Dear Readers, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watch word for today is taken from Jeremiah 12: 1, “Uncompromisingly righteous and just are You, O Lord, when I complain against and contend with You. Let me plead and reason the case with You: Why do the ways of the wicked prosper?” (Amplified Bible). The prophet Jeremiah comes to the Lord with a question that has been asked for as long as the history of humanity exists. Why is it that those who are doing evil, and causing great harm to others, seem to be able to carry on as if there is no end to their power and influence, as if their wicked deeds will never be punished? Jeremiah asks the Lord to pass a verdict, for God is uncompromisingly just and fair. The Lord understands Jeremiah’s question. Jeremiah has worked as a prophet under the most difficult conditions. His co-workers and citizens ultimately rejected and hounded him down, for they succumbed to the surrounding evil. Jeremiah continued to pray for them and God said, “Do not pray for the people any more,” (Jeremiah 11:14), for they have rejected the Lord of Israel, and will reject his prophets. Then Jeremiah came to the Lord and said, but when will there be justice? It cannot continue as it is. “(But the Lord addressed Jeremiah’s impatience, saying,) If you have raced with men on foot, and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?” (Jeremiah 12: 5). God’s answer to Jeremiah focuses us to continue to be patient. God is ever observing and preparing to intervene at exactly the right moment. We have been like people running on foot, while the enemies travel with carriages and horses. Technically, we do not stand a chance, but nothing is impossible for God. He does not wipe the wrongs of evil doers off the slate, but will bring it to be announced from the rooftops. He will bring every single deed to book, like a judge in a court judgement does. God is perfectly just, and we have to abide His time. We are not able to pass fair judgements, but we can exercise patience and fortitude.
Our application text brings in a very interesting and consoling aspect of God’s grace and forgiveness. A manager goes out early in the morning and finds workers to work in the vineyard. The labourers agree on the daily wage and work hard. As the day progresses the manager sees that he will need to find more labourers to complete the work in the allotted time. He goes and finds more workers. This process continues right up until “the last hour” of the day. Finally, the work is completed. It is time for the receiving of wages. Those who came in last were called first. They received a full wage, and so it was with all the workers. Those who came at various hours all received a full day’s wages. “Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the agreed upon daily wage. When those who worked first received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat,” (Matthew 20: 10 – 12). In our human eyes we have empathy with the workers who laboured longest and did not receive more, but this is not a parable about earthly work. Those who started labouring in the Kingdom of God at the beginning of the Christian church, and those who work two thousand years later, will all receive the same promise, ever-lasting life. That is the wage of working in God’s vineyard. Those who only get to know God at the end of their lives, those who repent and leave their wicked ways; they will also receive life everlasting! God’s economy is not our economy. His justice is not our justice. He is uncompromisingly fair and just. We cannot comprehend his plans and ways. When we contemplate this parable, we are in awe of God’s grace for all, this is the Good News.
Father, we thank you for your unconditional justice for all, through Jesus Christ. Amen.