Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, faithless people;
I will cure you of backsliding.”
“Yes, we will come to you,
for you are the Lord our God.

The calling of a Prophet is not an easy one. Those who have only been peripherally involved in prophecy might think it is very glamorous and desirable. Imagine, speaking the very words of God! However, such people forget that God’s words are often not well received. In addition, prophets often get a glimpse of the broken heart of God, and the emotional wear and tear can be severe. Sometimes, as the saying goes, “Ignorance is bliss.” Mankind so often behaves so badly toward God, feeling what God feels about it can be devastating. Jeremiah is certainly a case in point. There is excellent reason for calling him “the weeping prophet.” However, sometimes the message of the prophet is received, and that can make it all worthwhile. That seems to be the case here. The first half of the verse is quoting God, and the second half is the response. This is a textbook example of repentance. If only we always responded to God’s correction this way! At the same time, the historical record shows that this wasn’t the response of the whole nation, and things progressed to the point of conquest by Babylon and the destruction of Jerusalem. And for all his trouble, Jeremiah was eventually stoned to death in Egypt! That said, there is no question he was well received before the Throne in heaven. New Testament prophecy isn’t so much a matter of “Thus sayeth the Lord” as it is simply speaking out what God is speaking into the heart of the prophet. That’s why Paul could say, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1) However, that’s not the same as the office of Prophet, (Ephesians 4:11) which carries a great deal of responsibility. Those who have been given the gift, either as the office or more generally, need to be careful first of all to be personally obedient to what the Lord says through them, and then to pray for their hearers, that their response would be as in this verse, rather than rejecting or ignoring what the Lord is saying.

I have been used in prophecy, but at the same time I am grateful not to have been placed in that office. Last month was the first time I have spoken, “The Lord says,” in quite a few years. However, I desire that every time I get in the pulpit, particularly, I would speak only and exactly what the Lord is saying. I also desire to be available to Him in every conversation, and sometimes He indeed speaks through me in such situations. I don’t think I’d blame my puns on Him, though! I have the huge advantage over Jeremiah that I have a personal relationship with the Messiah, so I know the mechanism by which God accomplishes His salvation. That gives me hope, even when the words I speak aren’t received as I would desire. Again, my focus is on being personally faithful, and leaving everything else in God’s hands.

Father, thank You for prophecy, whoever is the channel at any given moment. May I be faithful in every role You have for me, listening to You first myself and not deceiving myself (James 1:22), so that Your will may be done in and through me as You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!