I’ve been reading the book of Jeremiah in my personal devotional times, and I have to tell you that Jeremiah had a tough road to travel. From the opening verses, God makes clear that Jeremiah would have a unique and challenging role in God’s plan of communicating His message to His people. The message would not be popular, for primarily it was a message of judgment, mainly against Judah. His message was “against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.” (Jer. 1:18-19) “The children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth.” (Jer.32:30) The calling and the message grieve Jeremiah, “My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick within me.” (Jer.8:18) Yet he must be faithful to communicate the message from God.
What is his message? It is a message of impending judgment through the nation of Babylon. It is a message of conviction for Israel breaking their covenant with God. At times using graphic imagery, such as a loincloth, linen belt, potter and clay, a broken flask, etc., God communicates that he is fed up with Israel’s sin, their idolatry, their unfaithfulness to God. Famine, sword, pestilence, captivity and death are coming. Not only does he prophesy against Israel and Judah, but he pronounces judgment upon other nations as well, including Babylon. Yet a remnant of Judah will be spared. He writes to the exiles in Babylon that the day will come when they will be brought back, but it will not happen in their lifetime. Jeremiah proclaims days of a new covenant are coming (31:31-34), when God’s laws will be in people’s hearts, and they will follow Him and He will be their God.
Over and over Jeremiah speaks exactly the words God gives him. And how is he rewarded for his faithful service? He is persecuted by priests, the people and the king. He is imprisoned and beaten. He is undermined by other prophets who speak lies against him to gain popularity votes. He is thrown into a giant cistern filled with mud and left to die, then pulled out and kept in chains. All that Jeremiah speaks in the name of the Lord comes to pass, yet he is not vindicated and rewarded for his faithful service. He documents the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity.
From this book there are many messages that apply for us in our day. As God reveals His truth to us, we must be uncompromising and clear in our communication of it to a world that may be very opposed to God’s message. Our hearts must break over a message of judgment, but we must not flinch or withhold the message of the Lord. Popularity is certainly not the goal. Fidelity to the calling of God must be our priority. Lest we think that if we follow God and do what He wants us to our life will be blessed, easy, and filled with good feelings, Jeremiah would strongly oppose that lie. Yet in the midst of the darkness, Jeremiah communicates a message of hope, of a future, of a new covenant between God and His people. We are living in that New Covenant and by the grace of God through Christ we have His Spirit and His law within us, so we are His people and He is our God. May we be changed by the message and life of Jeremiah, and walk with our God who is holy and righteous and punishes sin while also being gracious and compassionate to show mercy to all of us who are undeserving.
Pressing on, Eric