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Jeremiah 15:16-21
When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
Lord God Almighty.
I never sat in the company of revelers,
never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand was on me
and you had filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain unending
and my wound grievous and incurable?
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
like a spring that fails. Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“If you repent, I will restore you
that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you,
but you must not turn to them.
I will make you a wall to this people,
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
but will not overcome you,
for I am with you
to rescue and save you,”
declares the Lord.
“I will save you from the hands of the wicked
and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.”
New International Version (NIV)
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Do you ever tell God what you really think? We do know that he already knows, don’t we? Jeremiah wrote his thoughts down for the whole world to read thousands of years later. People mistreated Jeremiah. He deserved better. God knew it. Jeremiah told him so. Though this is not my story, I have seen it unfold in the lives of others whom I love.
Most of us have a secret life of some sort, the place we go when life is painful. Jeremiah’s secret life was prayer. He was there when Josiah’s leaders rediscovered the scripture in the temple. The words were delightful to him. But as the people moved beyond the emotion into reality, Jeremiah felt alone. He carried what the ancient prophets called “the burden of the Lord.” He sometimes wondered if God was there or if God cared, and he said so. Out loud!?
God answered by promising his presence. Jeremiah could not return to the people and join them in their sin. So he must return to the Lord. God told Jeremiah that the people would fight against him but not overcome him. Even if Jeremiah felt alone, God was with him to save and rescue him. In a world of rampant evil and ruthless people, God stands with his people who stand in his presence and speak noble words. For Jeremiah, this promise was enough. It still is. Keep talking to God. Taste his word. “Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.”
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Pray with me:
Father, in our “connected” world, we sometimes feel astonishingly alone. Like salmon hurling ourselves up rapids, we make our way home to you. Like Jeremiah, we remember again that if we are alone with you, we are not really alone. You are with us. In the darkest hours of our lives let us turn to you and find once again that your mercies are new. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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| This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane
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