And here it is, revealing the mettle, the character of God’s man Jeremiah!

“Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.”

Jeremiah is often (and correctly) called “the weeping Prophet.” Read Jeremiah 9:1 with me. “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!”

Overall, Jeremiah suffered as much as any Prophet in the Old Testament, apart from the martyrs.

His own kinsfolk tried to kill him.

Kings (all wicked) tried to kill him.

The general population tried to kill him.

His Message was heavily loaded with judgment.

Judgment against his own Nation, Judah.

No wonder he could lament (as in our Title Verse) …

“Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is grievous: but I said, truly this is a grief …”

Yet, under all that load, he trusted his Lord!

He knew his job was to be fithful.

To “endure” to the end!

So, he beautifully resolved …

“I MUST BEAR IT.”

I will finish the course.

I will patiently serve God.

Wow!

I think Jeremiah has today left us all a great example.

Be steadfast!

Do not quit!

Do not grumble!

Bear the load God has sent your way!

Jesus, in fact, bore the load of all our sin … on the old rugged Cross!

Now, let us serve Him … whatever be the burden!

Challenge us one more time, Jeremiah …

“Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.”

Let’s be faithful, strong workers in our Lord’s fields of service!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell