000 Allen FMT (i-xxii) - The Presbyterian Leader

262 Proper 15 [20]/Year C
and compromises that come with established religion. Further, such cults
imposed significant financial hardship on the people: they gave religious
legitimacy to the state and its bureaucracy, economic support of them was
required of the people, and the state-cult personnel were tax-exempt.
“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have
had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts . . .” (v. 11).
“Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates . . .” (v. 14).
The end of verse 15 discloses the deeper concern: “your hands are full
of blood.” Bloodstained hands point to the need for a conversion of the
people to genuine morality and compassionate justice: “Wash yourselves;
make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my
eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (vv. 16–17).
Verses 18–20 lay out the options for Judeans: they can practice compassionate
justice and receive the blessings that come with it: “If you are
willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” (v. 19). Or they
can “refuse and rebel” and “be devoured by the sword” (v. 20). It is a choice
between the way of life and blessing or that of curse and death (Deut.
11:26–28). It is a choice for all of us to ponder.
Genesis 15:1–6* (Paired)
For comments on this passage, please see the Second Sunday in Lent/
Year C.
Proper 15 [20]/Year C
Isaiah 5:1–7+ (Semicontinuous)
For comments on this passage, please see the Proper 22/Year A.
Jeremiah 23:23–39* (Paired)
Jeremiah complained that Judah suffered a failure of leadership. Civil
authorities (including the monarch), priests, and prophets supported idolatry
and unfaithful political alliances with Egypt, and they condoned and
even profited from the exploitation of the poor and other social injustices.
Such leadership set the course toward the exile and must be avoided in the
rebuilding of the community after the return from Babylon.