A choice, noble words or worthless ones

 Jeremiah 15:15-18

Few people have been assigned to be God’s mouthpiece to a nation that was chasing after other gods more so than Jeremiah, and yet without anyone coming to an agreement with his message.  So when we are allowed to hear a frustrated Jeremiah complaining to God about how faithful he has been and yet how doubts have come into his mind, some of us who have not been faithful and had no message may feel he has a point. 

So let’s look at the words of Jeremiah to his God, the God to whom he has been a faithful spokesperson.  “You know, Lord; remember me and take note of me.
Avenge me against my persecutors.  In Your patience, don’t take me away. Know that I suffer disgrace for Your honor.  Your words were found, and I ate them.  Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I am called by Your name, Yahweh God of Hosts.  I never sat with the band of revelers, and I did not celebrate with them.  Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone, for You filled me with indignation.  Why has my pain become unending,
my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?  You truly have become like a mirage to me—water that is not reliable.”

Jeremiah knew that he was aware of a God who knows and a God who remembers His servants.  Jeremiah knew that his God was patience and kind, and also just, so his request was; Lord recall that I suffered disgrace for Your honor.  Jeremiah had a hunger and a thirst for the words of his God, verse 16, “Your words were found, and I ate them.  Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I am called by Your name, Yahweh God of Hosts.”  And Jeremiah was clear that he was not like other men who walked with God till it cost them and then moved to the other side, for his God filled him with indignation for those who opposed God’s commands.  In a weak moment Jeremiah forgot an important truth God does not change.  Jeremiah spoke these words and declared them to be from the Lord; “for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”  And in this emotional time when he is inward in his thinking and listening to the voice of the evil one the accuser, he calls God a mirage, and it falsely appears to be real. 

Has Jeremiah crossed a road of no return, have you been there in your walk with the Lord, are you there at this time?  If so verses 19-21 should bring a time of joy, for God showed mercy and grace to Jeremiah as He has to you and me.  God spoke these living words to Jeremiah and you and me; “If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence.”  God is making it clear that verses 15-18, were worthless, but look at the last part of verse 19, “And if you speak noble words, rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman.”

Jeremiah had a choice, noble words or worthless ones, and so do you and I.  As you look at the promise God is making to Jeremiah, what a promise, what a
God!  The promise: “Then I will make you a fortified wall of bronze to this people.  They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you.  This is the Lord’s declaration.  I will deliver you from the power of evil people and redeem you from the control of the ruthless.”

From the Back Porch, 

Bob Rice