Chapter 724 of 1163

JEREMIAH 12

Perplexity (1–4). “Why do the wicked prosper?” is asked not only by Jeremiah, Job (21:7), and Asaph (Ps. 73), but also by many believers who suffer because of their faithfulness to God. The wicked treated Jeremiah like a sacrificial lamb (11:19), but he wanted God to slaughter them (v. 3)! Would that have solved the problem?

Perspective (5–6). God’s answer helped to prepare His servant for the trials ahead. Serving God is a blessed privilege, but it is also a difficult task; and it gets more and more difficult. Jeremiah would go from racing with men to racing with horses, from a land of peace to the thickets of the Jordan. This is the only way we can mature in life and service.

Plunder (7–13). The people depended on the temple (7:4), but God had forsaken it. The enemy was about to come like vultures eating a corpse (v. 9) or strangers tramping down a vineyard or a garden (vv. 10–13).

Promise (14–17). God chastens, but His compassions do not fail (Lam. 3:22–24). He promised to judge the invading nations and one day free Judah from her exile and bring her back to her land, and He kept His promise.

The prophet asked for explanations, but God met his need by giving him promises. When you cannot explain God’s ways, you can still trust His promises.

“His promises are checks to be cashed, not mere mottoes to hang on the wall.”

Vance Havner

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