Jeremiah Chapter 15

I must admit that when I first read Jeremiah 15:19 using NKJV and ESV, it was not very clear to me. Then the NIV version gave me better clarity:

¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.

When you read the verses before this, we will find the Lord continuing His judgment on His stiff-necked, willful people. Certainly not a fun read.

And for a prophet to declare all this to the people, it must have been overwhelming for Jeremiah. The weight of the world was on his shoulders and now he was questioning his birth and why he has to undergo through all this. I liked what some said that Jeremiah was throwing himself a pity party!

And sometimes we may not realize, like Jeremiah here, that we are doing the same.

We plead for mercy and relief from all that is troubling around us. And sometimes there just seems to be no answer around us. God does not seem to do anything.

So we, like Jeremiah, reminds God of how devoted we are, how committed we are, and we have done for His sake etc. But does God actually need our reminders?

Of course God knows what we have done and what we are undergoing through… but think about it… don’t we sometimes lament to God about things going on around us and in church?

Why is it that no one talks to new comers in church?

How come I am the only one caring for this old brethren?

No one cares about doing bible study with truth-seekers except for me.

Can no one see that the toilets need washing? Why am I always cleaning it?

The lists just continues…

Of course these things are no where near what Jeremiah was going through, but you kind of get the point … like Jeremiah, we think we are the only ones who care enough about God’s things and while we are faithful doing them, our attitudes are wrong…

So in verse 19, the Lord said to Jeremiah “if you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me”.

Jeremiah repent? Should it not be the people repenting?

But what God was saying was that if Jeremiah were to repent of his attitude, the Lord will restore him again so that he is worthy of service to Him.

And if we utter worthy words, then we will become spokesmen of God – then the people will return to God.

Just take stock for a moment…

Is our attitude in serving God right today? Else is what we are doing in church and for Him considered as true service?

And do we say things that can help draw people and turn them to God? Or do we say worthless things that do not edify and help others?

Let us consider our thoughts and speech today and like Jeremiah, repent and be a true worker of God in the new year to come.

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