Jeremiah 52:17-23: a reflection

17The Chaldeans broke the pillars of bronze that were in the LORD’s house and the bases and the bronze sea that were in the LORD’s house in pieces, and carried all of their bronze to Babylon. 18They also took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and all the vessels of bronze with which they ministered. 19The captain of the guard took away the cups, the fire pans, the basins, the pots, the lamp stands, the spoons, and the bowls; that which was of gold, as gold, and that which was of silver, as silver. 20They took the two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve bronze bulls that were under the bases, which King Solomon had made for the LORD’s house. The bronze of all these vessels was without weight. 21As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits encircled it; and its thickness was four fingers. It was hollow. 22A capital of bronze was on it; and the height of the one capital was five cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. The second pillar also had the same, with pomegranates. 23There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were one hundred on the network all around.

This is an inventory of loss. The great bronze pillars of the temple, the bronze sea, the pots and shovels and lampstands, all of it broken up and carried to Babylon, itemized down to the ninety-six pomegranates on the pillar's network. Someone counted them as they were carried away.

It is a strange, sad thing to read, this careful accounting of a holy place being stripped for scrap. But notice that it is counted. The loss is not glossed over or hurried past; each piece is named, because each piece mattered. There is a mercy even in that. What was precious and is now gone is not forgotten; it is recorded, seen, grieved. God does not pretend the loss did not happen.

And there is a deeper word underneath. Solomon's temple looked permanent, all that bronze and gold, and it was carried off in pieces. What we build for God, however glorious, is not finally where he dwells; he had told them so, and now they saw it. If something you thought was solid has been broken up and carried away, you are in the company of these verses. Grieve it honestly, name what is lost, and turn to the God who outlasts every temple and was never contained by one.

Lord, you see what has been broken and carried away, and you grieve it with me. Teach me to hold loosely what I build, and to find my home in you, who outlast every temple.