“A new day is dawning”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Sunday, January 2, 2022

Jeremiah 31:7-14 (Forward, p. 65) CEV p. 801

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”: well might this old adage describe my attempts to make sense of today’s passage in our modern setting. Learned Biblical scholars caution the readers and explainers of the Scriptures against trying to apply ancient texts to modern times without first doing two things. Firstly, we are told to look at the original setting and context to see what prompted its writing in the first place and to see what its message was for that original audience. And then, secondly, we are to carefully consider whether that original setting and context has any parallels or bearing to our situation today. Only then, they tell us, are we to try to expound it for our present-day audience.

So, what then of our passage’s original audience? It is addressed to the Northern Kingdom, Israel, which has suffered a terrible calamity, defeat and destruction at the hands of the Assyrians. Furthermore, much of its former citizenry has been sent into exile and dispersed over much of the known world. And, even its neighbour to the south, Judah, hasn’t fared any better, itself having been conquered (this time by the Babylonians), its capital, Jerusalem, utterly destroyed and its people exiled.

Today’s passage then is one of hope, of a glorious new future, for that particular group of people. Its people would be gathered up and returned from exile, those that are particular vulnerable (the blind, the lame, expectant mothers and those about to give birth) would be protected and cared for, and agricultural prosperity would once again be the state of the land.

But, then, what about us? How are we expected to apply this great psalm of praise of God’s future to our lives? I would think that any expectation of a literal return from exile would be out of the question, as an illegitimate rendering or application of Scripture, as would any idea that God would bless our land with unmitigated agricultural abundance.

I think that we should only apply it in a more general sense or spiritual sense. We all experience times of dislocation, of feelings of exile and oppression. We all experience times when we feel vulnerable and feel barely able to hang on. We all experience times when everything is topsy turvey and the future seems bleak and without much hope. Into those times, I think that today’s passage brings a note of a much-needed hope, the promise of a more glorious future. And, I think that this hope, this promise, is meant to sustain us through our desperate, uncertain times, even as they did for Jeremiah’s original audience. Yes, a new day is dawning!. Amen.

Forward notes: “Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow” (verse 13).

“When COVID-19 relegated us to our homes, I lost more than my job. One week before graduation from graduate school, I also lost my best friend in a tragic accident.

“Nine months into the wreckage, I wondered how much more one could lose in such a short period of time. Who comforts the single mother when she’s knee-deep in work, caring for the home and caring for herself? When I remember that my mourning will turn to joy and my gladness will be replaced with sorrow, I dance. I remind my body to move because so much of what I have endured is an embodiment of that loss. Yet, when the women rejoice, there is gladness and healing.

“In this scripture, God promises joy, comfort, and gladness. This passage makes a special point of reminding us that God, the ‘I’ in this passage, is the source of freedom from mourning and will give these treasures in abundance.”

Moving Forward: “In what way has God turned your mourning into joy? How has that transformation manifested itself? Through dance? Song? Laughter?”