28 February 2024

Give heed to me, O Lord,
and listen to what my adversaries say!
Is evil a recompense for good?
Yet they have dug a pit for my life.
Remember how I stood before you
to speak good for them,
to turn away your wrath from them.
From Jeremiah 18:18-20, NRSV

Jeremiah’s heartfelt plea shows the depth of his feeling in the difficulties he has been encountering as a prophet. He has been working hard to warn the people of Israel of the error of their ways and of the impending ruin of their country. Not only have his prophecies been unwelcome but they have led to plots against him. In this case, he is being treated as if he were no better than a wild animal to be caught in a trap. In his distress he turns to God using an ancient form of prayer – a lament. He addresses God directly and even questions whether it is right that he is being treated in this way. He then reminds God of the good that he had been trying to achieve even though God was likely to know this already! Like Jeremiah, there are times in most of our lives when our distress may cause us to question what is happening to us. The example of Jeremiah and other prophets shows us that God expects us to turn to him at such times and that we too have nothing to fear from expressing our feelings honestly and openly.

• • Why do you think Jeremiah’s adversaries plotted to kill him?
  • Have you ever been able to turn to God at a time of distress – what difference did this make to what you were experiencing?

Pray today for anyone experiencing great distress and particularly for those in fear for their lives.