Jeremiah – Faithfulness In Trying Times

Feature 3 –December 2015 – Grace & Truth Magazine

JEREMIAH
Faithfulness In Trying Times

Introduction And Background
Jeremiah possibly means “the L ORD is exalted” and “appointed by the L ORD .” Both meanings apply to him for he exalted the L ORD in his long and difficult life including in the ministry for which God had called and appointed him. As a writing prophet he contributed more words to the Bible than any of the other prophets.

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He was used by God to call the people back to Him (2 Pet. 1:21).

Jeremiah’s ministry started in the days of King Josiah, probably in the year 627 BC. The LORD used Josiah, the last of the godly kings in Judah, to bring about a great revival and return to His Word soon after the scroll had been found in the temple (2 Chr. 34:14-33).2 This occurred during the cleansing of the temple and the land from all kinds of idolatries and evil practices. A genuine return to God’s thoughts was further demonstrated in the celebration of the Passover of which it is written that it occurred in a way that had never happened since the days of the judges (2 Ki. 23:22) and of Samuel the prophet (2 Chr. 35:18). Thus King Josiah brought about a remarkable recovery among Judah and Benjamin, even impacting the remnant of the ten tribes already led into captivity by Assur, as predicted in 1 Kings 13:2. This godly king brought many of God’s people back to what He had given in the beginning through Moses.3

However, this return to God’s law under Josiah’s leadership was often limited to outward things. These were good in themselves, such as the removal of idols, the cleansing of the temple and the restoration of its service ? but not everyone returned to the LORD wholeheartedly with true repentance. Even though a great revival was taking place (2 Chr. 34-35), Jeremiah saw the lack of genuine sorrow and he addressed this need (see Jeremiah 7:1-15). The danger always exists to be content with having things outwardly in order but without the right spiritual condition before God (consider 2 Timothy 3:5).

Calling, Preparation And Tasks
God prepared Jeremiah for a difficult ministry. At the time of his calling God clearly showed him that He was in charge: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5 NKJV). Let’s consider these points:

• “I formed you” means “I fashioned you as a potter prepares a vessel.” It shows God’s control (see Psalm 139).
• “I knew you” implies God’s foreknowledge, the relationship He had in mind even before Jeremiah was conceived in his mother’s womb. This shows God’s plan for Jeremiah, like He later had with Paul (Gal. 1:15).
• “I sanctified you” tells us that God had set Jeremiah apart for Himself with a special plan for his life and service.
• “I ordained...” means that God appointed and established Jeremiah as His spokesperson, not only to His earthly people but also to all the surrounding nations as well.

Similarly, God has a plan for every believer. For those who belong to the age of grace this plan dates from “before the world’s foundation” (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:4-5). In a way this is even more amazing than what we read about the prophet.

Jeremiah expressed some objections just as Moses had when God called him (Ex. 3). But unlike Moses, who was a mature and trained man by the time of God’s calling, Jeremiah was a youth. The Lord accepts no excuses: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth’” (Jer. 1:7). God simply stated where Jeremiah had to go and what he had to say. He told him not to be afraid of the people to whom he would be sent, giving him a beautiful promise that He would be with him and, if needed, deliver him. Then God confirmed this mission by stretching out His hand and touching Jeremiah’s mouth, putting His words in his mouth (v.9). Thus He established or appointed him over nations and kingdoms, and outlined this mission: “to root out and pull down,” “to destroy and throw down” and “to build and to plant” (v.10). God takes away what needs to be removed, what is opposed to His thoughts, to introduce and establish what He wants to promote. Similarly, Paul was a planter and a builder in New Testament times (1 Cor. 3). Today we cannot lay a new foundation ? and we should not try. But God desires every believer to be involved in His service, to do His bidding. It is a great privilege and a tremendous challenge.

God’s Calling Confirmed
God confirmed His calling by two visions He showed Jeremiah (1:11-16). The first vision was a branch of an almond tree – the first tree to blossom in the new season, indicating that God would watch and be quick4 to perform His Word. God means what He says and He says what He means. He will make sure that His words are fulfilled.

The second vision concerned a boiling pot that was tilted towards the south: God’s judgment would come from the north5 to Jerusalem and Judah, to and over “all the inhabitants of the land” (v.14). These two visions fulfilled the first part of verse 10 about the destruction because of all the evil that took place among God’s people and in His land (v.16). But the second part of verse 10 is about Jeremiah’s ultimate mission “to build and to plant.” This is followed by the charge God gave him (1:17-19) which includes lessons for us today:

• “Gird up your loins” (NASB) means to get ready for the task.
• “Arise” implies to get up and start working.
• “Speak to them all that I command you” (NKJV) is His message for all nations (v.5).

