This chapter is figuratively all over the place. Pashhur the priest, son of the head priest, beats Jeremiah and puts him into stocks for prophesying. Once released, Jeremiah prophesies to Pashhur against his household and Judah. The second half of the chapter is a lamenting psalm from Jeremiah, who seems to have very mixed emotions about everything transpiring (it reads a little like the book of Job).
“O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me… Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers. Cursed be the day on which I was born!… Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?” (v7, 9, 11, 13-14, 18 abr)
Have you ever had mixed emotions about obeying God and His leading in your life? If so, guess what, you’re in great company. Every servant of Jesus struggled / struggles. There isn’t always a physical beating in our testimonies, though we are pretty much guaranteed to suffer emotional abuse and turmoil. It seems every servant of God in scripture, and many I spoken to, struggle / struggled in their obedience.
Is obeying God still ‘worth it’, despite the difficulties? Absolutely, one thousand times yes! Jesus suffered more than any other person, yet I’m sure He would endure it all again if necessary (thankfully He only needed to die once).
Even in the middle of Jeremiah’s lament he manages to sing and praise the Lord. I suggest we do the same, no matter our circumstances. As Paul said: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rm 8:18)
Father God, our Creator and Redeemer, You are more than worth any trial and trouble. Please grant us the strength to endure any hardships in Your name. Please help us to grin and rejoice in the most difficult of times, and remain rooted in obedience, even if we curse the day of our birth. May we honor and glorify You for all of our remaining days, until we enter into Your untainted glorious presence. Praise be to You our God! Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training