The Message of Jeremiah - Literature review Example

Table of contents Introduction 2. Confession 3. Confession 2 4. Confession 3 5. Confession 4 6. Confession 5 7. Confession 6 8. Confession 7 9.Confession 8 10. General reflections Jeremiah, an Old Testament prophet was a son to Hilkah (priest who resided in Anathoth). He was one of the prophets that the word of the Lord came to occasionally. However, God revealed his mission to him when he was very young and uncourageous. It was during his first calling by God that he expressed his dismay. He did not want the role of prophecy because he was inexperienced on matters of religion1. However, God appointed him to a position of authority so that he will pass God’s will to the nations; God required him to proclaim both bad and good news to the people. God also wanted him to announce oracles of judgment as well as messages of comfort and encouragement. In tandem to this, this paper aims at providing detailed information on how the assigned roles contributed to Jeremiah giving right and wrong responses to God. It will also expound on the reasons that made Jeremiah make many diverse confessions to God. Confession 1 According to Keown, one of the confessions that were made by Jeremiah to God was that about his life2. According to him, Jeremiah was working so hard to understand God’s actions. For instance, Jeremiah took part in announcing the fate of the Judahites without paying attention on what the announcements would have contributed to his life. Unfortunately, the announcement of the fate of the Judahites had led to growth of conflict between him and the Judahites; the responsibility given to him by God had led to him making many enemies that went ahead and plotted his death3. According to Jeremiah’s confession to God, the Judahites had planned to do away with not only him, but also his messages. They also wanted to do away with any fruits and memories that related to him. Unfortunately, the men that were threatening and plotting his death were men from his own home town Anathoth. And, as Thompson points out, it is evident that “for any man of Israel, rejection by his society was a great grief4.” As introduced above, the men who were threatening him referenced to doing away with “the tree and its fruit” so that his name will be forgotten completely. To great extent they knew that Jeremiah had not yet married; he had no children. Thus, by killing him they were convinced of doing away completely with his generations, a practice that Thompson refer to as “a tragic end for a man of Israel, for whom descendants demonstrated the divine blessing on his life5.” There is great possibility that the people of Anathoth found difficulties in coping up with the Jeremiah’s prophesies and as a result resorted to murder. Because Jeremiah occasionally preached the words of God, he became a shame to his abode. As Thompson puts it, Jeremiah was forced to flee to God in depression and hopelessness6. According to Thompson, Jeremiah knew very well that God was the main cause of his problems, and thus, it was God’s responsibility to ensured that he was safe. Through Jeremiah’s actions, it is evident that Jeremiah felt victimized and demoralized. He also perceived himself as unfair beneficiary of injustice activities of the wicked, because of his faithfulness in preaching the word of God. God therefore had the responsibility of delivering justice. Occasional threats from some of the Jerusalem men made him perceive Anathoth not home, and as a result requested God to punish them on his behalf. He believed that he had no power to take vengeance against them himself. This is evidenced by what he said after approaching God: Aren’t you just? Those men are wicked. Well?7” Confession 2 The occurrence of this complaint is not clear. Maybe Jeremiah was feeling exhausted, maybe he was growing impatient of the time God was taking in order to deliver justice, or maybe he was complaining over his mistreatments. However, Kidner tries very much to clarify on this confession. According to him, Jeremiah felt unsatisfied with the way God did his things. In justifying his argument, he expounds on how Jeremiah took a lot of his time in prayer questing for answers on why God blessed the wicked and abandoned the righteous to suffer8. According to him, Jeremiah perceived God as unrighteous. This is evidenced on how Jeremiah thought of God; Jeremiah believed that God was responsible for the existence, growth, and advancement of the wicked. In most occasions, Jeremiah found out that the wicked could easily speak about God but give Him little consideration. As a sign of displeasure with what God what was doing, Jeremiah requested God to drag the wicked off to punishment. He also requested God to preserve the wicked for special destruction just as he had preserved him for his ministry. There is something that emanates from Jeremiah’s request for justice different from what we know. When Jeremiah requested God for justice, it is evident that he was not calling for the final judgment after the end of the world. He did not have any understanding of what the Christians know about the final judgment. Justice during the time of Jeremiah was immediate. However, he did not like the duration God was taking without offering His punishment to the wicked. He believed that the duration taken could contribute to people disregarding God. Thus, Jeremiah needed to do something about the passing of judgment to the wicked. To emphasize on how God’s reputation was at