Reading for October 13th

Little book of consolation. In chs. 30-33: These chapters combine poetry (chs. 30-31) and prose (chs.32-33) to depict a harmonious idealized future for Israel and Judah. The placement of these chapters of hope and healing toward the center of the book is puzzling. Stories and poems of accusation and conflict suround them as if to temper the hope the chapters create. This structure may reflect the situation of the exilic audience, for whom escape from captivity remains a distant possibility. The chapters create a vision of what lies ahead, but they do not present a program for escape. Instead, they create unimagined possibilities that may help the community to endure for a new day. Chs. 30-31: Restoration. The poem create a vision of a future nation in which northern and southern kingdoms are restored and reunited in Jerusalem. Some of the poems collected address male Jacob/Israel. Jacob is a name used for the northern kingdom of Israel, and also the name of the ancestor of all twelve tribes (Gen 29-30). Other poems address female figuures representing Judah and Zion, or Rachel, one of Jacob's wives and mother of a northern and southern tribe. These names bring together both northern and southern kingdoms. Read Jeremiah 30.1-11. In verse 2: God's command that Jeremiah write these words in a book makes it possible for Jeremiah to communicate with the exiles even though he is not with them. In verses 5-7: Images of panic and pain describe the distress for Jacob. In verses 8-11: Without explanation, hope replaces terror. God will remove the yoke of servitude from them, restore relationship with them, and raise up a king for them. Comments or Questions..