Faithful on Fridays Blog

Known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah fits into our Theology of Suffering by having a 40 year ministry of ‘soul suffering’. It was a hard assignment right from the get-go, but God promised to be with him as the ‘Watching Branch’ (1:9-12), a picture of His promise to fulfill His Word. 

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” Jeremiah 1:12 

Job and Jeremiah commonly suffered, yet from different viewpoints. Job’s was personal, conversely, Jeremiah’s was national. His very own people, his family of millions, had turned from the Lord in rebellion to His Word.

He experienced the anguish, writhing pain, of prophesying against his brethren at God’s command and was heartbroken. I wonder if you’ve been there? Your family member or friend has turned from faith in Jesus to follow the world’s ways and it isn’t working for them. You pray, you seek God, you intercede on their behalf, and yet there’s no change. Like Jeremiah you get frustrated, maybe even thinking they deserve what they’re getting, they probably do, however, you fall back on God’s undeserved grace and mercy for them. You didn’t deserve forgiveness, but God forgave you in spite of it; it’s the same for them. 

The suffering Jeremiah experienced wasn’t simply soul suffering since His own people persecuted him with mockery, shunning, beatings, arrest, and death threats. That’s undoubtedly not your experience, but can you see what Jeremiah was enduring? His soul was suffering, like yours, but take heart, God is listening to your prayers ready to respond to His Word; confidently pray the Word over your loved one and watch.

Interestingly, God assures this prophet that the captivity of their people will be temporary; He promises their return and restoration in the lower story. 

So do not be afraid, Jacob, My servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,” says the Lord. “For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return to a life of peace and quiet, and no one will terrorize them. For I am with you and will save you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 30:10-11a

As Abraham’s children these promises are for us in the upper story. Our prodigals will come home again to Jesus, they’ll return from wherever they’ve spiritually strayed, and live in wholeness because of His sacrifice. Jesus the Messiah was the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, therefore, He understands our grief and sorrow faithful to heal all our wounds (30:17). 

 … I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued My faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3 

Is not Israel still My son, My darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him. Jeremiah 31:20

In your soul suffering declare God’s words and watch Him perform them.