Baruch 6:1-16: a reflection

1A copy of a letter that Jeremy sent to those who were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to give them the message that God commanded him. 2Because of the sins which you have committed before God, you will be led away captives to Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians. 3So when you come to Babylon, you will remain there many years, and for a long season, even for seven generations. After that, I will bring you out peacefully from there. 4But now you will see in Babylon gods of silver, gold, and wood carried on shoulders, which cause the nations to fear. 5Beware therefore that you in no way become like these foreigners. Don’t let fear take hold of you because of them when you see the multitude before them and behind them, worshiping them. 6But say in your hearts, “O Lord, we must worship you.” 7For my angel is with you, and I myself care for your souls. 8For their tongue is polished by the workman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and with silver; yet they are only fake, and can’t speak. 9And taking gold, as if it were for a virgin who loves to be happy, they make crowns for the heads of their gods. 10Sometimes also the priests take gold and silver from their gods, and spend it on themselves. 11They will even give some of it to the common prostitutes. They dress them like men with garments, even the gods of silver, gods of gold, and gods of wood. 12Yet these gods can’t save themselves from rust and moths, even though they are covered with purple garments. 13They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, which is thick upon them. 14And he who can’t put to death one who offends against him holds a sceptre, as though he were judge of a country. 15He has also a dagger in his right hand, and an axe, but can’t deliver himself from war and robbers. 16By this they are known not to be gods. Therefore don’t fear them.

This letter warns God's people, about to be carried into exile among idol-worshipers, not to be afraid of the gods of their captors. It exposes those idols for what they are: images of silver and gold and wood, carried on shoulders because they cannot move themselves, covered in dust because they cannot even wipe their own faces, unable to save themselves from rust or robbers, let alone to help anyone else. They are, the letter says, only made things, unable to speak or act; there is no reason to fear them. And it gives the reason God's people need not fear: my angel is with you, and I myself care for your souls.

Notice the contrast the letter draws: the idols that others fear are helpless, unable even to care for themselves, while the living God cares for the souls of his people. The nations trembled before their idols, carried them in procession, dressed them in gold; but these gods could do nothing, and were not to be feared. God's people, by contrast, were cared for by the living God himself, and so had no reason to fear the empty things the nations revered.

That speaks to our own fears. Others around us may revere and fear all manner of things, powers, systems, forces, that seem to hold sway over life; and we can be tempted to fear them too, to be ruled by dread of what the world reveres. But the living God cares for our souls, and the things others fear are, in the end, unable to help or ultimately to harm those God keeps. Do not fear what cannot finally help or save, even when the world trembles before it. The God who cares for your soul is greater than every empty thing the world reveres; rest in his care, and do not be ruled by dread of what has no real hold over those he keeps.

Lord, this letter warned your people not to fear the idols of their captors, exposing them as helpless made things, unable even to care for themselves, and gave the reason they need not fear: that you yourself care for their souls. Speak to my own fears. Others around me may revere and fear all manner of things, powers, systems, and forces, that seem to hold sway over life; and I can be tempted to fear them too, to be ruled by dread of what the world reveres. But you care for my soul, and the things others fear are, in the end, unable to help or ultimately to harm those you keep. Help me not to fear what cannot finally help or save, even when the world trembles before it. You who care for my soul are greater than every empty thing the world reveres; help me rest in your care, and not be ruled by dread of what has no real hold over those you keep. You care for my soul; help me trust you and fear nothing else.