Thursday, October 14, 2004
The Venerable Kosmas and Nicholas
Kellia: Jeremiah 44:15-23 Epistle: Philippians 3:1-8 Gospel: St. Luke 7:17-30
Jeremiah 44:15-23, especially vs.17: "But
we will do everything that we have vowed, burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out
libations to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of
Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no
evil." See how fiercely the Jewish refugees in Egypt refused the word of the Lord through
Jeremiah, not merely calling him a liar as they had done prior to leaving Judah (Jer. 43:2), but
now rationalizing their worship of pagan deities and applying their own interpretation of history.
One can deceive not only with statistics, as is done today, but also men have long abused the data
of history to support their own preferences, behaviors, and lifestyles. The issue which today's
reading raises is how to interpret history. How does one correctly read the data of events?
The basis for interpreting history in inspired Scripture can be discovered in very plain language in
the book of Chronicles, a point of view that matches Jeremiah's rebuttal of pagan worship as
found in today's reading. Compare the Chronicler's summary of the reign of King Hezekiah of
Judah (716-687 BC) with his summary of the reign of Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, who followed
him on the throne (687-643 BC). Of Hezekiah, the Chronicler says, "he did what was right in the
eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done" (2 Chron. 29:2); but of
Manasseh, Chronicles says, "He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the
abominable practices of the nations...." (2 Chron. 33:2). Evaluating the epochs of history and
every man's actions, let us look for "what is right in the eyes of the Lord."
Jeremiah's basis for discerning what is right in God's eyes relied upon "the voice of the
Lord...His law...His statutes and...His testimonies" (Jer. 44:23). As a Prophet of God, he stood
squarely in a stream of unbroken tradition received from the Patriarchs, but especially from
Moses and the succession of God's Prophets after him. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught
from this very same tradition of God's truth. Listen well to Him: "Do not think that I came to
destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to
you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till
all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches
men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 5:17-19).
The proponents who defended the offering of incense and libations to the goddess, Astarte, "the
queen of heaven," presented a superficially plausible case for their actions: we and our fathers
worshiped her in Jerusalem, and "we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no evil" (Jer.
44:17), and, furthermore, since we quit worshiping her, we "have been consumed by the sword
and by famine" (vs. 18). Notice: they make no mention of God's law, His will, and His statutes
regarding the worship of other gods.
Jeremiah also speaks from history, but as a source for discerning the consequences of disobeying
God's will: "the Lord could no longer bear your evil doings and the abominations which you
committed; therefore your land has become a desolation and a waste and a curse, without
inhabitant, as it is this day" (vs. 22). Cause and effect are inseparable from what is right in the
eyes of the Lord. Consequences follow from violating God's will: " It is because you burned
incense, and...sinned against the Lord...that this evil has befallen you" (vs. 23).
O Lord, we thank Thee that Thou didst not forget the work of Thy hands, but didst speak to us by
Thy Prophets, release us from delusions, and bring us to a true knowledge of Thee.
