ORNAMENTS OF THE BRIDE
Most of the phrases of this chapter and the following two, written in the form of Hebrew poetry; most probably were speeches or sayings given by the prophet to motivate the people to repentance, and to save them from the sword that was to fall on their necks.
As God seeks the return of His people to Him, revealing His zeal and great love for them, He requests from them to return, without their corruptions and abominations, and to adorn themselves, like a holy heavenly bride.
1- Repentance is the way to adornment 1 – 2
2- The circumcision of the heart 3 – 9
3- Forsaking the false prophets 10 – 12
4- Realizing God’s plan and accepting His chastisement 13 – 18
5- Receiving the true prophets 19 – 22
6- Fulfillment and enlightenment 23 – 29
7- Forsaking the self righteousness 30 – 31
1- REPENTANCE IS THE WAY TO ADORNMENT:
Father Sherimon says: [He compares Jerusalem (the human soul) to a harlot seeking a man; He compares God, in His love for us, with a husband burning with the fire of his love for his wife, as much as he sees her disregarding and humiliating him1.
He tries hard to get her to return to Him; yet, He seeks her return sanctified to Him; saying: “’If you will return, O Israel’, says the Lord, ‘Return to Me; And if you will put away your abominations (from your mouth) out of My sight, Then you shall (no longer go astray)” (Jeremiah 4: 1)
He is asking His bride to forsake: idol worship and her denial of Him; things that He hates and detests, as they occupy man’s heart, and corrupts his inner life, to lead his soul astray, not recognizing her mission, nor God’s appreciation of her.
Let us forsake every idol we set in our heart, every foreign worship, every leaning on human arm, every desire to seek the pleasure and commendation of men, and every sin by thought, words, or deeds … all detested by God. By doing that, God would have us a holy bride for Him; and would make us, not only blessed, but a blessing to others, who would bless God who works in us and in them, and would gain His blessing.
The scholar Origen says: {What are the things that Israel should do, in order that peoples would be blessed in him ?
To put away abominations (from his mouth). What does this mean ?
Every evil we say, is an abomination in our mouth. So let us put away the bad and vain words that lead to our judgment; as “by your words you are justified, and by words you are judged” 2].
He requests from Israel not to swear by the idols, but by Him: “You shall swear, ‘The Lord lives’, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness” (Jeremiah 4: 2).
1 Cassian: Confer. 13: 8.
2 In Jer. Hom 5: 11.
The oath in the old days, was a sign of trust in God, by whose name man swears. That is why, when God requested from His people to swear by His name, He meant to keep them from swearing by the idols, and from believing in them.
The scholar Origen comments on the divine words: “And you shall swear, ‘The Lord lives’, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory” (Jeremiah 4: 2) saying: [Let us behold ourselves, we who swear, to see that we do not swear in judgment; that our many oaths have become a matter of custom, and not a matter of truth.
The problem here, is that we are letting ourselves be led by sin, and get used to it.
That Is what God detests.
We Know that the Lord said to His disciples in the gospel: “But I say to you, ‘Do not swear at all’” (Matthew 5: 34).
Now let us study this verse, and put the two verses together. We should probably start to: “Swear in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness”; then, as we later progress and grow in grace, we become prepared to stop swearing altogether, but to have the ‘Yes’ that needs no confirmation by an oath; and the ‘No’, that need no testimony.
Who swears, should first not be a liar, but truthful; As we often, miserably, swear in vain.
If we assume that we are swearing by ‘Truth’, our oath is not keeping with the Law, as it should be by ‘Justice’, beside being by ‘Truth’.
We are making the Lord of this world and His Christ, a witness to something!; What is its importance, to get down on my knees, and swear?...] 1.
It may be astonishing for some, that the prophet presents to the people a commitment to swear by the name of the Lord, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, as a sign of repentance. That may seem of no importance, but when we study it deeply, we shall recall that almost all the people and their leaderships worshipped idols, and swore by foreign gods; Therefore swearing by the living God would be a sign of forsaking the pagan worship. Furthermore, because what the mouth utters, is but a reflection of what is in the heart,: the pure and straightforward heart utters nothing but truth, justice, and righteousness; In it, there is no place for lies ! It is as though the oath here, reveals a sound faith and a straightforward behavior.
In short we say that the repentance as presented in this chapter, is not just a regret and a retreat from abominations, but it is a return and loyalty to God and a union with Him, in order to enjoy the divine truth, justice, and righteousness.
The divine promise: “The nations shall bless themselves in Him; And in Him they shall glory” (Jeremiah 4: 2), is the enjoyment of the riches and perfection of the new life, as a divine gift. This promise was given to our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12: 3, 18; 26: 4); and was realized by the coming of the Lord Christ, in whom the nations of the world are blessed.
