Jeremiah chapter 15 begins with a list of the suffering caused by the terrible draught (vv.1-3); a supplication as the people cry out to God because of their affliction and a description of their sin (v.10). It continues with a dialogue between Jehovah and Jeremiah. The Lord has asked Jeremiah “do not pray for these people anymore” (vv.11-12). The prophet describes a severe draught that effected the whole nation. The people cried out to God confessed their sin and their backsliding; but the Lord replied that He rejected their cry and their pleas; they were guilty of loving their sin and had no intention of turning from sin.
What is God’s response? The Lord will not tolerate the people’s sin; The Lord refuses to indulge the nation’s fleshly desires; and refuses to give them a license to sin. The people were guilty of the worst kind of unrepentant persistent sin. And so they would bear the punishment for that sin.
Jeremiah 15:1 Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.
Intercessory prayer would not save them. Judgment was certain.
We continue the thought--you run from God--where will you go? Run hard--run fast--run long-- and you run right into judgment. As the people of Judah and Jerusalem run from God--they run towards destruction; this stark verse communicates an important truth; every road that leads away from God and Jesus Christ leads to destruction and death.
Jeremiah 15:4 I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.
The Hebrew name Manasseh means “one who causes to forget”. In one sense Manasseh creates a form of spiritual dementia.
Jeremiah 15:17 I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, For You have filled me with indignation.
Jeremiah lived a life of spiritual separation and self-denial. He refused to participate in the lifestyle of the wicked. Jeremiah chose to live a lonely and isolated life because he was filled with indignation over the people’s sins. Jeremiah voluntarily separates himself from human companionship for intimacy with God! In the midst of persecution he experiences a feeling that God has abandoned him.
The message Jeremiah preaches lasts over 50 years. The net result--most of Jeremiah’s life was spent in isolation, rejection, pain, persecution, suffering. His own family turned against him. The other priests and prophets turned against him. It may be a stretch, it may be hyperbole, but in a real sense Jeremiah stands alone in his generation. The pain of rejection; the gnawing emptiness that comes from being misunderstood and not believed; and the knowledge--the vision of the impending judgment and destruction--was bound to way heavy on the soul of the prophet.
But he will remain firm--faithful--in spite of the opposition--in spite of the persecution--in spite of the rejection. He will faithfully proclaim the Word of God until the end of his life. The warning is repeated in the New Testament. Those who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be wise as serpents, and harmless or gentle like doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you who speaks; but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child;and the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt.10:16-22).
Conclusion We will be persecuted. We must be faithful.
Intercessory prayer would not save them. Judgment was certain.
We continue the thought--you run from God--where will you go? Run hard--run fast--run long-- and you run right into judgment. As the people of Judah and Jerusalem run from God--they run towards destruction; this stark verse communicates an important truth; every road that leads away from God and Jesus Christ leads to destruction and death.
Jeremiah 15:4 I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.
The Hebrew name Manasseh means “one who causes to forget”. In one sense Manasseh creates a form of spiritual dementia.
Jeremiah 15:17 I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, For You have filled me with indignation.
Jeremiah lived a life of spiritual separation and self-denial. He refused to participate in the lifestyle of the wicked. Jeremiah chose to live a lonely and isolated life because he was filled with indignation over the people’s sins. Jeremiah voluntarily separates himself from human companionship for intimacy with God! In the midst of persecution he experiences a feeling that God has abandoned him.
The message Jeremiah preaches lasts over 50 years. The net result--most of Jeremiah’s life was spent in isolation, rejection, pain, persecution, suffering. His own family turned against him. The other priests and prophets turned against him. It may be a stretch, it may be hyperbole, but in a real sense Jeremiah stands alone in his generation. The pain of rejection; the gnawing emptiness that comes from being misunderstood and not believed; and the knowledge--the vision of the impending judgment and destruction--was bound to way heavy on the soul of the prophet.
But he will remain firm--faithful--in spite of the opposition--in spite of the persecution--in spite of the rejection. He will faithfully proclaim the Word of God until the end of his life. The warning is repeated in the New Testament. Those who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be wise as serpents, and harmless or gentle like doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you who speaks; but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child;and the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt.10:16-22).
Conclusion We will be persecuted. We must be faithful.
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