Back at It

Jeremiah 15-22

            It was a nice break for me, but you have been slogging through Jeremiah! He’s a tough read, isn’t he? I’m going to try to catch up several days today, so no unifying thread, just some observations.

            1) Jeremiah hates his ministry. 15:10, “Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth!” Anyone who tells you ministry is easy hasn’t been in ministry very long! Joyous? Yes, when you preach the Gospel. Easy? No way…

            2) Relatedly, Jeremiah took delight in God’s words, describing it in words we used to use in one of our collects, “inwardly digested” (15:16). The prophet/preacher delights in the words of the Lord. Ezekiel says the words were initially sweet (Ezekiel 3:3), but Revelation 10:10 says that they turned bitter. Paul speaks of being compelled to preach (2 Corinthians 5:14); so is Jeremiah (20:9). The Gospel is sweet; the Law is bitter; and the preacher is compelled to preach both as the whole counsel of God.

            3) Jeremiah often has to enact his message. No marriage or children for him! His life is a prophecy about coming judgment. No mourning, either. This people is under God’s curse. And no rejoicing: there’s nothing to rejoice about! Jeremiah’s message is unrelenting.

            4) The end of chapter 17 is a good example of what I call the Deuteronomistic character of Jeremiah. If you keep the Sabbath, all these blessings will flow to you; if you don’t, here are the curses that will fall on you. Why is it important to see that this is related to Deuteronomy? Because these covenantal curses fall on Israel under Moses’ covenant. When Christ comes that covenant is fulfilled. Things are not nearly so tit-for-tat with us. That would take a long time to work through fully, so ask in Bible class for a deeper examination.

            5) Preachers in the modern US shouldn’t complain, even if ministry is hard. Precious few of us have been beaten and put in the stocks! It certainly happens in many places around the world, where persecution is much more common that here.