I love the Bible...I especially love the people in the Bible. They are so real. I can relate to them. I have identified with Jeremiah throughout the last 20 chapters but very much so in these last two. He has such high points and low points and sometimes these come within seconds of one another. The best part of identifying with him is knowing that despite his shortcomings the Lord loved him. He loved him! He loved him even when he told the Lord he was finished with this prophet business...He loved him in chapter 15 when he told God that He was like a deceitful stream...He loved Him when he said that he wished his mother's womb had been his tomb. He not only loved him, He continued to use him and enlarge his ministry. The Lord loves you and I like that. How comforting that is. With that said, let's look at Jeremiah, Chapter 20.
After Jeremiah prophesies in the Valley of Hinnom and at the temple gate, Pashur, assistant to the high priest and chief security officer in the temple, took offense at what Jeremiah had said and had him arrested, beaten and put into stocks overnight. While in the stocks, Jeremiah received a prophetic message from the Lord for Pashur whose name meant literally, security on every side. The Lord had renamed Pashur to Magor Missibib which means fear on every side. Our Lord truly does have a sense of humor. Fear on every side describes accurately what happened to Jerusalem when the Babylonian army moved in. This was the first time that Jeremiah actually identified who the invader would be by name. All of Jeremiah's words came to pass.
His mood from verse 7 to verse 18 runs the gamut and it is his last recorded lament. He regrets his ministry telling the Lord He deceived him into it and that everyone mocks him. He wants to quit speaking for the Lord but His word burns like fire in his chest and he can't. All his acquaintances are watching and waiting for him to stumble...but he commits his way to the Lord. Right after that he talks of wanting to see vengeance on his enemies. At times he is confident, at other times not so much, even to the extent of wishing that he had never been born ending the chapter on a low note.
Let's look at verses 7-18 a little more closely because it is where I find the application for us.
I love verses 7 to 9. Jeremiah tells God that He deceived him...and that all mock him and hold him in derision...in verse 9 he tells God he wants to quit. That's it, Lord...I am not speaking for you anymore. I was beaten and spent the night in the stocks. I am done. Now the Lord did not promise Jeremiah that the way would not be difficult but He did promise him that He would be with him through it all. Jeremiah, however, is probably in a lot of pain and feeling pretty discouraged and he really lays it all out for God. It is a good example for us...God is not surprised by what we are thinking and feeling...he already knows...go to Him...lay it all out as Jeremiah did.
Now what we probably think would have happened next, didn't. Sometimes when we pour out our heart to God even going so far as to tell Him we quit our heart changes...and we are once again ready for battle. This is God's grace poured out upon us as we go to Him for help in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) This did not happen yet for Jeremiah. He continues his lament by telling God that his enemies were watching and waiting for him to slip up so they could entrap him. By verse 11, however, his mood changes and he says the the Lord is with him as a mighty and awesome One and his enemies will not prevail. Praise, however, once again quickly turns to bemoaning right up until the end of chapter 20...mostly in ruing the day of his birth. Here is how Chapter 20 ends: " Because he did not kill me from the womb, That my mother might have been my grave, And her womb always enlarged with me."Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame?
What is most encouraging about Jeremiah is that despite his highs and lows, despite his moods, he was faithful to obey God no matter how he felt about it, and therein, lies the lesson for us. We all feel like quitting sometimes and get discouraged. What do we do when it happens...we keep looking up and pouring our heart out before Him remembering that His ways are higher than our ways. We surrender once again to His will and be obedient by the will of His Spirit inside of us despite our feelings. As it says in Hebrews 12:1 and 2..."let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus is always our example and our answer. He went before and showed us the way. He is the Becoming One...Jehovah...He becomes to us whatever we need.
Love
Mom
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