stake, Jeremiah pointed out to God, “Moreover, the people are saying, He will not see what happens to us9.” According to Thompson, this was a hint that showed that God ought to evidence to them His capabilities, that He is all powerful. As Thompson points out, Jeremiah continuously requested God to unveil to him the duration for the judgment that was to take place on earth. From this, it is evident that Jeremiah disregarded the wicked so much. According to Keil, Jeremiah had portrayed his inability to overcome challenges that he was to face in his prophecy work10. For instance, he showed that he was incapable of overcoming turbulences such as overflowing Jordan River and walking through a jungle inhabited by lions. Thus, God responded to his request by giving him a warning. “It will get worse,” God said, so quit whining and buck up.11” In his writing, Thompson refers to God’s response as “vigorous metaphors,” and is well-expressed to answer Jeremiah’s first question. Interestingly, God does not mention the wicked like in the first response where He assured Jeremiah of punishing them. According to Thompson, God had promised Jeremiah and He did need to reassure him again; God’s words stand irrespective of time. According to Thompson, “the words used by God were a warning to Jeremiah both to be on his guard and to prepare for more severe trials yet to come12.” In human understanding, the answers given to Jeremiah were unsatisfactory; they did not answer the question Jeremiah raised. However, they do portray a parental concern for Jeremiah, God warned him of danger. Confession 3 The third confession of Jeremiah is short but very stern lament, where Jeremiah hates the reasons for his birth. According to him, it is convincible for a single person like Jeremiah to reflect on the contributions of his mother when lonely, depressed and discouraged. However, as Thompson points it out it is evident that it was wrong for Jeremiah to regret his birth after God had assigned him a duty in his life. According to him, it was a portrayal of un-satisfaction with God’s work. This is evidenced by his saying “to curse the day of his birth was tantamount to a rejection of his very mission.13” Indeed it was a very strong lament. Instead of centering on the sinners, this lament was inwardly centered. Unlike the first lament in which he complained over God’s reward of justice, this is more serious, Jeremiah viewing himself as a prisoner of war for no clear reason. Although Jeremiah seems not to understand why he is in conflict with his townsmen, it is evident that his ministry had resulted to occurrence of many conflicts and disputes, both for him and persons very close to him. However, the lament of Jeremiah made him look like a lawyer who was fed up with announcing accusations against his countrymen. Jeremiah felt as if everyone was against him; every person cursed him. Unfortunately, his disagreements with his people did not result from common causes of animosity such as borrowing and lending like the usual conflicts, but from the work God had assigned to him; his preaching. As Keil points out, “Jeremiah felt burned out.14” In this case where Jeremiah felt so low, God intervened and answered him, this time reassuring him of his earlier promise. In addition, He also promised him of offering a personal protection: “I will deliver you.15” God also reminded Jeremiah of his former assurance of future justice, and the reason for his calling. The way God varies His responses makes Jeremiah’s confessions more interesting. For instance, they expound on the righteousness of God. God did not give up on Jeremiah after he lamented over his birth. Additionally, God did not abandon Jeremiah to continue suffering from his own frustrations. He promised to set him free through strengthening him so that he can continue with his prophesy work. He promised to give him power that his enemies (enemy of Judah) could quest for his help in incidents of distress. To sum them all, God promised Jeremiah that He will enable him overcome all the catastrophes in Jerusalem. Confession 4 This constitutes Jeremiah’s worst confession, which makes God rebuke him. Jeremiah’s preceding feeling of worldly torture grows bitter and makes him accuse God directly. The sufferings he was undergoing were for the sake of God, and it is clear that God was answerable to them, so he lost patience on the pace at which God was taking in delivering justice. His first perception of justice is out washed by his disillusioned sense of self-pity. In expressing his displeasure, Jeremiah briefly expounds on his history, expressing that he “never sat in the company of revelers,” he suffers from criticism. His grieve is evidenced by the plea, “Why is my pain unending…? