Hope in times of fear
Followers of Jesus Christ have a firm hope. A hope that gives security and support in times of uncertainty and fear. No matter how miserable and frightening the personal and social circumstances, hope has the potential to carry us through such times. But there is not only a hope, but also a responsibility. This is to bear witness to hope – not fear. Christians are to be bearers of hope and perform acts of hope, thereby pointing to Jesus Christ.
For today’s sermon, we will dive together into the story of the prophet Jeremiah. At a specific stage in his life, his hope in times of fear is perfectly expressed. Diving into his story should open our eyes to how we can come to such hope in difficult and challenging times. Those who wish to read the story can do so in Jeremiah, chapter 32.
Jeremiah lived and worked in the Kingdom of Israel in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. He was a prophet of God. Prophets were people chosen by God to bring his message to the people. This task was not very popular and most prophets would have liked to have a different task. For the delivery of God’s words was often connected with personal restrictions. Moreover, the words of the prophets were not gladly heard. Thus, the prophet was often at the bottom of the rulers» and people’s favour. Jeremiah’s life is also marked by suffering. He suffers in many ways and he had the unpleasant task of repeatedly proclaiming to the kings who sat on the throne in Jerusalem that because of their disobedience to God, the people of Israel would be attacked and defeated by hostile nations.
Chapter 32 is also set in just such a situation. As Jeremiah had predicted, the Babylonians attacked Israel. In this siege, he called on the people to surrender in the name of God in order to at least save their lives and to suffer only minor damage, so he was taken prisoner. After nearly starving to death in a well, he was now held in the courtyard of the king’s palace. The story from Jeremiah 32 takes place just at this stage of the battle. Jerusalem is under siege and Jeremiah is certain of defeat.
Hide circumstances
During this time, Jeremiah receives a message from God. He predicts that his uncle will come to him and want to sell him a field. Sure enough, his uncle came and offered him the field for sale. Since Jeremiah was related to him, he had the right of first refusal. But the special thing about this land purchase is the fact that the field, although not far away, is still outside the city walls of Jerusalem. It is thus also in territory already taken by the hostile Babylonians. Jeremiah does not know when and whether he will survive the captivity, whether he will survive the siege and whether the future rulers will let him live. Surely he could have used his money more efficiently in the besieged city than to buy a piece of land with it. Jeremiah finds himself in times of fear and uncertainty. In the circumstances surrounding him, buying land makes absolutely no sense, yet he decides to take this courageous, perhaps even reckless step. What makes this purchase even more abstruse is the fact that he himself predicted the defeat and downfall of their kingdom to the people of Jerusalem. Jeremiah was by no means naïve, we read: «You see how the siege ramps of the enemies are already reaching the city walls. It will not be long before they have taken the city. It is at the mercy of the sword of the Babylonians who fight against it; hunger and pestilence do the rest. Yes, all that you have threatened us has come to pass, you see it yourself. And yet, almighty LORD, although the city will soon be in the hands of the Babylonians, you have commanded me to buy this field before witnesses». (Jeremiah 32:24–25 NLB). No, Jeremiah was anything but a daydreamer, but he was also not an ensign in the wind who was too easily distracted.
This is the first thing we can learn from Jeremiah. Not to let ourselves be influenced by external circumstances, perhaps even to consciously block them out and not to let them determine all our actions. This does not mean that these are not difficult. It does not mean that they do not take a lot of time and energy. But it does mean turning one’s gaze away from what cannot be changed to something that is in one’s hands. These circumstances can be either personal or external.
There is enough to occupy us at the moment. Be it loneliness, which is so overwhelming that life becomes pure torture. Challenging family situations in which familiar people suddenly turn into enemies and the whole environment suffers from this situation. Neighbours who have literally broken off a quarrel. New or long-lasting financial hardships that cut off the air to life. Health that no longer plays along as planned and represents a major loss of the quality of life to which we are accustomed. While personal circumstances can possibly be changed through one’s own efforts, this is usually not the case with external circumstances. Right now, we are seeing that war is once again taking place in the immediate vicinity and that it is spreading ever wider in economic and political circles. People all over the world have to leave their home countries and are forced to settle in new places where they have to fight for their survival. The causes can be different, such as war, but also environmental influences. Inflation is higher than in other years. When examining the fund shares, one is shocked to see that the value has dropped several percentage points within a very short time. Although the Christian faith had a decisive influence on Europe for centuries, society is increasingly moving away from Christian values. In general, after a pandemic and in the midst of an armed conflict in the immediate vicinity, the prognosis for the future is not very rosy.
In the face of all these things that also threaten our existence, despair is not far away. But actually it would be up to us to follow the path of Jeremiah and hand them over to God. In other words, to block them out so that they no longer define us. «Leave all your worries to God, for He cares for all that concerns you!» (1 Peter 5:7 NLB).