2- The circumcision of the heart:
As the kingdom of Israel rebelled against God publicly, and set idol worship instead of that of the living God; God requested that she should put away that detested worship with all its abominations (Jeremiah 4: 1, 2). The kingdom of Judah, on the other hand, behaved differently; She mixed the true worship with idol worship; In appearance
1 Ibid 5: 12.
they used to go for the feasts to Jerusalem, to offer sacrifices to the Lord, to practice the formalities of worship, and to abide to the literality of the law; while their hearts were clinging to the idols. They boasted to be the people of circumcision, while their hearts were uncircumcised. That is why the commandment came to commit them to enter into the depths; to practice the hidden circumcision of the heart, and to care for the inner glory: “ For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury comes forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings” (Jeremiah 4: 3, 4)
The call here came to the men of Judah and Jerusalem; and as the scholar Origen
says:
[Concerning the symbolic significance of Judah and Jerusalem; we also, if God
grants us this grace, shall be among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ‘As where your treasure is, there would also be your heart’; If our treasure is in heaven, our heart would also be in the heavenly Jerusalem; of which the apostle says: “The Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all” (Galatians 4: 26)] 1.
It is impossible to hope for a divine spiritual fruition, from those who sow in a barren land full of thons; That land should be cut with the blade of a plow, to (reproach) the hard soil of the heart. In the parable of the sower, the Lord Christ says: “Some (seeds) fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them” (Matthew 13: 7). And in Hosea it came: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord; till He comes and reigns righteousness on you” (Hosea 10: 12).
If the soil of our hearts is full of thorns; By the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, it should be plowed to become good; the thorns, namely the (foreskin), should be taken away. This is the circumcision of the heart, connected to the cross; which is not choked by the worries of life and its vain pleasures.
St. Augustine says: [Turn over the good soil with the plow; remove from it the stones; take away the thorns … Beware lest the good seeds, that I sowed in you during my strife, be choked; by the lusts and pleasures of this world. Be the good soil; and let every one of you produce a hundred, a sixty, and a thirty-fold] 2.
And St. John Chrysostom says: [ As the plow turns over the soil in order to provide a secure place for the seeds, so as not to become scattered over the surface; but get hidden in the womb of the earth itself; It is fitting for us as well, to use the plow of afflictions to turn over the depths of the heart.
Another prophet advices us, saying: “Rend your heart, and not your garments”
(Joel 2: 13).
Let us rend our hearts; so that if there are wicked plants in them, or deceiving thoughts, we would uproot them ; to prepare a pure soil for the seeds of goodness.
If we do not plow the barren ground now; If we do not sow the seeds now; If we do not irrigate it by tears now; while it is time of affliction and fasting; when then shall we reproach ourselves ? !; Will that be in the time of pleasure and looselyness ? !
1 In Jer. Hom 5: 12.
2 Sermons on N.T. hom. 23: 3.
Impossible! For these are bound to bring us to slothfulness; as affliction would bring us back to strife; and would get back our mind that went astray, dreaming of many things] 1.
The scholar Origen believes that the words here, apply to the teachers and the preachers; as some of them care to present the dogmas of faith, outside the circle of practical salvation; to be as though, sowing good seeds among the thorns; saying: [ “Break up your fallow ground; and do not sow among thorns” (Jeremiah 4: 3). These words are directed particularly to the teachers and the preachers; so as not to utter the words of the gospel in the hearing of the listeners, before preparing new fields (plowed) in their souls; lest they would be sowing among thorns.
We also, have sown holy seeds before preparing new fields in the minds of people; we have sown the dogma of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; of the resurrection, the judgment, the eternal rest, the Law, the prophets, and the rest of the teachings of the Holy Book. By that we acted against the commandment that says: Break up your fallow ground”; Prepare for yourselves new fields; and “Do not sow among thorns”.
Someone may say: I am not a teacher; therefore this commandment is not meant for me !
So, let it be! ! Be a sower (a teacher) for yourself; Do not sow among thorns, Prepare a new field, on of the piece of ground provided for you by the Lord. Care for this ground; Search for the thorns, the worries, the material cares, and the love of riches and lust; Uproot those thorns that are in your soul; Look for that spiritual plow of which the Lord Christ says: “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 62).. Then, having prepared a new field, go and take seeds from the teachers, the Law, the prophets, the gospel writings, and the words of the apostles; and sow them in your soul, by remembering and putting them into effect. You may think that those seeds grow by themselves, through remembering them; But actually it is the Lord who makes them grow: “I planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3: 6) 2].
