Jeremiah 20

Read: Jeremiah 20

Verses chosen for meditation: Jeremiah 20: 7, 9, 11, 13 ESV:

O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.

If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.

Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

Reflect

Discouragement is a part of life. This chapter is the last of the laments of the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. Here in this chapter, we see him persecuted, beaten and confined by none other than a fellow priest, an official in - charge of the temple. His only crime was prophesying to the people what the Lord had wanted him to say.

When facing a similar situation in ministry or life, though the magnitude may differ, how do we usually respond or react?

1. Are we honest in telling God how we feel?

2. Are we obedient in keeping to what God has called us to do?

3. Are we aware that God is with us throughout the whole experience?

4. Are we able to praise God with our whole heart at the end?

Relate

Discouragement can weigh us down, steer us off course and cause us to quit. It is one of the commonest tools, if not the commonest, employed by the adversary to effect those undesired consequences.

Are we perhaps feeling the effects of it at this point in our ministry or life? If so, we can rise above the discouragements by:

1. Telling God how we honestly feel (v. 7).

Jeremiah was honest. He felt that God had lured him into the ministry only to make him a laughingstock. So, he made those laments to God in private. God wants us to talk with him, more so when we are angry, upset or frustrated. Not much of honesty actually goes on in relationships, even with God. Didn't Jesus pour out his heart to God in Gethsemane and on the Cross?

2. Keeping to what God has called us to do (v. 9).

Because of Pashhur, the chief priest's unjustified actions, Jeremiah was ready to call it quits. He had enough already of backlash from the public, and now from his very own.  Despite it, he found that he couldn't throw in the towel.

For God's message was like a fire in his bones that he couldn't put out. Jeremiah did not preach because he had to say something, but because he had something to say. When you're called, you can't simply ignore that call. For the call of God will keep you going. The call comes first from the heart as a result of the continued drawing from the Holy Spirit. This conviction is deep within the innermost being of a person. Eventually, it becomes unshakeable and marks the person for life as it did for Jeremiah.

3. Knowing that God is with us (v. 11).

Jeremiah realised that he wasn't alone. He was not on the losing side. He was going to win because the Lord was with him like a mighty warrior. Often in our discouragement, we look inward - to our problems, our frustrations, and our situations - when we need to look upward to God who has not abandoned us as we thought. He is with us. He is an ever- present God and help.

Imagine the difference it would make in our outlook if we remained consciously aware that God is with us in whatever situation we're in or whatever we're doing. The knowledge of God's presence can help us accomplish significant things despite our initial discouragement.

4. Praising God with our whole heart (v. 13).

Jeremiah's despair turned to joy, his defeated attitude turned to triumph, his dismay to courage. The key that unlocked the door to victory was praise.

When we praise God, we acknowledge that he is in charge - he can do when he wants, what he wants, and how he wants.

Praise does four things essentially:

A. Praise recognises a Provider. 

Praise takes our minds off our situation and focuses them on God, 

our provider. It acknowledges that God knows more about what he's doing than we do. And he can make something beautiful out of it.

B. Praise acknowledges a Plan.

A few chapters later, Jeremiah records God's words to Israel: "For I know the plans I have for you..." God weaves a tapestry of our lives. When we realise God has a plan, we have two options: we can fight it, or we can embrace it.

C. Praise accepts the Present.

Praise is based on a total acceptance of the present as part of God's loving, perfect will for us. We praise God, not for what we expect will happen in and around us, but we praise him for who he is and where and how we are right now.

D. Praise releases the Power.

Praise opens the door for God's power to move into our lives. The prayer of praise releases more of God's power than any other form of petition. For God dwells, inhabits and resides in our praises. His power and presence are near when we praise him.

This chapter reminds us that even a faithful servant like Jeremiah can be discouraged. But it need not dig a hole for us. Instead, it should bring hope for us. 

(References taken from Rick Ezell: Rise above discouragement)

Rest

Lord, we are a people easily given to despair. Forgive our lack of trust and courage. Rather than bottling up, help us open up to you. Assure us as we do that you are with us. Enable us in turn to persevere in doing your good work. And let us be a people of praise to release your power and reveal your glory.

Naville Chia