Jeremiah’s Struggles (11-17)

Introduction

1. Jeremiah has been described as the “Weeping Prophet” for good reason; his endured many sorrows.

2. In this section, we will focus on Jeremiah’s internal struggles, weaknesses we can all in some way relate to.

 

I.       Struggling with the Prosperity of the Wicked (12:1-6)

A.            Jeremiah’s Complaint (1-4)

1.    Jeremiah’s internal struggles included his confusion over the apparent prosperity of the wicked.

2.    There was a conspiracy against Jeremiah in his hometown of Anathoth. 11:18-23

a)         The prophet had been unaware of the plot until the LORD revealed it to him.

b)        Though Jehovah promised retribution, the event gave rise to Jeremiah’s complaint. 12:1-4

3.    Jeremiah wanted to know why the wicked seemed to prosper while they disregarded God.

a)         The LORD had planted them, i.e. established them, even though their religion was a sham.

b)        The prophet wanted God to bring judgment on them quickly and vindicate justice.

4.    The problem of evil is an ancient question, contemplated by many Biblical writers.

a)         Job, Asaph and Habakkuk wrestled with such questions. (Job 21:7-15; Ps. 73; Ha. 1:4)

b)        If God is good, why do the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous often suffer?

B.            Jehovah’s Response (5-6)

1.    The Bible does not give us a thorough explanation of why this apparent dichotomy exists.

a)         The LORD reminded Job that man’s wisdom cannot challenge God’s greatness. Job 40:1-14

b)        Asaph was reminded by worshipping God of the ultimate end of the wicked. Ps. 73:16-18

c)         Habakkuk was reassured that Jehovah would do justly in punishing Babylon too. (Ha. 2:5-14)

2.    Like the others, Jeremiah is given a terse reply instead of a thorough explanation. 12:5-6

a)         The troubles that Jeremiah was experiencing in Anathoth were relatively minor!

b)        The prophet’s persecution would increase dramatically later in Jerusalem.

3.    If Jeremiah was thrown into despair with this early opposition, what would he do later?

a)         We must be prepared for the challenges of serving God to be greater than we expected.

b)        God will not burden us beyond what we can bear, but we must trust Him for strength.

4.    Like Jeremiah, we may wonder why the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper on earth.

a)         We must magnify our view of God and life to a higher, eternal perspective. Is. 55:8-9

b)        We must brace for the challenges and discouragements that we will inevitably confront.

 

II.    Struggling with the Permanence of Judgment (14:1-15:9)

A.            The Condition of the Land

1.    Judah was experiencing a drought, a sign of covenant infidelity. 14:1-6; Le. 26:18-20

2.    The LORD gave Jeremiah a lament to deliver to the people over their punishment. 14:17-18

3.    Jehovah would no longer restrain His hand; their punishment would be severe. 15:5-9

B.            The Conversation with the LORD

1.    Jeremiah’s heart is broken for his people; he cannot not pray, but how can he do it? (7:16; 11:14)

a)         The prophet identifies himself with the people; he prays for we and us instead of them.

b)        Three times in this section the prophet speaks to God, and three times Jehovah responds.

2.    First, Jeremiah asks the LORD to rescue them for His own name’s sake. 14:7-9

a)         He confesses their sin and prays that God would rise up in power to save them.

b)        But God will not accept those who love sin; the time for punishment has come. 14:10-12

3.    Second, Jeremiah points out that the prophets are giving false assurance to the people. 14:13

a)         The LORD acknowledges that the prophets are speaking lies and will be punished. 14:14-15

b)        But the people who listen to their lies will also be punished. 14:16 (cf. De. 13:1-5)

4.    Third, Jeremiah pleads for God to give them healing and remember His covenant. 14:19-22

a)         Jeremiah’s intercession could not succeed; God would not listen to anyone. 15:1

b)        Judgment had been determined, and the time for punishment had arrived. 15:2-4

5.    It may seem surprising that God allows Jeremiah to continue praying in this way.

a)         This demonstrates the incredible compassion of the prophet for his sin-stained brethren.

b)        This demonstrates the even greater patience of God for His struggling spokesman.

III. Struggling with Depression and Self-Pity (15:10-21)

A.            Self-Pitying Lamentation

1.    Jeremiah is depressed; he mourned that he was even born. 15:10

a)         The whole world treated him like an enemy; he was cursed like a hated creditor/borrower.

b)        This type of self-pity and discouragement is seen in other men as well. Job 3:3; 1Ki. 19:14

2.    Jehovah strengthened the prophet with two words:

a)         I will take care of you personally. 15:11

b)        I will bring unavoidable judgment in anger upon Judah. 15:12-14

B.            Self-Righteous Accusation

1.    The second crisis of complaint is more serious, and this time the prophet is rebuked.

a)         The pity party continues; now Jeremiah charges God with being untrustworthy. 15:15-18

b)        The LORD does not tolerate this particular vent and urges the prophet to repent. 15:19-21

2.    To remain in good standing with God, Jeremiah had to remove doubt and replace it with faith.

a)         The prophet was allowing the people to drag him down, but he needed to rise above them.

b)        If he repented, God would strengthen him like a bronze wall that Judah could not tear down.

3.    Discouragement is part of the human experience, but it can and must be overcome.

a)         God is patient with servants who are struggling, but He will rebuke when the line is crossed.

b)        By studying Job, Elijah, and Jeremiah, we can find help for our own internal battles.

IV.  Struggling with Social Isolation (16:1-9)

A.            Jeremiah’s Personal Circumstances

1.    As noted in our introduction to the book, Jeremiah’s struggles were exacerbated by his isolation.

a)         He was forbidden to marry or have children. (16:1-4)

b)        He was not permitted to attend funerals or feasts. (16:5-9)

2.    These restrictions served several important purposes.

a)         They were an expression of grace: women and children would be slaughtered by Babylon.

b)        They were a vindication of his ministry: family and socializing would diminish credibility.

B.            Faithful No Matter Our Circumstances

1.    Jeremiah’s life was defined by his divine mission; he lived to preach the word of God.

a)         There was nothing in Jeremiah’s life to distract him, nothing good to divert his attention.

b)        This surely enhanced the pain of his sufferings, but it no doubt also focused his ministry.

2.    We are to be faithful no matter our circumstances, whether we are hungry or whether we abound.

a)         Prosperity is not always our friend; sometimes the good things of life choke our faith.

b)        When loneliness surrounds us, let faith fill our lives with love and service for the Lord.

V.     Struggling with the Pain of His Prophecies (17:14-18)

A.            Preaching a Painful Message

1.    Jeremiah preached doom to Judah, but the fearless fools in the land said, “Let it come!” 17:14-15

2.    Jeremiah did not enjoy his message, but he faithfully proclaimed God’s word. 17:16

3.    Are we willing to preach and embrace the truth even when it hurts us or our loved ones?

B.            Trusting God in a Time of Terror

1.    Jeremiah knew that judgment could not be avoided, so he placed his trust in God. 17:17

2.    He did not enjoy his message, but he embraced it fully, not grudgingly. 17:18

3.    Have we committed our trust to the Lord? Are we prepared for the “day of doom?”

 

Conclusion

1. Jeremiah was bold publicly when preaching to the people but was broken privately in speaking to the LORD.

2. There is much to admire in and learn from this godly man who wrestled within but remained true to God.