Pope Athanasius sees in the prophetic words: “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns” (Jeremiah 4: 3), a serious invitation to use the free rich grace of God; As “The way of the slothful man is like a hedge of thorns” (proverb 15: 19); He, assumes that his ground produces bread without work, to find out that it produces thorns.
We have an apostolic commandment, that the grace given to us should not be in vain; things about which the apostle Paul personally wrote to his disciples, commanding us through them; like his saying: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you” (1 Timothy 4: 14).
There is a proverb that has the same meaning: “He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread; But the way of the slothful man is like a hedge of thorns” (proverb: 12: 11; 15: 19). That is why the Holy Spirit warns us against falling in such things; saying: “Break up your fallow ground; and do not sow among thorns”] 3.
“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your hearts” (Jeremiah 4: 4).
1 On Statues 4: 2.
2 In Jer. Hom 5: 13.
3 Paschal Letter, 3.
As man plows by the cross of Jesus the Lord of glory in his heart to uproot the thorns, he would enjoy the hidden spiritual circumcision of the heart. And as the apostle Paul says, rebuking those leaning upon the circumcision of the outer flesh: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2: 28, 29).
St. Augustine says: [This conforms to his saying: “Was anyone called while circumcised; Let him not become uncircumcised” (1 Corinthians 7: 18). He was a Jew; and was called a circumcised; I wish he does not seek to be uncircumcised; namely not to live as though uncircumcised] 1.
The scholar Origen says: [He had to say: “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord”; as the physical circumcision was not confined to the Jews alone, according the Mosaic law; but was practiced by many others; like the Egyptian priests of the idols, who circumcised themselves to the idols, and not to God.
Having understood the literal meaning of circumcision, let us now go to its spiritual meaning, to know that, among those circumcised, are those who are circumcised to the Lord, and others who are circumcised, but not to the Lord.
There are other dogmas beside the true one -- the orthodox dogma; those who depend on philosophy. They are circumcised in their morals and hearts; and practice what we can call the (virtue) those are circumcised but not to the Lord; as their circumcision are according to a false dogma. But when you go to the Church, and follow its true teachings; you will be, not just circumcised, but you will be circumcised to the Lord] 2.
The scholar Origen also says: [In the heart, there is a foreskin that should be taken away. This foreskin is congenital since birth; then is taken away afterwards by circumcision. If the commandment says “the foreskin of your heart”, there has to be, in the heart since birth, something that is called a foreskin, which has to be taken away, in order to become circumcised of the foreskin of our hearts.
If we look carefully at the phrase: ‘No one is pure of defilement, not even if his life on earth is only one day’; we shall realize that we are born with sins and with a foreskin in our heart.
If the heart in us, refers the mind where thoughts are; and from which evil thoughts emerge; He who take away the evil thoughts, would also take away the foreskin of the heart. But he who does not take away the foreskin of his heart (in response to the work of the Holy Spirit in him); let him hear the warning of God: “Lest My fury comes forth like fire; And burn so that no one can quench it” (Jeremiah 4: 4)] 3.
Therefore, let us have the hidden circumcision of the heart to the Lord, set on the work of the Holy Spirit, who takes away the foreskin of the heart, and grants its circumcision; who crucify the old man, and grants us the new one in the water of Baptism.
Baptism is the circumcision of the heart and the Spirit; to be lived by the believer all the days of his life; with the Spirit of God working incessantly in him; to practice the new life, resurrected with Christ.
1 Of the Work of Monks 12.
2 In Jer. Hom 5: 14.
3 Ibid 5: 14.
This is the ornament of the bride – the ornament of the inner Spirit --; given to her by the Holy Spirit in the water of Baptism; who keeps on beautifying her all the days of her sojourn so as not to hear the reproach: “(What are you doing , O devastated one ?) Though you clothe yourself with crimson; Though you adorn yourself with gold, Though you shade your eyes with paint; In vain you will make yourself fair” (Jeremiah 4: 30)
When we receive the work of the fiery Holy Spirit in us, our circumcised heart will flare with the divine love. But if we get back the foreskin; namely the work of the old man, we shall be burned by the fury of God’s wrath: “Lest My fury comes out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings” (Jeremiah 4: 4).
The scholar Origen says: [The fury of God comes out like fire, on those who are not circumcised to Him; those who did not take away the foreskin of their hearts; “No one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings”. The fuel of that fire is the evil doings that we practice; for if there are no evil doings, fire will not find what to consume] 1.
