Jeremiah's Complaint

(I've been using a French keyboard at my job, so if you see any typing errors, we'll pretend it's that instead of me not being able to spell:P)

Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. why do the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beast and the birds are swept away, because they said, "He will not see our latter end."

I'll be honest. I had to chew on this a bit. That's why it stuck with me though. In case you ever wondered how I select scripture, it's anything that I still remember what God wanted me to see by the time I finish reading all the passages for the day.

I got a little stuck on  that part about where Jeremiah's heart was in all this. (I just realized it was another verse that gave me more trouble and I will mention it later...don't let me forget) Anyway, I had to use my trusted commentary to help me through this. Basically, Jeremiah, kind of like Job or David, is bringing forth the true inquiries of his heart to the Lord. Not in a doubting way but rather just to try and understand what is going on. He knows that evil men are not supposed to have success, but he is watching evil hypocrits gain lots of worldly happiness. We've all seen that as Christian. It's why the Psalmist said don't mind the success of evil men because they won't prosper for long (this of course being the Jenny Loose Paraphrase Version). What an interesting thought though to long for the justice to come? Imagine the world if the evil were truly driven out and devoted to destruction? I do not believe there would be 7 billion of us. It makes you wonder.

And so long as we don't respond like Jonah and blame God for His grace or forgiveness of evil-doers, as long as we bring forth our complaints acknowledging that we can never understand God's ways, as long as we remember that He is God and we are not, then I think what we say is from a good place.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

The words on this one tripped me up, but again with the help of my trusted commentary (which used a different version) I see clearly what is meant. At first I was confused by how God's anger could not also be just. I was confused how God could be anything but just. But what Jeremiah is asking is that God corrects His path justly but in love. He doesn't want God to turn away from Him because of what He has done, but he reckognizes that God will correct us. No way around that. I think this is a good prayer for all of us. We none of us want to be at the receiving end of God's anger. But we all of us want to be a the receiving end of His love. Amen?

Lord, correct me in justice but not in anger. Have mercy on this sinner. Let me not grow jealous over the prosperity of others but only focus on what I have in You. Keep me in a spirit of prayer today. Let me not loose sight of You. Give me just enough strength to make it through today and let the worries of tomorrow (and more importantly next week) be far from me.

Amen. Amen. Amen.