God is "with" us

I’ve been going through Jeremiah in my Bible reading, not just reading through it but taking time, chapter by chapter, to study it a bit and journal my findings.

I’m currently to chapter 16.

Prior to my start of this, I knew the following things about the book of Jeremiah:

1) It was a long book.

2) It was full of judgement and doom for the nation of Israel

3) Jeremiah was called to preach this judgement alone

4) The nation did not respond, not during Jeremiah’s whole life.

5) It was not very appealing to me as a book to read through

This far into the book, I’ve discerned:

1) Yup, it’s a long book; at this rate, I’ll be in it until I reach another decade marker of my life

2) Yup, it is full of God’s judgement, wrath for Judah, but also many, many calls to repent

3) So far (and we know it remains true), Judah does not (repent).

4) Jeremiah is given repeated (though perhaps not numerous) affirmations of God’s provision, both for Israel and for himself, in the hard place he is called to.

5) God has something to say to me in the words of this centuries-old and very ‘dark’ prophet’s writings

One such ‘message’ to me came in my study of chapter 15. It is a simple truth, really. (And shows the value of a good study Bible…)

“…and I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the Lord.” verse 20

The note on this verse affirms God’s promise to be with Jeremiah and then further explains,

“For God to be ‘with someone’ is for Him to give his help for that person to carry out his calling” (ESV study note, pg 1426)

God was ‘with’ Jeremiah in the real sense that God would enable Jeremiah to faithfully live out his difficult task of preaching peril to the unrepentant.

And God is ‘with’ me in that same way…though my calling is different.

Whatever the task/calling/duty in my path , God has promised to me, too, (in countless other passages throughout Scripture, as well) that He is with me.

How I need that encouragement and reminder today…and every day.

God is faithful.

Take heart that whatever you face, if God is your Savior, He is with you, too.

“Fear thou not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous, right hand.” Is 41:10