“O Lord, You Have Deceived Me!”
Text: Jeremiah 20:7-13
6-25-2023
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. I don’t know about you, but when I read the opening words of our Old Testament Lesson, it just made me cringe. I mean, here’s this great prophet of God, Jeremiah, saying “O Lord, You have deceived me!” Why in the world would he write that down? If Jeremiah had doubts, why didn’t he just keep them to himself? And why did the Holy Spirit allow those words to appear in the Scriptures? All of those are legitimate questions that we need to examine. And if we will let God’s Word speak to us, the answers will be helpful in our faith journey as we face trials and troubles.
The short answer to those questions is that God wants us to see that Jeremiah was a human being like the rest of us. He was simultaneously a sinner and a saint, just like you and me. And that’s the struggle that we hear him express in these verses. On the one hand he gets overwhelmed with doubt and worry. On the other hand, he’s reminded of God’s great mercy towards him and he can’t help but praise God. That’s the tug-of-war that went on in Jeremiah’s heart and it’s the same one we experience.
Perhaps a little background would help us better understand what Jeremiah is saying here. In chapter 1 of his book, Jeremiah tells us how God called him to be a prophet from the moment he was conceived. Wow! You’d think that powerful statement from God would have filled Jeremiah with confidence and zeal to be a preacher of God, without ever wavering. But ironically, when the Lord called Jeremiah, he argued with God. He said, “Lord, I don’t know how to speak! I’m only a child!” God responded, “Don’t be afraid... for I am with you and will rescue you.” Then God put His words on the prophet’s lips and sent Him out to speak them. You see what God was doing there? He called Jeremiah to be His spokesman and then made a promise to him. God promised to be with him and to protect him even though God’s people would reject and despise the message.
To be totally honest, the message that Jeremiah was given to preach was not a pleasant one. In verse 8 he complains, “For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, ‘Violence and destruction!’ For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.” You see, much like today, the people didn’t like what this preacher had to say. The people were tired of hearing old Jeremiah constantly telling them that they needed to repent. And if they didn’t repent, God would destroy them as a nation. He was a burr in their saddle. He upset them. All of the rest of the so-called prophets were predicting victory and peace for Israel. Jeremiah was the only one saying the opposite. His message was so despised that the high priest had him beaten and put in stocks to disgrace him publicly.
That’s what led up to Jeremiah crying out “O Lord, You have deceived me!” At first glance, it almost sounds as if God had tricked this man into becoming a prophet. It sounds like Jeremiah was accusing God of sugar-coating his calling and not telling him about the suffering he would have to endure. If all that were true then it paints God as some kind of con-artist who deals in half-truths. But that’s a wrong assumption to make about God because the Bible teaches that He is not deceptive or dishonest. It’s interesting to note that the Hebrew word which is translated as “deceived” can also mean “persuaded.” Even though Jeremiah had a divine calling, he was not tricked or forced into it. That’s just not the way that God operates. Instead, He persuades people with the truth.
Even with that explanation, though, those words are unsettling to a believer’s ears. But remember what we said? Jeremiah was a sinful human just like you and me. God had been open and honest with him concerning his calling. He didn’t hide anything from him. God warned Jeremiah in advance that he would face resistance and trouble. And then He also promised to protect him. But you and I know exactly what happens in the sinful human mind. In our misery, we forget those warnings and promises, and substitute our own version of what was said.
I can personally attest to that. After High School, I was gung-ho about becoming a soldier. So I volunteered for the Army. I thought people would respect me and that the Army would toughen me up and make me into a man to be reckoned with. But that was my own rosy picture that I had painted in my young mind. Nobody lied or tricked me to get me to join. They told me it would be tough and I could be sent anywhere in the world. I might even have to fight and die for my country. They also promised that I would receive lots of benefits for my service. But when I reached my first duty station, I found myself thousands of miles from home and in the depths of loneliness. I was convinced that I’d been deceived. I wanted to quit. Thankfully, God didn’t let that happen and I’m a better man for it. In fact, I’m convinced I wouldn’t be a Pastor if I hadn’t gone through that pain.