Taking responsibility
So Jeremiah bought the field in this uncertain time and thus took responsibility. For he not only had the right of first refusal, but it was also his duty to help his uncle. «If one of your countrymen becomes impoverished and therefore has to sell part of his inherited land, his next of kin shall buy it back for him» (Exodus 25:25 NLB). Surely everyone would have understood if Jeremiah had not wanted to buy the field in the occupied land. Especially since most of the inhabitants of Israel no longer obeyed the laws anyway. But he took responsibility and handled the sale properly and did not try to extract any profit.
Although all the circumstances would have suggested otherwise, Jeremiah bought the field because he was aware of his responsibility before God. Followers of Jesus Christ are still called to take responsibility today. This may look complex depending on the situation. The Letter of Peter gives us instructions on how to act in times of fear. «Make Christ the Lord of your life. And when you are asked about your hope, always be ready to give information about it, but in a friendly way and with respect for others.» (1 Peter 3:15–16a NLB). Jeremiah’s hope was God’s promise that the time would come again when God would bring his people back to Israel (Jeremiah 32:37–38). Today, this hope is based in Jesus Christ. It is based in the fact that no matter what is to come, he holds the whole world in his hand and is with his followers. He himself says: «And I assure you: I am with you always, to the end of time». (Matthew 28:20b NLB). Followers of Jesus Christ can say: «I am convinced: nothing can separate us from his love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor powers, neither our fears in the present nor our worries about the future, not even the powers of hell can separate us from the love of God.» (Romans 8:38 NLB). This is the hope that sustains and drives. Information about this hope should be given. But not forced, but when it is asked for. Friendly and full of love and respect for the other person. This then also happens from the centre of life and not out of religious zeal.
It is this hope that sustains and shapes us. However, there is a danger that followers of Christ either shirk responsibility or get too caught up in a zeal and thereby also fail to live up to their mission. To ensure that neither the one nor the other happens, 1 Peter 3:15–16a serves as a good basis. It is first about Jesus Christ, i.e. the fading out of all circumstances, and then about a readiness to give information at any time, not forced, but friendly. This is the second thing we can learn from Jeremiah: Taking responsibility for what has been entrusted to us.
Becoming a bearer of hope
Through his purchase, Jeremiah became a beacon of hope. He set a sign of hope. A sign that goes beyond the present moment and points to the one who holds everything in his hand. For Jeremiah’s future was very uncertain and he was blessed by what happened to many inhabitants of Jerusalem a few years earlier. Already at that time Jerusalem was taken by the Babylonians and part of the elite was taken into exile to Babylon. So he had no assumption that no other fate awaited him either. Jeremiah’s life was marked by suffering. Yet he remained faithful to God, even when all around him became unfaithful. Jeremiah’s faithfulness was shown by the fact that he placed his hope in God, that is, he left his worries to God.
But what distinguishes Jeremiah as a bearer of hope? Despite his message and calls to repentance, he could not change the course of history. This would only have been possible if the people listened to him and his message, either you surrender and live or you fight and die. Jeremiah became a bearer of hope by always speaking of this hope. He also did this to those people who were present at the first deportation. He told them the following words of God: » «For I know exactly what plans I have made for you,» says the LORD. My plan is to give you salvation and not suffering. I give you a future and hope» » (Jeremiah 29:11 NLB). This in a twofold sense. On the one hand earthly, on the other spiritual. These people found a new home in Babylon. But home and hope can also be found with God.
This is the third thing that can be learned from Jeremiah. Namely that followers of Jesus Christ should be bearers of hope by nature. For they point away from all earthly solutions and all worrying to Jesus Christ, who took all suffering, all pain upon himself and threw it into the deepest sea (Micah 7:19).
Thus, followers of Jesus Christ become bearers of hope when they remain faithful to God in difficult times. «We also rejoice when worries and problems beset us, because we know that this teaches us to become patient. But patience makes us inwardly strong, and that in turn makes us confident in the hope of salvation» (Romans 5:3–4 NLB). Followers of Jesus Christ become bearers of hope when they consider worldly possessions and fame as not so important and say: «My soul says: «The LORD is my portion, in him I will hope» ».» (Lamentations 3:24 NLB). Followers become bearers of hope when they tell of what Jesus Christ has done for them. «Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for in his great mercy he has reborn us. Now we have a living hope because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead» (1 Peter 1:3 NLB). Followers are then bearers of hope when they realise that they do not have to be in control of everything and cannot bear everything alone. «Then Jesus said: «Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest».» (Matthew 11:28 NLB).
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: Jeremiah 32
- What do you know about the prophet Jeremiah? What impresses you most about his personality?
- How do you classify the purchase of Jeremiah? What circumstance occupies you personally very much and has the danger of taking up all your time and energy? What prevents you from ignoring this circumstance?
- Do you understand Jeremiah’s duty, why he had to buy this field?
- How do you feel about your responsibility to bear witness to your hope? How would you describe this hope?
- Do you find it easy to talk to others about faith in a respectful, friendly and respectful way?
- Which person is a beacon of hope for you? What inspires you about this person?
- What prevents you personally from being a bearer of hope? What could you do to become a bearer of hope?
