Jeremiah 11:18-20
Chapter 11
18
Jeremiah’s Confessions: The Beginning of Persecution
The Lord revealed it to me, so I know! And you allowed me to see their scheming: ( 12: 6) “Be cautious, even your relatives and family members are false with you; they openly criticize you behind your back. Don’t trust them when they act friendly.”19
But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not realize it was against me that they were plotting: “Let us feed him with trials and remove him from the land of the living and let his name never be mentioned again.”
20
The Lord, God of Hosts, you who judge with justice and know everyone’s heart and intentions, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have entrusted my cause to you.
Commentaries
Jeremiah’s Confessions: The Be-ginning of Persecution.
Jeremiah’s words are not well received by the people, his neighbors, or even his family, putting his life and the continuation of his ministry at risk. However, the prophet refuses to back down despite the threats; his mission, already described in 1:4-10, must continue. He believes this is the Lord’s cause, and he commits his whole life and ministry to Him. A key trait of a true prophet is that their message is not always pleasant; it can make people uncomfortable. This helps determine whether the prophet is speaking for himself or on behalf of God—that is, God’s cause.