As Jeremiah continues his
prayer which began in verse twenty of chapter one, we know Jerusalem
was in torment because Jeremiah has lamented about it throughout this
book. It is bad enough to have troubles that seem beyond our ability
to handle, but when difficulties come there is little worse than
having those who are foes to be happy about it. In chapter one and
verse twenty one Jeremiah adds that Jerusalem's enemies are “glad”
because of their grief. We read:
They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me:
all my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have
done it: you will bring the day that you have
called, and they shall be like unto me.
The
verse begins, “They have heard that I sigh: there
is none to comfort me:” Those
who lived outside of the city of Jerusalem “heard”
that they were “groaning, gasping and moaning like cattle” over
their troubles, and “none” of
them would come to their aid. No one would “be sorry for or
console” them in their miseries, so they were basically left to be
in anguish all alone.
The verse continues, “all my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that you have done it:” Even
those who were their “enemies”, and notice “all”
of them, heard about their “disagreeable, malignant, displeasing,
unpleasant, evil, sad and unhappy” state, and even worse “they
are glad” that God has brought judgment upon them. While the
people of Jerusalem weep and moan, their enemies are rejoicing,
displaying joy, and exulting over their plight.
The
verse goes on to say, “you will bring the day that
you have called, and they shall be like unto me.” In a
desperate plea for vengeance, Jeremiah writes their response to these
jovial enemies. They desire that God would “bring the day”
or “make come to pass” the day that He has designated for them to
suffer as Jerusalem is suffering. When that day comes, they will
“be like unto me” which means they will be in the same
torment as the ones for whom they are displaying joy. Jerusalem's
prayer is for their enemies to experience the same pain they are
going through, and then they will not have so much over which to be
glad.
Do we
have enemies that rejoice over our troubles? Are their people in the
world who seem to laugh at our plight and rub it in our faces as
though we deserve the difficulties we are experiencing? Jesus said,
“Love your enemies”, and when they are jovial over our
suffering it makes it all the more difficult to obey Him. It was
Jesus who demonstrated so clearly what He meant by that phrase when
He from the cross looked at the laughing mob and said, “Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do”. May the Lord
Jesus bless us with the same spirit He displayed when those around us
laugh at our troubles.
Next
time we will see Jerusalem plead with God to take revenge upon their
enemies, 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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