All Wrong, but Still Alright

Jeremiah 15:15–20 “15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? 19 Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.”

Biography of Jeremiah

Background

Jeremiah was called and anointed by God for his prophetic ministry.

Biographical sketch

Called by God from before he was even born Je 1.4-5

Rejected by the people of his own family Je 11.18-23

Prevented from having a family of his own Je 16.1-4

Imprisoned by his fellow prophets from the school of the prophets - Pashur the son of Immer Je 20.1-2

Treated as a traitor and threatened his life. Je 26, 37.13

Sought out by king Zedekiah for a word from God Je 35

Je 40.1-6 released by Nebuzaradan in apparent acknowledgement of Jeremiah’s prophetic integrity

Je 42 forced to accompany remnant to Egypt, when God had pronounced doom on those who defected to Egypt and safety on those who stayed.

According to tradition, eventually stoned to death in Egypt for his continued speaking against their idolatry.

It must have seemed like everything was wrong!

Survey of his experiences

Heartbroken at the state of his nation - to the point of being intoxicated with sorrow Je 22.9

Faced derision from society on a daily basis Je 20.9

Felt pressure of scrutiny for any misstep (Je 20.10-12)

Compelled against his own prophecy (respecting flight to Egypt) Je 42

Consequently, Jeremiah poured out many anguished laments.

He is called the weeping prophet, in part for his anguish over the sins of his people, but also in part because of the intense persecution he personally endured as a voice of God in that climate.

Jeremiah’s petition (chiastic) was for relief from his situation

What do you do when it’s all wrong, and you’re in the will of God?

Jeremiah 15:15 “15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.”

(1) You know

(2) Remember me, and visit me

(3) Revenge me of my persecutors

Not revenge on my persecutors

(2) Take me not away in thy longsuffering??

(1) Knowing that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke

Jeremiah had good justification for his case

Jeremiah 15:16–17 “16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.”

He pursued a passion for the Word of God

Thy word, the joy and rejoicing of mine heart

He was confident in his election by God

I am called by thy name

He lived a life of consecration to God

I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced

I sat alone because of the Lord’s hand

I was filled with God’s indignation (at the state of affairs)

Distress in the Will of God

Jeremiah 15:18 “18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?”

Asymmetric Experience Living in the Call of God

The experience of the called isn’t always what you think it would be.

We think it will bring prosperity; sometimes it brings hardship.

We think it will bring energy; sometimes it brings sickness.

We think it will bring happiness; sometimes it brings sorrow and pain.

Your questions are not too much for the Lord.

It’s natural to be confused when assumptions are laid bare.

Be like the Psalmist

Psalm 120:1 “1 In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.”

Your ongoing issues may suggest that God is working out a higher purpose.

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 “8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Will God be a Liar to Me?

God is not a liar, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

These experiences can leave one wondering if God is misleading or deceitful toward you.

But God does not lie

Numbers 23:19 “19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

Alignment of Expectations

The issue has to do with misaligned expectations.

Waters that fail = “a spring that has run dry” NLT

TSK Fail = “be not sure”

The picture would have been familiar to Jeremiah, having just used this image in a prophecy against Judah in the previous chapter

Jeremiah 14:3 “3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.”

God’s Ways are Higher than Our Ways.

Isaiah 55:9 “9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

A Refreshed Calling

Keep going, even when you want to quit.

Jeremiah 20:9 “9 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.”

Three Abiding Promises of God

Jeremiah 15:20 “20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

To Strengthen You

To Make you an Overcomer

To Deliver You

God responds with a reiteration of the initial calling

Jeremiah 1:18–19 “18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.”

Even when it all seems wrong, it’s s till alright! And it’s going to be alright.