In The Face of Judgement

Jeremiah 1:17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.

It can be difficult to stand up against the popular waves that crash against us. It takes courage to withstand the constant onslaught of criticism and ridicule. It takes even more courage to speak out the truth when the storm is heading your way.

But there have been those who have stood strong in the face of unrighteous decisions and actions. Our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world often have to make the choice to speak or not to speak. Their lives and the lives of those they know hang in the balance. But they choose Life rather than death.

The prophet Jeremiah was one such individual. He lived after the Northern Kingdom had gone into exile. He lived in Jerusalem before Babylon conquered the Southern Kingdom and during the attack and consequent exile to Babylon. He saw the rebellion firsthand. He warned the people. He suffered the consequences of their rebellion.

Jeremiah had the unenviable task of confronting the people and the leadership about their sin. People back then didn’t like it any more than we like it when someone steps on our toes while pointing out our sin. But this is exactly what the LORD called Jeremiah to do.

He didn’t just get to pick and choose what and where and to whom he would speak. He couldn’t execute his own agenda. He wasn’t allowed to ride his own pet complaint.

Instead, he was tasked with speaking what the LORD wanted him to speak, where He wanted and to whom He wanted. Not an easy task. No wonder our text quotes the LORD’s words to him. He isn’t the only one who would need to get ready!

Jeremiah would have to prepare himself for the coming attacks against him, his message and probably against those who stood with him. Sounds familiar doesn’t it! When you stand for truth, speak what, where and to whom the LORD sends you, you will face opposition and maybe even persecution. Jeremiah had to get ready.

Jeremiah was very much like we are. The LORD speaks directly to him and personally gives him a message. He says, “Don’t be terrified by them.” Not just don’t be afraid, but don’t be terrified! My one question might have been if I were in his shoes, “What exactly have I gotten myself into?” Terrified!

But notice the next phrase. If Jeremiah doesn’t heed the “Don’t be terrified by them” warning, the LORD says that He will “terrify you before them.” The LORD means what He says. I hope Jeremiah heeded the warning. I am not sure I would want the LORD terrifying me!

In our current climate of the “cancel culture,” we must be ready to stand up and speak and not allow fear to govern the place, topic or audience of our message. We must, like Jeremiah, be willing to be obedient when the LORD calls us to speak.

And there is the rub. We must be able to know when it is the LORD putting the words in our mouth, or whether it is just our emotions, our anger at being silenced and shut out of the discussion, to rule our mouth. If we do that, we are on our own.

Jeremiah received reassurance of the strength of the LORD’s power to protect him in the following verses. The LORD said Jeremiah would become the strongest symbols of strength at that time in history. He would become a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall. All three of these were the best defenses available at the time. Jeremiah would become the strongest thing around.

So when the LORD calls you to speak, and you know it is the LORD, the speak and know that He stands with you, at your side, behind your back protecting you. Even if you become the object of enemy attack, you will stand in eternity with Him.