Thoughts to Ponder from Jeremiah 18:18-20

Jeremiah 18:18-20 (ESV)

¹⁸ Then they said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.”

¹⁹ Hear me, O Lord,
    and listen to the voice of my adversaries.
²⁰ Should good be repaid with evil?
    Yet they have dug a pit for my life.
Remember how I stood before you
    to speak good for them,
    to turn away your wrath from them.

“Remember that I stood before you to speak on their behalf” (Jeremiah 18:20).

God sent Jeremiah to the people living in Judah, who had turned far from him. He called Jeremiah to urge the people away from worshipping other gods and to remind them that they belong to him alone. For his trouble, Jeremiah endured contempt and ridicule. He lost his family and friends. And he even suffered attempts on his life.

Treachery, deceit, and betrayal are painful goads that can provoke us to self-pity or a lust for revenge. But rather than follow these paths, Jeremiah entered into a series of intimate conversations with God (Jeremiah 12:1-17; 14:10-22; 17:12-18; 18:18-23; 20:7-18). Sometimes he ranted. Sometimes he complained. But he stayed humble as he asked God for wisdom and strength. And God didn’t mind that Jeremiah was so blunt and open with him. He could tell that Jeremiah wasn’t turning away from him – he just needed some answers (20:12).

This was the kind of relationship with the Lord that Jeremiah urged the people of Judah to pursue. He wanted them to be just as open and honest with God as he was – and as obedient. He wanted their relationship to be fluid as well, with thoughts, desires, and promises flowing back and forth between God and themselves. This kind of relationship could sustain them in difficulties, allow them to withstand temptation, and encourage them to stand firm.

As with so many other Old Testament stories, the story of Jeremiah speaks to us today as well. It describes the kind of relationship that God wants to have with us: open, honest, fluid, and intimate. He wants us to feel comfortable telling him everything – just as we should be willing to hear everything he has to say to us.

So don’t be afraid to be yourself with God. Share your ups and downs, your complaints, doubts, and grumbles, with him. He won’t be offended. Just be sure that you are open to hearing his answers! Your Father cares about every detail of your life. Even now, he is waiting to talk with you about everything and anything.

Father, I want to talk to you as Jeremiah did. Let me hear your voice and experience your presence today. Amen.

From The Word Among Us, March 23rd, 2011