Jeremiah: Weary from weeping

Jeremiah. The Weeping Prophet.

I have to ask: Does anyone actually enjoy reading Jeremiah? It is sooo dark and sooo long. I'm glad that I'm done with Jeremiah. The next book (as I Read Through The Bible in alphabetical order) is Job -- then I'll be done with the long, difficult books. (Remember, I happen to like Leviticus and Numbers!)

I'm always struck by the persecution inflicted on the man by the kings and priests of Jerusalem.
But he always seemed to be even more troubled that no one listened to his warnings of imminent demise.

Jeremiah eventually preached that the people of Judah should capitulate to Babylon. Can anyone even imagine someone today telling America to capitulate to an adversary? We can sort of see why Jeremiah was persecuted so vigorously.

I don't like to watch or listen to much hyperbolic TV or radio. It just upsets me. I suppose there are some talking heads out there claiming to be Jeremiahs; I just don't know. If you're reading this and you've encountered one, let me know. The next question, however, would be, is this "Jeremiah" sincere, or just grand-standing? Sorry for my cynicism.

As awful and dolorous as Jeremiah is, the prophecy also contains some of the most hopeful passages in the Bible: Chapters 29-31 talk about God's eternal and abiding love, and His promises to restore Judah. Often, I find myself wondering if those promises really do apply to times past the restoration following the Exile. But the passages about God's faithfulness are so compelling and so adamant, I have to believe they do.

A few faves:
Jeremiah 29:11-13 -- "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and fine me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 31:3 -- "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."

Jeremiah 31:33-34 -- "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

I guess the bottom line of Jeremiah--all the doom and gloom notwithstanding--is that God promises again and again that even though He punishes Judah and Israel for their infidelity, He will restore them and never, never, never stop loving them. That's pretty good news from a pretty sad prophet.