TROUBLING ISSUES
OBSERVATION: THE PROPHET, JEREMIAH, QUESTIONS TROUBLING ISSUES IN HIS LIFE. THE LORD RESPONDS TO HIS ISSUES USING TWO METAPHORS. A METAPHOR IS A WORD OR PHRASE COMPARING TWO UNLIKE OBJECTS, IDEAS, THOUGHTS OR FEELING TO GIVE CLEARER UNDERSTANDING.
INTERPRETATION: JEREMIAH 12:5 (NKJV) IF YOU HAVE RUN WITH THE FOOTMEN, AND THEY HAVE WEARIED YOU, THEN HOW CAN YOU CONTEND WITH HORSES? AND IF IN THE LAND OF PEACE, IN WHICH YOU TRUSTED, THEY WEARIED YOU, THAN HOW WILL YOU DO IN THE FLOODPLAINS OF THE JORDAN? JEREMIAH 12:5 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE) BUT THE LORD REBUKES JEREMIAH’S IMPATIENCE, SAYING, IF YOU HAVE RACED WITH MEN ON FOOT AND THEY HAVE TIRED YOU OUT, THEN HOW CAN YOU COMPETE WITH HORSES? AND IF YOU TAKE TO FLIGHT IN THE LAND OF PEACE WHERE YOU FEEL SECURE, THEN WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU TREAD THE TANGLED MAZE OF JUNGLE, HAUNTED WITH LIONS, IN THE SWELLING OF THE JORDAN?
THOUGHTS TO PONDER:
METAPHOR NUMBER ONE, FOOT RACING, WAS DESIGNED TO TEACH JEREMIAH THE OBSTACLES HE FACED IN HIS HOMETOWN WERE MEAGER COMPARED TO THOSE HE WOULD ENCOUNTER BEFORE THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND BABYLON (THE HORSES). (RADMACHER, ALLEN & HOUSE)
METAPHOR NUMBER TWO, PEACE, WAS DESIGNED TO REMIND THE PROPHET OF THE IMPENDING TURMOIL HE WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE IN PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT TO AN UNREPENTANT LEADERSHIP. (RADMACHER, ALLEN & HOUSE).
GOD’S RESPONSE TO JEREMIAH’S QUESTIONS WAS NOT WHAT HE EXPECTED. HIS FOCUS WAS ON JEREMIAH RATHER THAN THE WICKED. GOD’S PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE BY EXPLANATIONS, RATHER, BY GOD’S PROMISES TO THEM! EXPLANATIONS MIGHT MAKE A BELIEVER A “LITTLE” SMARTER BUT BELIEVING HIS PROMISES MATURES, BUILDS CHARACTER AND MOLDS YOU INTO A PROMISING DISCIPLE OF CHRIST!
THE CHURCH CORPORATELY CAN BECOME EASILY DISPIRITED: THE SAME IS TRUE OF CHRISTIANS PERSONALLY.
APPLICATION: JEREMIAH ENCOUNTERED OPPOSITION FROM THE KINGS OF JUDAH AND THE BABYLONIANS. ACTS 14: 21-22 (THE BOOK) AFTER PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS IN DERBE AND MAKING MANY DISCIPLES, PAUL AND BARNABAS RETURNED AGAIN OF LYSTRA, ICONIUM, AND ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA, WHERE THEY STRENGTHENED THE BELIEVERS. THEY ENCOURAGED THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, REMINDING THEM THEY MUST ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS.
