Wednesday

Psalm 112

Background

It’s difficult being the lone voice with a difficult message and, in Jeremiah’s case, it was dangerous as well. No matter how much, or how often Jeremiah tells the people to turn from their evil ways and follow the Lord, otherwise destruction will come, the people do not heed him and see him as a threat who needs to be silenced. 

In verse 18 the people are saying: "Let’s just cook up a plot against Jeremiah, We’ll always have priests to teach us the law, wise counsellors to give us advice and prophets to tell us what God has to say. Let's discredit him so we don’t have to put up with him anymore." 

It’s a familiar theme in Scripture and one we’ve probably encountered in life as well. The outsider with an unpopular message is often shouted down and silenced. Or we may have seen someone at school or work singled out, even victimised for their beliefs. And we might expect Jeremiah to act a bit like Moses in the wilderness when the people were complaining about food and water and make excuses for them, deflecting God’s wrath away from them. (Exodus 17:1-7)

But refreshingly Jeremiah reacts as many of us would do in such a situation. He has stood up for these rebellious people time and again and now that they’re threatening to kill him. He thinks it's time God remembered just how much good he’s tried to do and take vengeance on his enemies once and for all. In verse 21 incites God to punish the people: "Therefore give their children over to famine."

To Ponder:

• Do you sometimes urge God to punish the evil-doers of our generation? Why do some people appear to get away with it?
• To what extent are you likely to follow the crowd rather than listen to God’s voice when doing so would prove challenging? 
• Can you think of a time when you have been in physical danger through doing God’s work? 

Prayer 

Loving God, help me to hear and obey your voice when you call and not follow the crowd – even in the most challenging of times. Amen.