Jeremiah 20

Jeremiah thought of giving up, but he felt compelled to keep speaking (verse 9); God’s word was like a fire within him (see 1 Corinthians 9:16). Notice that true prophets—and true servants—do not speak and act solely by their own will; they are impelled and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit.

10–13 Jeremiah was apparently nicknamed “Terror on every side”—the same words he had used for Pashhur (verses 3,10).Jeremiahhadenemies “on every side”; even his so–called friends were hoping he would slip. But Jeremiah’s faith did not completely fail. In verses 11–12, he proclaims his confidence in the Lord: the Lord will cause Jeremiah’s persecutors to stumble.⁷¹ And in verse 13, Jeremiah utters an exclamation of praise for the Lord’s protection and ultimate vindication. Jeremiah’s circumstances have not changed, but his attitude has certainly changed—from an attitude of complaining to an attitude of praising!

14–18 Then suddenly Jeremiah’s attitude changes again: from praise and exult ation (verse 13) he descends to bitterness and despair. Some commentators have even suggested that these verses are out of place, that they got mixed up in transmission!

But no, the verses are in the right order—and they are true to life. All of us experience swings between hope and despair, between faith and doubt. Here Jeremiah curses the day he was born (verse 14); in a sense, he is criticizing God for having arranged his birth (see Job 3:3–10). Jeremiah rhetorically curses the man who brought news of his birth;⁷² normally that would have been joyful news! But Jeremiah wishes on him the fate of the towns the LORD overthrew (verse 16)—the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:23–29). Jeremiah sees himself ending his days in shame (verse 18). Could any good come out of his preaching of judgment? Jeremiah thinks not; but in due time God will show him otherwise—as we shall see.