Jeremiah was in a dungeon
for proclaiming the truth to the powers that be. In his plight he
cried out to God even though he felt himself abandoned, alone, and
without hope. In chapter three and verse fifty-six of Lamentations we
see Jeremiah continue to assess his condition and God's response
where we read:
You have heard my
voice: hide not your ear at my breathing, at my cry.
The
verse begins, “You have heard my voice:” Jeremiah uses the
word “have” when referring to God listening as though he
remembers a time when God heard him in the past. In his appeal to
God, he recalled the time when he knew God recognized his “voice”.
If we use our imaginations we can almost hear the plea of Jeremiah
for God to hear him once again, and his acknowledging of God hearing
him in the past ratifies his wonder if God is hearing him at all
currently.
The
verse continues, “hide not your ear at my breathing, at my cry.”
In addition to wondering if God hears him currently as He did in
the past, Jeremiah petitions and instructs God to “hide not”
which means “conceal or keep in secret” his “ear” at
his “breathing” or “respite, relaxation, relief or
reprieve”, He tells God not to conceal Himself from his “cry”
which means his “cry for help”. Jeremiah is desperate and desires
that God hear him as he cries out to him.
Have we
ever been in such horrific conditions that we wondered if God is
closing His ear to our cries for rescue? When times are difficult and
trials are abundant do we wonder if God has forsaken hearing our very
breath never mind our words? We must remember as we ponder Jeremiah's
words, he is authentic in his appeal, and he is honest in his wonder
of abandonment. Though his assessment is inaccurate, we may
understand his plight. We have an advantage beyond Jeremiah as we
read in the new testament in Hebrews chapter thirteen and verse five:
...for he has said, I
will never leave you, nor forsake you
which
means, “I will...never, never, never...leave you, nor forsake you.”
May the Lord lead us to understand that He always pay attention to
our appeals, and He takes note of our very breath at all times.
Next
time we see God answering Jeremiah's prayer, 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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