the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Jeremiah 12:1-17
Ch. 12 gives us a dialogue between the LORD and Jeremiah. This time it is not a matter of the prophet supplicating on behalf of Israel, but of sorrowful questions which burden his heart, and which he pours out to God in the bitterness of his soul. Men of the village of Anathoth, his fellow citizens, had gone so far as to threaten him with death if he did not shut his mouth (Jeremiah 11:21). V. 6 (JND trans.) tells us that even Jeremiah’s own family had acted treacherously towards him and had cried out loudly against him (cf. Luke 4:24-26). There was reason enough for him to lose his courage. But the LORD understands His servant’s trouble (His own people had also betrayed Him). And He explains to him what He is obliged to do: to abandon the polluted temple, to deprive Israel of their inheritance, to deliver them to their enemies (v. 7). We might well imagine how God would feel in taking such decisions. To give us some idea of the depth of His feelings, He uses a most touching expression in speaking of His people: "the dearly beloved of my soul".
The nations acted as bad neighbours; they would suffer the consequences of that. Nevertheless God still had blessings in reserve for Israel, and also for those nations, if only they would learn His ways.
