Good morning. God bless you with His peace that surpasses our understanding.
In keeping with a recent tradition for my thoughts for the day on Thursdays, I will use today’s thought to focus on a Bible character. Last week we looked at Nicodemus, the Pharisee who became a fervent follower of Jesus. This week we’ll consider a fellow that is known as “The Weeping Prophet.” His name is Jeremiah, and he begins his work at a young age in the year 626 BC. When you read the Book of Jeremiah it isn’t too difficult to understand why he had reason for tears.
After we read in the beginning of the Book of Jeremiah about his lineage, we read that he has been a part of God’s plan since before he was born: Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5
What was Jeremiah’s response to such a revelation? I mean, my goodness, this is God telling him that he has been consecrated to be a prophet since before he was conceived. Jeremiah tells God, “no thanks.” He tells God that he doesn’t speak well and that he is too young to be taken seriously: Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6
What would the Lord say to such a reluctant servant? But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
That wasn’t quite the end of it, God went on to reveal the truth of his promises to Jeremiah through miraculous revelations. Personal reservations aside, Jeremiah accepted the role God intended for him. God tells him that it isn’t going to be easy because the message he will be given to proclaim to Israel and Judah is one that promises their destruction.
God’s people had abandoned Him. They worshipped Baal and threw their infants into the fiery mouth of the supposed son of Baal, the false god Moloch. They had become depraved and had abandoned their walk with God.
The qualities of a prophet that we read of in the first chapter of Jeremiah include not being afraid, standing up to speak, speaking as he is told, and going wherever he is sent. Jeremiah spent the early years of his work for God traveling throughout the land preaching and teaching. His message was a clear one, that the people had turned from God and that God would bring them back through harsh discipline. He spells out for them what this discipline would mean, that they would be over-run, taken captive, and their land utterly destroyed. He points out the false prophets who are telling the people lies. The response to his efforts is that Jeremiah faces plots to murder him as well as many kinds of persecution. Jeremiah comes to the Lord to complain about these persecutions and is told that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
Death threats turned into attempts at taking his life, but God repeatedly comes to the rescue. At one point, Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern, is rescued, only to be imprisoned by the king.
This is not to say that Jeremiah’s words were not heard. They did cause repentance among many, and God’s remnant was encouraged. When a new king named Josiah came to power in 621 BC, he did all he could to work with Jeremiah to turn the people pack to God.
Ultimately, the destruction of Judah and Israel (Samaria) that is prophesied by Jeremiah, Isaiah, and others takes place. The rebellious heart of God’s people continued to be set against Him. When Babylon conquers and ravages both the northern and southern kingdoms, Jeremiah is rescued from prison. The Babylonians recognize that his is the voice of God and treat him very well.
Reading the Book of Jeremiah can seem tedious because the message from God that is spoken by the prophet is one of peril and terrible consequence. But Jeremiah also prophecies about the coming Messiah, specifically drawing attention to the New Covenant that will mean the salvation of the faithful.
What I would like for us to consider today is how the message of God is sometimes difficult for people to hear and accept, and this means it is more difficult for us to share it. God is clear about there being consequences to the choices we make, whether good choices or bad. God’s promise is to protect and to bless those who speak His truth. Sometimes, Christian people are called upon to share the truth to a fallen world, even when that world makes it clear that they really don’t want to hear it!
It isn’t always easy and sometimes the message may be joined with tears, but God’s truth is a part of His love, and sharing that truth is a critical part of being a servant within His Kingdom.
God bless your service to the King today!
Vern