NIB ON THIS PASSAGE -

The anthropomorphic imagery of Scripture comes into play here in indirect fashion as we are given a picture of a listening God . . . Such imagery suggests several points:

The first idea this imagery suggests is the openness of God to human need and to human appeals. This is something for which God actively listens. It is the particular "wavelength" to which God is attuned.

Second, this text suggests that at least one of the things for which God listens is the confession of those who have done wrong, the repentant cry, "We have sinned." Jeremiah makes us aware that God’s urgency may be about repentance and the prayers that say to God, "What have I done?!" with as much fervor as "What have you done?!"

Third, the responsiveness of God is such that the divine intention can be affected and even altered by words of confession and repentance. Indeed, most of the examples of God’s change of mind in Scripture have to do with the Lord’s decision not to bring judgment when the community has sinned greatly. In either case, there is a willingness, if not a strong desire, on God’s part to avert judgment. But the divine action is not apart from what is happening on the human scene.

The opening words reflect deep internal anguish over a relationship. Can you name moments in which such human anguish is felt?

Vignettes of divorce

A personal story of deep anguish, loss, or moment of being wounded

Lovers quarrel that leaves two people "sick at heart"

A family member leaving home in a huff

I would listen to this text along with Psalm 79 since both speak to deep sorrow and ruin. But what is especially helpful in the Jeremiah text is that we observe a rare glimpse of the God who hurts deeply for the people who have been devastated.

Recall moments of such anguish from media and culture, even personal experience and then juxtapose that with the biblical passage so that we can better understand the passage.

Shift to the hope that we find in Jeremiah and hold that up for listeners to see.

A final shift could go to the Christ-event where God actually bleeds and hurts deeply as he completely identifies with hurting humanity in the great sacrificial moment of the Cross.

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