February 23, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Fire in My Bones

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Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit of God, You pour out the beauty of the Lord upon me. Make of me something beautiful, something good.

Read Jeremiah 20:1-18

[1] When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the official in charge of the temple of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, [2] he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the LORD’s temple. [3] The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD’s name for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side. [4] For this is what the LORD says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. [5] I will deliver all the wealth of this city into the hands of their enemies-all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. [6] And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.'” [7] You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. [8] Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. [9] But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. [10] I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.” [11] But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. [12] LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause. [13] Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. [14] Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! [15] Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, “A child is born to you-a son!” [16] May that man be like the towns the LORD overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon. [17] For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. [18] Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

So often we are more interested in what the Lord can do for us than in doing what he has called us to do. This is a choice between comfort and courage. Jeremiah has something to say about that.

Imagine that you alone dare to speak the truth–in your office or church. It is tough to be alone, and worse if you are ridiculed and persecuted. Jeremiah had it worse: he was beaten and thrown into jail (2) by the priest Pashhur, who was prophesying deceptive but easy-on-the-ears messages (6). After a night in jail, beaten and in stocks, would Jeremiah be more compliant? No, he defiantly and courageously continued to tell God’s truth (Acts 5:17-21). He addressed Pashhur as Magor-Missabib (“Terror on Every Side,” 3), prophesying that he and his friends would die as exiles. Jerusalem and Judah would be plundered by Babylon.

Just as a cancer patient needs to hear the bad news before treatment can begin, Jeremiah chose to tell the hard truth from God–even when no one listened. He had become a purveyor of bad news, of “violence and destruction” (8). The soul suffers from misery in the face of constant ridicule, mocking and opposition (cf. Psa. 22:6-8). Jeremiah felt relentless pressure and wondered whether he should go on with the thankless task–but he could not help it, for God’s Word was like fire in his heart and bones, and he could not live without proclaiming it (cf. 1 Cor. 9:16). Yet it was difficult to live with the unpalatable consequences.

To prophesy faithfully or to shut up conveniently? Jeremiah was in a tight spot. He had to be true to God and yet bear the pain of doing so. At times it got to him agonizingly (14). Then he would break into song and praise (13). Songs and groans lived side by side in his soul. However, God did care for his suffering, faithful servant. Jeremiah would realize that “the Lord is with me” (11), and this carried him through the most depressing and difficult days (cf. Heb. 12:3).

Apply

Is God’s Word frozen within you? Or is it like a fire? How could you speak the truth in love rather than remain silent?

Closing prayer

Father, I need Your heart of love for others. I drift out of passion and compassion. Fan the flame of faith sharing within me.

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