Have you ever tried telling some very vital news to some people, only to have them turn around and slam you down? Maybe you were telling them an important truth, but they ganged up and attacked you, so now you feel like just keeping your mouth shut. If that’s how they act, forget it! You won’t say anything more. The great prophet Jeremiah felt like that. Let’s look into this week’s Old Testament Scripture to see what was happening in Jeremiah’s life, and how the Lord encouraged him.
Jeremiah was called to the ministry from a very early age. He deeply loved the Lord, and sought to follow and obey Him. Like all of the prophets before him, Jeremiah would bring God’s Word to the people regardless of what that word might be or how welcome it was. For centuries before Jeremiah’s day, the prophets had warned the people that if they failed to obey the Lord, if they would not follow His Law, and if they started to worship false, pagan gods, He would bring judgment upon them. Now, in Jeremiah’s day, that future judgment was right upon them. That warning was now to become fact. Jeremiah spoke of the judgment that would come upon the people because they had chosen to ignore God’s Word (vs. 8).
What was the people’s response to the message the Lord had given Jeremiah? Did they act sensibly and fearfully, choosing to now obey God? No, the people only turned on Jeremiah, deriding, mocking, and reproaching him and his words (vs. 7-8). Being mocked and derided by others is very painful, especially when you know that what you have spoken is the truth. This treatment wasn’t unique to Jeremiah. Many times, both in Biblical times and even today, God’s servants proclaim His Word, yet only receive persecution and sorrow from others.
Jeremiah’s treatment was harsher than most. He was physically assaulted, imprisoned, and even put into the bottom of a slimy, muck-filled pit or well. Jeremiah lamented all that he was having to go through because of his ministry. Many of the prophet’s enemies denounced him, and tried to entice him to step into sin or speak something false (vs. 10). At times he felt like quitting. Jeremiah was feeling so dejected, so depressed, that he wanted to stop preaching (vs 9). He actually made that decision, and for a while he stopped preaching altogether. If preaching in the Name of the Lord only brought mistreatment and persecution, he would just stop.
Have you ever felt like that? Perhaps a ministry you do for the Lord, or just by your following Jesus has brought some type of persecution or mockery from others. Maybe your boss or co-workers who know you are a Christian give you mistreatment or scorn. Maybe your family has turned against you. Maybe a sermon you give from the pulpit, faithfully preaching the Bible, has people in the community all upset. In some parts of the world there is actual, physical persecution and imprisonment for bringing God’s Word, just like what happened to Jeremiah. Do you decide to stop, to keep quiet, and speak no more in His Name?
Jeremiah, in the midst of despair, made that decision. However, God was not going to accept Jeremiah’s resignation, and His Word became like a burning fire within him (vs. 9). Try as he might to go about his own private life, Jeremiah could not keep quiet about the Lord and His Word. Like a small fire within him, the longer he kept quiet, the stronger the burning became, and he had to return to preaching God’s message.
The Lord did not abandon Jeremiah. He always had been there with him, and the prophet realized this (vs. 11-13). Early in his ministry God had promised Jeremiah that He would be with him to deliver him from all his enemies, and He was true to His Word (Jeremiah 1:19). Jeremiah prayed to God for His help, praised Him, and found encouragement. When the opposition we may receive for following Jesus and speaking His message becomes overwhelming, we can receive the same encouragement that Jeremiah received. God will faithfully help us as we endure hardship. He is with us as a mighty, awesome One.
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