Whoever does not receive the work of the fiery Spirit in him, would fall in the fire of the divine fury; namely, would fall in bitterness brought on him by his evil doings; like what happened when the sins of Judah brought on them the captivity with all its humiliation. This is, so painfully described by the prophet Jeremiah, that he could not bear to see it (Jeremiah 4: 10). The voice of warning was persistent until the moments of captivity; saying:
“Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: ‘Blow the trumpet in the land; Cry, Gather together; and say: Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities. Set up the standard toward Zion. Take refuge ! Do not delay! For I will bring disaster from the north, and great destruction. The lion has come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of nations is on his way. He has gone forth from his place to make your land desolate. Your cities will be laid waste, without inhabitants. For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth, lament and wail. For the fierce eanger of the Lord has not turned back from us. And it shall come to pass in that day’, says the Lord, ‘that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder’” (Jeremiah 4: 5 – 9)
The holy God, who seeks His bride adorned with holiness; As He sees her committing evil that would bring her to captivity, He warns her, and keep warning her until the last moments; wishing for her to avoid that destiny…. He sent those who told her, who blew the trumpet of His words, and cried out in loud voice, to provoke them to forsake the unfortified villages, enter into the fortified cities; and set up the standard of Zion; namely, enter through repentance into a divine stronghold, and set up the standard of the Church, the standard of divine love, to take refuge from danger.
He asks them “not to delay” … As it is fitting for the bride to proceed toward her Groom, to proclaim her love for him practically; the way he proceeded toward her in the first place, giving His life for her sake. He repeats His call for her to repent, so as not to fall under the harsh divine chastisement. The scholar Origen says:
[The word of God wakes up the listener, prepares him for the war against the lusts, and the evil hosts; and prepare him also for the heavenly feasts. It is here, like a
1 In Jer. Hom 5.
trumpet. “Cry and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities”
(Jeremiah 4: 5).
God does not want us to go into an unfortified city, but into a fortified one. The Church of God was fortified by the truth in Christ Jesus; He, Himself is her Fortress; as what the prophet David says in his psalm: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer” (Psalm 18: 2)
All of you, who were outside Zion, “Set up the standard toward Zion (namely escape to Zion); Take refuge; Do not delay” (Jeremiah 4: 6). Take refuge in Zion, “For I will bring disaster from the north, and great destruction”. When it comes, whoever does not take refuge into the fortified cities; namely the Churches of God, will stay out, to be caught and killed by the enemy.
Who is this enemy ? Let us look at the rest of the talk: “The lion has come out of his thicket, and the destroyer of nations is on his way” (Jeremiah 4: 7). This is the enemy from whom we should escape. Who is this lion who chases us ? The apostle St. Peter warns us, saying: “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1Peter 5: 8- 9).
There is a lion that came out of his thicket; Where is that thicket ? He had fallen downward, to the lower reaches of the earth, to its depths.
You as a man, is on a higher level than the devil, as you are anyway better than him; Whereas he fell downwards because of his corruption.
He wishes to enter into your land; to devour every one …
Now, as the lion came up to threaten you and to destroy your land, clothe yourself with sackcloth, lament and wail, and supplicate to God in prayers; to destroy that lion, and save you from it and its fangs.
This lion tries to catch you through your ears; addressing you with vain words that you love; to divert you from the way of the truth.
He intends to devour your feet; to take them away from the land of the truth.
Clothe yourself with sackcloth; Beat your chest; lament and wail; Cry out the cries of war, when you see the enemy threatening you; Then, you will be spared the fury of God’s anger; and, in confidence and peace, can confront the attacks of the lion; You have entered into the fortified city] 1.
In the midst of danger, God opens the gate of salvation; proclaiming that His wrath will not remain forever. He gets angry when He sees the enemy coming like a lion to devour us; while we, in our slothfulness, do not come to take refuge in Him, the fortified city; He blows the trumpet, to return him; then He would return to us.
The circumcision of the heart grants the soul beauty in the eyes of her heavenly Groom; that will arouse the devil against her. The soul enters into a spiritual war, armed with the weapons of repentance and humility, beside leaning on the capabilities of her Groom … And with every battle, she enjoys a new victory, that increases the splendor of her beauty.
3- Forsaking the false prophets:
The gentle heart of Jeremiah was wrenched as he saw “the sword reaches to the heart” (Jeremiah 4: 10). He saw how the people assumed that God deceived them, and deceived His holy city Jerusalem; assumed Him speaking through the mouth of the false
1 Ibid.
prophets who said, “You shall have peace” (Jeremiah 4: 10). These are the deceiving sweet words that give false and temporary comfort to the religious and military leaderships together with the people; comfort that could lead them to desolation.
