Jeremiah 15:1-21

There are times in life and ministry when we feel as though we are beating our heads up against a very hard wall for a very hard time.  If we, sinful ministers of the Lord, feel this way; imagine how God must feel.  There comes a time where we just feel like giving up, moving on or trying something different all together.  I guess we can be comforted by the fact that the Lord also comes to this point in dealing with sinful men, in particular the children of Judah.  God opens His heart and shares with Jeremiah how He is feeling and what He has decided to do as a result of these feeling.  Then Jeremiah opens up His heart and shares what He is feeling and begins a dialogue with God about His struggles in ministry.  These are good reminders for ministers who want to beat their heads up against a wall.

GOD WILL NOT RELENT: God has made a firm determination about His decision to discipline the nation of Judah and send them into captivity.  Even if Moses and Samuel were to both intercede before the Lord on behalf of the people; God is saying it will not make any difference.  This must have made Jeremiah feel rather powerless if not even Moses or Samuel would be able to intercede on behalf of the people.  God will destroy some by plagues, some by war, some by famine and some will survive but be carried away into slavery.  This determination towards destruction was brought on by the rebellion and idolatry of Manasseh.  The people would be left hopeless and helpless without anyone to even feel sorry for her.  God has been patient with the people for generations but He is tired of beating His head against a wall and things are about to change.  He has tried multiple forms of discipline all to no avail and with no response so He has now resorted to outright destruction.  God may be bearing with our sinfulness for long periods of time, but the time will come when He will take decisive action.


JEREMIAH WILL REPENT: Jeremiah too feels as if he is beating His head against a wall.  He wishes he were never born.  He complains to God that He has been faithful but the people still curse Him.  God responds by reminding Jeremiah of His faithfulness to Him.  God has promised to judge the people and tells Jeremiah that He will defend him and remove all who have persecuted him.  Jeremiah pleads with God for forgiveness for his own sinfulness and asks that he not be swept away in judgment like the rest of his people.  He reminds God of the joy he had found in knowing and declaring God’s Word.  He had stood firm in the presence of unfaithful men and not given into the temptation of joining in the passing pleasures of sin.  God had given Jeremiah an indignation towards sin.  Jeremiah asks God to forgive him for his complaint.  God promises to not only forgive him but make him as His own mouthpiece before the people.  This would not be a pleasant task, but it is far better to be standing with God beating our heads on the same wall than to be on the other side of that wall when it comes crashing down.

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