Today’s Scripture Reading (February
25, 2014): Jeremiah 17
As a kid, I
loved superhero shows. I loved the “Adventures of Superman” with George Reeves
(although I have to admit that I am too young to actually remember the original
run of the 1950’s T.V. series, I had to be content with the reruns of the show
more than a decade after the last episode of the series was shot) and I was infatuated
with Adam West in “Batman.” (For those who are wondering about my “Spiderman”
addiction, both Adam West and George Reeves predate my Spiderman days.) So
during the day I would grab a towel and pin it around my shoulders and pretend
that I was one of the heroes that I had watched on T.V.
Looking
back, I still love my superheroes, although now I hope I have a much more
balanced look at the role models of my youth. But one of the things that I have
noticed is that the characters in the shows of my youth were fixated on the
heroes of the story. In Gotham City, when trouble struck it was not marines
that were called in to handle the situation – or the S.W.A.T. Team or even
extra off duty police officers. The first response was to run to the roof and
activate the “Batsignal” – and call the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder into
the situation. No one else would do. And in the “Adventures of Superman,” Lois
Lane never called for the police when she was in trouble – Lois simply
whispered the name of her hero – Superman. There was no one else that could do
the job – not even the pining Clark Kent that wanted nothing more but to hear
Lois call his name. But as far as Lois was concerned, no one but Superman could
come running at her call.
Jeremiah has
fixated on his hero – his God. In the midst of the trouble of Judah, the
mistrust that Jeremiah and the officials of the nation held for each other, and
with the enemy about to appear on the doorstep of the city in which he lived,
there really was no other authority to run to. If Jeremiah was going to be
healed, there was no one else who had the ability to heal him. If Jeremiah was
going to be saved, the only name that could be whispered was that of his God.
Most of us who
grew up with our Superheroes have watched them tarnish over time. At some point
we found out that the Batsignal only works in Gotham City and Lois is the only
one that can call Superman to her side. Even George Reeves lost his race
against a speeding bullet. But the God of Jeremiah still remains. He is still
the only one who can heal and the only one who can save.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18
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