Lessons from the Heart
Jeremiah
By Pastor James Franklin
Reading through the entire Bible in one year is something this writer has practiced for a number of years. Recently I read through the marvelous Old Testament books of Jeremiah and Lamentations.

James Franklin is pastor of the Flora Grace Brethren Church.

Jeremiah is one of the most interesting of the Old Testament characters. God called Jeremiah to be a prophet at a young age, and it seems he knew from early on that he would have a hard time of it. For many years Jeremiah called the nation of Judah to turn away from its sin and towards the living God. Yet the nation stubbornly refused to listen to him. This surely was discouraging.

Jeremiah was an emotional man. God also forbade Jeremiah to marry. This combination of emotion and loneliness made life very difficult for him. For much of his life Jeremiah stood utterly alone against Judah's ungodliness and disobedience. Perhaps the only person who understood him was a man named Baruch, who served Jeremiah as a secretary or scribe. Baruch also suffered because of his employment by Jeremiah.

We like happy endings. Sadly, God did not give Jeremiah a happy ending. With his own eyes he saw Nebuchadnezzar's troops destroy Jerusalem. He was present when the Babylonians killed thousands of his people and hauled most of the rest off to exile in Babylon. And Jeremiah suffered the indignity of his people refusing to listen to him one last time when they decided to flee to Egypt against his prophetic advice. It is thought that Jeremiah died in Egyptian exile a few years later.

Jeremiah's life was one tragic turn after another. No one can blame Jeremiah if he became a bitter and disillusioned man who walked away from his called ministry.

Yet Jeremiah wrote a passage in Lamentations chapter three that is a precious verse to many a Christian in grief or pain: "The Lord's loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! 'My portion is the Lord,' I have said to myself, 'so I will put my hope in him.'" Jeremiah never gave up on God, never quit preaching, and never gave into his discouragement. He always looked to God for help, comfort, and provision. Jeremiah serves as an outstanding example of faithful service to God in difficult times.