Thy Words Were Found, and I Did Eat Them (Jeremiah 15:16)

2024-04-27

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)

Jeremiah the prophet was ridiculed and treated shamefully because of his preaching against the people and the king. Nonetheless, he still found joy in the Word of God. This was because the prophet was “called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

I read the Word, but can I say that it brings me joy? Well, most of the time, yes, of course. But there are plenty of things that bring me discomfort. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Surely, the prophet, not knowing the New Testament writings, knew of this concept well. But with every negative comes a positive. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3).

The apostle John knew of this dichotomy as well. “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter” (Revelation 10:10). The coming of the Lord and the establishment of His kingdom surely is sweet, but much terror will precede it.

However, whatever comes, it is the Word of God that brings life, for we are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). And again, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8). Because the Word of God is forever, whoever is born again of the seed of the Word abides forever.

Therefore, love the Word of God, go down into His depths, and let the nourishment change you into the image of Christ.