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?16” according to Keil, Jeremiah said this after prophesying about the people of Israel pursuing false gods rather than following God. It is astonishing that in the face of his bitterness to God, Jeremiah gathers wit and turns o God to express his grieve. In most occasions, bitterness results to lose of communication. However, it is evident that God has the potential to deal with one’s anger better than his or her silence. In tandem to this, Constable expounds on how Jeremiah requested God to remember him and punish those who were against him. Additionally, he also expounds on how Jeremiah requested God not to let him die because he had undergone a lot of challenges because of his work. According to Constable, the words used by Jeremiah in posing his request portrayed how close he was to God. However, God appeared to him like undependable wadi. For instance, he had promised him water but all the places were dry for about one year. The failure of Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning water together with other prophecies that had led to his suffering made his conflict with God to intensify. His uncomfortable life as a prophet made him to consequently complain to the God. The response God gave to him might have satisfied Jeremiah. The prophet was very annoyed, and his grieves might have a reached a point that aimed at setting God into action. Being rebuked by God was a type of action; it also provided Jeremiah with a way forward. “I f you repent,” said God, “I will restore you.” Additionally, “If you utter worthy, not worthless words, you will be my spokesman17.” After telling him this, God continues to expound on him on how he will strengthen and assist Jeremiah in his prophesy work. According to Thompson, God then concluded with a promise of deliverance: “I will save you from the hands of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of cruel.” According to Constable, God replies to Jeremiah’s lamentation were aimed at ensuring that Jeremiah turned to Him. The turning of Jeremiah to God would enable him find restoration as well as a renewed strength. Additionally, there is great possibility that Jeremiah asked people to repent whereas himself was not purified. Thus, God required him to purify himself so that He can continue using him in passing messages to the people. Additionally, there is a possibility that Jeremiah was over-concerned about how other people viewed him instead of proclaiming what God had told him to do, thus, God wanted him to continue with His ministry. Jeremiah was easily convinced. God’s rebuke was not very strict, it only offered a conditional promise, and support for the future. Thus, it is evident that God’s responses were directed to the future whereas Jeremiah was complaining of the present. Maybe Jeremiah will once remember this. From His answers, it is also evident that God spoke about the wicked but never mentioned about their destruction. God promised not to punish the wicked, but instead to deliver Jeremiah from their anger. Confession 5 Confession five is like a triumph. Particularly, after what emanated from the previous lament, it was a refreshing change. This confession touches neither on the Jeremiah’s oppressions nor his self-pitying. As Thompson points out, Jeremiah said “All who forsake you will be put to shame.18” In saying this, Jeremiah looked more confident and future oriented. Although his focus still touches on the matters of the wicked, it is evident that he does not touch on the matters of God. According to Jeremiah, “Those who turn away from God will be written in the dust, for they have forsaken the God, the spring of living water.19” According to Thompson, Jeremiah used the term ‘written in the dust’ to portray the future outlook. In this confession, Jeremiah also displays on how God’s justice is not presently apparent, but unlike in the previous laments, he portrays a sense of understanding on how God works. According to Thompson, “this was a portrayal of an underlying confidence in God20.” This confession might have been one of the best confessions made by Jeremiah; it portrayed Jeremiah’s unwavering faith in God’s power and existence. Confession 6 This confession portrays Jeremiah’s reaction to the plans laid by the people against his life. Here Jeremiah shivers from his initial confidence in God’s future justice. To him, it seemed God valued the wicked so much; they continued to prosper regardless of their sinful nature. To substantiate his claim, Jeremiah provides God with detailed information on what his enemies were saying, “hear what my accusers are saying21!” and echoes their words with a request for justice. His idea of God offering justice is very severe. “Give their children over famine22,” said Jeremiah. “Let their wives be made childless and widows; let their men be put to death…let cry be heard from their houses23.” According to Thompson, Jeremiah was requesting for judgment on all aspects of Judahites’ families; men, women and children. Thompson also says that “famine, death by sword in battle, bereavement, and screams of terror were all concomitants of an enemy invasion24,” identifying that Jeremiah sometimes referenced to the enemies from the north. Confession 7 Jeremiah’ anger also emanates in this confession. It begins with choice of strong words: “you deceived me25” and expounds on his feelings of unfairness done to him for the sake of God. “The word of God has brought me insult and reproach all day long26.” According to Johnston, the word of God that enchanted him in the end brought him torment and made him become frustrated. Jeremiah felt bored with his prophesy work which ensured that he did things against his will. His calling for prophesy work is very poignantly expressed in this confession: “If I say, I will not mention him27,” laments Jeremiah, “his word is like a fire shut up in bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot28.” According to Thompson, these were colorful words that portrayed a strong picture of a real call. Jeremiah was ever in conflict, mainly with God. Thompson is very clear on this matter: He was engrossed in controversy with Yahweh. His sensitive nature was deeply hurt by the ridicule and sarcasm with which his preaching was received