The context surround Jeremiah 32 is bleak, both for the nation of Judah and for the prophet Jeremiah. Communally, the nation of Judah is being destroyed. The Babylonian army has largely destroyed the fortified and important cities in the country. They have encircled and laid siege to the capital city of Jerusalem. There are no others who could or would come to their assistance. It was only a matter of time before the city and country would completely fall. Personally, Jeremiah was imprisoned in the midst of the imprisoned city. Having heard to many times Jeremiah’s dire prophecies, King Zedekiah arrested the prophet. In essence, Jeremiah was condemned to life without parole. There didn’t appear to be any possibilities of him being freed from prison. Even if he was, most likely he would be exiled away from his home to a foreign land.
In the midst of this doubly desperate situation, the Lord comes to Jeremiah with the instructions to purchase a vineyard in the town of Anathoth, which is a mere 3 miles north of Jerusalem. Given the clear fact that Judah would be defeated and the prevailing practice of exile would be imposed, the idea of purchasing property in a land that would be no more seems ludicrous. Yet, that is what God asked of Jeremiah.
In Jeremiah 32:15, the Lord’s promise to Jeremiah (and all of Judah) is stated: “Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” While the promise is indeed good news, it certainly would not be fulfilled in the near future. Yet, Jeremiah trusted the promise and completed the deeds of sale. He did so because he trusted the faithfulness of God and the certainty of God’s promises. Jeremiah lived in hope – hope for God’s good future.
While there are many teaching moments in this passage, what strikes me most is the link between hope and action.
The Christian virtue/disposition of hope is not some “pie-in-the-sky” wishfulness. Christian hope is not like hoping to win the lottery, or hoping that we will discover a Van Gogh at a garage sale. Rather, hope is the bedrock, foundational belief that God is at work in the world and in our lives and that God wills what is best for our lives. Thus, hope is that unshakeable sense that though it appears dark now, light will dawn; that though pain and heartache have entered our lives, it will not remain there forever.
Hope arises, not out of circumstances, but in a bedrock belief in the faithfulness of God. Hope isn’t something we gain from looking around at the externals of our situation. Rather, hope arises from within our spirit because we trust that God is good, God is compassionate, and that God is active.
But notice, there is more going on in this passage than merely a verbal promise from God to Jeremiah. Jeremiah was not only asked to believe in the Lord’s promise and thus to hope. Jeremiah was also asked to act on that hope. Hope always leads to activity. Despair debilitates; hope invigorates. Despair hinders activity; hope initiates activity.
God did not simply speak words of promise and hope that Jeremiah acted upon them. Faith is not simply about belief, it includes action as well. God told Jeremiah that all would be well and that he should invest in the future, that he should invest in hope. So Jeremiah bought the piece of property. He took possession of a parcel of land in a nation that seemed destined to fail.
Hope is best expressed not by waiting in a La-Z-Boy for a better future, but in engagement as if the future is already here. Hope leads us to investing now in ways that enable us to live into God’s promises.
