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juniper in the Arabah

Jeremiah 17:5-10 (JDV)

Jeremiah 17:5 This is what Yahveh says: the person who trusts in the man is afflicted with a curse. He sets up flesh as his arm, and his heart deserts Yahveh.

Jeremiah 17:6 He will be like a juniper in the Arabah; he cannot see when good comes but dwells in the parched places in the open country, in a salt land where no one lives.

Jeremiah 17:7 The person who trusts in Yahveh, whose confidence is really Yahveh, is empowered with a blessing.

Jeremiah 17:8 He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is more deceitful than anything, and incurable – who can figure it out?

Jeremiah 17:10 I, Yahveh, examine the heart, I test the insides [1] to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.

juniper in the Arabah

It is impossible not to see Psalm 1 in today’s text. Jeremiah is speaking the truth of that song in his own context. That context is the impending exile. Jeremiah is telling his people to put their trust in God, and he will continue to make them fruitful, even in the dire situation they are about to face.

The exile will be a test of the heart. In that parched land, many a juniper will languish and die, because they put their trust in a man. But Jeremiah encourages his people to put their confidence in God who is able to make them fruitful, even in the desert.

Lord, no matter what our situation, may we have the good sense to put our confidence in you.

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[1] literally, kidneys (emotions).