The teachable moment.

Then, there is the teachable moment. Now, please fast-forward past the academic, dictionary garble about this kind of learning. Go simple with me. In a more pragmatic sense, the teachable moment is that rare, often instant flash when life lessons can be grasped most effectively. Usually unplanned, this curriculum registers deeply with us because it is a time of clarity, when the answer to a puzzling life mystery is discovered. The light-bulb in our brain pops on. Ah ha! Discovery time. Real learning.

It may not be the general rule, but my most teachable moments have been occasions when hardship, pain, or personal difficulty have softened me. Perhaps the power of overwhelming circumstances dissolves the prideful surfaces that shelter our learning synapses. But, as I learned from Pastor Ken Whitten's Twitter post in 2011, the question of harsh times isn't "how do I get out of this?'. No, it is "what do I get out of this?" It's that teachable moment thing when stubborn, self-centered me is most apt to listen. They scroll across the screen in my head, these important words---"Pay attention"!

Jeremiah's five poems eloquently described what happened to Judah and Jerusalem. His verbal imagery graphically depicted their destruction and fall. The glories of their nation, beloved city, Holy Temple, and chosen people were contrasted with their ugly defeat, its aftermath, and exile to Babylon. It was obviously a teachable moment for him as he struggled to understand what had happened to his beloved city and nation. His learning curve was honed to a point of personal responsibility and understanding. Notice his use of the word "sinned" in the texts of Lamentations---

Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore she became filthy; all who honored her despise

her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns her face away.

Lamentations 1: 8, ESV

Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities.

Lamentations 5:7, ESV

The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!

Lamentations 5: 16, ESV

In the first instance he identified the nations woes with the sins of Jerusalem. You know, an impersonal and generic designation, perhaps referencing the ways of the entire city population. Then, in the second occasion, he confessed the sins of their fathers, meaning Israel's patriarchs and those who had lived before them. Their stubborn ways were a backdrop for their current deplorable situation. Finally, in what must have been a personal reckoning, he admitted "...for we have sinned". He joined himself to the current people of Judah in their obstinate and disobedient ways. His teachable moment was the discovery that he was one of the "we" in Judah and was responsible for their national condition like everyone else.

You know, we're all second guessing our nation's response to the coronavirus. Some are saying God is punishing us. Others point to our immigration and travel policies, and dysfunction in our medical response systems. In the main, we're taking aim at our politicians, elected officials, our vast bureaucratic network, and the misinformed media elite. Last night, after reading Jeremiah's fifth poem and noting the "we" of his lament, it occurred to me that all of the above are the results of elections and appointments that "we the people" should celebrate in our representative republic. Our system, for better or worse, is ultimately the result of what "we the people" have orchestrated in the voting booth and permitted through our silence and acceptance. The bottom line for me is that "we the people" can do something about this mess.

Mark Tuesday, November 3, 2020 on your calendar. Pray about how you will express your opinions in the voting booth that day. And, be one of "we the people" who can move our nation in the direction envisioned by our framers and The Constitution of the United States. Let's quit whining and get "we the people" to the polls.

Be safe and well.

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Mourning presumption.

Jeremiah's broken spirit wasn't merely a yearning for the good old days. He was shockingly aware of spiritual realities evident in Jerusalem and Judah in the here and now. The artistry of his poetic gifts accurately described the glories of their former years. As he reviewed them, however, he noted several national character flaws that primed them for crisis. Among them was the sin of presumption, that is, the error of taking things for granted. The people of Judah were God's chosen nation. Jerusalem was thought to be the actual dwelling place of God. The Temple was their holiest place. They never dreamed that God would allow them to be taken into exile or that his Temple would be destroyed. Jeremiah wrote about it in poem 4---

The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe

or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

Lamentations 4: 12, ESV

Surely God had been faithfully patient and forbearing in his covenant relationship with Israel. He had forgiven their disobedience and stubborn attitude time and again. Finally, in Jeremiah's day, God punished their prideful spirit and condemned them to national folly. Their precious city and glorious temple were laid waste. Many of their people were carried into exile. The prophets, priests, and elders of the people had failed to fulfill their assigned duties. How in the world did such drastic and horrific events shatter God's chosen people? Well, yes, no doubt there are many reasons. Super-imposed over them all was the sin of presumption. They never dreamed foreign armies could overcome their borders or inflict such pain. They took God's care for granted.

