[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2025]
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.
Lamentations 3 v21 [NKJV]
This snippet from Jeremiah’s lamentations represents a switch from a negative despondency to a positive appreciation of the blessings that the Lord had prepared for him.
Jeremiah is often called the “weeping prophet” because much of his life was spent bemoaning the state of his nation. The nation of Israel had turned its back on God to the point where God was about to abandon them. Jeremiah was called upon to warn Israel of the impending invasion from Babylon, a task that led him into disfavour with the authorities.
So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God. But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.
Jeremiah 5 v5 [NIVUK]
To what extent are we willing emulate Jeremiah’s concern for his nation? Are we constrained by the risk of ridicule or deterred by the knowledge that Jeremiah’s efforts eventually turned out to be futile? Has the glimpse into the future provided by the book of Revelation caused us to be pessimistic about the future of the nations?
The response to Jeremiah’s message in Jerusalem – the city of God – contrasts with that following Jonah’s warning to Nineveh, a blatantly hostile city.
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.
Jonah 3 v6 [NIVUK]
Jeremiah’s own sufferings brought him to the point where he started to question whose side God was on. He asked to be relieved of his duties as God’s spokesman; he even suggested that it would have been better if he had not been born.
We, too, can have similar thoughts if we allow ourselves to dwell on the darker things of the past – misunderstandings, unfortunate circumstances, sub-optimal decisions, even abject failures. Unhealthy musing on such things can lead to despondency and may prevent us from learning the lessons that our experiences should teach us.
However, all is not lost for those who still love God. The psalmist described such feelings as the valley of the shadow of death but he also recognised that God’s provision was there, even in the presence of his enemies.[1]
Jeremiah’s thoughts continued in a positive way with the following two verses which can also bring comfort and encouragement to us:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3 v22-23 [NIVUK]
References:
[1] Psalm 23:4-5
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Last week’s reflection: I Believe
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys
Thank you for your words of encouragement from Jeremiah and Jonah even in the face of opposition and despondency, Steve. It is sometimes easy to become downcast and negative about the state of the world, but we need to pray that Jesus will be Lord of all and do great things in the future.
Dear Steve;
Thanks for your article. I am one for whom the words in Revelation can, as you say, cause pessimism with regard to fate of the nations. It can, as Clive says, lead to despondency. I take comfort from the quote from Jeremiah that you ended the article with, and also, from Jeremiah 29 verse 11, that God’s plans for us are worth holding on to, and are a good reason to let go of despondency.