You see, I became a desperate man. I pleaded with God to get me out of the mess that I felt I was in. I even made a deal with God. I said, “God, if you’ll get me out of this, I’ll do whatever you want me to in the Church. I’ll teach Sunday School or whatever you say. Just get me out of this!” God heard that prayer and answered it. He got me out alright... after 3 years. During that time, He was shaping me into a man who would be ready to preach the Gospel. Like Jeremiah, I believe I was called to be a Pastor from the moment I was conceived. He didn’t trick me into doing it. Rather, He slowly but surely persuaded me that this is what my calling was.
Now that I’m a Pastor, I still have times where I feel like crying out like Jeremiah: “O Lord, You have deceived me! You persuaded me to be a preacher of the Word. I thought I’d be respected. I thought that people would be hungry to hear your Word. Instead, they get mad at me when I speak Your truth. They get upset when I show them their sin. Some of them don’t get upset, but they don’t get excited about it either. I just don’t feel like I’m being very effective. Maybe I should just quit.” The problem with that thinking is that I’ve painted my own cozy little picture of what being a Pastor is about. But that’s not what God said or promised.
Really, when you think about it, every one of us goes through this same experience. Through our Baptism, God has called us to be His child. And as His children, He has called us to be a witness for the Gospel. Jesus Himself warns us that troubles will come our way. But He also makes some magnificent promises to rescue us and give us eternal life. Then the time comes when we face the trials and troubles of this life. And right away, we accuse God of tricking us. We say, “God, you deceived me! You persuaded me that you are the one true God and through Jesus Christ I am saved. You persuaded me that I’d have a peace which surpasses all human understanding. But I don’t seem to have much peace or joy right now. Instead, I have conflict and pain. There’s never enough money to pay all my bills. My spouse and I argue. My kids seem to constantly rebel against me. My body is frequently afflicted with disease and pain. I try to be a good Christian and all I get is laughed at. Where is all that peace and joy? I just feel like quitting.” The problem again is that we have painted our own little picture of what being a Christian is all about. And we have forgotten what God actually promised us.
If we would just stop and remember what He said, then our doubt and despair would disappear. God’s promises are powerful, if we’ll only trust in them. That’s what pulled Jeremiah out of his despair. He says that he felt like quitting, but God’s Word was like a fire inside of him. If he tried to hold it in, it burned hotter and hotter. He couldn’t hold that truth inside himself without fulfilling his calling. No matter how difficult or dangerous it was, the Word of truth demanded to be spoken. That’s true for all of us too. God has persuaded us that His promises are true. He has placed the fire of truth inside us. As long as we trust in His promises, that fire will burn so hot within us that it will consume all of our doubts and despair. It burns up our petty little perceptions of what being a Christian is all about. And that fire also compels us to fulfill the calling God has given to us.
That’s what turned Jeremiah’s heart around. It forced him to repent and to stop looking at his temporary miseries. That’s when he remembered God’s promise to rescue and protect him. And that led him to a confidence and joy that caused him to cry out, “Sing to the Lord; Praise to the Lord!” What an amazing turnaround from his opening statement of “O Lord, You have deceived me!” That change was due to Jeremiah trusting in the promises of God which led him to sing praises to the Lord rather than cry out a complaint. Trusting in God’s promises can do the same for us too.
Make no mistake, Jeremiah wrestled with these feelings of despair again, just like you and I do. Just because we’re a Christian, doesn’t mean we won’t have troubles in this life that will tempt us to despair. That’s the result of living in a world filled with sin and death. But God promises that the troubles of this life are only temporary. Instead, He wants us to focus on the truth He has revealed to us through His Word. He wants us to trust in Him by faith and see beyond our own feeble perception of His calling. He wants us to live with His divine peace within us; a peace that comes from knowing that He has already rescued us from our sins through the cross of Christ. And He will continue to rescue and protect us until He calls us home to heaven. That fire of truth burns within the heart of all believers. It causes our lips to open and speak the good news of Jesus Christ, even though it may be rejected and despised. It causes our mouths to overflow with thanksgiving to our great God. May that fire of truth burn within us and may our voices be filled with songs of praise to the Lord. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!