I first learned about Jeremiah, the prophet, while reading Prophets and Kings by Ellen G. White. It prompted me to read the book of Jeremiah in the Bible. At a young age, Jeremiah was called to be a “mouthpiece” for God. For 40 years, he stood as a witness for God to an idolatrous Israel that had rejected Him repeatedly. Jeremiah predicted the fall of the house of David and the destruction of the temple Solomon had built. He later witnessed the fulfillment of both prophecies.
“Jeremiah…sought to encourage the men of Judah to lay the foundations of their spiritual life broad and deep, by making thorough work of repentance. Long had they been building with material likened,…by Jeremiah himself, to dross. “Refuse silver shall men call them,” he declared of the impenitent nation, “because the Lord hath rejected them.” Jeremiah 6:30, margin. (409,410: Prophets and Kings)
Jeremiah repeatedly told the Israelites to repent and reform their ways. If only they had listened, they would have been preserved and God would have given them prosperity. Instead they rejected Him, and they were taken captive by Babylon.
I would like to look at some verses in Jeremiah to see how this book applies to us today.
Jeremiah 1:19
“And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD…”
Had Israel turned from their wicked ways, He would have delivered them from their enemies. He will also be with us and deliver us in times of trouble.
Jeremiah 3:13-14
“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God…Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you…”
The Lord told them He was married to them despite their backsliding. This shows the deep commitment and covenant He had with Israel. This is the same commitment He has to you and me.
Jeremiah 6:16
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”
The Lord encouraged Israel to look at the path they’d been following and to re-evaluate where they wanted to go. Instead, they rejected God yet again. How many times have we rejected God?
Jeremiah 18:1-6
“Then I [Jeremiah] went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”
The Lord is symbolized here as a Potter and we are His clay. When He finds a defect with the clay, the Potter fixes it. The Lord does not cast us out. Instead He is merciful and continues to work with us until we are a useful vessel.
Jer. 29:11,12-14
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end…Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD…”
The Lord promises good things. His thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace. He promises we will find Him when we seek Him. He also, ultimately, promises restoration.
Jeremiah 31:3
“…Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
The Lord is saying this to a people who have rejected Him completely, and he says this to all of humanity today.
Jer. 31:33-34
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
The book of Jeremiah is clear: God is merciful and loving. He holds back his judgments as long as He can. He calls us to depart from all sin and seeks to point us in the direction of everlasting life.
His promise to Israel in Jeremiah 33:14 is the same for modern Israel: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.”
He will do what He has promised. Despite everything, His mercy is enduring and His love, unfailing.