Bible Soap

Scripture:

Jeremiah 17-21

Selected verse:

20:9 But if I say, “I will not mention him
or speak any more 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 in;
indeed, I cannot.

Observation:

In the context of the 5 chapters above, this verse comes after Jeremiah has been told by the LORD to prophecy against Jerusalem and Judah, using a prophetic picture of the smashing of a potter’s jar to illustrate how God’s going to deal with them. Unsurprisingly, this is not a very welcome message, and he is beaten and put in stocks. In the midst of a complaint to the LORD about his situation, he comes to the conclusion that having God’s word burning within him is less easy to bear than public shame, beating and humiliation. He cannot ignore the gift God has given him; he absolutely has to let it out, and blow the consequences.

Application:

Have I ever felt that kind of urgency to speak God’s word? Yes, I think so, in terms of words of knowledge / prophecies I have spoken out in meetings – when I have something from God that I KNOW I have to bring, it very much feels like ‘a fire shut up in my bones’ that has to be let out. But I want to feel that in conversations with non-Christians as well – that I absolutely can’t hold in what God has given me to share, and blow the consequences. I will be ridiculed, yes, and probably not understood. Jeremiah had the same problems, but he knew that God’s mission for him was more important than his feelings.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to be like that – to be fearless in Christian circles when you give me something prophetic to share, and also when given an opportunity to share about You to unbelievers. Please give me a sense of urgency, so I don’t fail to do Your will.