When times are difficult we
can feel that the whole world, God, and everyone is against us.
Jeremiah felt this way as he overlooked the city of Jerusalem and the
destruction that was all around him. He continues his description of
himself in chapter three and verse ten where he wrote:
He was unto me
as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret
places.
The
verse begins, “He was unto me as
a bear lying in wait,...” As Jeremiah continued his explanation
of the way he felt, he turned to the “bear lying in wait”
as an example. Like a bear waiting to attack its prey, Jeremiah felt
that the Lord was “lying in wait” as in an “ambush or
lurking” like an enemy ready to destroy him. No doubt the
suddenness of the attack from a bear is a fitting description of the
well-attacked Jeremiah.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and as a lion in secret
places.” Jeremiah next employs a “lion” as an
example of the way he feels. This lion is one that is not exposed, in
“secret places” or a “hiding place” where it also
would be undetected by those passing by. The pounce of a lion when
one is not expecting it would be a surprise element, and when the
lion's prey is without knowledge of danger, sudden slaughter comes.
Perhaps
as we think about these two animal examples given by Jeremiah we too
have felt that a “bear” or “lion” has been
after us. Maybe there was an element of surprise to adverse
circumstances, or perhaps we felt as hunted prey because of certain
situations. Let us keep in mind as we read Jeremiah's words that he
is a man in deep sorrow, and descriptive words often help to convey
that sorrow to others. Regardless of how we feel, Jesus knows about
it. He too suffered through sorrow and as one who was hunted and
treated as prey. As we think on these things let us be reminded of
what Isaiah the prophet said about Jesus in chapter fifty-three and
verse three:
He
is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted
with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was
despised, and we esteemed him not.
May we
evermore identify with you Lord Jesus.
Next
time we see more of Jeremiah's anguish, so read ahead, and we shall
join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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