans in this election year?
How am I experiencing grief, anger, or hope in response to our nation and world?
Where do I long to see reparative justice?