The inner adornment of the bride is set upon her fellowship with God; based on a true repentance and the circumcision of the heart; without listening to the deceiving smooth words that give temporary comfort to the soul, that say,
“Peace, peace, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6: 14); about which the Lord says: “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; They prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart …Who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’ – ‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed ! And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, because of the famine and the sword; they will have no one to bury them – them nor their wives, their sons, nor their daughters – for I will pour their wickedness on them” (Jeremiah 14: 14 – 16); Those “are prophets of the deceit of their own hearts “(Jeremiah 23: 26)
The Church should reject these words; and should rather receive the fiery words of God, even if they seem severe and bitter; because they are a divine fire, capable of “preparing her as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21: 2).
The adornment of the bride is not the words of deceit that we feel comfortable with, but the words of God that come down on the heart like a sword, to cut off every trace of the foreskin, and to destroy its evil; so as to be proclaimed a sanctuary for the Lord and a dwelling place for His Holy Spirit. Let us then receive His words, whose wounds will heal our wounds !
Up to this day, the soul is still deceived, not by the outer false prophets, but by those within it: the dangerous deceiving thoughts that make her feel comfortable with sin, and forsake the divine commandment and fellowship. Over such soul, the Lord Christ weeps as He did over Jerusalem, saying: “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace ! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19: 42 – 44).
After presenting His chastisement, God warns against the eternal punishment … He allowed for their captivity, but if they do not return, they would fall to an eternal judgment; saying:
“At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A dry wind of the desolate heights blows in the wilderness toward the daughter of My people – not to fan or to cleanse – A wind too strong for these will come for Me: Now I will not speak judgment against them” (Jeremiah 4: 11, 12)
He speaks with His people as though to His daughter “The daughter of My people”, or probably, “My daughter-people” , confirming the extent of His caring for the people referred to Him, like a daughter; even though she receives His love and care with rebellion. He allowed for her captivity as a ‘fanning wind’, that separates the wheat from the tares; and as a ‘cleansing’ fire that purifies gold and silver Yet, when the day of judgment comes, this punishment will become eternal.
4- Realizing God’s plan, and accepting His chastisement:
Rejecting the deceiving words, to receive instead the living words of God, the soul discovers God’s plan concerning her chastisement. And as this book confirms in more than one occasion, that what befall Judah of the chastisement of captivity, is by a divine permission; as well as a natural fruit of her evil; and a revelation of the truth of the nature of the sin, adopted by Judah through her own will.
He compared the coming captivation to a lion coming up from his thicket, to a destroyer of nations on his way to make the land desolate (Jeremiah 4: 7); then to a swift destructive wind: “Behold, He shall come up like clouds, and his chariots like a whirlwind; His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are plundered” (Jeremiah 4: 13)
This is a painful portrait of a violent attack by the enemy … He appears as clouds, Who can go up to fight, or to catch them?; as a destructive whirlwind coming from the desert; … Who can confront it?; and as horses swifter than eagles, … Who can stand against them ?
Isn’t this the portrait of the war of the devil against the soul that delivers herself to evil, who infiltrates into the heart by the spirit of pride, to bring man down to the depths of hell, to become like the deceiving cloud – of pride and love of vain glory --, that carries no water of grace to irrigate the land to produce fruit. It is like a violent whirlwind, that lets the soul lose its spiritual insight, and its ability to recognize the secrets of God; and like swift horses that charge like eagles, snatch a prey then take off with it.
God allows us to be chastened; to let us taste the advance payment of the fruit of sin; in the hope that we forsake it and take refuge in Him. That is why He completes His talk, offering a cure for the soul: “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you ?“ (Jeremiah 4: 14)
By the divine chastisement, the soul realizes her need for cleansing, that she may be saved; namely to enjoy the fellowship of glory … to bear on her the beauty and splendor of her Groom.
This cleansing is of the rich grace of God; Yet God does not cleanse her against her will; He says:, “Wash”. So it is up to her: either to deliver herself to the Holy Spirit of God to cleanse her; or to stay in her sins amid her stubbornness and rebellion.
Father Sherimon says: [In all this, there is a proclamation of God’s grace, together with man’s freedom; If he wishes to walk in the way of virtue, he has to ask for God’s help] 1.
And Father Serinus sees in this phrase, a confirmation of man’s authority over sin; saying: [When we strive, as humans, against sins, they become under our authority and according to our will; We fight against the wicked lusts of our body; destroy and captivate the hosts of our sins under our authority; and drive out of our chests those fearsome guests; by the power that is ours by the cross of our Lord; So we can enjoy that conquest we spiritually see in the example of the Centurion (Matthew 8: 9) 2].
St. John Chrysostom speaks to us about the inner cleansing; saying: [To pray without washing our hands is something of little importance; but to pray with an unwashed mind is a horrible evil. Hear what was said to the Jews who were preoccupied
1 Cassian: Conf. 13: 9.
2 Ibid 7: 5.
with the outer defilement: “How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you? ! “. I wish that we as well, wash ourselves by clean water, and not by turbid water; by giving, and not by greed; Let us deviate from wickedness and do good] 1.
