Ruined and Completely Useless
Jeremiah 13:1-11 (NIV)
This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” 2 So I bought a belt, as the Lord directed, and put it around my waist.
3 Then the word of the Lord came to me a second time: 4 “Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks.” 5 So I went and hid it at Perath, as the Lord told me.
6 Many days later the Lord said to me, “Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.” 7 So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless! 11 For as a belt is bound around a man’s waist, so I bound the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.’
Belts are an important fashion accessory. I know that some women's closets are filled with all kinds of belts--one for every possible outfit. Guys need belts too, although more out of necessity than as a fashion statement. Jeremiah's belt was meant to make a statement for his congregation, but not a fashion statement.
Jeremiah followed the Lord's directions and bought a beautiful linen belt and wore it around his waist. Maybe he received some compliments on his beautiful belt. But then, the LORD gave him some strange instructions. "Hide it in a crevice in the rocks." "All right, Lord, but I don't think my beautiful belt will be so beautiful any more." Jeremiah did what the Lord said. Time passed--many days. The Lord told Jeremiah to go get his belt again. No doubt moisture had ruined the fine, white cloth, and bugs and other creatures probably used it for food and bedding. It was ruined and completely useless. Why did Jeremiah have to ruin his beautiful belt? It was an object lesson for God's chosen people. He had chosen them. They should have believed and followed him, but because of their stubborn attitude and idolatrous ways they had become like that dirty, ruined belt--completely useless.
God has bound us to himself in Word and sacrament. Through baptism he binds us close to his heart and calls us his people, his family. The Word tightens that bond, strengthens it, a beautiful connection between Creator and creature. Have we stopped listening to him? How do we spend our Sunday mornings? Have we been stubbornly pursuing gods of our own making? What do our checkbooks tell us about our gods? Are we ruined and completely useless?
If we make those same mistakes as God's people did in the past, we will find ourselves looking like that ruined belt, no longer useful, no longer bound to the Lord, destined for the garbage pile. Our Lord Jesus has taken us, soiled and ruined, and restored us. The apostle Peter tells us what the Lord sees: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). Changed. Perfect. No longer ruined and useless. Still bound to the one who loves us.
God isn't afraid to make a statement about us--he has bound us to himself with the blood of the Lamb. Treasure that bond!
To God alone the glory!
