Name: Jeremiah
Meaning: The Lord is exalted or the Lord establishes
His Character: Jeremiah was faithful to God and spoke the messages of God with honesty, even though his life was often in danger.
His Sorrow: Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet and dealt with doubt, insecurity, and alienation. He also dealt with depression.
His Triumph: Throughout his life, Jeremiah remained steady and steadfast with his message. He was able to witness some of his prophecies come to fruition.
Key Scriptures: The books of Jeremiah and Lamentations
Jeremiah is the author of the Old Testament books Jeremiah and Lamentations, though the authorship of the latter has been debated. Jeremiah was around 12 or 13 when he was called. Jeremiah said he was too young; God’s answer was that he was not. God promised Jeremiah He would be there for him and protect him. His ministry occurred during the reigns of the last five kings of Judah and lasted 40 years. He was active during the spiritual reformation that occurred during the rule of Josiah. It is believed that he was stoned to death while living in Egypt after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah is the perfect man to write about this issue because part of our theme is pressing on. Jeremiah was a man who endured. Against all odds, he stuck with the task at hand. Even though he delivered his message to people who were apathetic and sometimes antagonistic, he endured and depended on God. Even when ignored and persecuted, he remained steadfast in delivering his message.
Jeremiah’s message was that Judah needed to repent from sin, which would postpone the judgment at the hands of Babylon. Repentance would help God’s promises shine and give hope for tomorrow and strength for today.
Even with his faithfulness and trust in God, Jeremiah showed his humanity. He was known as the weeping prophet, and his grief ran deep. He wept and knew that God’s judgment would be followed by destruction. His tears and grief were not for himself but for the people of God. Above all, Jeremiah had the strength to stand during difficult times. He made some very honest and raw prayers to God. He was open and vulnerable to God even when his cry was that he wished he had never been born. Jeremiah was not a perfect person. He was not a cutout. He was not on a pedestal. He was a real man who struggled with issues, yet pressed on because of his unshakable belief and faith in God.
During his days, he may not have been labeled as a success, but in the eyes of God, he was a success. Many times, we look to be successful in the eyes of man. Jeremiah had it right in trying to be successful in the eyes of God. During Christ’s ministry, He quoted Jeremiah.
One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is found in Jeremiah. It is Jeremiah 1:5, which says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” It is amazing to realize that God knows and values each of us just as He knew and valued Jeremiah. Before we were in existence, He cared for us and had a plan for us, just as He had a plan for Jeremiah.
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