The sin of presumption is a significant Scriptural theme. Many passages warn of expecting the same ol' same ol' in life and mission, especially those about God. Let me reference just one, the profound yet practical words of James---

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and

spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow

will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then

vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.

James 4: 13-15, ESV

"If the Lord wills" (see also Acts 18: 21) is the actual truth about what is coming around every hidden corner. It is a spirit that acknowledges God's sovereign guidance and places our plans and expectations down the line of priority. To presume what is there because it has been before is prideful arrogance. "If the Lord wills" governs every tick of the clock.

You know, we're experiencing unexpected surprises about American life right now. It's happened before in our lifetimes--like September 11, 2001. I remember the stunning reaction when we all realized that our skies were not inviolate and that terrorists could penetrate our defense systems. It was a wake-up call about the state of American border detection and our own diverse population. The same can be said about Covid-19. Our presumption that we're no third world country and therefore foolproof against ghastly illnesses is just wrong. The sin of presumption again. Yes, our nation is a unique one-of-a-kind system in many respects. But, we cannot presume it is immune to the vagaries of the real world.

Nobel laureate and British philosopher Bertrand Russell once observed, "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted". Yes, there is absolute truth declared by God that we must not question. Many human devices, however, are precious gifts that we should handle with care. With King David let us confess "My times are in your hand" (Psalm 31:15) as we face the challenges of uncertain times.

And, let us join Jeremiah in mourning presumption.

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Mourning leadership.

The look back usually raises more questions than answers. Of course, the answer man today has a very simple pro forma response to any question about cause. Today, it's the governments fault. More specifically, it's the President's fault. We're all-Pro at the blame game, as long as we can fling catalytic issues toward someone else. And, that's the deal with the Covid-19 virus. You're racist if you blame the Chinese or any other people group and a medical ignoramus if you link this thing to any other contagion. Even so, the questions persist. When did we learn about it? Where did it come from? Who were the first to know? Why was this virus not revealed before it rampaged through China or Italy? Or, the USA? Somewhere in the backdrop of our confinement are the many questions about how something so deadly could fester among us so suddenly!

Jeremiah's second poem mourns leadership. As a prophet Jeremiah held a very high view of God's sovereign reign over all things. As a result, Lamentations 2 heralds the majesty and glory of the glorious God who rules over his creation. Chapter 2 doesn't shift blame to Judah's enemies, their well-equipped armies, or to battlefield drama. In clear and straight-forward language Jeremiah acknowledged God's hand in the pain and suffering so visible around him. The opening verse of Chapter 2 establishes that central theme---

How the Lord in his anger has set the daughter of Zion under a cloud! He has cast down

from heaven to earth the splendor of Israel; he has not remembered his footstool

in the day of his anger.

Lamentations 2: 1, ESV

The realities of God's anger, wrath, lack of mercy, and scorn, while painful and difficult for Jeremiah to express, are referenced with distinct clarity. Reading it makes me wonder about God's patience in dealing with stubborn, self-centered humans like me.

Of course, Jeremiah didn't actually blame God for Judah's sorrowful circumstances. He blamed their religious and community leaders for not being faithful to their duties. Several phrases settle the issue of blame. Make note---

1. God had told his chosen people what would happen if they followed other God's or made treaties with other nations. Their condition was only a surprise because they had developed a lower reverence and obedience to God. .

Phrase 1: The Lord has done what he purposed, he has carried out his word which he commanded long ago (verse 17).

2. God had entrusted this truth to prophets who were expected to instruct the people and emphasize their obedience. These prophets had failed to do so.

Phrase 2: Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false or misleading (verse 14).

3. Leaders had not faithfully prepared their people for such times. Phrase 3: The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth (verse 10).

Jeremiah wasn't mourning a lack of God's leadership. God had consistently expected the human leaders to teach the people about their covenant responsibilities and what would happen if they abandoned them. Jeremiah mourned the human leadership, the prophets, priests, and elders who were to be his spokesmen to the nation.

Who caused Covid-19 is only an issue for the blame game people tight now. It is here and is impacting our nation at many levels. We're mourning the loss of some freedoms, perhaps the death or infection of someone close, maybe some financial resources, certainly some comforts. Let's be humble and pray for our leaders at every level of American life. Reference 1 Timothy 2: 1-3. Let's pray that our leaders will be bold and truthful about dealing with Covid-19, whether in the pulpits of America, the state houses, halls of Congress, or the White House. And, let's ask God for a time of spiritual renewal in the hope that a raised awareness of God's truth will guide us in the future.

Pray for our leaders with urgency and hope!

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