Let our heart, that is our inner Jerusalem, be cleansed, to be able to behold the Lord, and to receive Him dwelling in it; instead of our vain thoughts that have lodged and settled down in it for such a long time!
Again He reminds us that the chastisement is very imminent;… There is no time for delay !
“For a voice of those approaching) declares from Dan and proclaims affliction from Mount Ephraim” (Jeremiah 4: 15)
It is not fitting for her to blame God who chastens, nor the tool of chastisement; but she should blame herself; He says: “’Because she has been rebellious against me’, says the Lord. ‘Your ways and your doings have procured these things for you. This is your wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches to your heart’”(Jeremiah 4: 17, 18)
By your own will, you have chosen wickedness and rebellion; So bitterness occupied your heart instead of the joyful Kingdom of God !
And He says: [Let us, we as well, cleanse ourselves, not with turbid water, but with clean water; by giving, and not by greed; Let us “Depart from evil, and do good” (Psalm 37: 27)] 2.
5- Receiving the true prophets:
If it is fitting for the bride to reject the deceiving smooth words of the false prophets, in order to realize God’s plan for her salvation through chastisement; to cleanse herself, not with water, but with the tears of repentance; the prophet does not stop at just carrying the words of God; But as a member in the bride, he moans and suffers for her pains.
We should not assume that the prophets and teachers just carry God’s words; proclaim His divine will; and pray for the sake of the people; but they are the men of God, full of love … members in the body; who moan and suffer with every pain! That is why the prophet says: “O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart pounds within me; I cannot hold my peace” (Jeremiah 4: 19)
Here, the prophet reveals his great love for his people; speaking, not just as a firm teacher; but through his inner soul and heart; incessantly moaning, as he imagines before his eyes one horrible image after another, of what would soon befall them. He wishes he would not be the one to carry the bitter news to them; yet he could not hold his peace, beholding the imminent danger. He feels helpless; for although he is not able any more to intercede on their behalf; yet he can not help but to suffer and moan for their sake.
Indeed he honestly presents the word of God; Yet he also proclaims God’s grief for His people; He did not wish for them to go through that bitterness, they brought over themselves, as a natural fruit of their rebellion.
That is the feeling of every honest shepherd; He cries out together with his people, being his soul and heart He moans together with them, share their joy, and their spiritual growth; presents his soul to be torn, as a price for his love of the people of God.
1 In oan hom., 13: 3.
2 In oan hom., 73: 3.
That is the work of sin; to melt the heart of the people, together with that of their shepherd; When the people betrayed God, it was said: “The heart of people melted and became like water”. Sin has destroyed the whole people, has let them lose every courage and strength, and has turned their hearts into water; with nobody to help or to support. Therefore do not marvel, when you hear the prophet Jeremiah, realizing the bitter activity of sin, say: “O my soul, my soul ! I am pained in my very heart! My heart pounds within me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war”. (Jeremiah 4: 19)
And as the Lord carried our sins, He said on the tongue of His prophet David: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax, I has melted within me” (Psalm 22: 14); How horrible is sin !
“You have heard, O my soul the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is plundered.Suddenly my tents are plundered, and my curtains in a moment. How long will I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet ? “ (Jeremiah 4: 19, 20)
The prophet hears by his soul, and not by his ears. By the spirit of prophecy; he sees the events of the coming war as though he is there; He hears and sees unbearable things; He cannot bear to imagine that horrible day.
He believes the voice of the Lord to his inner soul, more than he does in voices he hears by his ear. And here he is describing the devastation that will come on the people, to awake in them the holy fear of God, and to keep them, by repentance, from judgment..
He sees destruction upon destruction; every one of them incessantly calling the other … He sees sudden successive events coming over the villages (the tents) and the cities (the curtains).
The prophet says “My soul, O my soul”. The Jews used the different members of the body to express their soul experiences. They considered the soul (the heart) the center or throne of emotions, as it came in Isiah 16: 11: “My heart shall resound like a harp for Moab”.
In the bitterness of his soul he cries out to the Lord: ‘When will you take away this calamity?’; How long will he bear to see war and hear the sound of the trumpet ? To which God responds: ‘It is up to them; as the cause for all that, is their foolishness, their ignorance of the truth, and their persistence on corruption; There is no cure, but to repent and to return to Me’; He says to the prophet: “For My people are foolish; They have not known Me; They are silly children; And they have no understanding; They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge” (Jeremiah 4: 20)
God used to refrain from referring the people to Him when they are evil; But because of the bitterness of His prophet’s soul, he says “My people” … As though He is saying to him, ‘If your soul is bitter because you foresee what will befall them, Do not forget that they are My people, whom I do not like to harm … They brought themselves into corruption, because they do not know Me, as God who reigns on the heart, as the Savior who saves them from corruption; and as their loving friend … Their knowledge of Me is formal, not that of living experience; They are ignorant and not understanding; casting themselves by themselves into bitterness.
