Prayers for our Nation, wisdom from Ezekiel

This wisdom was in today June 11, 2025’ devotions from Dr. Walter Brueggermann, who just passed away last week. I found it very meaningful since we are have some of the issues he is talking about going on in Los Angeles, and Washington DC. It’s like an amazing voice speaking to us out of the Spirit of God and from one who is no longer with us.

 “God’s judgment and God’s hope. It does so through the imagery of shepherd and sheep. The clue to the oracle is the awareness that in the ancient world “shepherd” was a widely used metaphor for “king.” The king has responsibility for the care, protection, and well-being of the realm that is cast as a flock. The oracle begins with the prophetic judgment that the long series of kings in the family of David have been, in sum, a failure because the shepherd kings have not done their job but instead have used the “flock” to their own advantage. The sheep have suffered because the kings have been negligent and self-indulgent. The good news is that God (“I, I myself”) will now act as the good shepherd. The oracle is addressed to Jews who have been “scattered” (exiled, deported) from their homeland. The good shepherd will bring them home and do the good work of the shepherd: God will bring back, bind up, feed, and strengthen; the sheep will prosper. This imagery can be carried in several important directions. First, it is from such imagery that we get the picture of God as the Good Shepherd. Second, the imagery is extended, in Christian interpretation, toward Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Third, in the Gospel reading the apostles are given the work of being good shepherds. Fourth, the imagery of the shepherd king invites reflection on the role of government; the king is to guarantee the well-being and welfare of the entire realm. Bad kings produce big trouble for all the sheep.”

I invite you all to pray for our nation in these most challenging times. May we who have a connection with God unite in our dedication to pray for our nation and all its leaders.

I’ll write more later

Blessings

Pastor Jeff

Wisdom From Jimmy Carter for Today

 To share with others

God’s Political Agenda 

Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.    PSALM 72:1 – 2 

What divisive issues have provided the most highly publicized controversies among Christian denominations in modern-day America? I’d suggest these: inerrancy of Scripture, imposition of creeds, exaltation of pastors, financial and other material rewards for worship, condemnation of homosexuals, women’s role in church leadership, abortion, separation of religion and politics, support for military adventures, and prayer in schools. Unfortunately, some of the debates have deteriorated into a total lack of harmony or even personal animosity. I am sure that you could add other issues. 

Holy Scripture gives us many ideas about God’s “political” agenda. Psalm 72 probably was written for the coronation of some Israelite king. The Hebrews looked on their king as God’s servant, the connecting link between God and the people. So when the king wasn’t right with God, neither were the people. When the king violated God’s covenants about justice and righteousness, Israel lost battles and her people went into captivity. 

I find it somewhat reassuring to realize that similar issues caused dissension among members of the early Christian churches. They involved arguments over such things as how to observe communion, circumcision as a prerequisite for being a Christian, eating of meat sacrificed to idols, treatment of the Sabbath, and ranking of Jesus’ disciples. 

Jesus, Paul, Peter, and other leaders advised strongly that such human differences of opinion, no matter how important they seem, should never be permitted to divide believers from each other. We should accept our differences and serve harmoniously together by accepting the overall premise that we are all equal in God’s sight. All of us are saved by God’s grace through our mutual faith in Jesus Christ. So why not work together? 

O Lord, help me realize that when my voice espouses and demonstrates peace, justice, compassion, humility, service, forgiveness, and unselfish love, it can help bring healing of differences and blessings to others. Forgive me for my failure to recognize inequities and dissensions that exist in our society, and grant me the wisdom to encourage harmony among all Christians. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

From Through The Year with Jimmy Carter 365 Daily Meditations from the 35th President

    I found this reflection most helpful in sorting out all that is going on right now in 2025

Prayers for you all as you reflect on this as well.

Blessings

Pastor Jeff