The Sunday of Confession (OT)

Jeremiah 15:15-21

¹⁵ O Lord, you know;

remember me and visit me,

^tand take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance take me not away;

know that for your sake I bear reproach.

¹⁶ Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

O Lord, God of hosts.

¹⁷ I did not sit in the company of revelers,

nor did I rejoice;

I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,

for you had filled me with indignation.

¹⁸ Why is my pain unceasing,

my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,

like waters that fail?

¹⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord:

“If you return, I will restore you,

and you shall stand before me.

If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,

you shall be as my mouth.

They shall turn to you,

but you shall not turn to them.

²⁰ And I will make you to this people

a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you,

but they shall not prevail over you,

for I am with you

to save you and deliver you,

declares the Lord.

²¹ I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

"If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth." Jeremiah recounts the word of God to the People of Israel. Often times what comes out of the mouth of the people of God is worthless not precious. The People of God can be very harsh and at times very wicked. This is no different today than it was in the days of Jeremiah the Prophet.

Jeremiah was persecuted greatly for speaking the truth to a wicked world. He calls for the LORD to take vengeance upon his enemies. He wanted for his own pain to end. But the Lord has told him about the redemption of the people of Israel. The Lord will have Jeremiah speak the truth but the people will fight back. The people will fight against the Word of God, but they will not prevail.

God speaks of the wicked hand in which the people will be led into exile. The Temple will be destroyed and all will seem lost. But only through this will God redeem his people Israel. God will allow his very Temple to be razed to the ground. All will appear lost and those who speak falsehoods will rise to claim glory for themselves. But God will redeem his people. God will establish his everlasting covenant.

God sacrificed his own Son Jesus Christ. He allowed the chief priests and pharisees to mock him upon the cross. He watched as he died. But he raised Jesus Christ on the third day. He redeemed the people of God through his sacrifice. He delivered the true people of God out of the hand of their enemy. And all the words he proclaimed to Jeremiah came true.