by the people. But he could do no other because of his deep commitment to his prophetic vocation. He was under a profound compulsion to expose the nations rejection of Yahweh and his covenant. Yet he loved his own people deeply. Little wonder that deep emotional tensions and conflicts arose within him which led him at times to give expressions to the intense feeling which is found in these poems29. Despite Jeremiah’s occasional frustrations, his faith in God remained strong. He still believed in the punishment of the wicked in the future by saying “they will fail and be utterly disgraced30.” To some extent, his confident says are hopeful reminder to God, for Jeremiah wished to stay for long so that he can see God punishing the wicked. Confession 8 In this confession, the spirits of the prophet were very low. Lacking the ability to curse his parents, he curses all things that contributed towards his birth. As Thompson quotes him, “Cursed be the day I was born!31” He also cursed the man who informed his father that “A child is born to you” and whishes he had been done away with when he was born. Thompson views on Jeremiah’s pitiless curse: “such an expression must owe more to literary convention that to actual hatred of an innocent man, but well shows the intensity of Jeremiah’s despair.” This type of harsh grieve, regretting his birth, is one that humans express in some stages of life. In other words, life sucks. In most occasions, life is entangled with lots of negatives which made prophet Jeremiah to question God on the essence of his birth. “To this poignant question Yahweh gave no answer,” Thompson concludes. General reflections Jeremiah’s confessions are all rooted to his commitment to justice. Many of lamentations are requests to God to prove Himself to the people that He has power and can judge the wicked. Although in some occasions he spoke about himself, it is evident that he was not self oriented. His quest for the vengeance against the wicked was a show of his desire for people to obey God’s words. He wanted God to provide pleasure to those who obeyed Him. He was annoyed of himself, but it is also evident that he was annoyed by God’s actions. According to Thompson, “it was not simply a matter of wounded pride demanding revenge, but rather of Jeremiah’s profound identification with God and the demands of the covenant.” In expounding this paper, I must have mentioned something about how God prefers one’s anger to silence. However, this depends with the closeness one has with God. In human affiliations, close people like family members and spouses are permitted to express their frustrations and anger because they understand each other. It is evident that, one cannot express anger to a stranger. Thus, Jeremiah’s laments are convincible; he had a very close relationship with God. Indeed, Thompson argues that “only one who walked intimately with God would dare to speak as Jeremiah did.” Another crucial thing that we can learn from Jeremiah’s occasional word battles and his prophetic call is the manner in which he being angry. When Jeremiah grieves touched on his personal sufferings, God became the caretaker who break his own pledge and the judge who never offered justice. Bitterness makes us employ worthless words in expressing our displeasures. Additionally, it is only normal for the mortal humanity to quest for God’s justice today. It was obvious that Jeremiah wanted to see God punishing the wicked. And I develop such feelings at times; I will prefer judgment being done on the daily basis. Unfortunately, Christians are assured of the final judgment and not on the few laments they make. My last reflection will touch on the issues of insecurity. Jeremiah was assured by God from his declaration of first lament that the wicked will be destroyed without leaving any remnant. Yet he kept on bothering God on the destruction of the wicked, despite being assured in the first time. God rarely answered him on matters pertaining to the wicked; instead He tried as much as possible to turn Jeremiah’s attention to the future. But Jeremiah’s insecurity is common to all human beings. In most occasions, humans believe in what they see and request for reassurance on what they do not see. Since humans do not see God’s justice, they occasionally quest for reassurance. This is evidenced by the characters of most mothers. Mothers love asking their children about some details several times in order to make sure about something. Lovers are not exceptional on this issue. In most occasions, lovers may need the involved parties to continuously say “I love you,” as an assurance of what they already know. Jeremiah’s confessions are not far from this; he wanted God to reassure him of justice on those who offended Him. Bibliography Contable, Thomas. Notes on Jeremiah. (Quito: Sonic Light. 2014), 1-265. Johnston, R. “The Biblical Potter.” Biblical Archaelogist (37:4:1975), 86-106. Keil, Fredrich. The Prophecies of Jeremiah. Translated by David Patrick. Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Reprinted ed. 2 cols. Grand Rapids: (Wm. B. Eesdmans Publishing Co., 1960), 47-93. Keown, Gerald, Pamela Scalise and Thomas Smothers. Jeremiah 26-52. Word Biblical Commentary series. (Dallas: Word Books, 1995), 101. Kidner, Derek. The Message of Jeremiah. The Bible Speaks Today series. (Leicester, Eng. And Downers Grove, III.: Inter-Varsity Press, 1987), 1-87. Thompson, J. A. The Book of Jeremiah. (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, MI. 1980), 350. Read More