.20:7-18.

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Jeremiah complains again (Jer 20:7-18)

The prophet feels that God has not been fair to him. God has called him to be a prophet against his personal wishes, then, when he faithfully announces God’s message, the people mock and curse him (Jer 20:7-8).

If he decides to keep quiet he finds he cannot, for God’s word burns within him and he must proclaim it. Even his friends have turned against him and now treacherously plot his downfall (Jer 20:9-10).

When he remembers that God is on his side, he is assured that his enemies will not overcome him (Jer 20:11-13); but when he thinks about his own bitter experience of life, he wishes he had never been born (Jer 20:14-18).

Jeremiah’s inner conflicts

An examination of the preceding chapters shows that Jeremiah was a true patriot who loved his people and his country dearly (Jer 8:18-9:1; 14:19-22).

No one could honestly doubt his loyalty. He was filled with unspeakable sorrow when he had to announce his country’s overthrow and urge his fellow Judeans to submit to the enemy (Jer 4:19-22; 10:17-21; 14:17-18; 17:16-17).

He was deeply hurt when accused of being a traitor (Jer 37:13; 38:1-6); he preferred rather that people heed his warnings and repent, and so avoid the threatened calamity (Jer 7:5-7; 13:15-17; 26:16-19; 36:1-3).

The false prophets, by contrast, assured the people of safety, victory and peace. They knew that as long as they spoke words that pleased the people, they would receive suitable financial rewards (Jer 6:13; 8:11).

Jeremiah wished for peace too, but he knew that there could be no peace as long as the people continued in their stubborn rebellion against God. He became increasingly distressed as he saw that the people’s optimism, encouraged by the false prophets, would result in disappointment (Jer 7:1-15; 14:13-18; 23:9).

Much as it hurt him to announce these divine judgments to his people, Jeremiah did it faithfully as God’s messenger (Jer 20:8-10).

How great, then, was his agony of spirit as the people turned against him (Jer 11:19; 18:18).

In bitterness he turned to God, arguing with God because of the cruel reward he received in return for his devoted loyalty (Jer 12:1-4; 15:10-12,17-18; 20:14-18).

God rebuked his servant for this self-pity, though at the same time he gave him added strength for the greater conflicts that lay ahead (Jer 12:5-6; 15:19-21).

These experiences of Jeremiah emphasized the reality and importance of an individual’s personal relationship with God. Those with no personal fellowship with God did not truly know God, even though they may have called themselves prophets (Jer 23:18,21-22).

But those who sought God with the whole heart found him (Jer 29:13).

Jeremiah foresaw the day when this close relationship with God would be experienced by all God’s people. God would make a new covenant, one characterized not by a community’s conformity to a religious system, but by an individual’s personal relationship with himself (Jer 31:31-34).