Questions
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 12:1-4
Jeremiah asks the question that has been repeated unceasingly throughout time…” Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” Of course, it is easy to dismiss Jeremiah’s complaint as being short-sighted. In a sense it is. This is what the Psalmist recognized when he was struggling with the same issue, but then said when he went into the temple, “He saw their end.” That is, he realized that the life of the wicked, no matter how prosperous and carefree in this world, inevitably ends in death and the judgment of God.
While what the Psalmist realized is absolutely true, it doesn’t negate the struggle of the soul felt by Jeremiah. Habakkuk and Job went through similar experiences. They all felt the sting of the injustice of the prosperity of the wicked.
This brings me to the point I want to make this morning. There are times and experiences we go through when logic and reason don’t remove the sting of suffering. I think if you were to have sat down with Jeremiah around the time, he was writing the words we read in Jeremiah 12, he would have agreed with any true theological statement of facts about the justice of God and the future judgment of the wicked. His sentiment arises, not out of his head, but out of his heart.
We were created with emotion as well as intellect. And sometimes these two things live at odds with each other. Our emotions don’t always submit themselves to our intellect. That is why, as Paul said, we grieve, but not as those who have no hope. In other words, the difficulties of this life can still cause us pain and grief even when we know that they are defeated enemies. We can still weep like Jeremiah even though we know that in the end, Jesus will set all things right.
Your writings are always good but this week’s in particular have spoken to me. Some dear friends lost their 8 year old son in a car accident last week. We grieve but not without hope!