The prophet could not “pick and choose” the words he liked to pass on and forget about the rest. No, “all that I command you” does not leave any room for that.

God encouraged but also warned His servant, “Do not be dismayed before their faces, lest I dismay you before them” (v.17). Then God compared Jeremiah to “a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls” in view of God’s solemn message through His prophet “against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land” (1:18). In the course of Jeremiah’s book we learn how this difficult6 four or fivefold task was going to be fulfilled. We also read that there would be tremendous opposition. Yet, God promised victory, “For I am with you ... to deliver you” (v.19).

Trying Times For Jeremiah
After the untimely death of King Josiah through his own stubbornness but allowed by God, Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. It is referred to in 2 Chronicles 35:25. Some believe this book was written because of the destruction of the temple. However, that event took place about twenty years later. Josiah’s death caused Jeremiah to write this collection of dirges and songs of sorrow, which are very touching as applications can be made to the Lord’s sufferings.

Jeremiah pursued his God-given ministry under the three wicked kings who succeeded Josiah until the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer. 1:3). That terrible event, which the people in his days thought could never happen, Jeremiah had repeatedly predicted because they refused to repent. Not stopping, the prophet continued his ministry among those who had gone to Egypt in self-will, but even there they did not listen (Jer. 41-44). This unbelieving remnant put their trust in Egypt rather than God.

Jeremiah’s Ministry And Applications For Today
Even after many of his people were taken into the Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah continued as a prophet of God. And after he had been taken into Egypt, against his will, he continued to testify against the disobedient remnant (Jer. 44). He showed that Nebuchadnezzar would chase them down even there since that king was sent as God’s servant against them because of their idolatry. If they had repented and stayed in the Promised Land, God would have watched over and kept them safe – but they refused to listen to God’s instructions that came to them through Jeremiah. Even so, Jeremiah continued as a prophet until his death.

Many are familiar with The Weeping Prophet, a painting by the famous Dutch artist Rembrandt van Ryn (1606-1669), who lived in the “Dutch Golden Age” about a century after the Protestant Reformation. Those “golden” years parallel Josiah’s reign and just as his days were marked by an outward return and prosperity, so it was in Rembrandt’s days. Similar developments had occurred on various occasions during the history of the professing Church when an evident revival in a few caused a positive impact on the society around them. People submitted to the new direction that was indicated by God’s Word but without a profound change of heart, repentance or return to God. Serving our Lord outwardly by “going through the motions” and in lip-service (2 Tim. 3:1-5) also characterizes the last days of the Church as a public testimony, the days of Laodicea in which we live (see Revelation 3:14-22).

Tremendous Challenges
Jeremiah’s ministry may seem to have failed, but this faithful prophet, despite sometimes doubting and complaining, kept going despite all odds, resistance and attacks. He described how he wanted to stop speaking on behalf of the LORD, but then God’s Word was within him as a burning fire (Jer. 20:9). In other words, he had to speak even though many times his life was in danger. This willingness to speak for God may be related to the joy Jeremiah had experienced when the scroll had been found in the days of King Josiah. Thus God’s Word was food for his soul and joy for his heart (15:16). Despite his unpopularity and seeming lack of “success,” he kept going. What an example for us today!

Other genuine followers include Daniel and his friends, who were led away to Babylon not long after Josiah’s death as predicted by Isaiah to King Hezekiah (Isa. 39:5-7). Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, is another example of a faithful follower (Jer. 45:1-5) even though he had struggles like the prophet.

Jeremiah’s life consisted of highs and lows, on the one hand enjoying fellowship with the LORD and at other times wanting to give up his mission completely because of the tremendous opposition he faced. Furthermore, the prophet was not only challenging the people to repent, but he also humbled himself, personally. He lived close to the LORD and owned the people’s condition as his own, identifying with their guilt before God although he was personally free from that guilt. “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for Your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against You” (Jer. 14:7).

Overall, Jeremiah remained genuine in his faith even though he sometimes wavered in his commitment to the LORD. The days were very difficult, especially considering that Jeremiah’s spiritual influence was only received by a few of the leaders he addressed. Nevertheless, those few influenced many others.

