Rise Above the Tide
Jeremiah 11:1?15:21
Judah has broken the Mosaic covenant by the worship of other gods, and punishment is inescapable. God says that even Jeremiah’s prayers and performing rituals in the temple won’t set Judah’s heart right. This situation brings danger to Jeremiah. We also find out that some of those who want to do away with Jeremiah are people he knows, maybe even family.
All of this could cause someone to question a lot of things. Jeremiah raises a lot of questions. He has a bit of a pity party. He seems to think God is not active enough and not paying enough attention to him. The wicked seem to be prospering. Jeremiah wants to escape or run, kill his enemies. He is having a hard time. He is discouraged.
Then God comes back and says, “Before it gets better, it’s going to get worse.” God says, “You are thinking about yourself. What about Me? I have treated the people of Judah well and have blessed them, and they turned their back on Me.” God says He will have the last word.
After this, there are more warnings about drought, famine and invasions. More confession from Jeremiah, more metaphors that show the nation’s relationship with God, and finally the persecution Jeremiah faces because of his doing what God said to do. This brings more discouragement for Jeremiah and warnings against Judah and the need to repent.
Now, how does Jeremiah deal with this depressed mood? He starts with God and cries out to Him, knowing God understands him and knows his heart. He asks God to remember him, care for him, avenge him, and not to take him.
Jeremiah then recalls God’s promise to him. He pours out his confessions to God. He is ticked off, much like David would get in Psalms. Jeremiah does this again in chapter 29 when he asks God if He has forgotten about the people of Judah in Babylon’s captivity. He then listens to God, and he hears God again say that Judah must repent but promises Jeremiah He will be with him, save him, and redeem him.
Applications:
When discouraged or down, God tells us to move back to focus on God. Here are some suggestions:
– Rest, like Elisha. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is sleep.
– Go back to the Word and read the Psalms.
– We become what we focus on. Move the focus from ourselves to someone or something else.
– We must act by faith, not feeling. It takes a while for emotions to settle down and catch up.
Remember, God is in pursuit of His prodigal people – not to pay them back, but to win them back.
Barker– Lessons by Ron Barker, evangelism and prayer strategist for the evangelization and missions team of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Barker also taught evangelism at Southwestern Seminary.