For decades, the prophet Jeremiah suffered immensely in all life areas, yet continued to serve the Lord faithfully. He understood, by the priority of God’s Word in his life, an important truth that kept him going. A truth that provided a pathway to inexhaustible joy in his life. That he knew God and belonged to him.
He declared, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jer. 15:16)
Jeremiah declares the necessity of staying in God’s Word, and his life demonstrates it. He consistently returned to God’s Truth and meditated on it until the understanding penetrated his heart and mind. This was the source of inexhaustible joy, peace and hope. Especially, leading him back to the important truth that he belonged to the Most High God.
Jeremiah’s life was marked by unimaginable sorrows; and from the human viewpoint, he was an utter failure. He faithfully preached for 40 years the message God gave him, but saw no visible results. Family and friends who might have comforted him instead turned against him, and he experienced agonizing loneliness. He endured severe physical and emotional pain, arrests, beatings, imprisonments, death threats and the accusation of “traitor”.
During his life, he watched the decline of his people, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the deportation of God’s people to Babylon.
Finding God’s Word sufficient, He overcame this painful life and, in fact, found the source of inexhaustible joy. He declared, “I am called by your name.”
---Beverly Nickles