Jeremiah 15:10-21--Jeremiah's Complaint

Jeremiah 15:10-21
English Standard Version

Jeremiah's Complaint
10 Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. 11 The LORD said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? 12 Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?

13 “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory. 14 I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”

15 O LORD, you know;
    remember me and visit me,
    and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance take me not away;
    know that for your sake I bear reproach.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
    and your words became to me a joy
    and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
    O LORD, God of hosts.
17 I did not sit in the company of revelers,
    nor did I rejoice;
I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,
    for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unceasing,
    my wound incurable,
    refusing to be healed?
Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,
    like waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus says the LORD:
“If you return, I will restore you,
    and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
    you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
    but you shall not turn to them.
20 And I will make you to this people
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
    but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
    to save you and deliver you,
declares the LORD.
21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
    and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

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Jeremiah starts to sound a little like Job here--He wishes he had never been born if he is going to have to face such adversity.  Jeremiah has obeyed the principle of "Neither a borrower nor a lender be," but it seems that the curses fall equally not just on both groups, but also on him who has not broken either part of this principle.  The LORD promised to keep Jeremiah free for the good of the people sot that he could continue to prophecy and write down the words of the LORD for them (and for future generations like us).  There is nothing that can touch him if the LORD has promised to keep Him safe, so he had no reason to fear.

The LORD promises Jerusalem and all of Judah that their riches that they have trusted in and tried to use several times as bribes to pay for their peace will be taken from them by their captors so that they will have neither riches nor peace.  They will live as captives in a foreign land.  The zeal of the LORD will accomplish this.

Jeremiah asks the LORD to repay his enemies and the enemies of the LORD for the evil they have done and are about to do to him personally and to all the people of Jerusalem and Judah.  Jeremiah asks that the LORD's prophet be not disgraced like the rest as he has accepted everything that the LORD has had to say, especially the difficult things, and chosen to accept them as food that he is to eat and digest (even though some of it may taste bitter and sour and turn his stomach a little).  He knows all of it is for his good and the good of the LORD's people.  Eventually, the LORD's words became a joy to him because he knew the LORD spoke not only of judgment, but of restoration and salvation.  There was hope and light even in the midst of this great hopelessness and darkness.

Jeremiah chose not to make company with the fools and revilers and the wicked men.  HE followed the principles of Psalm 1.  "Blessed is he who follows the LORD.  He will not stand in the path of the sinner.  He will not sit in the seat of the scoffer, for the Law of the LORD is his delight."  (I recommend you go read all of Psalm 1 as Jeremiah's readers definitely should have had the entire song of Psalm 1 come to mind by his short quotation or allusion here).  He is saying he believes he has lived the life of the righteous and wise man so he should not be c aught up in the judgment of the wicked and foolish.

​He wonders why the LORD has filled him with such pain and misery when this burden should more rightly fall ono the wicked who are going to be punished for their sin.  The answer is simple to me--they feel no regret and refuse to mourn now, so they will have to face external pain to get through the callousness of their dulled consciences.  It is not that the LORD somehow has it out for Jeremiah and wants him to suffer for the sins of his people.  There is one that will do that one day, but it will not be Jeremiah today.  I am sure Jesus could have pointed to these words though as prophetically speaking about Him.  Jeremiah cries out as in intercessor that the people need healing and need their spiritual thirst quenched and their spiritual hunger satisfied.

The LORD promises that He will restore and heal and satisfy them if they will once again return to Him.  He is not out to make them long-term enemies.  However, the LORD knows they they listened neither to the Law or the Prophets, so they will have to listen to the rod of correction and the evil will have to be purged from among the people that endangers the whole of His vineyard  No longer are they to speak vain and idol words, nor are they to worship idols, nor are they to turn to others to be their saviors.  Other nations will turn to them for help and salvation, but they will not turn to the world for help.

If the LORD's people do this, He will defend them so that it will be as if they have a wall of impenetrable bronze protecting them.  Other nations may try to fight against them, but they will just wear themselves out because they will never win.  It will be clear to everyone that the LORD is with His people and He loves to save and deliver them.  Time after time the LORD will deliver and redeem His people from the wicked and ruthless people that wish to ensnare, enslave, and destroy them.