"I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 8:24-26 NIV)
We get a glimpse of Jeremiah’s godly character here. If you are unfamiliar him as a prophet: here’s a bit of helpful backstory. God had dedicated Jeremiah to His people in Judah during it’s final years of decay and destruction. Judah was crumbling as a consequence of their abandonment of God’s covenant. Jeremiah’s Old Testament contributions (the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations) are filled with despair and a sober awareness of impending disaster. Jeremiah was a man belaboring over a harsh message while maintaining a sensitive and broken heart. Jeremiah’s godly spirit stood out against the impious backdrop of family, friends, priests and kings all actively rejecting God. Jeremiah served faithfully despite a lack of positive response to his divine messaging.
So how did Jeremiah fight his own personal waves of discouragement? Lamentations offers us a powerful glimpse into a prophet’s heart.
Self-talk matters: Jeremiah reminded himself of God’s truth. Though it seemed like he lived in endless disappointment with God’s people, the weeping prophet knew the world of God intimately. I’d imagine that righteous self-take was a daily habit for Jeremiah, a coping mechanism amidst a recalcitrant culture. Like Jesus, Jeremiah over and over again reminded himself of who he was and where he was going. Jeremiah’s strong sense of Kingdom identity and purpose steadied him in an unsteady time.
Confidence in provisions: Jeremiah proclaims God as his portion. He was, in fact, a Levite. Though he was living in Benjamin territory, his bloodline was Levitical. And we remember from yesterday’s reading: his inheritance was solely in the Lord. Surety in God’s faithfulness freed Jeremiah up from the fickle approval rating of his fellow man. He held himself to a higher standard than his neighbors: he set out to make God happy.
Long-term commitment: Jeremiah wasn’t just serving God for a season. His role as prophet wasn’t a phase he’d grow out of or a hobby that he would lose interest in. Jeremiah was in it for life. He was a dedicated cradle-to-grave God pleaser. He was willing to wait on the Lord for next direction or further instruction. He didn’t consider waiting time to be wasted time. He believed that something valuable would happen in His soul when he slowed to the gait of an unseen God. He understood that the dispensation of God’s grace, wisdom and direction happened on divine terms and he was willing to get in God’s presence and wait for his portion. He knew that nothing else the world offered could actually satisfy like God’s salvation.
What is our takeaway today?
We, too, need to guard our self-talk. We feel our feelings but then right away we return to our knowings. God is still on the throne and in control. It is only because of His mercy that we aren’t consumed. When He chooses to extend that same mercy to others, we rejoice, not rebellious. We are here because of His compassion, not our own personal capacity. How dare we deny another of similar opportunity?
Additionally, we remain confident in God’s provision. This may be our physical food and shelter, but it is certainly also patience, wisdom, forgiveness and hope. We keep showing up and putting out our hands in front of a holy God: confident that whatever He gives us will be both enough and exactly what we require.
Lastly, we commit to the long haul with God. He is playing an extended game of chess with the whole of humanity on the board. Don’t be deceived: He will win. We sit on His side of the table and choose to trust His calculations even when we can’t do the math or comprehend the strategy. It’s alright that it’s all beyond our comprehension, we don’t need to know. We need to wait and obey when He gives the go ahead.
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:13-14 NIV)
Lord, today we are reminded that our self-talk makes a difference. Help us to remain confident in Your provision even when things are thin. Reinforce us for the long haul of walking with You. We want to serve Your Kingdom until final breath. We realize Your plan will long outlast our lifespan. May we be faithful to Your purposes. Amen.