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This Sunday’s lessons fall on very different places along the God/human relationship continuum. On one side we feel the scorching blast of God’s judgment upon people who lack understanding and knowledge (Jeremiah 4); on the other end are two great parables of redemption and rescue (Luke 15). Somewhere in between we find Psalm 14 with its plight of the fools and petition of the righteous and the story of the enemy-turned-convert to God’s grace (1 Timothy 1).

PSALM 14-INSTRUCTIONS AND PETITIONS

The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God’ begins the King James Version of this short and famous psalm. The seven verses weave together the functions of instruction, petition, and hope in God’s deliverance. In the first statement which lacks any divine address, begins with a sort of thesis statement and then imagines God in heaven looking down for a single "straight-walking" soul, but finding none. At mid-point in the psalm (v. 4), the psalmist raises a question about those who "eat up my people as they eat bread," and then envisions a day when the tables will be turned and the evildoers will get the short end of the stick while the righteous will be glad (vv. 5-7).

JEREMIAH 4:11-12, 22-28-DESTRUCTION AND DESOLATION

As the scorching Socorro wind whistles down through the valley drying up all of life, so God comes down to judge the people of God’s choosing. How could people be so foolish as to be unfaithful to their God? Lack of knowledge and understanding (v. 22), says Jeremiah. The prophet now shifts his vision toward a panorama of earth and describes total destruction. The earth is just devastated (v. 23) and the mountains quake (v. 24). Seems that no life has endured this scorching judgment of God-the birds are gone, the orchards are a desert, no human being is in sight. When God judges us, the place of normal activity and life ceases as justice calls creation to repentance.

1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17-REDEEMED BY GRACE

This portion of the letter to Timothy is part testimonial and part doxological. In the first part (vv. 12-16), the writer (not necessarily Paul) describes the powerful conversion experience of the greatest church planter and evangelist in the Church-Paul the Apostle. Paul has been a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man. Yet God’s grace could reach even to the nascent sect’s most virulent enemy and transform him into one of its greatest proponents. The final verse is doxological-King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen (v. 17).

LUKE 15:1-10-LOST AND FOUND

We are introduced to two of the three parables that form Luke’s triptych of "lost and found" in chapter 15. Verse one sets up the context which will enable the writer/listener to understand better the theme of who’s lost and needs finding. In the first parable, Jesus describes a sheepherder who comes up one short in his flock. Rather than writing off the lost, he goes in search of the one lost wooly fuzz ball and when found the sheepherder throws a celebration. The second parable repeats the basic meaning of the first-something is lost (this time a coin) and then found and then the discovery becomes the grounds for a celebration. Also repeated in both parables is the line that closes out each of them: Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents . . .