If you had a message to give someone, how many times would you try to deliver it?
Once? Twice? Five times? Six?
For Jeremiah, the answer was startling. 23 years, persistently.
The Persistent Prophet
It’s easy to have the wrong picture of Jeremiah.
We can read a few quotes from the prophet’s book and make it seem like he had it good. Just look at how God speaks to him.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)
Out of all Israel, God chose Jeremiah to speak on His behalf.
Amazing, right?
There was only one problem. Israel didn't want to hear it.
Jeremiah’s words reflect this.
For twenty-three years….the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear. (Jeremiah 25:2-4)
You can feel the anguish in his words.
For more than two decades, God has given me a message to deliver. For more than twenty years, God has been trying to speak to you! He’s been pursuing you! But you won’t listen, you won’t even turn your ears in my direction!
Jeremiah has been nothing but rock solid and consistent. Every day he’s gone out to speak to Israel, calling them back to their God. Day in and day out for 23 years.
And what does he have to show for it? Nothing.
Everyone walks right by him, going about their usual business. Heading off to work, taking their kids to school, hosting parties, and casually offering a prayer to God in the middle of it all.
All while God is screaming through the vocal cords of Jeremiah, “Return to me! Return to me!”
The Honest Truth
As someone who usually loses their patience after 5 minutes, I can’t imagine the focus, determination, and radical sense of importance Jeremiah must have felt to deliver the same message for 23 years without response.
But here’s the honest truth, Jeremiah’s persistence is a faint shadow of God’s.
Jeremiah’s determination lasted decades while God’s been at it for eternity.
And what was true of Israel and Jeremiah is true for us. We too are being pursued persistently by God. We’re also meant to hear a message of hope, healing, and urgency.
Whether we realize it or not, every day forces bent against God are determined to drag us further and further away, muffling our ears to His call to return.
But—equally as strong—every day of our lives God is pursuing us as well. Every day, He’s speaking through creation, through Scripture, through the prophets in our midst, and through the Holy Spirit calling us to repentance and to life.
The message of Jeremiah to Israel is still God’s message to us.
Thus says the LORD….I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I continued my faithfulness to you….I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. (Jeremiah 31:1,3, 25)
How will you respond to this message?
What will you do with this call?
May we all hear, heed, and believe it.
Amen... I continue to see growth and maturity in your understanding and ability to effectively communicate the scriptures. Continue allowing God to use your gift of writing to bless the souls of those whom he allows to cross your path and blog. Blessings Brother.