Open the Word: Take his hand

• Jeremiah was a faithful prophet called by God in his youth. What was important, however, was not his age but his willingness to be faithful to God’s call. We see him proclaiming God’s word of judgement and salvation in a context of division and conflict between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah that originated during the period following the death of Solomon (2 Chronicles 10). What is a prophet? How do we recognise prophets?

• Here God points the adversaries to look into the future together. In mediation, it is important to reframe the situation so that we do not continually come back to establishing the other’s guilt. The task is to agree a future outcome that enables the parties to live together, ideally in peace, but at least without violence. God expresses his concern for peace to both parties in the conflict and offers a new promise based on a relationship of love and peace rather than of judgement and guilt. Why does conflict happen? What conflicts have marked our personal or congregational life? How does this affect my daily life?

• The core relationship of trust was signified in the wedding promise (v. 32). Reflect on the powerful image of God taking our hands and promising himself, the whole of himself, to us. His hand is a symbol of belonging, acceptance, trust, strength, security, identity, love — we have it all! The Judeans may have broken their promise, but do we break it now?

• ‘This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days’ (v. 33). Why especially identify Israel here? Was it recognised as the one with most broken promises, who had followed its idols and walked furthest from God? Note how God deals with the wayward. The covenant is changed from one of stone and law to one of heart and love. Rather than getting bogged down in past failings, God offers a new future. What does this mean for our relationships broken by conflict?

• Reflect on the ‘I will’ promises in the passage culminating in the unbelievable (I will put my Law within them; I will write it on their hearts; I will be their God; I will forgive their iniquity; I will remember their sin no more). No matter what my iniquity, God not only draws me to himself again but will forget the harm I have done him. Is this not the ultimate test of love’s gracious strength? What can we learn from this for the way we engage in our relationships in faith? What a promise! What a revelation!