Jeremiah’s Persecution, vv. 1-6
A. The Priest
- Pashur = freedom
- Governor in 3rd year of Jehoiakim, just before Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem the first time, see 2 Kings 24:1.
B. The Prophet
- Jeremiah scourged and placed in stocks by Pashur for his treasonous words in chapter 19.
- “The stocks (MT mahpeket, from a root ‘to distort’) were a form of scaffold in which prisoners were detained in a crooked or confined position which produced cramped muscles.” (Harrison)
- Stocks were located near the temple in a very public place at the Upper Benjamin Gate.
- Jeremiah stayed in the stocks overnight.
C. The Proscription
- Pashur released Jeremiah the next morning.
- Jeremiah called him a new name: Magor-Missabib = terror on every side.
- Pashur and his false teaching priests will go into Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah’s Protest, vv. 7-12
A. Hebrew pathah = deceived, translated as persuaded in Proverbs 25:15 and allured in Hosea 2:15.
B. The Lord never told Jeremiah he would be scourged, locked in the stocks overnight, and mocked by the multitude at the Temple gate. Jeremiah accused Jehovah of deceiving him.
C. Jeremiah decided to quit preaching, but the Lord’s word burned within him that he could not hold it in, v. 9.
D. Everyone waited for Jeremiah’s downfall to discredit his message and take revenge on him.
Jeremiah’s Praise, vv. 11-13
A. Because God is with Jeremiah as a mighty God, his persecutors will be the ones who stumble and fail.
B. The Lord tried the thoughts and the hearts of men.
C. Jeremiah enjoins everyone to praise the Lord.
Jeremiah’s Pains, vv. 14-18
A. Suddenly, Jeremiah slips back into grief and depression, wishing he had never been born.
B. “These verses do belong together. They may not belong together by logic, but who says the life of the soul is always logical? Jeremiah’s curses follow his praises because that is the way it was during his dark night of the soul.” (Ryken)
C. Jeremiah thought his problems would be over if he was never born. The problem was that God called him before he was born or even conceived: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations (Jer_1:5). “Jeremiah traced his troubles back to the womb. But he did not go back far enough! God could trace his promises back before the womb.” (Ryken)