Lessons For Today
All these things have been written for our instruction and encouragement (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11). The repeated call by God through Jeremiah to the people that they should repent emphasizes their responsibility and accountability to Him. On God’s side, in His dealings in discipline, He is sovereign ? no one can challenge Him ? whether in sending judgment (Jer. 24:5,9) or in working repentance. This is a theme developed by Jeremiah: “I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am Jehovah; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart” (24:7 JND).

On the other side, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (29:13) represents the people’s side of accountability. The prophet Jeremiah identified with the condition of the people and with the need to repent (14:7) when he addressed their wickedness (7:24-28) and hardness of heart (17:1-6, 9). Stephen acted in similar terms much later (Acts 7:51-53), his prayer being answered in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Likewise, Jeremiah was seeking a remnant that would return and trust God (Jer. 17:7-8). For this to occur, then or now, a work of God is needed (v.10) in judgment and in bringing back – the mystery of genuine repentance.

From Jeremiah’s calling to the end of his life covers a period of about fifty years. His writings during that time can be divided in a variety of ways7 and it is very difficult to get a firm grasp of the structure of the book of Jeremiah. What is very clear, however, is the message he gave of calling God’s people to repent and change their ways. That unmistakable message is the reason the prophet was opposed by religious, political and social leaders. Jeremiah wrote many chapters to address Judah and Jerusalem, calling them to repent and submit to God’s punishment that He would bring through King Nebuchadnezzar.8 He also addressed Gentile nations in much detail, calling them to submit to the King of Babylon.

“Eating The Sin Offering”
This means identifying with the failures of God’s people and confessing their condition before God as ours. Jeremiah did this, and we may also think of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah. These godly men, in different ways and with different words and actions, identified with the failures of their people even to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” In the New Testament, God’s servants showed the same attitude.

On the cross during the three hours of darkness the Lord Himself, though completely guiltless, identified with the sin/sins of His people as our Substitute and sin offering (2 Cor. 5:21). This last point is something we can never do – and God does not ask us to take that place. But we need to identify in a moral sense with God’s people and their failure, making it our own. In this sense we can and should eat the sin offering on the basis of Christ’s accomplished work. We do not add anything to it, but we simply follow Jeremiah’s example in prayer, “We have sinned against You” (14:7), and Daniel’s, “We have sinned” (Dan. 9:5), even though they were personally free and even blameless from those sins.

Today it behooves us to bow our heads in shame before our holy, righteous and loving God. We are all part of the tremendous failure that has occurred throughout the history of the Church, but especially in our days. May we be humble, without defending or excusing ourselves. Let us focus on our Lord Jesus Christ, holding fast the Head (Col. 2:19) and drawing from Him what we need (1:28). We not only need the right understanding of God’s thoughts, but the right attitude before God and man (see for instance Eph. 4:1-6). May the Lord help us!

ENDNOTES
1. Moses was a prophet in the sense of being God’s spokesperson and he laid the foundation in the Five Books of Moses. The later speaking and writing prophets were sent by God to call His people to repent and return to that foundation, as did Jeremiah.
2. In this context it is striking that the phrase “the word of the LORD” occurs 49 (7x7) times in the Book of Jeremiah (Hebrew text). Seven represents completeness.
3. Similarly, we need to hold to what God has given in the beginning of the Church age, to the foundation established by the apostles to whom He gave authority to do so. We cannot reshape the conditions described in Acts, but with the first love of true overcomers we must hold fast the principles God has established once for all (Jude 1:3).
4. Verses 11-12 imply a play on words: “almond” is “shaked” in Hebrew, meaning “watching.” In verse 12, “ready” (NKJV) is “shoked” in Hebrew, meaning “watchful, watching.”
5. In Scripture the north is associated with judgment.
6. The difficulty of his tasks can be understood by the fact that Jeremiah could not marry (Jer. 16:2) nor was he allowed to attend weddings or funerals (16:5,8). Often he risked his life, but the LORD always protected him according to His promise (1:19).
7. One way to do so is to follow the ten symbolic actions Jeremiah had to perform. Another way is by comparing the poetic and prose contents, or the discourses to Israel on the one hand and those to the nations on the other.
8. Those who submitted to God’s discipline and were sent into captivity are compared with good figs, of excellent quality. Those who were spared and remained in Judea and Jerusalem boasted that they were much better than the ones led to Babylon. This second group, however, were represented by the bad figs in Jeremiah 24. That chapter also speaks of the need of repentance.

By Alfred Bouter