Today's Scripture Reading (July 9, 2023): Jeremiah 27
If
you have ever had something stolen from you, you know the dream that those
things might be returned to you one day. This is especially true of the things
that have value to you both as something that is valuable monetarily as well as
something that comes to you as a gift from someone who matters to you. I have a
couple of things that fall into that category, and it is a nightmare to think
that I might lose these items or have them destroyed somehow. Things are often
replaceable if all they are is something we have purchased. But things that
come with an emotional connection are irreplaceable.
For
generations, there had been a loss of items removed by foreigners from both the
Jerusalem Temple and the Palace. This drain may have started soon after the
Temple was completed in the days of Solomon. One of the most valuable items taken
from the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant (cue "Indiana Jones and the
Raiders of the Lost Ark"). When the Ark was lost is a bit of a mystery.
And among the possible destinations for the Ark would include both the Assyrian
and Babylonian Empires. It is possible the Ark and other valuable items were
either stolen or even freely given to either of these Empires in exchange for
Judah's freedom. But one of the more radical theories is that the Ark is in a
house in Ethiopia, and it was taken there by the Queen of Sheba as a gift to
her from King Solomon.
Is
the Ark really in Ethiopia? Opinions vary, but most scholars say no. They have
something, but it is not the Ark. Most argue that what the Ethiopians possess
is an empty box that dates back to the Middle Ages, maybe 500 to 1000 years ago,
not 3000-year-old Ark.
One
of the prophecies of Jeremiah's day was that all the things taken from the
Temple would be returned. It was a furthering of their prophecy that the
Babylonians would not take any more captives. Not only were the people who had
been taken to Babylon soon be coming home to Judah but with them, some of the
lost treasures would also be returned.
Through
Jeremiah, God argues the reverse. Not only would the stolen items not be
returned soon, but what remained in Jerusalem would be taken away from the
Temple and the Palace. These items would come home, but not until God decided
that it was time for them to be returned. Ezra would see the day come when God
would return these items to the Temple.
You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems
best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your
God. Deliver to
the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the Temple
of your God. And anything else needed for the Temple
of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal
treasury (Ezra 7:18-20).
The items taken would come home, but
not now. Time would have to pass before anything was returned to Jerusalem.
Tomorrow's
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 28
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