In the Course of our Bible study and daily readings, we often have favorite stories which we look forward to reading or we develop a special liking for a Bible character and dwell on that individual. My favorite is Jeremiah, who prophesied for a long period of time and whose message reaches out through the ages and is still timely and relevant.
Jeremiah, prophet of doom
Jeremiah was known as the prophet of doom because he prophesied toward the end of Judah’s existence as a nation, when there appeared to be no remedy for a people steeped in sin and iniquity. Jeremiah was also known as the “weeping prophet” because of the inner anguish of his soul due to the intense persecution he suffered because of his message. In fact, his name was borrowed to signify a denunciatory tirade or complaint — a “Jeremiad.” Most important of all, Jeremiah was a prophet of personal responsibility; he proclaimed that people would reap what they sowed — truly an appropriate message for today when personal responsibility is passed off to a host of environmental factors.
Outline of prophecy
A brief outline of Jeremiah will be useful.
1. Chap 1-20 — Early prophecies; last half of the reign of Josiah to the 4th year of Jehoiakim.
2. Chap 21-38 — Latter prophecies during the reigns of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.
3. Chap 39-45 — The fall of Jerusalem and its aftermath.
4. Chap 46-52 — Judgments against the nations.
Who was Jeremiah?
We know that God has spoken through a vast company of men and women with a wide range of backgrounds — princes, herdsmen, fishermen and even a Pharisee of the Pharisees. Jeremiah was highly qualified by virtue of his training. He was a priest (1:1). In fact, he was the son of Hilkiah, the high priest (II Kgs. 22:4). Consequently, Jeremiah would be a prominent “insider” in the religious and political power structure, and would have contacts in key places.
Jeremiah’s message was so important and final that he was specially chosen for his task. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (1:5).
At first Jeremiah was reluctant, “Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child” (1:6) But God promised him protection (1:8) and even inspiration (1:9).
Who would envy this man of sorrows who prophesied for some 40 and one half years to a nation who was in its final death throes of rebellion and idolatry with no remedy in sight?
What was Jeremiah’s message?
The following outline reveals a devastating condemnation of a nation apparently past the point of repentance and conversion:
- Israel from top to bottom had forgotten and forsaken God and His word
- They were idolaters, burning their children to idols created by their own hands.
- Like unfaithful wives and wild asses, they had no appreciation, they were totally rebellious
- They were beyond discipline and correction, stubborn and proud, feeling they had done no wrong.
- Their repentance was fake and half-hearted, further blinding themselves.
- They were violent and corrupt, taking advantage of the weak for their own gain.
- They looked for new and worse ways of doing evil.
- The prophets told lies, the priests had no knowledge and the rulers took bribes while the poor and needy suffered.
- They were murderers, adulterers, thieves, liars and oppressors.
- They had no use for the Lord and less desire to hear correction, for they were stiff-necked, hard of heart and knew no shame.
- They wearied themselves to do sin and were entrenched in evil, incapable of doing good.
- Therefore, they were beyond hope at this point, and their only recourse was to take their punishment. An end to an era had come, the curses of the covenant would be unleashed.
- An invading army was coming from the north which would totally destroy their nation and take them into captivity.
- Instead of resisting, they were to surrender their political autonomy as a nation and be deported to an unknown land as the booty of war.
- Those who resisted would starve to death or die of disease in the siege or be slain by the sword.
Reaction to Jeremiah
It takes little imagination to recognize that Jeremiah’s message was wildly unpopular. Public opposition grew with frenzied hatred, especially after the death of Josiah. Jeremiah was accused of disloyalty and treason by a nation desperately clinging to its independence. The men of Anathoth, his hometown, threatened to kill him (11:21). His own family turned on him (12:5-6).
The weight of his suffering caused him to cry out in lament, “every one of them doth curse me” (15:10). His enemies secretly plotted his demise, rewarding him evil for the good he tried to do for them (18:18-23). He found no respite from the derision and mocking he was subjected to on a daily basis (20:7-8). Even his familiars, or closest friends, sought his downfall (20:10). Besides all this hateful hostility, he endured much physical torment and hardship; he was beaten more than once, left overnight in the stocks, languished many days in a dungeon, abandoned in solitary confinement to die, placed under house arrest and taken to Egypt against his will. Indeed in many ways he foreshadowed the life of the greater prophet, Jesus Christ. Enough detail is given about the personal experiences of Jeremiah that we are encouraged to direct our attention to the man as well as to his powerful message.
How did Jeremiah survive?
Recently I was given the book, Seven Habits of Successful People. It got me to thinking just how did Jeremiah survive the burden of suffering he was called upon to endure? In the course of my investigations, I discovered seven habits which enabled Jeremiah to endure his trials.
- Jeremiah had a great appreciation of the creative power and character of the true God (10:12-16; 32:16-20). Jeremiah speaks of God as omnipresent (23:23-24), omnipotent (32:27; 48:15; 51:57) and as over all nations (25:17-28; chs. 46-51).
- The prophet had a keen vision of future glory. Scattered throughout his prophecies of coming judgment are references to a future restoration, a presence of a faithful remnant and, of course, the new covenant (31:31-34) with the coming Messiah as its centerpiece (23:5-6).
- The seer immersed himself in God’s word (15:16; 20:9).
- Jeremiah separated himself from the worldly ways of the wicked, and hated their evil deeds, (15:17).
- Yet Jeremiah did not hate them, but pleaded several times for God’s continued patience and delay of judgment (7:16; 10:23-25; 14:7-9,17-22). In fact, Jeremiah interceded so much for the people that God had to tell him to cease from doing so.
- The prophet took comfort and encouragement in other faithful contemporaries.
- King Josiah, cp. II 35:25.
- Other faithful prophets like Urijah (26:20-23), Habakkuk, and Obadiah.
- Friendly leaders like Ahikam (26:24 cp. II Kgs. 22:12) and his son Gedaliah, (39:14) and Ebed-Melech (38:7-13 cp. 39:15-18).
- Pockets of the faithful, Rechabites, ch. 35.
- Young men who would go on to great things — Ezekiel and Daniel.
- Baruch, who was his faithful scribe.
- When Jeremiah fell, be got back up (15:15, 18-21) and put his trust in God (17:16-17).
The lessons of Jeremiah for us
We, too, are living at the end of an era. God is ready once again to unleash His judgments upon an unrepentant earth. Indeed, it’s difficult to stand up and be counted, but Jeremiah shows us the way. Do we love God, His character, goodness and supremacy? How many times a day do we think of the Almighty, pray to Him and thank Him for His abundant goodness?
Do we have a keen vision of the future glory with Christ? Does the contemplation of spending eternity with our Master help us to mount obstacles and sustain us during trying times?
Do we immerse ourselves in God’s word?
Do we hate sin but show compassion and help for the sinner? Do we separate ourselves from sin, including viewing sin vicariously?
Do we take comfort in the fellowship of others who are walking our same journey? Do we try to attend at least one Bible class a week? Are we taking on some type of ecclesial responsibility and attempting to bear part of the weight?
Do we get back up and renew our faith in God? When we’re having a really bad day, do we try to make some little good happen? Do we try to keep a positive attitude, seeing the strengths rather than the weaknesses in another?
We may not be called upon to be prophets to a nation, but we are called to be lights in a world of darkness. May the remarkable examples of Jeremiah, and the one greater than Jeremiah whose suffering and labor of love we come to remember this morning, spur us on to pick ourselves up and remain steadfast in these last days.
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:12-13).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One