I granted them wisdom; yet they used it for doing evil, and not for doing good; They did wrong to Me and to My gifts to them.
From all this we realize that the cries of the true prophets are nothing but an echo of the voice of God who does not stand the corruption, foolishness, and ignorance of His bride; but seeks her a bride, adorned with His wisdom and His living knowledge. That is the adornment sought by the true prophets, and not by the false ones.
St. Clement of Alexandria calls the true believer ‘a Gnostic’; namely, (a knowledgeable).
[The Gnostic should be very knowledgeable] 1; [The Gnostic whom I mean, comprehends what is in-comprehensible to others; believes that there is nothing incomprehensible to the Son of God; and there is nothing that could not be learned. He who suffered for loving us, would not keep from us any knowledge that could benefit us]2.
[It seems to me, that the Gnostic is capable of three things: 1- Knowing things;
2- Putting what the ‘Logos’ (the Word) suggests into effect; and 3- The ability to receive the secrets hidden in the truth] 3.
6- Fulfillment and enlightenment:
The prophet Jeremiah confirms that ignorance is the cause of the desolation that befalls the people; as these chastisements reveal the void or the inner desolation in the people as well as in the soul; and also the inner darkness that corrupts the insight. What the prophet saw was a reflection of what is hidden in the people’s life.
“I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; And the heavens, they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth.I beheld, and indeed there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were broken down, at the presence of the Lord, By His fierce anger” (Jeremiah 4: 23 – 26)
The portrait presented here by the prophet, reminds us of what came in the first chapter of the book of Genesis, when the earth was without form, and void; and the darkness was on the face of the sea, and there was no life.
The prophet repeats the word “I beheld” four times; as though he beheld the world from four directions: (north, south, east and west); What did he see ? He saw almost a return to what was before creation, as it came in the book of Genesis: An earth without form, and void; darkness instead of light; trembling of the solid mountains; fleeing of the birds..; A desolate world where there is no man and no plants ! Sin has corrupted the beautiful and fruitful world, which was created by God for the sake of man. Man destroyed himself, together with the earth creation.
What is the earth, but the multitude of people, who dedicated their energies to the pagan worship and abominations; to become, as though a desolate earth.
And what is heavens, but the religious and civil leaderships, who should have enlightened the way for the commons; but turned into heavens with no light, that brings about a condition of depression and grief.
1 Stromata 6: 8.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid 7: 1.
And what are the mountains, but the souls that used to have their popular role of leadership; of whom every one thought as steadfast like mountains; to find them trembling..
He probably meant by the mountains and the hills, those high places on which the pagan altars were built, and on which people offered sacrifices to the idols.; Instead of being protected by them, they trembled and moved back and forth, themselves, in need of protection and support.
The disappearance of every man, is a reference to the disappearance of ration and wisdom; The disappearance of the birds of heaven, is a reference to the loss of security; And the transformation of the garden into a wilderness, is a reference of an utter desolation.
If the persistence of man on evil, and his reluctance to repent and return to God, deprive him of the work of the Holy Spirit of God in him, he would return to the condition of the earth before the Spirit of God hovers over it, to turn it into a beautiful world.
in us:
I say, how great is our need to return to the Creator, to work with His Holy Spirit
Instead of the void and desolate earth, we would find a beautiful world; Namely,
instead of the body with its corrupt lusts, we would be provided with a holy body in the Lord.
Instead of the heavens with no light, the sun would shine on it; Namely, instead of the soul on which darkness prevails, the Sun of righteousness would shine on it.
Instead of the mountains that tremble, and the hills that move back and forth, we see steadfastness and security.; Namely, our potentials, capabilities, and talents, would be strongly transformed to edification; not to be shaken by the whole world.
Instead of the void, where there are no men and no birds; our hearts become filled with the fellowship of the saints and the heavenly creatures; to sit with our Christ in the heavenlies
Instead of the wilderness, our hearts become like a fruitful garden; Then we would invite our Christ to eat of the fruits of His paradise in us
Instead of the fleeing of the cities before God’s face, and before His fierce anger, we would attract many to enjoy the divine presence.
In other words, the beauty of the bride extends to the sanctification of the body, the soul, the energies, and the talents … to enjoy a spiritual fulfillment, and an exalted spiritual. enlightenment.
