Jeremiah 15
-The LORD’s Word to His righteous
prophet in this passage is an exhortation to stay strong and be uncompromising
in following the LORD and declaring His message. The section starts out with
the fact that God was absolutely done with putting up with and relenting from
His judgment with this people (Jeremiah 15:6). He tells Jeremiah that even if
Moses and Samuel were to stand before Him, He would not have a heart for His people
at this point. They have been sent from His presence, and He has let them go
(Jeremiah 15:1). There are four places they will go in judgment: 1) Death, 2)
The Sword, 3) Famine, & 4) Captivity. The LORD also appoints over them four
kinds of doom: 1) The sword to slay, 2) The dogs to drag off, 3) The birds of
the sky to rip apart, & 4) The beasts of the earth to devour and destroy
(Jeremiah 15:2-3). They will be made an object of horror among all the kingdoms
of the earth because of the wicked-rebellious acts of Manasseh, king of Judah,
and what he did against the LORD in His holy city of Jerusalem (2 Kings 21, 2
Chronicles 33, Jeremiah 15:4).
-By the end of this round of
pronounced judgment we see the despair in the prophet because of his difficult
ministry as the LORD’s spokesman. “Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me
as a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not lent,
nor have men lent money to me, yet everyone curses me (Jeremiah 15:10). The
LORD’s reply is precious, “Surely I will set you free for purposes of good;
surely I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in a time of disaster
and a time of distress (Jeremiah 15:11).” God goes on to speak of His fire that
has been kindled in anger against His people that will burn upon Jeremiah as
well (Jeremiah 15:14). *Application* Our God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy
4:24, Hebrews 12:29). His burning purifies us in the deepest degree and is a
revealer of what we are made of. Jeremiah necessarily had to have the fire burn
upon him as a man in a difficult time. He stood the LORD’s tests and trials and
persevered through an arduous call upon his life. God was with him, but it
certainly wasn’t easy. This can very easily be the same type of experience we
will face when we venture into the prophetic ministry of standing up for what
God is really telling us in a sinful and perverse generation. Buckle up prophet
of God in this day and age. God’s fire will burn upon you, but you can come
forth as purified gold, silver, and precious stones with your righteousness
shining forth as the noon day in His Kingdom (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Matthew
13:43)!
-God’s Word were found and eaten
by the prophet and they were a joy and delight to his heart for he is called by
the Name of God, the LORD God of hosts (hosts of Heaven, All-powerful).
Jeremiah pleas for his God, the One who knows, to take notice of him in view of
His patience and take him away from the disaster and pain he is receiving in
enduring reproach. He did not participate in the nation’s evil deeds. He sat
alone filled with indignation for the wayward. His wounds have been incurable
and he refused to be healed. He questions whether the LORD will come through at
this time by some of his words (Jeremiah 15:15-18). The LORD answers that if he
will return, he will be restored and before Him he will stand. He will be able
to extract the precious from the worthless and become His spokesman. They have
the possibility of turning to him by the Words of the LORD, but he is not to
turn them in capitulation or cowardice. If he will be strong in adversity, the
LORD says he will be made to his people a fortified wall of bronze which no one
will prevail against. God is with His prophet to save him and deliver him. He
will deliver him from the hand of the wicked and will redeem him from the grasp
of the violent (Jeremiah 15:19-21). *Application* This is an encouraging Word
from the LORD in our service for Him in this current generation. Stay in the
fight and stand for what is right. God is with you to save and deliver in just
the same way He was there for Jeremiah.
Verse to Memorize: Jeremiah 15:11, 16
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