Discouraged But Not Forsaken

Jeremiah 15:1–14
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The nation’s sin was so much a part of their living that judgment had to come. God told Jeremiah that even the prayers of Moses and Samuel could not stop His judgment (v. 1). Judah had passed the point of no return in her dealings with God. The fate of the people was sealed. Destruction will come to Judah (vv. 2-3). Manasseh was one of Judah’s most wicked kings (v. 4), leading them into all forms of apostasy (2 Kings. 21:1-16). The people simply continued what Manasseh had started.

Jeremiah was forced to step out of his role of intercessor for the time being, look on his people with compassion and lament over the lost that no one seemed to have pity on (v. 5). The only One who had ever cared for them was God, but they had rejected Him (v. 6). Therefore God vowed to destroy them without compassion (v. 7).The widows would become more numerous than the sand of the sea as the men were slaughtered by the Babylonians (vv. 8-10). Even the mothers would not escape as the Lord promises anguish and terror to come upon them as they sit childless and humiliated (v. 9).

All of this brought Jeremiah to one of the lowest points in his prophetic career (v. 10). He was a  discouraged and frustrated man, but God had not forsaken him. God assured him that good would eventually come out of the seemingly hopeless situation of ever-present enemies, trials and tribulation (v. 11). God asked Jeremiah a rhetorical question to emphasize the fact that judgment was coming. He asked, can a man break iron or bronze with his bare hands (v. 12)? This was to show the people of Judah that they would be unable to break the power of the Babylonian attack on their nation. Their wealth will be handed over to the enemy (v. 13) and they will be made slaves and deported to a land they do not know (v. 14). God’s righteous anger will consume them.

Application

Many years ago I heard Jerry Falwell preach a message that God does not use a discouraged person. I believe this is generally true and do not want to allow myself to have pity parties.