July 26: Jeremiah the Weeping Prophet

Today's passage marks the beginning of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry. As the commentator notes, Jeremiah received a special call to ministry from God Himself. His words of gloom would stand in stark contrast to the empty promises of "peace, peace" that the people wished to hear. The nation's desire for such comfort -- even if false -- falls in line with the warnings of Paul in his final letter, 2 Timothy:

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
　
I would like to highlight two elements from today's passage:

1. God's call for Jeremiah. God had ordained Jeremiah's long ministry before his very existence:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew [or chose] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (1:4,5)

Jeremiah initially resists God's call, pointing to his youth and unpracticed public speaking skills. Yet, he does not resist after God reiterates: "You must go to everyone I send you to and say what I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you."

We may sometimes resist taking on the challenges of living out our faith and the call that God has made for our lives. If you are struggling with what God's call may be for your life, I'd encourage you to search the Scriptures (as we are doing this year) and write down those expressions of His will, such as, for example, "flee" sexual sin. Certainly such knowledge will help to renew your mind and to set your heart on choosing what God desires. Yet, in addition, we must have a heart experience of the presence of the Living God. In each of the prophets, we find people to whom God had chosen to reveal Himself. His presence before them compelled them to carry out the ministries He had laid out for them.
　

2. Forsaking the Glory of the Lord. Jeremiah's prophecy offers several helpful images to portray the people's abandonment and forsaking of God's glory:
"Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet there are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their [or my] Glory
for worthless idols."

"They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
　
The nation had chosen to follow after created things rather than the Creator. I love the image of the "spring of living water." Jesus Himself refers to the Holy Spirit's presence in believers as "streams of living water" in John 7:37-39. Have you experienced that living water, which only comes from God Himself? The world's substitutes will not satisfy!
　
　
QUESTIONS

1. How may you experience the presence of the Living God in order that you may more fully understand and follow His call for your life?

2. How might you thank the Lord for His "living water" today? Seek Him for His very presence.