Jeremiah 20

Verse of the Day: V9 “Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

1.  Suffering Is Tough

V2 “Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.”

The Prophet Jeremiah was called a weeping prophet among all prophets because he suffered the most. He was beaten and imprisoned by the High Priest for preaching the Word of God. It was tough for Jeremiah as he lived and preached during the days when the High Priest’s and the people’s hearts were very far away from God. They wanted to kill Jeremiah as he was very persistent in preaching and calling them to repent of their sins and get right with God!

2.  Sarcasm is Tough

V7 “O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.”

The High Priests and the people kept hurling sarcasm at Jeremiah as he kept preaching the Word of God. Instead of being appreciated by his people, Jeremiah became their laughingstock. Jeremiah could not take it anymore as he thought of quitting and even cursed the day he was born.

V14 “Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.”

3.  Staying Is Tough

V9 “Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name ...”

As Jeremiah considered tendering his resignation as the Prophet of God and never to mentioned God’s name nor speak in His name, the Almighty God spoke and encouraged him to stay put, dig in and press on in his service of the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

V9 “... But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

Let us not quit loving and serving the Lord even though the going gets tough as God shall grant us the strength and the grace to serve Him like He gave to His Prophet Jeremiah.
 
Prayer of the Week

Dearest God, please help me to keep on trusting You and not quit.