Notes

MATURING INTO CHRIST
IV. JEREMIAH’S PRAYER
Jeremiah 20:1-18 February 1, 2009

INTRODUCTION
We’re going to look at the subject of prayer in times of disstress. Jeremiah lived in one of Israel’s darkest periods. He is known as the “weeping prophet,” because of his calling for repentance or God’s judgment. He lives in a period of darkness in the last decade of the 7th century BC as Babylon is rapidly gaining control. The prophet is beside himself. He blames everything on God, rejects God’s call on his life and curses the day he was born. This is Jeremiah’s DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL.

I. JEREMIAH IS PRESSED DOWN ON EVERY SIDE
He is being persecuted, imprisoned and tortured for his preaching of God’s impending judgment and yet, keeps calling for repentance. All Christians go through these troubled times in their lives.

II. JEREMIAH GOES DIRECTLY TO THE LORD IN PRAYER
Verses 7-18. Notice that his prayer is deeply personal. He holds nothing back. He goes directly to the Lord. There is nothing that we cannot take to the Lord. Tell Him everything. Be honest with the Lord. He will give us the grace of sustaining perseverance to endure whatever comes our way.

III. JEREMIAH’S GOD REMAINS HIS MIGHTY FORTRESS
Verse 11. He refers to God as His Mighty Awesome One, His Mighty Warrior. He draws comfort from the fact that the God of the Bible, the MIGHTY GOD is WITH ME. Psalm 55:22.

IV. JEREMIAH FINDS HIMSELF UTTERLY BROKEN
Verse 13. Like Elijah in I Kings 19, David in Psalm 51, Job in Job 3, or the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, we may find ourselves in similar circumstances. Jeremiah is in deep depression. He shouts in his frustration to the Lord that he wants to quit, to give up. Hebrews 2:17. Mark 14:33-34. We can go boldly to Him for mercy and grace to help in time of need.

V. JEREMIAH KEEPS HIS DEPRESSION BETWEEN HIMSELF AND GOD
When Jeremiah appears before his enemies in public, he remains bold, courageous, continues to call for repentance or suffer the consequences of God’s judgment. He appears strong outwardly, but inside he was suffering. He cries out to the Lord. He reads God’s Word and finds the help he needs.