Jeremiah 16:19-21

D. Affirmation by the Prophet Jeremiah 16:19-21

TRANSLATION

(19) O LORD my strength and my fortress and my refuge in the day of trouble: Unto You the nations shall come from the ends of the earth and they shall say: Our fathers have inherited nothing but a lie, vain things which are good for nothing. (20) Shall a man make for himself gods? They are no-gods! (21) Therefore this time I will teach them! I will teach them My might and MY power, and they shall understand that MY name is the LORD.

COMMENTS

In his first prayer since the bitter complaint of Jeremiah 15:15-18 Jeremiah indicates how completely he has changed. His whining, complaining accusation against God has given way to triumphant faith. He realizes now that God is his strength, his fortress and his refuge. This soldier is ready to get back on the firing line. He is ready to face insurmountable odds and attempt impossible feats because he knows that God is with him. He is ready to perform whatever duty God might lay before him. As God has reminded him that restoration will follow deportation Jeremiah is able to place the whole matter of national judgment in proper perspective. He comes to realize that the destruction of old Israel is but a prelude to the founding of new Israel. Suddenly he remembers the wonderful promise which God had made concerning the conversion of the Gentiles (Jeremiah 12:15-16). His mind leaps forward to that glorious day when chastened and redeemed Israel will be joined by peoples from distant lands who renounce forever their ancient attachment to idolatry. Those converted Gentiles realize that they have inherited nothing from their fathers religiously speaking but false and vain gods which are utterly worthless (Jeremiah 16:19). These Gentiles are amazed that anyone could ever have thought that the work of their own hands was deity (Jeremiah 16:20).

God responds to the prophet's prayer of faith by revealing a little more of His grand purpose to him. Just as the forefathers of Israel had learned the significance of the name Yahweh (American Standard, Jehovah) when they were delivered from Egypt, so in the deliverance from Babylon they would come again to learn the significance of that name. God's power and might in watching over, blessing and preserving His people in a foreign land would prove that He was universal sovereign and also a God of love.