The Lord said to me [Jeremiah]: "I would not feel sorry for the people of Judah even if Moses and Samuel prayed for them. Send the people away from Me! Tell them to go! They might ask you, 'Where shall we go?' Tell them, 'This is what the Lord says: Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.' I will send four kinds of destroyers against them," declares the Lord, "the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy . . ."

  [Then, Jeremiah said:] "Mother, I am sorry that you gave birth to me. I am the one who must accuse and criticize the whole land. I have not loaned or borrowed anything. But everyone curses me." The Lord said, "Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress. Can a man break iron - iron from the north - or bronze? Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder, without charge, because of all your sins throughout your country. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for My anger will kindle a fire that will burn against you."

   [Jeremiah's response] "You understand, O Lord; remember me and care for me. You are longsuffering - do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for Your sake. When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God Almighty. I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because Your hand was on me and You had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will You be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?" Therefore this is what the Lord says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve Me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be My spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the Lord. "I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel."

Taken from Jer. 15, The Everyday Bible and The New International Version.
For free Lifescope book, write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221.
Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.