God who seeks our fulfillment and enlightenment, while chastening us, provides us with a chance to return to Him; saying: “The whole land shall be desolate; yet I will not (destroy it completely)” (Jeremiah 4: 27)
He leaves in it a remnant, which He sanctifies and grows. … He does not wish to destroy, but to sanctify and build. Yet, after saying “I will not destroy it completely”, lest the people become slothful and abuse the mercies of God, He got back to confirm the harsh chastisement:
“For this shall the earth mourn; and the heavens above be black, because I have spoken. I have purposed and will not relent, nor I will turn back from it” (Jeremiah 4: 28)
As long as they do not return to Him, He will not relent nor turn back from His chastisement.
7- Forsaking the self righteousness:
If God seeks the fulfillment of His bride and her enlightenment, yet He confirms her inability to realize that by herself; She is in need of Him, being the source of her beauty, fulfillment, and enlightenment:
“What are you doing, O devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold ? Why shade your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you” (Jeremiah 4: 30)
If she thinks that she is rich, dressed in scarlet; that her safes are full of golden jewelry; and that she is beautiful and shades her eyes with paint … Yet she will stay despised, not only by God, but even by her lovers. ‘Isabel’, the wicked queen, shaded her eyes with paint, adorned her head, and looked through a window; but Jehu said to the eunuchs: “throw her down”; and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses (2 Kings 9: 30 – 33).
Women in the old days used to shade their eyes with paint, to underscore the wideness of the eyes, as a sign of beauty. So those people did; become like a woman who adorns herself and shows her beauty to her lovers; yet they turn into her killers.
How miserable is the man, who, in his spiritual strife, leans on his self righteousness; He loses every inner beauty, and would become his own killer; he would hear God’s reproach: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked – I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and whie garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3: 17, 18).
AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH
(Chapter 4)
LET YOUR BEAUTY REFLECT ON ME
You created me in Your image and according to Your likeness; O You the whole splendor !
By my foolishness, rebellion, and sins, I corrupted my nature ! Here I return in repentance to You;
Let Your Holy Spirit give me back my beauty ! Let Him reflect beauty on my depths;
To get back Your image; And to enjoy the splendor of Your inner glory !
How easy it is for a human hand to circumcise the flesh; but who can circumcise my heart !
My heart and my depths are in Your hands;
Circumcise them by the cross of Your love, O My beloved Savior ! Take away the foreskin of my heart, that distorted every beauty in me !
Grant me to use Your cross as a plow to prepare my heart for cultivation ! To uproot from it all the thorns of the world worries;
To prepare it to receive Your living Word;
Then I would carry fruition: thirty-, sixty-, and a hundredfold !
I would carry, together with the beauty of the inner beauty, the fruit of the eternal Spirit !
Your people in the old, listened to the smooth words of the false prophets ! They assumed that they were in peace;
And did not realize that captivation was imminent! Here I am, with the evil thoughts chasing me !
That I assumed to be the source of pleasure and peace !
I did not know that they are killing my depths, and captivating my freedom ! Grant me, together with the beauty of the soul, its inner freedom,
O You the true Liberator ! Liberate me from my smooth sinful thoughts; And grant me Your holy thoughts !
Your hand is stretching to chastise me;
Let me know Your plan; as no one loves me like You do; No one desire the beauty of my depths like You do;
How amazing You are, O the Holy One, in Your compassion ! And How amazing, O my Savior, in Your chastisements !
If the hearts of Your children burn for the salvation of my soul; How much more would be Your love;
You, who alone, have given Yourself for me !
Open my eyes to behold Your bosoms flaring for me !
O my Lord, Grant me to cry out together with Your prophet:
My soul ! O my soul ! My heart pounds inside me ! I can’t hold my peace ! Grant me a loving heart that longs for the salvation of every soul !
That burns with the fall of everyone; And moans together with every soul !
Grant me an inner beauty;
Grant me Your knowledge, O Holy One; so as not to live in ignorance ! Grant me fulfillment; to be in need of nobody, or of any thing !
Grant me enlightenment, to carry Your splendor inside me.
I confess to You, O my Creator and Savior:
My body has become a desolate and a void earth; Turn it into a garden that offers the fruit of the Spirit ! My soul has become like a heaven with no light; Make it Your heaven that enjoys divine light !
Where You set up Your joyful kingdom !
The mountains in me are trembling, and the hills move back and forth ! Let my depths abide in You, O the true Rock !
All the birds of heaven have fled away from inside me;
Grant me the two wings of the Spirit, to fly and settle down in Your bosom !
Finally, I did every effort to beautify myself;
But my hands were destroyed by self righteousness;
I became a laughing stock before those who reproach me; Stretch Your hand, O the perfect in beauty;
Your grace is capable of pouring Your beauty in me ! You are my strength, my praise, and my beauty !