From the place of exile, come the life of repentance.
This theology of repentance is an extraordinary development in Israel's self-discernment. One might have concluded, after Jeremiah and Ezekiel, that Israel had reached a point of no return with YHWH. But now Israel is permitted a chance: "From there (from exile) you will seek the Lord you God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul. In your distress, when all these things [suffering displacement] have happened to your in time to come, you will return to the Lord your God and heed him" (Deuteronomy 4:29-30). Thus repentance is an act of hope. A return to YHWH, and to land and to well-being, is possible. Any such return, however, will be on the terms of the sovereign God who waits to be merciful (Deut.4:31). The repentance entails the very issues that were the causes of Israel's condemnation: remembrance, holiness, and justice.
Even when it all seems over - it is not over. There is this way of coming home. It is the simple act of turning around and returning to the one who is waiting always waiting and always loving. Repentance is 'an act of hope.' I usually do not hear this put quite like that. I find that a beautiful way of speaking of repentance. We can go home. We can return. We can be a remembering, holy, just people - because our God is always ready to shape us into just such a people. What a gracious story to carry around with us so that our lives are actually influenced by such hopefulness.
Connection: This makes is seem as though we are always standing at the edge of hope and ready to enter into its life no matter what has happened.
O God, who watches how we turn away and follow other powers, you remain the one who waits for us and promises to abide on our side even as we run from you. Inspire us to trust in your never-ending love. Amen.
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