“… That which came out of my lips was right before thee.” (Jeremiah 17:16)
If you plan on speaking for God don’t expect to be popular among men. When Jeremiah was commissioned to be a prophet he was told not to fear the face of man. People would silence us by their frowns and scowls. They would shame us because the truth exposes their shame.
Jeremiah was accused of many things. He was deemed unpatriotic. He was said to want the “woeful day” to come upon his people. While others were preaching peace and prosperity, he was foretelling doom and gloom. Did he enjoy his role? Did he appreciate being vilified? Hardly. He cried out: “Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.” (Jer. 15:10)
But Jeremiah was no self-pitier. The tears he cried were for those who had no ears to hear. “But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.” (Jer. 13:17) Despite the pain that accompanied his service to God, he refused to retreat to a safe place. “I haven’t run away from being your shepherd …” (Jer. 17:16)
There is a crown of glory that faithful ministers will receive when the Chief Shepherd appears. (1 Pet. 5:4) They spoke what was right before God on earth. They lived for that day when they would stand before their Lord in heaven, seeing His smiling face, and hearing those precious words: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”