Reading Jeremiah 17:15 gives hint that the prophet's opposers were smugly jeering Jeremiah and making fun of his prediction. They asked him “Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come now!” He had been warning them people of God’s impending judgment which they were yet to experience. And it seemed long coming. So they took a dig at him mocking him for the delay.
Despite the mocking he received from his opposers, Jeremiah did
not shy away from his under-shepherd role and calling. Though his message was
hard to stomach, and he took no delight in proclaiming it, yet he did not
flinch from the task. However, it must be said that he felt intimidated and
entertained some trepidations. So he started out asking God to heal him, probably
of the mental torment. He was certain that God would do so for He was the one that
he had come to praise.
Jeremiah’s message was one of
doom and gloom. Seriously, who would look forward to such a message? He knew
his message would inevitably bring opposition. So even speaking God’s truth, he
had trepidations. However, the assurance he had that kept him going was that he
knew His God. It was to Him that Jeremiah sought refuge. Thus, he had nothing to fear. So
he prayed against all his opponents and asked that they be put to shame and be dismayed
and that a day of disaster would come upon them, and totally destroy them.
No true servant of God who proclaims His message dares to take the role lightly. Being God’s spokesman is an awesome task that must be done with all serious intensity. It must not be lightly and cursorily done. The main motivation for us to serve God must not be for glory or self-aggrandizement. Otherwise, when we face challenges and hardship in the ministry, our first thought is to quit. What’s your motivation for serving God? Remember while we serve God. He uses the service we offer to Him to build our character and mature us and make us more Christlike.
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