CHAPTER 3

I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. 2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.

Jeremiah suffered like no other prophet. He had been given an assignment early in life to minister prophecy to the people knowing they would not listen. He had never been able to marry, and had no comfort but God. Jeremiah had been despised, imprisoned, chastised, and thrown down in a well.

But stil he says, "He hath led me..." Jeremiah looked for no other leadership but God. He did not let the events of affliction turn his eyes away from God's leadership.

Oh! Christian! Can you say the SAME? Though He leads you into "darkness and not into light," will you determine to follow Him?

3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. 4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones. 5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. 6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. 7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. 8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. 9 He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. 10 He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. 11 He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate. 12 He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. 13 He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. 14 I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day. 15 He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood. 16 He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes. 17 And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.

It seemed God had closed Jeremiah in on every side. He was "fenced in," so to speak, and couldn't get out of the trouble which lay ahead. Despair and distress was his to bear.

He saw a people who heard the truth from God, but rejected it. He saw a people headed for destruction bound by their own selfishness and hard heartedness. And his grief was hanging like a dark cloud above his heart and head all day - every day!

Jeremiah felt as though God were his enemy. If he prayed for RELEASE, none came! There was no "peace" in his life except the peace of knowing God and the eternal outcome.

My friend, do YOU have this burden for the lost? Is your heart heavy because people continually deride the Bible and the Christ? Do you feel "fenced in" on every side, and unable to be freed from striving to tell people about Christ event though they reject Him? Is life a STRUGGLE for you because you are totally committed to God and His way?

18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

The "affliction" of the calling of God on Jeremiah's life made his soul "humbled." And THAT was his HOPE!

Sometimes the call of God for a Christian to be evangelistic, when few people listen, is a deep abiding burden. But that burden makes us realize that ONLY GOD can bring a soul to conviction, and only GOD can lead a soul to repentance. Our only HOPE is in the LORD!!

22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Christians comprise only a small percentage of the world population. It is indeed a "wonder" that we are not consumed by the majority!

But God is compassionate toward His people, and pours out mercy every day.

24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Note Jeremiah's choice to let God be his "portion" (vs 24). All other worldly pleasures came only when God gave them. The only real pleasure Jeremiah had was OBEDIENCE to God's call!

When a Christian siezes that realization, then he will both seek and serve God; and God will multiply blessings!

Jeremiah's statement in vs 26 is akin to Jesus' command: (Matt. 6:33) To set this decision FIRST, before all other decisions, is "GOOD" for the Christian!

27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

The decision to put God and His desires FIRST in our lives is best made in our "youth!" No other decision will bring hope to our lives as much as this one!

First, we learn to LISTEN to God (vs 28). Then we learn to be humble in our speech (vs 29). Then we learn to express humility in relationships with others (vs 30).

And we remember that God does not allow humility forever. Whether we die first or Christ comes again, we will be exalted to the heavens and live with Christ for eternity.
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted ." (Matt 23:12)

God does not "cast off for ever" His people. He sustains us with daily mercy and grace even though we are unworthy. And one day, He will grant the ability to live with Him forever.

33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. 34 To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, 35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, 36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. 37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? 38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? 39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

God does not "willingly" pour affliction upon us. Sin is the root cause. Sometimes OUR sin, sometimes the sin of others. Affliction and troubles are not allowed to cause us to "turn aside" from God; but they are allowed to bring us CLOSER!

As it has been said, "When trouble brings us to our knees, we are closest to God!"

When people try to "subvert" Christians in their cause of sharing the good news of Christ, God does NOT "approve" of their subversion!
No one can say for certainty that something is going to happen without God's approval.

Let us not "complain" because of difficulties. But rather let us accept them as from the root cause: sin! Shall we not suffer for sin (ours/others) now? We certainly deserve it! But we shall not suffer long!

40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

Instead of complaining, let us seek God more earnestly! Let us praise Him, and yield ourselves to Him for "His mercy endureth forever!"

42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. 43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied. 44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through. 45 Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. 46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. 47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. 48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49 Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, 50 Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.

God will not pardon continued transgression and rebelliousness. When a nation, as a majority, turns away from God, even the righteous suffer.

God was indeed persecuting and slaying the nation of Israel because of continued idolatry. Prayers are of no avail when they are focused on God as the ONLY Savior!

A nation who "forgets" God will find ALL their enemies have influence over them (vs 46). And if the nation CONTINUES, soon will follow destruction (vs 47 & 48).

But believers will have tearful prayers for the lost (vs 49). And those prayers will continue in faith until such time as God brings release (vs 50).

51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city. 52 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. 53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. 54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. 55 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. 56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. 57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

Believers cry daily in earnest prayer for the lost (vs 51). Even though they are persecuted and jailed, until life comes to an end, true believers will call upon the "NAME" of the LORD!

Be assured dear believer, God will HEAR! (vs 56)
He will give the greatest of comforts: His PRESENCE (vs 57).

"6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding , shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."(Phil 4:6-7)

58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. 59 O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause. 60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. 61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me; 62 The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day. 63 Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick. 64 Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. 65 Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. 66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

God Himself will "plead our cause;" and He will REDEEM our lives!

Let us not seek retribution upon those who cause suffering to God's people. But let us render to God the prayer of commitment. Committing all retribution into His hands.

"One glad morning, when this life is o'er, I'll FLY AWAY!
To a land on God's celestial shore, I'll FLY AWAY!"

When that day comes, God will bring His own judgment upon the persecutors and afflictors of righteousness!

Dear believer, commit ALL of life into the hands of Him Who seeks, saves, and keeps you! And with Job you will say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!!"/i> (Job 13:15)

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.