Jeremiah 22: 1-17

When God called His people he told them that they would have a covenant together – a bit like a contract – that would bind them to each other.  God would bless them and make them a blessing and all they needed to do was be faithful to him.  Here in Jeremiah we see again God’s people unable to live up to their side of the bargain.

 One of the purposes of the Covenant was to show the world what it looked like before the Fall.  It was the job of Abraham and his descendents to model right relationships with God, with each other and with the larger world.  They were to be a living example of Shalom – a deep sense of peace and rest that comes only in God’s presence.  One of the ways this was to happen was that they were to “do justice and righteousness.”  They were to be a shining example to the world that looking after each other – and even strangers was at the core of faithfulness to God.

 What is equally important to see in this passage is that it is only one generation from a good king – Josiah – to the bad king – Shallum.  Each and every generation must make their own choice as to whether they are going to be faithful to the Covenant or not.  Today, each and every generation must make its own choice whether it will embrace the true King and be faithful to Him and His call as well.  The blessings to us and to the world are immense when we choose a life of faithfulness and righteousness.