“His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.”

Jeremiah 19-21 and Isaiah 17

Reading through these three chapters there was a message that is not a very popular one, but still one we must learn to grasp and understand.

Beginning in chapter 19 we see that Jeremiah the prophet was given a word from the Lord to give to the leadership in a unique and visual way. This word of the Lord was not a soft, comforting word of encouragement, but the exact opposite as a word of rebuke and judgement. I am not sure about you but I have found that the body of Christ really enjoys the prophetic when it is soft, encouraging words of peace and love given in a manner that they have grown accustomed to. But they tend to struggle with another side of God that is Holy and that for the sake of the Kingdom and His laws that He has set into motion, where He must address the issues of the heart and the sin in our lives. Many times He will use unconventional methods to reach beyond our minds and to penetrate the spirit and heart.

As a prophet it is very difficult to bring a word of judgement, correction or rebuke, mainly because of the response that is usually given from this type of message from God. In Chapter 20 we see the leader Pashur lash out at the word given, by trying to punish the messenger. This lashing is taken very well by Jeremiah as he stays true to the word of the Lord that is “shut up in his heart and bones like a fire”

I love that even under persecution and ridicule and even having to face a request from King Zedekiah, that Jeremiah did not bow under the pressure but stayed true to Gods word for the Nation even though it wasn’t necessarily a soft word.

Prior to this Jeremiah has a moment of complaint and wrestling out his purpose and destiny. How can a person be so sure in sharing the words of God but then afterwards question his even being born and very purpose for existence. We are all human and these are the struggles that all believers face especially in the midst of trying situations.

We all may become unsure of who we are and why we are going through difficulties or seasons of persecution for our faith, but the one thing we must stay sure of is who He is and His word. We will declare like Jeremiah did in Chapter 20: 9.10 “But if I say, I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it indeed, I cannot”.  It is here at this place of obedience that God meets with us all.

Charmaine