Weekly Bible Study - Jeremiah 20:7-9

31 August 2014

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fear was not in Jeremiah’s vocabulary! This 6th century prophet was not afraid to oppose kings, priests and the unfaithful. And he didn't hesitant to challenge God, either! Would we have the courage to say to God, “You duped me!?”

Today’s brief passage portrays someone who is tired of the harsh treatment he receives as he struggles to remain faithful to God. Time and again he is harassed, beaten, imprisoned, his life threatened. He wonders: Where is this God who promised to take care of me? Where is he when I need him most? Jeremiah is downright angry and discouraged and not afraid to let God know it.

What sets this prophetic book apart from the others is its portrayal of the inner struggle of this man of God. Plagued by feelings of inadequacy and doubt, he gets "down" and desperate. These inner conflicts are best reflected in the passages known as “Jeremiah’s Confessions." Jeremiah has been betrayed by those dearest to him. He agonizes over the purpose of his ministry, wrestles with discouragement and even curses the day of his birth!

But in spite of Jeremiah’s desire “no longer to speak in God’s name,” there remains within him a burning passion. Deep within his being Jeremiah knows God and cannot turn his back on God's call.

To say that Jeremiah is a unique character is an understatement. His prophetic book is a deeply moving revelation of a man’s spiritual struggle to understand the ways of God and carry out his will in the face of great adversity. It is Jeremiah’s brutal honesty in bringing his struggles to God that makes him an inspiration to all of us. Where else should we turn to bring our own inner conflicts? God is big enough to handle our anger, if that's what we're feeling!

This book beckons us to enter and gaze deeply into the heart of a spiritual companion and to learn from one who felt confident to bare the depths of his soul before God.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.