Jeremiah 34:15-16
“And now, you—what have you done? First you turned back to the right way and did the right thing, decreeing freedom for your brothers and sisters—and you made it official in a solemn covenant in my Temple. And then you turned right around and broke your word, making a mockery of both me and the covenant, and made them all slaves again, these men and women you’d just set free. You forced them back into slavery.”
“Recently you repented and did what was right, following my command. You freed your slaves and made a solemn covenant with me in the Temple that bears my name. But how you have shrugged off your oath and defiled my name by taking back the men and women you had freed, forcing them to be slaves once ag”
Chapter 43 is about greed. It opens with God’s promise to King Zedekiah he will die a peaceful death. But that is the end of the good news. God’s Law given to Israel through Moses stipulated cancellation of all debt every seven years. This includes Hebrews who had sold themselves into slavery. Jeremiah’s preaching brought the wealthy to repentance but it fell among the thorns and died out. The good done was reversed and God mocked. All God’s prophets had plenty of condemnation for the haves abusing the have nots. We wealthy Americans must take note. The poor have a champion who will exact recompense for their abuse, sooner or later.
Lord, you have given us blessings without number. May we faithfully share them, casting our bread upon the waters of the worlds needy. Help us grow up to maturity in this, generously giving of our wealth, and our hearts as well.