18: "God, you are my comfort when I am very sad and when I am afraid." - Jeremiah has watched his people continue to reject God and his heart is broken over their lost souls.
19b: "But God says, 'Why did the people make me angry by worshiping idols, useless foreign idols?" - Perplexing questions even for God.
20: "And the people say, 'Harvest time is over; summer has ended, and we have not been saved.'" - Their opportunities for repentance and change have passed. Their focus on other gods has left them wallowing in their own guilt and shame.
22: "Isn't there balm in the land of Gilead? Isn't there a doctor there? So why aren't the hurts of my people healed?" - Their spiritual sickness was severe and they were not seeking the healing powers of God.
9:1: "I wish my head were like a spring of water and my eyes like a fountain of tears! Then I could cry day and night for my people who have been killed." - Jeremiah's grief over those who were lost was great.
Points to Contemplate:
Is God your comfort?
When nothing in the world seems to make sense, when the world news is filled with hate and destruction, when your life seems to be falling apart at the seams, is God your comfort? Do you turn to Him when you are afraid? Do you cry out to Him for understanding, guidance, and His soothing balm to heal your wounds? If you don't turn to God, where else is there to turn? Who else can provide any answers or give any real comfort?
Are you worshiping "useless foreign idols?" Do you seek fulfillment from the world? Do you wish for wealth, success, and power? Do you think satisfaction comes from popularity or from a higher paying job? Do you idolize the rich and famous, wishing you were in their shoes; had their talents, or their success? Do you pray for quick resolve to problems through windfalls such as lottery tickets or stock markets? Do you put your faith in technology, medical research, or other forms of human ingenuity? What useless idols do you worship?
Are you being healed? Have you felt God's healing touch? Have you witnessed His love reaching into the lives of those around you? Does joy burst from your heart when this occurs? Does hope spring eternal? Do you recognize that that we all need God's healing love and it is the only source of salvation we have?
Do you cry over the lost? Jeremiah could have simply said 'I told you so.' Instead, he was weeping over their lost souls. Do the lost souls of those around you cause you to weep? Do you seek ways to bring them into the healing balm of God's love? Do you pray for their salvation? If you don't, who will? Promises of the Gospel:
Jeremiah weeps in agony over his lost people. He has warned them that they must change and turn back to God. He has given urgent warnings and proclaimed dire consequences, and yet, they have not listened. Their sins mount and their focus on other gods continue. In many ways, you would expect him to brush the sand from his sandals and walk away from these people lost in the sins of their own design. Any yet, he cries. He weeps over their souls. As we walk with God with our hands in His, we must be like Jeremiah, frantically searching for ways to find the lost and to bring them to Christ.
