THE WEEPING PROPHET (JEREMIAH 20:1-18)

LENT REFLECTION (DAY 18) The weeping prophet is the theme for our reflection. To weep means to shed tears as a result of deep sorrow. The prophet Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because he was mocked and persecuted by his contemporaries on account of his prophecy. Again he felt usually embarrassed by God…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Mar 19, 2022

2–4 minutes

LENT REFLECTION (DAY 18)

The weeping prophet is the theme for our reflection. To weep means to shed tears as a result of deep sorrow. The prophet Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet because he was mocked and persecuted by his contemporaries on account of his prophecy. Again he felt usually embarrassed by God because God did not act immediately on His words making Jeremiah a laughing stock or an object of ridicule. After Jeremiah had been arrested and abused by the Priest, Pushhur, Jeremiah wept to express his frustration to the Lord, “You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. (Jeremiah 20:7-8)

Usually, when we are hit by disappointment and deep sorrow, we weep in confusion and despair. Jeremiah faced a similar situation, he even regretted the day was born on therefore he said “Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, “A child is born to you—a son! … For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. ¹⁸ Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” (Jeremiah 20:14 -18), We must understand that the words of Jeremiah were the manifestation of his pain and helplessness during a time of persecution and a feeling of total rejection. Although he was a prophet, he was also a human being with emotions as anyone else therefore he wept and poured out his frustration before the Lord.

The lesson of today’s reflection is that no matter who we are, we are naturally feeble physically and emotionally. We are even more vulnerable in the face of adversities therefore if we find ourselves in very difficult and overwhelming situations let us come before the Lord and weep in prayer. It is fine to weep but let us not weep as those without faith and hope. Although Jeremiah wept, he still had hope in the Lord for his redemption and vindication therefore he said “But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.” (Jeremiah 20:11-13). Dear friend, weep but weep with faith and hope for Job greatly encourages us that “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes —I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27) Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen our deepest sorrow and agony to have hope and believe that “God’s anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Amen (Psalms 30:5)

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)