The Message Clarified and Messenger Encouraged! - Jeremiah 12-16

The Message Clarified and Messenger Encouraged!

Jeremiah 15:19 (ESV)
19 Therefore thus says the LORD:
“If you return, I will restore you,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.

In this section of Jeremiah we have several themes unfolding all at once.  We have:

1. God declaring His wrath on the nation of Israel is being declared. 

2. Jeremiah is offering his complaint to God for this work and for the way he is being treated by the nation of Israel for their reaction to God’s wrath being told to them by Jeremiah. 

3.  The nation of Israel’s reaction to God word and Jeremiah’s delivery of that word is being unfolded.  

In the above passage we have God trying to encourage Jeremiah, while keeping the severity of His words intact.   God wants, in the above verse, to unfold the following. 

1.  The repentance of the messenger.  God has heard Jeremiah’s complaint about how he is being treated.     He wants Jeremiah to get his mind straight.   A messenger of God needs to have their mind on the things of God.  God assures Jeremiah that he will “stand before me.”   That is a promise of God.  Jeremiah can hang his heart and head on that promise.  

2.  The refinement of the message.  God is also saying to Jeremiah that if he speaks “what is precious and not what is worthless” he will be as God’s mouth.  That is an amazing truth as well.  That truth can allow Jeremiah to tolerate the suffering in order to convey the message.  

3.  The reinforcement of the ministry.   God, in the last line, assures Jeremiah that his ministry WILL BE affective.   God states, “They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.”  Jeremiah is assured that God will fortify the ministry, enable him in the ministry and provide fruit from the ministry.  This is a great principle for Jeremiah to remember.   God gives fruit for HIS work through OUR efforts.  

God gives Jeremiah a promise, a truth and a principle to enable his ministry to stand, despite the situation and circumstances he faces.