Sermons

God’s first creative word called forth light in the midst of the primeval darkness. Light is necessary for making God’s creative works visible and life possible. But when we read Genesis chapter 1 we often think of physical darkness. Yet there would be another kind of darkness that would come into the world into hearts of humanity! That would be spiritual darkness of sin, which ushers in evil, injustice, hatred, malice, etc. The prophet Jeremiah speaks to a community that is acutely aware of this tension. Jerusalem has been completely devastated in the Babylonian invasion of 587 BCE, and the inhabitants of Israel have been scattered from their homeland, living as conquered people in Babylonian captivity. For those living in exile, their way of life has been completely overturned. Their sense of security has been violated. They have no idea if they will live to see their home again.